Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1828-05-15
MARTINsBURG, VA THURSDAY, MAY IS, 1928
THE SONS DEFENCE

THE SONS DEFENCE.
The subjoined article. which We copy from
the AsHsue&s Reporter, shows that the letter
written by Gsnef~l Jackson, sscribing to the
unfortunate Harris the commission OF crimes
which he bad never committed, has tonnd us
way 90 the desolate domicil Of bis widow and
children; and as was TO have been expected
drawn from one Of his sons, vindIcaiion OF the
fathers memory. Mo matter TO what side the
reader may belong, he must approve the mo
tyes of that child, however humble his sltua.
ton in life, who steps forward under such
circumstances, TO preserve from inf,my the
cherished name OF a parent I, appears that
this young man applied to General Jackson for
a copy otthe letter which he says he received
from the marsyred Harris after his condem
nat'o"; and that to arequest so reas unable. he
has returned no answer Cruel and unrelent
ing must that heart be, which could refuse to
the children OF deceased person, a refok OF
the kind. General Jackson has done il; and
we leave tito our fellow citizens to say, wheth
er one SO deaf to the calls OF humanity, is fiji
person 10 preside over our happy country,
whose Tree institutions are founded on the prin
ciples ofJustice and liberty. extract from
the letter from Mr. Harris to his wife, written
the day before his execut,on; bfesthes al once
the spirit OF pous christian aiiectionate bus
bs0d ana tender father. The solicuude he
vinces tor the temporal and spiritual welfare ut
hls family, islndeed calculated to awaken the
mos; la,ent sympathy in his behalf, and to ere.
ate sentiments OF respect for his character -
We dismiss the subject for the present, wi h
an earnest request TO all, to read the brief &C
count which follows with such feelings as
should influence husbands and f,thers.
.narytander.
"JoHN HARRIS.
We have received a communication
from john Harris the Son, in vindica
ton OF the memory of JOHN Harris the
Father, whom General jackson iIleg
ly caused to be executed, and subse
quently most unfeelingly slandered. -
MIR Harris complains OF the cruelty of
General jackson in writing and causing
TO be published the most unfounded
statements In respect to the character
aud conduct of his unfortunate parent
He denies the charges of muiiny, de-
serhon. and breaking open the store
house aud burning the bake house
(Which by the way. have been fully dis
proved by the official record of the tri
al lately published BY Congress land
he asserts, that The statements made BY
the Generalin hisleiters to the Baltimore
Republican and to MIR Will. Owens, are
wholly destitute of truth. His father
did not leave the camp in defiance OF the
Colonel of the Regiment but after Civ
ing up bis gun peacaably ''and lifting his
receipt" There was no mutiny III the
case. He served three months, and
departed, believing his time was out.
and because bis officers could not shew
to the contrary, or satisfy his mind on
this doubtful point, which had been dis
cussed in camp by both officers aud
men. Mr. Harris says, Col. P,pkin told
some OF the men, If they would 20 home
whether or not, and would give in their
names, be would make arrange ments
for them 10 draw ratious. His fa-
Their wrote the rames of such as
had determined TO go, and handed the
list TO Plpkn. He was not apprehend
ed as jackson has stated, but re
turned voluntarily, of his own accord.
on hearing that those who had left camp
uHGeF otiiei tnat tupiF term Oh service
bad expired, had been ordered TO return.
He resolved to 60 back against tie ad
vice of his frlends aud neigbhors who
were willing to protect him but he had
no expectation OF meeting the slightest
punishment. On their way near Win.
chester, Tennessee, he met a man from
camp, named salmon, who SAID he had
come for the men. Harris waited a
da, or two for Salmon, al Salmon's re.
quest, and they returned together At
Fort Jac kson, Harris Joined Col. Harris
regiment. then on the march to Mobile.
Hart ordered him to be handcuffed -
After the trial he wrote TO Gen. Jack.
son, stating the circumstances of bis
case, praying for a pardon, or at least
new hearing His friends also wrote
for reprieve to the flinty hearted com
mapder Young Harris alleges that he
but recently became acquainted with
Gen. Jackson's calumnies and enormous
misrepresentation of bis fathers letter !;
he immediately wrote TO him for copy
of it, and for bis reasons for making
such statements He has rece we'd no an
swee