The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-03-07
BY Owe RLAND EXPRESS
ToH THE UNION.
Oxs Day On -AdV0ncs Of Uss Nod.


From the N. o. Pcsyune. Feb. ne,
II any injustice has been done TO General Pillow in the
matter of connecting his with the authorship OF the
Leondas Leer,"it has been serious one; and IN so
far as we have been instrumental In circulating what has
been reported in this behalf we shall be prompto send
the antdote after the injury whenever shall appear thai
he has suffered from unfounded charges against hn
What we have hitherto written concerning tins Affair." was
based upon such positive declarations as left us no room
to hesitate in forming opinion in the premises; ana al
though we have not asserted anything upon our own au
thorty We have, under OF such direct ano
conclusive force, been IN the habit OF regarding Inc
charge rather as thing proved than questionable Iact
We have seen a letter written by Gen. Pillow to gen
eman of ,is city, in which he Denies in the most EN-
phalc terms, any knowledge of the contents of the lie
ondas letter. before was sent to the United States
for publication He asseveraes in the roundes terms,
that he had part in it, either in counselng its author
adding to Its contents and he specially denies the
charge that the original letter. in the hands OF Gen Scott
has any nterlineaons whatever in his handwriting
L was the positive declarations of persons who assumed
that they this letter with annoatiens and emenda
tons in Gen Pillows writing, engrafted upon it, that the
charge acquired shape and consistency These aver
ments Gen Pillow pronounces utterly false; and this,
too, in view of military Investigations which, we learn,
about to be had in the matter 1t does scarcely
possible that declarations perempory and unqualified
should be made by officer Of the army about writing
which is shortly to come before court MARTIAL II the
fact otherwise; and we are willing to give General
Pillow advance OF the investlga the whole bene-
fit of his denial, that the proofs, when they appear, may
have their due weight upon an unpreudiced public opn-
The letter from Gen Pillow, to which alIude, en-
closed what purported to be copy oil letter addressed
to the editors of this paper by Major A. w. Burns, who
claims to be the author OF the ''LeonIdas letter. The
original letter has faedto to hand but on the au
thority of the gentleman to whom Gen. Pillows letter
was Addressed gentleman in whose honor we place
implicit conhdencewe insert the copy as though 1t were
the rgina prepared for this paper 1t will be seen
that Major Burns acquts Gen Pillow fully OF all knowi
edge Of or connexon with, the preparation OF the Leon-
das letter" He claims it to have been his own exclusive
production. This declaration on the part OF Major Burns
is conclusive of Gen Pillows innocence of any parcpa
IN the IpOnidaS' affair. tll
adicted by testimony equally direct and more reliable.
The case now stands upon positive averments on one
side which contadced by more positive deni-
ais on the oher-wh this difference that the parties de-
nying cannot have fallen into unintenional mistake
in the matter, whilst those who made the charge may
possibly have been mistaken.
Having thus given to General Pillow the full benefit Of
his own st atementa we have pursued towards
him in regard TO every rumor or report Instantaneous
to him. which have copied from other papers or per-
mitted other persons to make IN our columnswe now
insert Major Burnss letter. promising that besides Gene-
raj Pillows own statements we have also publlshea inc
came to us in authentic manner This appeared to us
TO be not only Just parties concerned but equally so to
the character Of this journal
Cry OF MEXICO, January &c, 1913
To THE EprroRs OF THE PcAyUNE-GENrLEMEN: Having
lately seen in your paper article stating that Cen Scott
has in his the original copy o. nG o. Phi
low and appears that the statement referred TO Is the
canse of renewed attacks the last named officer Tee
myself called upon that such report without onn
dation. - , :;
|
the Delta Gen. Pillow saw the original, certain
ne YER correc ted it, did he ak to write it. lie Is II
no way responsible for it, had hoped Gas lbad no desrt
TO personally before the pubic) when saw The VI
ulent assaults Cen Pillow account OF the letter
that his denial OF my participation in the matter wout
have been sufficient have senced those papers Whc,
attributed to him the authorship
| When Gen. Pillow arrested understood thai II wa
for altogether another But, as learned, AMER n
had received his charges that in them introduced tn
charge writing causing to be written, me Leonida
letter furnished him with statement that was the an
thor of the letter. and that this ac was ready and anx
ions to te sty before the ia which doubted no
would soon Be ordered for the trial of his did no
suppose that any effort would be made to prejudice pub
opinon in regard officer, which would soon be thu
subject of a legal investigation
In regard the letter. 1t contains statement OF what
personally saw and the facts believe TO be substantially
correct AS Gen Pillow during the action, art
had the honor carry several OF his ORDERS 1t contain
more matter concerning him, and of his actions, than
others but Ihnd desire wish prejudice the ePua
ton OF any one, did attempt to give full history
tho battle Of the achievements of all officers engaged
and am constrained believe that the great fault whic
has been found with the production has its origin from tn
fact that reached the United Sates at early dale AM
was the frst echo" which reached the army from thence
As the Picayune has published the assaults upon Gen
Pillow conceive 1t to be than just that II shout
publish this communication, and accordingly request yo
to do ,
a"'' V0'S '''p''A''' 'O A. w BURNS.