Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-07-03


ed to dismiss you from Office. 10 my
confidential letter to him Of the 4th oil
April on another subject on which had
been writing. took occasion TO refer to
the subject Of your dismissal. / assured
the Colonel that in one case his fears
were groundless, and in them the grea.
injustice he had done you to my own
knowledge--that you were too much Of a
patriot to do Ian injuryl or suffer your
own country to be injured by foreign
Government by either Withholding infor.
nation that might be beneficial, or inn
parting il to the foreign power. That my
relations of friendship with you were OF
the greatest intimacy and confidence
that was sincerely your friend, but that
my friendship for officers of the Govern
ment should not interfere with his dismis.
sal Of those who were obnoxious TO him
or in whom he had no confidence. II ap-
pears from your letter that he had COTE.
misssoned Gen. McCalla on the Sis, OF
March TO take charge Of your Office on
the first OF April. His confidential letter
was shewn me on the 4th instant, four
days after your removal. My dear Ma
jor, regret your removal as wei! as the
manner OF it. did suppose that the
magnanimty of Colonel Polk would pre-
vent him from the removal OF any officer
without giving him notice thereol--that
the officer might make arrangements to
hand the Office over TO his SUCCESSOR
You Know, Major, that neither beg for
myself or friends, and # had been in
the habit, it was too late--you were re.
moved. My dear Major, am very sick
and my disease has assumed 6ropsica
type, and how soon it may end my days,
none bu, my God can determ;ae. Moth
ing but the request in your letter and JUS
tice due TO myself and you could have in
duced me to make the attempt to write
this letter. If kind Providence will
permit me to live 20 shake you once more
by the hand at the Hermitage, will be
greatly thankful as well as all its inmates.
Here all are your friends and will greet
you as such always, and all join me in
your kindest salutations.
Your sincere friend,
ANDREW JACKSON.
Mai. WIN. B. LEWIS. Washington, d. c.
From this letter, it is manifest that Ma.
ior Lewis's removal was made without
General Jackson's knowledge or con-
SENT" and that he deeply regretted it, and
the manner Of il particularly, as no, com
porting with true "magnanimity on the
part of Mr.. Polk.
1t is further apparent that Mr.. Polk,
aware, as he says he was, OF Gen. Jack
sons friendship" for Major Lewis and
tina, this dismissed would be unpleasant"
to the General, did not consult the latter
at all about the matter. He merely des.
patched letter 10 friend in Nashville,
containing long lis. Of alleged grievan.
ces against Maj. Lewis "for years, with
a request that the letter might be shown
to the General; and before the letter could
possibly roach its destination, proceeded
summarily and unceremoniously to eject
the Generals ancient friend from office.
As truly remarked by Gen. Jackson, the
deed was done before ho had the slightest
intimation that it was intended. Major
Lewis's removal took place on the 3lst
of March and was undoubtedly and neces-
sarily determined upon come days before,
while Mr.. Folks letter was shown TO the
General on the Alb of April. On tina.
very day however, Genera! Jackson--ig-
norant that the removal had actually been
Vaudeville writing to Mr.. Polk on an
other subject, took occasion to vindlcase
Major Lewis from foul asperslon con-
tanned in Mr.. Folks letter to his friend in
Nashville-the only one, it is evident,
that he thought worthy Of notice out oil The
"long list" which Mr.. Polk in thts private
,oay was casting upon Msjor l.. To El'
own knowledge, Mr.. Polk had done MsJol
Lewis great injustice, in suppos'ng HIM ca
pable of betraying the interests oil hi
country to foreign Govern ment, because
the Minister of that Government hst
CHANGED 10 marry member Of his iaml
ly. Mr.. Folks fears on that point, INT
General assured him, were altogether
''groundless" As Gen. Jackson had con
,inued Minor Lewis in Office and gwen ''
him his unbounded confidence alter lh'
connection by marriage Of near relativt
Of the latter with the French Minister tool
place, Mr.. nolk's imputation on tho integ
rity and patriotism of Major L., an conse
quence OF that connection, was an imputa
ton upon Gen. Jacksen's vigilance, saga
city and discretion. 1t was virtually say
ing to him, "Sr, you have retained IN oil
fee, and are strl DESTROYS OF seeing re
tanned in the public employment, and yo'
have also continued to extend your who'll
confidence, regard and affection, to maj
who is capable of betrayiug the interest
of his country to Foreign Government!
Very complimentary, indeed, to the Oh
General!
In this place, and in connection witt
this part of the subject, we cannot do bet
ter than to insert the following notes, cop
les Of which have been furnished us b.
Major Lewis:
TcoPy.
WASHINGTON, May 9Th, ls45::
Sir:--I learn from a private source ina
YOU have intmated that my removal iror
Office was rendered necessary, becaus
the position occupied was dangerous I
the Government, inasmuch as It woul
enable me to impart information to ior