Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1842-06-11
NO. ks.

tnunieations he had made To- the General, and
the orders he had received from him.
Under oath, Mr.. ". eorfoborates the prii-
ctpal parts OF Gen. Jackaop's letter ; says be
had been charged By Col. T. to c%oinnuni-
cate with Coll rs aapprehansions'' 10 tho
General that Col. T, did not charge him
with the message IS from the Governor no
even eontradlcts Gen. Jackson in tie State
nent that no transmitted the message 40
coming from Gov. G.. confesses that lie took
the liberty of substituting for the verbal des.
patch from Gen. J. TO Gov. Claiborne, the or
der that was executed. in place Of The order
hat was gwen, because, he said, he thought
the 'bes' means Of avertiug the eviI' would
be to "pfevent the meeting OF The leglsIt
turc.'
The first point 10 b, here observed is, that
Mr.N,l at issue with Gen. Jackson, who asserts
that the message brought from Col. r. was
delivered by Mr. N. as from Gov. Claiborne,
and N. denies tha assertion while Col. r. AZ
firms that he impaired to N. his "apprehen-
slobs' only. What are we TO believed I'm
doubleday, the assertion of Gen. Jackson for
his statements are uiiclouded and positive,
while those Of N. and Col. r. frequently clash.
not only with each other but also with them
selves,
Mi. n on further examination, testified that
1o' 4 : bbi nSSAlcN MN iIitIf WdS u EtDEUl-
racy on foot for giving up the country to the
British. Before the eoniunittee, Col. r. denies
all knowledge Of such conspiracy. But Mr..
n. states that Col r. published it to Gen.
Jackson in the presence of Mr.. Davezae, (now
Major Davezac Of New York; Mr.. Davrzac
being called, affirmed that he did hear Col.
Us statement to Gen. Jackson, having acted
as The Colonels interpreter to the General on
the occasion he denies that Mr.. N. was pre-.
sent, and also cartaifs Of many of its promi.
neDt features, Mr.. Ms narrative, given ON q
oath before the committee. The latter afHrms
that according to Col r. the conspiracy was
active and vigiIant, pushing forward to matn-
rity by night and BY day. Mr.. Davezac af
firms that Col. r. stated nothing Of this kind
to Gen. Jackson, but simply, that his "appre-
tensions had been aroused from having heard
one Of The members lMr. auiehard, the speak
ar Of the House), condemn Gen. Jackson's
mode of warfare.-Two other members were
mentioned, as cohcirring In the remark Of
the speaker and yet, were we to name those
!. men, all who know them would as willingly
concede to them a high mede Of patriotism, as
to coneede il to General jackson himself -
the two were Mr.. Blanque and Mr.. Marigny.
Can it be denied that this testimony is am
ply sufficient TO refute, IN toto, the foul charge
Of treason against the legislature of 1si4 D.
Is additional evidence necessary TO- prove
the accused innocent and the accusers gWltyi
But where arc the accusers 7 are there any
No, none! The man whose sinister imagi-
nation had conjaFed up ghosts Of evil deeds.
when confronted with those on whom his aus.
picions had fallen, buries himself beneath y
mantle of snbierfuge. confusion, shame and
contradiction
But it may be asked, is this all does the
writer keep back nothing ia the revela<
tinp rrrantaFs Z IHrry - IL rn.s,bt< tit -
such fimsy authority so gross and injurious
a ~calumny could have obtained even an hours
credence, while the fact is, that il still follows
certain members Of that Legislature, and IL
urged to their prejudice even now when they
present Themselves as aspirants for public
honorst
This is all 1ha, we have given the report
entire. we do not pretend but let a Y honest
man psruSe II and say if he can, that we have
kept back one sentence which would warrant
any other conclusion than that at which we
have arrived, viz that the charge was a
sheer fabrication, unsupported by one jot Of
tangible evidence, admissible or ihsdmissi.
bic. For the melancholy fact, that this dis
graceful charge is often aiieded, and solemn
ly believed by many honest people, we can
only account on the too-weif-established truth:
that a portion Of mankind prefer TO make mp
their opinions from the loose ends of hearsay,
rather than from, a patient, careful examinations
ef irreffagible testimony.
In conclusion, a few remarks Oh the then
state OF affairs, may not be inapropos. bouis
slana was yet but spafsely settled the slave
population was numerous, and 50 too was that
transient, unstable portion Of the population
that tirongs all new and rich countries for
the purposes Of trade and gain, namely, fo-
reigners, by birth and privilege. When the
war came on, a sufficient number of white
men were necessarily detained on the planta-
tons, 10 keep the eolored masses III gi1bjections
while Gen1. Jackson expelled from the city of
New Orleans all such foreigners as refused
TO take up arms against the Invaders. On
his first arrival his camp had been overrun
by them. All his movements were trans
nitted to the enemy with the CELEBRITY of hight.
General found it impossible to ascertain
correctly the number of men in camp. Hence
it was deemed necessary to proclaim martial
law, But in justice, and to the honor or these
foreigners, let il be said, large numbers Of
them volunteered in the service, and ,r.-
formed as zealously and effectively as did The
best native troops in the army. I'm fact, the
martial skill and science Of some were af es-
sentiai service in the grand conflict which de-
-cided the war.
The necessity of this last step was received
in distant sections Of the United States, as, at
ledSt, al eViGfnCe OF the reluctance OF LOUISE
ana to engage in the war, and by many as n
convincing proof of their dislike TO republican
Institutions, and their willingness to Law down
on the affairs Of monarehieai power the first
fruits of a soil believed by the haIlowed blood
OF PATRIOTISM Never was an error more
grand never have a brave people been more
grossly misrepressated, From one extreme
of the state to the other, the fame of patriot
ism burned with a heat and briliiancy unsur.
passed in The psoudest days Of Greek or Re-
man glory.
PrlVates as well as officers commended with
each other for the precedence in marching
forward to meet the enemy. ProcIauations
had been issued for drafts, but when the day
indicated arrived, it vas found the drafts were
to be made, not for those who should 60, but
for those who should stay at homsi Old age
and youth, the man of strong and the man Of
ffail nerves, manifested the same enthusiasm
animated with the same holy fire.
So eager was the entire state for the encouHt-
er, that it was with difficulty a sufficient num-
Der of the elder inhabitants and officers, could
be prevailed upon TO remain in their respect
i've districts, to guard against the awful appre-
of a servile convulsion.
Such was the spirit of the Inhabitants Of
Louisiana in isl4-i5; and it was such inh;
bitants that the legislature of those years had
the honor to represent. What generous mlnd
dare attaint the ~EpREsxyFATIrEs of
such a people with treason , What sane mind
could for a moment suppose that such a peo-
rso;li3 he Sa ios{ ~ ali that y.as drs Il,