Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-04-22
THE LEoNIDAS LETTER.

In defending Mr.. FREANER from the structures of
Democratic contemporary, brought upon him by
what has occurred before the Military Court sitting
in Mexico, the New Orleans Delta discloses the
manner in which the celebrated Leonidas Letter "
obtained publication through its columns, as follows
sour attitude in relation this trial prevents going
very fully into the facts The case We will therefore,
ourselves with stating the which influenced Mr.
FREANER he has done in the Ia the first
place the Register that Mr. Freane the
OF with the kindes feelings towards Gen. Pillow,
and with strong dee to contribute, 10 the extent Of his
ability to advance that officers military reputation As proof
OF this feeling, need only refer TO the very number Of
paper in which the Leondas letter appeared which contains
and compliment Gen. P's belring at Con-
treras and Churubusco, aording fall reutaton of the
ISLANDERS which had been popagated against him. Entertain
ng this kindly feeling for Gen. Pillow Mr. Feane very pro-
pey omitted send the letter which appears lie the
original of Leonias but placed il away among bis papers
which, by the by, account Of his travelling without bag
gage usually left with Mr. Tns who well supplied
in that respect so much for the original letter.
"In the lime, however, the real Leonidas letter.
which had been copied from the original it went into
the hands Of Mr. Freane and intended for the Union
by hoeus ocus got into the package Of correspond
ent and sent by special courier IL IN con-
sequence OF this and Of the supposed prinafur Of
respondent had before msIed deceived us that
this letter got into our paper When read IT the next
morning, dissatisfied and disguised with its tenor
that wrote 10 correspondent blaming him for transmit
ting 10 such Objectionable documents
Mr. Feaner naturally felt indignant that, after his refusal
TO forward this letter. copy Of should have been smugged
into his package and into the columns Of papea feeling
which doubt heightened by the gross injustice done in
this letter the real hero Of Conteras Pesifor F. Smith
In his defence therefore, Mr. Freaner showed the ogi
nal letter to several officers and denounced in strong terms
the deception which had been perpersted in his The
denial OF Gen. Pillow oil connexion with the affair raised
issue OF veracy between Gen. Pillow and Mr. Frcaner
issue which the latter is the man 10 be unpepared 10
To sustain his position, he was therefore, compelled
preserve carefully the original letter received by him from
the hands OF Gen. Pillow Those who remember the circum
stances under which Mr. Feaner performed bis unparalleled
journey from the city Of Mexico Washington in sixteen
days. will not inquire why be should leave his papers with
Mr.. Trst
"The issue Of veracy being raised between Gen. Pillow
and Mr. Freanc the latter very properly and prudeny de-
cned giving TO the former the evidence upon which he relied
for his justification There nothing all dscredi,abe
the in which Mr. Freaner got possession Of this
letter II given 10 him by Gen. Pillow and after being
read laid away among his papers, which he carefully
preserved Had not the question Of vesciy arisen, would
perhaps have the light The letter Of Leondss
which had preserved, given Mr. Freaner
scna part OF his defence and under the belief that lis pro-
ducon before the Court Of Inquiry would do Gen. Pillow
HARM We do not think this letter written interlned
by Gen. Pillow. is not nj all improbable that he g
norant Of s Transmission That the work Of Major
Burns. We do not desire to take sides pronounce any
judgment upon the merits Of this controversy, but this feel
bound 70 say, that whatever proceeds from James L. Feancr
in relation to this any other matter upon which he may be
required TO give his evidence, will be the truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but the truth"
It is worthy note that Letter Of identical character
with the Leonidas Letter appeared in the Union Of this
city the 2sd Of October under the signature of Vrds'