Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1849-03-08
A Most Extraordinary Letter--Gen
Shields to Hon. 8. Breese.

1t is pretty generally known in political circle, /
tinction in the late War on Mexico, was for Som,
months of last year a candidate before the PeopA
of Illinois for seat in the u S. Senate vice fua
Sidney Breese, and that Gen. S. was finally SUI.
cessful in the party caucus, and of course 10 Tia
Legislature, some two months since. ltwas known
that personal i'll feeling between these twa gp
tlemen had been developed by this rivalry, (Ger
s. having been law student with Judge Breesel
but we think none can have suspected the nten
sity of hatred, the ferocity of purpose; which III,
rivalry appears to have excited on the part ofds
triumphant competitor, who, since his arrival in
Washington, has addressed to Judge B. the FOL
lowing most amazing letter:
WASHINGTON, Feb. %. l84a
Hon. SIDNEY BREEsE:
Sir--On my return to this country from Mexico
broken in constitution, feeble in health, and still
suffering under the effect Of wounds; you venI
the only man in the City of Washington who re
eeived me with coldness and unkindness. Wha
the city honored me with a public dinner, whid /
was generously intended not only as compE
ment to me but to my State, you were the Onlr
man who declined to attend that dinner. You
WELT farther; you propagated report here IN
Washington, and circulated it afrerward in IlnG +
that ineligible to the office Of Senator, an
this too after had poured out my blood like was
on the battle fields of my country. You pubshs /
an article in the 81. Louis Republican chargig
me with faeligibil'ty-doin that which though
no man in these United States would have bee +
mean enough to do in my case, even if it had beer
true. You, however, did this, knowing it to kI
untrue. On this subject have simply to say thu &
had been defeated by you on that ground, l Id
s,oorn IN my heart that you necer should profit II
your success, and depend upon it, / would harE
kept that vow regardless of consequences. Tm
however, is now passed, and the VOW is canceaE
by your defeat. Why address yon now is sin
ply this: In 1910 you gave me something ind
shape of final Certificate of Naturalization
Efingham Court. You knew at the time that
was naturalized by law, and by the naturaizaaaI
of my father, while was minor. told yat
the circumstances, and, as then talked Of gOn
to Canada in case Of war, you offered to give
a certificate which would simplify the proofincas
Of difficulty. Now wish you to give me sR
acknowledging these facts. write you pnrs
letter for that purpose. should have sent fi'H
at once and imperatively demanded such ktaf
but fen that in disgracing you should disgral
the State that had made you and myself SENATOR
and also wished to give you an opportunity
make this acknowledgement quietly. If, hOwe's
you persist in your course of injustice toward y
and refuse this request, here give you fair war
ing. Let the consequences fall on your own h''
! shall hold myself acquitted, both before u
and man. for the course shall feel bound TO pGt
sue toward you. Your obedient servant
Copy JAS. SHIELDS
The following is the reply of Judge Brees''
the belligerent epistls of Gen. Shields. ltis"t
and sensible, and will be read with interest:
Gen. Shields begins his letter by referring tor +
wounds he received in Mexico. This abuse
seems quite unnecessary The whole count
and particularly the people of Illinois, are f'n
lar with the fact that he bears honorable s'i
upon his person. For these wounds he has
ready received liberal share of sympathy n'
his grateful countrymen. However am nOd'
posed to cavil az this part of his letter. 1t
matter Of taste that does not concern me- E
Ideny most positively that treated Gens''
Shioids NTH ,allrao. on his VI