The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1849-03-14

10 "sianplify proof in case of difficulty or.for
any other purpose. How, then, could |, acir.
cult Judge, have given him any such paper !?
The statement has no fact, legal provision, or
probability, to support il. The truth is, no
such scer,i6oate" was ever given by me. He
may, or may not, have procured copy of the
record of his naturalization under the seal of
the court, and that is the only certificate could
have any connexion with, directly or indirectly.
The 6rst-and only knowledge | ever had OF
Gen. ,Shields's father, either in connexion with
his. citizenship or in any other conneNon, l
derived from an article published in the st.
Louis Republican, short time subsequent 10
the election of Senator. And have yet to see
or hear of any man in Illinois or elsewhere,
who knew that his father was even resident
of this country. General Shields says knew
tha, he (being minor at the time) was natural
lied By the GENERALIZATION Of his father, because
he "tod me of the circumstances"
Suppose he did tell me SO, (Which positive.
,y deny, does that make it so? Even though
his assertion might convince me of the fact
bundle Of certificates from me, no matter how
strong, would be Of no legal value. II it be
true that bis father was in this country and
nataralized, is it. possible that Gen. Shields
should hueu the fact, and mol know the stale
and county where it occurred? When authen.
tic copies of those naturalization papers, 1t
they exist. could be so easily procured, is it not
strange he should attempt to e1tort from me hy
menace, a statement which if obtained, could
have no legal bearing upon the subject.
ss, What the, consequence" are against which
Gen. Shields give me 'fair warning if per.
sist in R,what no sane man will call "inlustice,"
i am equally ignorant Of an indifferent to. One
thing IS certain, he they what they may, have
not given, nor shall I give him, any statement
of, the character required, either "quictly," or
upon imperative demand"
In conclusion. will state that | have neither
provoked nor desired the necessity that has i'm.
pelledama make. this communication. re.
specially submit it under the full conviction
that il is called for by the circumstances.
3, fC SIDNEY BREEsE.
: Washington, Feb. 26. ls49.
The. .subioined is an explanatory letter from
; Gen. Shields:os ~. ~ -s.,-
q .susv.ss., : s,. 4WAsHINGToN, Feb. %, ls49.
\, Il is with much reluctance feel compelled
TO obfrude on the notice of the public state.
ment explanatory of private letter addressed
by me. a. few days ago to the Hon. Sidney
zBreese, and published by him, with comments
sinihe Inteligencer of this day. The facts are
these ;sMr. Breese has heen for many months
engaged industriously in disseminating the most
/, injurious reports concerning me, the only os,
.,tensibie motive being that my friends had
brought me forward as his competitor Tor cleo.
lion 70 the Senate Of the United States. had
been, eyer since my visit 10 this city last sum-
mer, cognizant of his efforts, unceaslng, unre.
rnitiiug. andsreckless, to blast my character and
q rob me Of the only wealth to which can lay
claiu-- reputation, thank God, without a blot.
Immediately on my arrival here wrote him
the letter: he has published, accusing him OF
his baseness. That letter, written under the
influence Of no ordinary emotions, was couched
9 in Language which, under other circumstances,
i would not have used and, upon reflection,
and by the advice OF my friends. authorized
two honorable Senators formally TO withdraw
it. Mr.. Breese declned to yield it up, and the
use he has made Of it shows by wha, motives
he was actnated.
=, That portion Of my letter which he has dis.
Atorted into a threat Of assassination, shall
.brieAygna,ice., The means he used to prevent
my election were of such nature that the com.
petition between us became personal struggle,
and, as his triumph would have been an ell.
dorsement Of his calumnies. my character and
position were involved in the issue. deter.
aniued. therefore. as intimated in my letter, TO
rendee such a triumph unavaing bya thorough
exposure of his character and conduct, thus
turning into moral pillory the position OF
Senator of The United States, which he would
have Required by the vilest misrepresentations.
{, The Interpretation he has put upon this threat
that is,v that had avowed to assnate him
is so absurd that il would be equally prepos.
ferrous oFuiy part TO repudiate such a meaning.
That any sane man can believe would have
assassinated Mr.. Breese,l have no apprehen-
@ sion. That Mr.iBreese ever dreamed OF such
thing, is. totally impossible.
81 Forsthe controversy in which Mr.. Breese
would have involved me other matters,
have no relish. do not think myself warrant
ed, exceptas ia the case of the above statement,
for selEdefenee, in thrusting my personal con.
Germs on the notice OF the public; besides that,
the cosrse Mr, Breese has pursued in relation
to my letter, disentiles him to that considera.
ton which might induce me under other cir.
cumstances TO reply 10 his remarks.
l-a Es4 JAMES SHIELDS.
- .-tis.sg y
a-'sit ~ From the Boston Traveller, March l.
TAENEw MINISTRY OF FRANcE.-A Paris
correspondent Of the Courier dcs Etats Unis in.
dulpes in very discoHraging apprehensions as