Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1842-03-08
GEN. JACKsoN,s FINE.

The following is the letter from Gen.
jackson, addressed some time since to
Major Davezac, which was read in the
Assembly Of this State by Mr.. O'Sulliyan:
| Argus
"My health is much impaired; and |
am for the most part Of my time confined
to my room, seldom able to visit my
friends, and write with difficulty. ! am
trying 10 put my house in order to meet
that call, which must soon come, to that
other and better world from which no
traveller returns. In doing this, pass
in review often my whole official life;'in
which ! find but little to regret and much
10 remember with satisfaction, and par
ticularly all my acts and doings in the
successful defence of New Orleans, my
conscience fully approves. Still, no one
has ever brought to the view of Congress
the iniquiiy aud injustice of the 81 900
fine with COSTS imposed upon me by
vindictive judge, who deprived me ofmy
constitutional right Of being heard in my
own defence, aud this for 40 act justified
by the necessity Of the case, and the only
means by which the city Of New Orleans,
with all its "booty and beauty" could
have been successfully defended. All
now must acknowledge aud do acknowI-
edge this-that only by my order, declar-
ing martial law, could this city have been
saved. Without this we might have gal
lanlly sacrificed our lives, but lost our
coUntry, and the city must have been
yielded TO The brutality of an infuriated
soldiery. 1t was for this act, aud for en-.
forcing il until the country was secure,
that this unjust fine was imposed, the re-
cord Of which still remains animpu lation
on my memory.
"COngress is the only body whose &C.
ton could wipe this stain from my memo.
", by a joint resolution, ordering tho
hne, with costs and interest, 10 be return.
edit having been so unJusIly, so unright.
seusly imposed, and without nv being
heard in my own defence, from which YOU
remember was petemptorly debarred.
This is the only impulation thai has not
been by Congress expunged from the re.
cord; and going out of life, when reflect
how much | hazWded in the defence of
Louisiana, (my life, my health, and what
was dearer than oil, my rePutOtion,) can.
not but regret that this stain upon nv
name should be permitted to pass down to
poslority.
"But be il SO. 60 hence with clear
conscience that ! did my duty faithfully:
md although this act ofiustice has been I
still my continued prayers will
70 for my counIry's safety and prosperity;
md that, If war should again come, the
afety Of great city may not be ieopar.
llzed from this precedent, which, staring
he commanding officer in the face, may
revent him from assuming the response.
iliIy BY which alone 1t may be secured
or you must we'll know and remember
Iat il was martial law alone bv which
70 we're able successfully 20 defend the /,
ty; and that Judge Hall, who afterwards
nposed the fine upon me, when the or 4
" was FIRST read, exclaimed, with up,
ted hands, "that by this the city might =
saved; without Il, it was lost" !
"To you. my friend for the first time, e
We IunfOlded my feelings: determined, cl
my country would not voluntarily do q q
this justice that would pass to my sr Sr
I'VE in silence and without a murmur. Of
i as this is perhaps the last letter may ch
lte you, cOuld not refrain from ex. qu
'ssIng to you my feelings on review OF a. A.
! prIva'Ions and dangers together before onl
w Orleans.m d
to