The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1849-03-16
Most Extraordinary Leiler.---Gcn
r. Shields.

date before the people of Illinois for a seat
in the United States Senate vice Sidney
Breese. Gen. S. was finally successful
in the party caucus and of course in the
Legislature, some two months since. A
personal ill-feeling between these two
gentleman had been developed by this
rivalry, (Gen. Shields having been law
student with Judge Breese, but we think
none can have suspected the intensity of
hatred, the ferocity of purpose, which
this rivalry appears to have excited on
the part of the triumphant competitor,
who. since his arrival in Washington, has
addressed to Judge Breese the following
most amazing letter. Tribune.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 22, 1S49.
Hon. SIDNEY BREEsE:
Sir-On my return to this country
from Mexico-broken in constitution,
feeble in health, and still suffering un6er
the effect of wounds, you were the only
man in the city of Washington who re-
ceived me with coldneSs and unkindness.
When the city honored me with public
dinner, which was generously intended
not only as compliment to me but to my
State, you were the only man who de.
clinec to attend that dinner. You went
farther: you propagated report here in
Washington, and circulated it afterward
in Illinois, that was ineligible to the Of
fee of Senator, and this too after had
poured out my blood like water on the
battle fields ofmy country.
You published an article in the St.
Louis Republican charging me with mel
igibility-doing that which thought no
man in these United States would have
been mean enough to do in my case even
if it had been true. You, however, did
this, knowing it to be untrue. On this
subject | have simply to say, that had
been defeated by you on that ground,
had sworn in my heart that you never
should have pro6ted by your success, ,ant
depend upon it, l would have kept thai
vow regardless of consequences. Tha
however, is now passed, and the VOW ii
cancelled by your defeat. Why address
you now is simply this: In 1s4O yol
gave me somethingin the shape of a fina
Certificate of Naturalization in Effing
ham Court. You knew at the time tha
| was naturalized by law, and by the nat
uralization of my father while l was I
minor. l told you the circumstances, ,anc
as then talked of going to Canada il
case of war, you offered to give me Ger
tificate which would simplify the proof Il
case of difficulty. NowI wish you t.
give me letter acknowledging thes
facts. | write you private letter for tha
purpose. should have sent friend a
once and imperatively demanded such
letter but l felt that in disgracn,
you l should disgrace the State tha
made you and myself Senators, ant
| also wished to give you an opportunit
to make this acknowledgment quietly
IT, however, you persist in your cours
of injustice toward ne and refuse thi
request, ] here give you fair warning
Let the consequences fall on your owI
head. shall hold mysefacquitted, botl
before God and man, for the course shal
feel bound to pursue toward you,
Your obedient servant,
(Copy,) JAS. SHIELDS.
The above letter was furnished tn
Intelligencer for publication by Mr. Brees
him self. to which he makes long re
ply, denying the charges, in dignife
manner. defying all threats of ASSESSING
ton. and concluding as follows:
"If it be true that his father was in thi
country and natuaalized is it possible tina
Gen. Shields should know the fact, an
not know the State and country where
occurred? When authentic copies ofthes
naturalization papers, if they exist, coul'
be so easily procured, is it not strange h
should attempt to extort from me b
menace, statement which, if obtained
could have no legal bearing upon tn
subjectl What the consequences are
gainst which Gen. Shields gives me fai
warning, i'll persist in what no sane ma
will call injustice, am equally ignoran
of and Indifferent to. One thing is eel
tain, be they what they may, l have nc
given, nor shall give, any statement of tn
character required, either quietly or upo
imperative demands. In conclusion,
will state, that have neither provoke
nor desired the necessity that has impel
led me to make this communication.
respectfully submit, under the full con
viction that it is called for by the circum
stances. SYDNEY BREESE.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26, 1849" ...
In answer to the above publication, Gen
eral SHIELDS issued card Februar
2Sth.
He asserts that Senator BREEsE eve
since last summer has been unceasins
unremitting and reckless in his efforts
4 blast his (Shield's) character, land ro
me of the only wealth to which I can la
claim-a reputation, thank God, withor
blot" That in consequence of this, o
his arrival in Washington he addresse
to MIN the "private letter" above given t
the public, accusing him of his basenes
That being excited, his language was sc
we're, and on reflection he authorized tw
; Senators to call on Mr.. Breese. and as
the withdrawal of the letter-but it wa
retained. ..8 e....r4-' ~ ..l......
He then closed his card as follows:
"That portion of my letter which h
has distorted into threat Of assassnatio
IsbolI hr; afIv notice The meaos he nae