Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-10-05

fest injury TO the character and memory of Mr..
| Monroe Your whole view OF the subject to which
they referred is 50 replcte with error THAT | feel
myself bound at least to make effort to correct
you. In this state OF the matter, think YOU have
| no right TO ''close the correspondence" You may
strike; but you must hear.
In the first place, beg leave respectfully to re.
mark, that / do not consider your letter candid
reply to that which had the honor to address 4,
you noted IA single remark III your paper OF tho
9th instan; in the following words: "Jn conduct
ing the Seminole tpdr, Gen. JdcSSon ioas in Etet
acting uHder tie secret orders Of The Government,
objected to the expression, as involving umputa.
tions winch endeavored to illustrate; and placed
before you, for your reply PLAIN and simple ques-
ton. L requested You To state whether it your
intention that it should be inferred from the words
had noted, that in conducting the Seminole war,
Gen. Jackson was III possession of secret orders
from Mr. Monroe, at variance with those which
had issued from tho Department of War, and were
made known to the public. If you did not intend
such inference, claimed n revision of the arti-
Gle. If you did SO intend challenged the investi-
CATION of the truth of that which, as believed was
enormously asserted. This is the point of discus
sion between From it cannot be induced at
present, to depart. Any other topics, which your
letter presents, shall, if desired claim my attention
hereafter
In conformity with this view, pass over the few
hrst paragraphs of your letter, opening L con-
celve, new field for argument, foreign at this mo-
ment TO the question before us. do not decline
That discussion. L only POSTPONE it to u more con-
venient season-especialy until we shall have dis
posed of that, in which at present engaged
| But that wo may distinctly recognize hereafter
the state in which we leave it now, it becomes pro-
per to add u few words:
| You make two extracts from my lc;ter-the first
IN the following words: THAT MONROE disavowed
before the world his General Jacksoa's) conduct
In Florida, transcending DEMONSTRATIONS" and
the second, the word ''dsapproved," which having
separated from the context, you have made to sig
nifty more than think il did, when standing alone
| and at any rate than l intended it should
Having been intended to convey the same idea
they are admitted to have asserted on my purt
THAT Mr. Monroe did dsavew before the world,
General Jacksons conduct in Florida transcend
ing ms insh uctions." This is my propositions; in
which you think L am in error-and which you
have attempted TO refute--the consideration of
which is postponed for the purpose of discussing
moro directly, the immediate point of difference
between us:-'Was General Jackson in conducting
the Seminole War, in fact acting under the secret
| orders of the Government"
4 GU may possibly begin to perceive, that in the
animation of your own proposition, you lend con-
siderable toIce to the position have assumed. In
speaking of Instructions, you WILL of course, un-
derstand me distinctly referring tn those which
had issued from the Department of War, and were
maze known to the public say there ,rere
none other. Do you not observe then tho
difficulty into which you would plunge }
In contending that he in fact acting under Sc
crct orders. do you not imply the admission that
he transcend,d, his public instructions? If not,
why are they brought to thoir add II appears to
me that you do the wrong. l assert, that upon the
public orders, and the public orders alone, the
acts of the Commanding General to be justified,
and fully sustained they have been. The as
ser'ion you make, not only believe does u
manifest injury to the character and me-
mory of MIR. MONROE, but as l honestly con-
ceive, detracts from the elevated merit which
has been justly awarded TO the Commanding
General himself. 1t was the very transccndipg the
instructions, which had issued from the Department
OF War and were made known to the public, under
circumstances of peculiar occurrences, and not to
have been foreseen, which constitutes that merit.
1t was the assumption of o responsibility from
which he did not shrink, and for which he noby
declared himself accountable to his government
and country, by both Of which he was nobly sus-
tanned, of which you would deprive him. 1t was
the motive of distinguished patriotism well APP
preciatcd, which induced him to transcend his
instructions, and to risk himself for what he
believed the public good, which is the hear.
and soul of his brilliant achievements. | think
you will discover before have said all which in.
tend to say now, and all which it is possible may
say hereafter, that you have greatly miseonceiyed
both my motives and my views. In the discharge
of that ''duty which l owe to deceased relative
| and FRIEND" find incompatibilty with all the
respect which is due to the commanding general,
nor with tho high admiration with which have
been accustomed TO contemplate his services in the
Seminole war. The ground cover il, as L con-
ccivo, the ground of mutual honor between Mr.
MONROE and himtslf, at that interesting epoch,
| assaiIed as they were by many an individual who
would now, Tor momentary purpose, criminate
the in tire vain hope of contributing 10 the ell.
eyated standing of the other. Take from me the
ground cover, and sincerely believe that great
injustice is done to both. But of this / NAV DOS
| sibly speak hereafter,
1t is Sc netimes fair illustration of the error
o an opinion TO admit it to be right for a moment,
Ill order TO prove by its reflections hat it must
be wrong. To this mirror let us hold up the pro-
haVa rtad md "a, L.
true. In conducting the Seminole War General
JACKSON 1oas in fact, acting under the secret or
ders OF the Government. How do we now stand?
Do you not see that the proposition is full of ready
suggestions, to defeat its existence as fact2 1t
mars all the moral beauty of the scene to which it
refers. Ifit cast whitening glance at the ntegri-
ty of the statesman, can you prevent it from
reaching the well-merited hsnors of the sofdier2
TIhe acs, which, upon my assertion, glow
ng with merit, if yours be admitted, sha-
ded with doubt. Can you not peccive that
an Executive may well sustain act when
done under peculiar circumstances, which it could
not legally autheTise to be done? An act directly
in the face of orders may not only be justly sus-
tainea but may be rich in merits. The act, then,
may BIO fairly disavowed as frdnScending instruct
ions, because the intention that 1T should be done
anticipating the existence of circumstances under
which alone it could be we'll done, would DO wrong,
and yet the support of both tho act and the agent,
when all the circumstances are known, and mo-
lives appreciated, may be right and commendable
May II not then by patriotic Executive, Justly
be made instrumental in promoting the great in
terests committed 10 his charge, without subject
ing 1T to the charge of inconsistency, or worse?
But there is another view urging in stronger
terms, the improbahility, had almost said the i'm
possibility, that you be right. The necessity
OF the case is the justification of the commanding
officer. Bhe existence of circumstances not to
have been forcscen, urging the assumption of
sponslbity not to have been provided for its tri-
lro ava fno i,fr,