Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1842-07-28
LETTER FIsC.a GEN DICKSON,
HERMlTAeR. June s. 1G42.

nave also received the Globe Containing
the speech of Senator Conrad. of Louisi-
ana. on the bill to refund to me the fine,
&c. imposed by Judge Hall. who is styI-
ed by Mr.. Conrad the aspright Judge.
The feeling and sentiment displayed
by Mr.. Conrad in his speech truly aston
ISL ne. They are the very opposite Of
those entertained by The patriots who
were engaged IN the defence Of New Or
leans, not one Of whom considered julge
Hall as performing ,he part oi' a good CT
tizen in the proceedings which he insti-
tuted against me. They are such as Alb
ner l.. Duncan, Esq.--under whose pa
ifonage MIR Conrad was raised. and, who,
with the character Of distinguished iu-
rlst. combined that of the fearless soldier
and the good mau,-w would have been g.
shaned 10 avow. - Although al that tine
MIR. Conrad vas youth. he cannot have
forgotten the leading facts Of the case (:
and the lessons he learned from lis pa
iron should have taught hin to dIstrust
the motive Of those who. in such an en-
ergeacy as that at New Orleans. obtain
ed applause from those alone VINO were
lhltnicat to tbeir country.
1t is a source Of the deepest regret to
me, ,nat A.r. Conrad has disturbed the
sleeping ashes Of the Judge, for the pur-
pose of throwing an unjust impatation on
my character. The fault must be his, if,
III doing So. truth aud justice will compel
the public to tiscredit his statements.
What are the prominent tactsF
After intelligence had been received Of
tbe enbarkment Of the British troops at
Plymouth, in England, and that their OBJ
jet was the invasion Of New Orleans !;
and whilst l was engaged with all exer-
lions in repeliing their advance, which
was then ia possession Of Pensacola lit
being necessary for me to clear BY left
flank of the enemy before / could pro
coed to New Orleans to meet them there
several committees from New Orleans
waited upon me at Mobile, 1.-THE commit
tee Of safety and the committee Of ,vigi-
lance. all giving me similar information
se that communicated By Governor Clai
borne's letters, which were appended to
my defence. and produced before Judge
Hall, under his rule to appear and show
cause why an attachment should net is.
sue TOR contempt, which you have pub
Iished in the Globe, and to which | refer.
Having expelled the British from Pensa-
cola. and made the necessary arrange
ments for the defefeuce of Mobile, has
tened to New Orleans, aud reached there
on the morning Of the lst Of December
--commencing then my arrangements for
she defence Of that country. When |
arrived there, every thing was despon-
dency and alarm at the approach Of such
an oserwhelmingforce. The traitors to
our cause were embal1ened. There
were no arms--not even aints--n the ar
senal; and the reans for defence were
in all respects deficient. / had nothing
to depend upon bat the hope Of arousing
the citizens to that highfeeIing If patrio.
tism which would make them as one
man in union and energy. 4 call was
made on the Lou sian militia in mass !;
plans were formed to prevent traitors
and spies from communicating with the
enemy.
Soon after my arrival, I was made &C.
quanied with Judge Hall, who appeared
willing to aid in the measures of defence.
lie was present at many interviews. had
with the committees Of vigilance ana safe
t.. The Legislature was in session, and
had passed law LAYING an embargo on
all vessels thus enabling Com. Patter-
son to impress the seamen to man his TO-
tilla. The Judge had opened the Jais.
and liberated the prisoners charged with
piracy. &c. without bail, and had adj
ioarned the court. The subject was dis
cussed whether, in addition to these naea-
sures, real necessity did not exist for
the declaration Of martial law in New
Orleans, which had nov become my camp.
The Judge was present when this ques-
ZION was decided in the affirmative, and.
BY his gestures he appeared to approve
tie decision. But as the Legislature had
assumed the power TO pass the embargo
lA%. acting upon the necessity of the
case, appealed 10 it to exert the same
power in suspending the writ of habeas
corpus during the Invasion. This was
opposed by Louallier, and by those who
wished to surrender the city to the. enc
mye Events, however, soon made il ap-
parent that, without the declaration Of
MARTIAL law. the city could not be defend
ed j; and | took the responsibility upon
myself Of making the declaration in time
TO profit by the additional power it gave
10 the military arrangements for t. de.
fence and the motn.ng | declared it,
Judge Dali was in my Office, and heard
Vt read. twas then he exclaimed. .Nou
the country may be saped; soithoat ii. Il
aoas lost. Application was then made to
the Legislature to adjourn. in order that
all might jim in the defence. This was
refused by the majorlty-the Republican
members voting for it. A request was
shen made by the Governor to adjourn to
Baton Rouge. This was also refused
the Republicans voting for il. The enc.
my had attacked aud destroyed! our Gun
boats. which gave new alarm to some. ane
fresh encouragement to traitors. 1t gave
noble resolution to the true patriot.