The Southern journal., 1846-07-18


no superior for the command of this
description of force, with l.. Texada,
ED, one of the most prominent
young members of the legislature, and
the talented Judge Bryce, were not,
as you seem to suppose, private citi-
zens. They we're Louisiana volun-
teers, and gentlemen of high respec
liability, and were appointed by me TO
act as officers of the general staff
upon the same principle that the dis
tinguished Edward Livingston, A. l..
Duncan and John X. Grymes, all first
rate lawyers, were appointed by jack
son to act as staff officers.
Jackson's object was, as my object
has ever been upon such occasions, to
maintain the great principle upon
which The defence and The Independence
Of our beloved Union must forever de-
pend; that to be a private Doiunieer is
to told a station Of high honor whence
an artIng general staff may with strict
proprety be taken and put on duty in
he absence Of the regular staff Of the
army.
These appointments, and all the
measures taken by me to which you
object, were deemed as essential du-
ties, and discharged upon principles
sanctioned by the greatest and best OF
men ever known to me, some of whom
took their degrees in military and po.
l,icai science in the school of our be-
loved Washington, Greene, and kuox j;
and in the more civic school of Jeff.
erson, and Dearborn, and Gallatin;
and, though last, not least, in the
school of Madison, Eustis, Dallas aud
Armstrong, Monroe and Calhoun, the
master spirits Of the war Of 1912 10
1915.
Be assured, sir, that will obey with
foil pleasure the orders of the Pres-
dent of the United States, according
TO my oath Of Office. AS to the repri.
mands with which you have honored
me in the last year and in the last and
present month, although they strike
me as novelties not being warranted
by the sentence of a general court
martial, yet l careIessly submit to
them, as they seem to be source of
pleasure to the War Department, and
certainly in6ict no injury on me. !
can conceive but one motive for their
frequent occurrence, and that is, that
my name shall be so handled before
the country, that the public may be
prepared to see with indifference nv
name passed by in silence if more dis
tinguished officers are created in the
army. If this is so, the labor is USE
less, as may very soon be unable TO
discharge the active duties of my pro-
fession, (although long in the enjoy
ment of excellent healthy for / am al
ready old, ola contented disposition,
and have received sufficient distnc-
lions during my humble life. Not the
least OF these distinctions do regard
the late prompt zcar measures of Con.
gress and the President, and the no.
le-hearted LousaniansS aud other
whole .souled western and southern
men, in not only indirectly but ex,
pressly, generously, and unanimously
my conduct iE having for
many months urged the adoption OF
the principal measures which have
recently been carried as if by accla.
nation.
| do not wish to have the place Of
any general or other officer known to
me. |. sir, was born at time, and
reared among men who had not learn
ed the art Of marching to distinction
by :rampling under foot the claims of
their dearest friends or brother SOL
diers.
Very respectfully, yours,
EDMUND p. GAINES,