The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1848-04-22
nLEONIDAS n-PHLOW.

We last week gave an extract from the pro-
ceilings of the Court of Inquiry-Nlr Freaner's
testimony, showing that Gen. Pillow knew all
about the Leonidas letter. Our readers, we sup
pose, understand that this letter, which is so
named from being signed "Lconidas,n was wri
ten to the New Orleans Delta, and pulled Gen
Pillow as the leading spirit of the war-as the
originator Of the movements which led to the
great victories gained by SCOTS army, and in
thus magniiying him. detractlng from the merits
Of The other officers.
Below we give some extracts from the test-
mony Of Mr.. Trst, IA brother locofoco ofthe said
Pillow, who by this time is as near "whittled
down to the little end of nothing" as there is
any use in.
Q.-Did You suggest to Mr.. Freaner the ne
cessitv of writing to the Delta office to preserve
the original Leonidas Letter, and did you also
suggest to him TO bring back that letter on his
return from Washington, as bearer of dispatches:
Al made no such suggestion, and regretted
exceedingly, after his departure, that | had no
mace it.
Q-Do you entertain feelings Of hostili tv and
prejudice against Gen. Pillow.
The witness inquired if the court wished that
quest Oh answ cred. The court replied in the al
| firmatve.
A-With regard to prejudice, the only pre-
| iudice that ever existed in my mind with regard
to the person who puts the question, prciu-
dice in his favor. The only feelings of hostality
which entertained, are those arising from
studied attempt on his part TO avail himself OF
| the position in which had been placed towards
linn by his friend, Mr.. Polk, to make me the
! acCompCG and tool in Il scheme Of vllany and
! imposlufe-oi impOsturr towards our whole
country, and villany towards individual officers
of this army, the most audaciols, b. far, that
! have any knowledge Of
! Gen Pillow desired his question answered
the witness was wandering from the poiut.
Al have no personal hostility or prejudice
against him or anybody ess-my hostility is
/ against viIlany.
| Q.--Ilavc YOU, or not, written a letter OF let
! tors calculated and intended to iniure no-and
10 whom
al have written no letters to any press, or
any person connected with any press-or intend
ed to influence the mind OF amy person connect
ed with any press | have written letters which
in one sense Of the "niufc'-were cal
culafed 10 make his character known, and there.
FORE to injurc him. The first of these leters
was written to my family in Washngton--it
contair2d n message lor Mr. Buchanan, Sccrc-
tary Of State, dictated by feelings of kindness
| towards him-and the desire to him Mr..
b. from disgrace. That message was
Gen. Pillow said the message was not called
for. The witness then passed on TO the second
letter, and continued
| The second letter. in order Of date, so far as
! can rocolIcct, Was written about i-past 8
O'Clock in the morning preceding the departure
of the tain by which Gems. Qulman and Shields
left hereafter | had been at work all day and
all night writing. 1t was addressed TO him sole
| y because lie was the only member Of the mill
| tary committee in that body whose name
knew. 1t was enclosed to nv family, with
! these instructions: "Eake IL copy of tins letter,
and as you knew of Gen. DiX's arrival
in Washington, direct it, seal it, and send it to
! the post office. One week exactly after that
time, send for Mr.. Buchanan. Secretary of State,
and show him the copy" The letter was couch
! ed, as well us can reCoect, III the following
terms: beware Of prccipitancy III your contir-
nation of Generals nominations in this quarter;
IT you neglect this caution, it can on ly serve 10
involve thu Senate in a disgrace-a deep, damn
| ing, lneiablc dlsgrace-whch no earthly power,
Or IA II earthly powers combined, can avert" This
was the substance of the letter, so far as ! can
recoIlect, and the terms. There was post.
script to it, desiring that, if my friend, Robert
! Dale Owen, of Indiana, was in Washington, to
| show 1t TO MN. Inc third letter was a long
despatch 10 the Department of State--an OIL
cial papc;, which was sure to go Immediately
into the hands of the president, whom lthought
| it might save from the inatualon that he was
laboring under, by startling and alarming him,
if in no other way. In that official despatch,
after speaking Of Gen. Pillows character
| Gen. Pillow here interrupted the witness
and desired that he would shape his answer to
correspond with the question.
O. The nomination Of what general officer
was your letter intended to affect
| Alt was intended to affect that of Major
General Gideon J. Pillow whose confirmation
had no doubt every attempt would be made
to hurry through the Senate deemed the
general caution, however, sufficient for the rur-
| pose.
GIN the official letter alluded to, did you
use the following language:
"Ot these two dupos, the one was Santa
.fnna, the other most worthy compeer of Santa
lima, go far as he can be made so by the same
low craving for distinction, and the same happy
facility in deviatlng from the ways of truth and
in being deaf to tho dictates of common ustic
and common honesty while pursuing his object
| A person, in fine, whose character in regard to
the reach Of his mind. and the tone of his mind
was most ielicitously and accurately sketched
by friend of mine, in these words: 1T is such
as to qualify him for striving at a county court
bar in tho defence Of fellow charged with