Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1849-04-06
Your obedient servant,
(Copy.) JAMES SHIELDS.
REPLY OF SENATOR BREESE.

REPLY OF SENAEOR BREESE.
The following reply of Senator Breese to
the letter of Gen. Shields, is published in the
National lntelligencer:
Gen. Shields begins his letter by referring
TO the wounds he received in Mexico This
allusion seems quite unnecessary. The whole
country, and particularly the people of Him
OILS, are familiar with the fact that he bears
/ honorable scars upon his person. For these
wounds he has already received liberal share
/ of sympathy from his grateful countrymen.
However, | am not disposed to cavil at this
part of his letter. 1t is matter of taste
that does not concern me.
deny most positively that | treated Gen.
Shields with Goodness aud unkindness" on
his return from Mexico. Immediately on
his arrival in this city, | called to pay myre-
spects to him. and not finding him at home,
[ left my card as is the custom. 4 few days
after this, met Gen. Shields, when his man
ner towards me was SO cold and repuIsiye
that | saw all tamjlIEr personal intercourse
was at an end, and of course did not attend
the dinner given to him. Irepeat that did
not treat General Shields with Goodness and
unkiudness' for | eute rtained at that time,
none other than the most friendly feelings
towards him: and confidently appeal to the
whole history up 10 is time OF our personal,
professional, and political intercourse to sup
port this declaration. As to eligibility to the
office of Senator, | can only say that | prop
agated-' no report" here or elsewhere, in
relation to it. In conversation upon the sub
iect. stated to friend fact, which the re-
corder Of the Effngham circuit court will es-
tahlish, and tbluOd' no matter where or how
poured out,' cannot alter that record,
change the constitution of the United States.
Il, 7
him with .'ineFgibthfy'' in an article in the
ST. Louis Republican,, not only is not true,
but is without any color of truth. | positive
Iy assert, and defy contradiction, that l did
not write, noI cause TO be written, nor know
until after its publication that it had been
written. that or any other article, for that or
anv other paper, in relation to this subject.
Not the least so Of the many remarkable
passages of this letter of Gen. Shields is the
following: Goa this subject | have simply to
say. that had been defeated by you on that
ground 1.-THE ground OF inel gibiIity) I had
s,corn an my heart TINT you should reUer hare
z1rofted by your /; and depend upon 1t,
I should hare kept my cot0 regard less of conse-
guences" Certainly it Is tortu nate Tor the
honor of the country that this rash ''vow"
has been cancelled" by my defeat Gen
Shields submits his pretentions TO a seat in
the Senate to a Democratic caucus of the IL
Iinois Legislature, aud agrees expressly, or
by the ciearest Implication, that BE will abide
their decision; and yet it appears that at this
very moment she had sworn in his heart TO
defeat the will of the party lift had pronounc
ed in favor of his most prominent competit-
or: and in order to accomplish his purpose.
/ he determines TO perpetrate assassination;
/ for such is the obvious import of this language.
Such design and such deed are revolving
to the American mind and foreign to the y
&, merican character. They are worthy only
Of the most Infamous age Of Italian crime
If our political contests are to be mingled
with or followed by, personal violence, how
long will our elective system endure With
out further comment, | submit this exJraor-
binary passage to the consideration Of Candid
men. Christians and patriots, who love and
respect The laws and institutions of our coln-
try, and desire to guard and defend then "a
gainst a violation.
Gen. Shields SAYS: ala 1910 I gave him
something IN tie shane Of q final certificate O
y.aturcHzafior,,' wi ich was ITO simplify tile
proof IN case OF diff :uity.'' The nat lralzl
ton laws DO not rcosn II 80 sth'ng" o