Arkansas intelligencer., 1844-03-16


anonymous correspondent, was unfounded; / had
hoped so from the belief that General Scott was
soldier and gentleman; hui chen see those state
ments douhy confirmed by his opn cords, it becomes
matter Of inquiry how far man of honorable
feeling can reconcile them to himself, or longer
set up claim to that character.-Are you igno.
rant, sir, that had my order, at which your re-
edjudgment is so extremely, touched, been made
the subject of inquiry. you might from your stand
ing, not your character, been constituted one of
my judges! How very, improper. then, was il,
thus situated, and without a knowledge of any of
| the attendant circumstances, for You to have pre-
judged the whole matter. This, at different times
and, in the circle of your friends, you could do;
and yet had been arraigncd, and you detailed
as one Of my judges Nth ihe designs of an assas
sin lurking under fair exterior, you would have
approached the holy sanctuary of justice! Iscon-
duct like tbs congena with that high sense of
dignity which should be seated in soldiers DO.
som! Is it due from brother officer to assaiI in
the dark the reputation Of another. and stab him
at a moment when he cannot expect it? ! might
insult an honorable man with questions such as
these. but shall not expect that they will harrow
up one who must be dead to all those feelings
which are the characteristics of gentleman.
In terms as polite as was capable of noting,
asked you if my informant had stated truly, if
you were the author of tho publication and re-
marks char ged against you, and to what extent;
| reference to your letter without any comment of
mine, will inform how far you have pursued a
similar course;--how little of the gentleman, and
how much of the hectorng ully you have mani
tested. lf nothing else would, the epaulets which
grace your shoulders, should have dictated diff
ferent course, and have admonished you, that how
! ever, small may have been your respect for an.
! other, respect for yourself should have taught
you the necessity Of replying, at least mildly to
the inquiries suggested; and more especially
should you have done this, when your own con-
structions must have fixed you guilty Of the
| abominablo crime of detraction-of slandcring,
and behind his back. n brother officer. Bot not
content with answering to what was proposed. your
orermeening raniiy has led you to make an offer
ing of your advice. Believe me, sir, it is not in
my power 10 render you my thanks. think too
highly of myself TO suppose that stand at all in
need Of your admonitions, and too lightly of YOU
to appreciate them useful. For good advice l
am always thankful; but never fail to sPurn 1t
when know it to flow from incompetent
corrupt source; the breast where base and guilty
passions dwell is not the place to look for virtue
anything that leads 10 vrtue.--My notions, sir,
are not those now taught in modern schools, and
in fashionable high life; they were imbibed in an
Gent days, and hitherto have, and yot bear me to
the conclusion, that he who can wantonly outrage
the feelings of anothcr--who without cause, can
extend injury where none is done, is capable of
any crime, however detestabie in its nature, and
will not fail to commit it, whenever it may be
imposed by necessity.
| shall not stoop TO a justification Of my ordet
before you, or to notice tho weakness and, absur-
ditics Of your tinsel retorc it may be quite con-
elusive with yourself. and have notisposition to
attempt convincing you, that your ingenuity is
moi rs profound as you have imagined it. To
my government, whenever it may please, hold
my self liable to answer, and, to produce tho rea
sons which prompted me to the course took; and
10 the in,ermeddIing, spies and pimps of the war
department, who are in the garb of gentlemen,
hold myself responsible for any grievance they
may labor under ON my account, with whom you
have my permission to number yourself. For
what have said offer no apology; you nave de-
served it all and more, were it necessary TO say
more. Twill barely remark in conclusion, that if
you feel yourself aggriered at what is here said,
any communication from you will meet me safely
at this place. J
have the honor to be,
Very respectfully,
Your most o5't sv't.
ANDREW JACKSON.
Brevet Major Gcnr. w. Scott,
is. Army, New York.
The above Gen. Scott did not answer for one
month, and then gave his reasons for declining to
Eight with Jackson. From that letter we extract
the following:
GENERAL ScoTr TO GENERAL JACKSON.
Head Quarters LIST and Sd military !
Departments, New York, Jan. 2 1918.
Sr:-Your letter of the Sd uItimo, was handed
to me abont the 22d and has not been read,
might say thought of since. These circumstan-
COS will show you that it is my wish to reply to
you .dispassionatcy."
81 regret that cannot accept the challenge YOU
offer me. Perhaps may be restrained from wish
ing to level pistol at the breast OF fellow being,
in private combat, by Il sense of religion. but lest
this motive should excite tho ridicule of gentle
| men of liberal habits of thinking and acting, beg
leave 10 add, that decline the honor of your in
vitation from patriotic scruples. [!!] My am
bi,ion Is not that of Erostratus. should think il
wodn be easy for you TO console yourself under
,his refusal, by the application of few epithsts,
as coward, &C., to the object of your resentment.
and here promise 10 leave you until the next
war, to persuade yourself of their truth"
By the above extracts, it will be seen that Gen.
Scott refused to fight Gen. Jackson, not by o
sense of religion, for fear that =" motive should
ov.;,o III. r;dicue Of gentlemen of liberal habits