The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-03-11

The following extract of letter from Gen Jack
son to Major Davezac, of New York, was recently
read in the New York Legislature, where move
ment had previously been made to petition Congress
to repay to the General the fine below alluded to
My health is much impaired and am for the
most part of my time confined in my room, seldom
able to visit my friends, and write with much difficult
ty | am trying to put my house in order to meet
that call, which must soon come, to that other and
better world from which traveller returns. In
doing this, pass in review often my whole officia |
life; in which find but little to regret and muc oh to
remember with satisfaction; and particularly all my
acts and doings in the successful defence of New Or
leans my conscience fully approves Still one
has brought to view of Congress the niquty and
injustice of the 81, 900 fine with costs imposed upon
me by vindictve judge, who deprived me of my
constitutional right of being heard in my own de
fence and this for act justified by the case, and the
only means by which the city of New Orleans,
with all its booty and beauty could have been sue
cessfuly defended. All now must acknowh dye TIN.
that only by my order declaring martial law could
this city have been saved. Without this we might
have galanly sacrificed our lives, but lost our coun-
try and the city must have been Welded TO the bru-
ality of an Infatuated invading soldiely 1t was for
this act, and for enforcing until the country was Sc
cure, that this unjust fine was imposed the record OF
which still remains an imputation my memory.
I" Congress is the only body whose action could
wipe this stain from my memory by Joint resolution
ordering the fine, with costs and interest be Ie-
funded, II having been so unjustly unrighteously
imposed, and without my being heard in my own de-
fence, from which You remember | was peremptorily
declared This is the only imputation that has not
been by Congress expunged from the record; and
going out of life, when reflect how much hazarded
in the defence of Louisiana, tiny life my health, and
what was dearer to me my reputation cannot but
regret that this stain upon my should be permit
ted to pass down 10 posteilty.
But be it so. go hence with clear conscience
that did my duty faithfully and although this act of
justice has been withheld, still my continued prayers
will be for my country's safety and prosperity; and
that if should again come, the safety Of great
city may not be jeopardized from this precedent,
which staring the commanding officer in the face,
may prevent him from assuming the responsibility by
which alone it may be secured For you must well
know and remember that il was martial law alone
by which we bic successfully to defend the
cty and that Judge Hall, who afterwards imposed
the fine upon me, when the order first read, ex-
claimed with uplifted hands, that by this the city
might be saved without it, it was lost"
{" To you; my friend, for the first time have I'M
folded my feelings determined, if my country would
not voluntarily do this justice, that would pass
to my grave in silence and without murmur. But a.
this is perhaps the last letter may write YOU could
not refrain from expressing to you my feelings re
view of our prvations and dangers together before
New Orleans"