Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1851-06-14
A Card.


The following card is from the Jackson -Kssis-
1sippian:
Some few weeks since. an occurrence took place
between Gen H. S Foo:e and myself 1t a
matter to which did not desire to allude publicly,
and hitherto have refused to do SO. Recently,
however, have learned that various false or in
correct statements have been circulated through
the State Some Of them calculated TO lniure
me very seriously and to involve friends of mine
who have spoken Of it. l, therefore, lay sub
stantiay plain statement OF the facts Of the
before the public, leaving it to form its own judy
nent, and to draw its own conclusions, IN regard
to the parties concerned.
On Saturday night, the 18th. uIt., At about ten
O'Clock, / was sitting in the room with my sick fam
ilv when heard some person enter the room, and
at the same time call my name. l Immediately
recognized Gen. H. S. Foote. l arose and spoke
to him. He asked after the health of my family.
l told him that they were quite indisposed.
felt some confusion that he had entered without
announcing himself, took up the candle and inyi-
ted him into another room. As we passed into the
parlor, he walked to the door and called to some
person in the street. | asked him who came with
him, and told him to invite them in. In short
time Major F. S Hunt entered and invited them
both to be seated. Gen. Foote told me that he had
come upon an unpleasant errand, something to
that effect. | asked what it was. He said that
he wanted me TO give him statement IN regard to
d matter that had occurred in debate between him
and Gen Quitman. After some hesitation, | told
him | had aversion to giving statements about
personal matters. | then related to him what |
heard Of the matter IN question stated that there
were some things, spoken in an undertore, which
| did not hear and that | was of opinion that the
larger portion of the audience did not hear,-that
l had heard several persons speak of the matter,
and they all gave the same version which | had !;
and that he had better call some persons who
sat near the speakers Gen. Foote still insisted
that should commit to writing what | had heard
of the matter. | again hestated, and repeated nv
objection, but-told him if gave any statement,
wanted to draw it up with some care, and that |
presumed some other day would answer his pur-
poses as well. Gen. Foote then arose to his feet
and in an angry tone and menacing manner said
that l should give him written statement before
he left the house. | then told him that if he ex-
pected to cOerce statement from me, he had mis-
taken his man,--that | held no station behind
which TO shield myself from any responsibility
denounced his conduct as being ungentlemany,
and used other abusive epithets in regard to him
He said, if | wanted tight l could get one. l
had no weapons. and, from the general character
of the man, and from the manner in which he was
conducting himself, l believed he was armed. /
went to the partition door To pet sword cane
which | had set there III the evening but it had
been moved, and l did not get it. He asked me
if l getting weapons. | discovered that my
family had become very much alarmed at the noise
we were making. | told Gen. Foote that no gen
tleman would have come at that hour of the night
and unceremoniously obtruded himself into the a
partment of sick family, and annoy and disturb
them he had done; at the time | used
other harsh and abusive language which | do not
now exactly remember. Gen. Foote then apollo
gised and expressed regret that he had disturbed
nv sick family. | refused to receive any apology
but still denounced him He told me that he would
address ME note in the morning. Mai. Hunt
interposed between us and seemed anxious to pre-
vent a dificulty,-he told Gen Foote that he was
acting wrong, and tried to get him to leave. Next
morning, H. J. Shackelford Esq, called and in
formed me that Maj. Hunt very much regretted
that he was in company with Gen Foote at my
house, and wished to me- in order to satisfy me
about the matter. | saw Mr.. Hunt who told me
that he had no idea of difficulty occurring-that
Gen. Foote had asked him to accompany him to my
house, and spoke of getting my statement in the
most friendly manner. He also informed me that
Gen. Foote requested him that morning to apollo
gise to me for his conduct, and to assure me that
he never at any time had any unkind feelings to-
wards me. Maj. Hunts conduct in the whole af-
fair convinced me that his statement was true, and
received it satisfactory, but told him | could
not receive Gen. Foote'S apology under all the cir
CumStanceS
Some may think that made rather bungng
out in receiving and entertaining gentleman Of
Gen Foote'S dignifed position in society, but they
must attribute it to the peculiar circumstances with
which L was surrounded, and my entire ignorance
of senatorial etiquette But having taken one les
son, l will try and be better prepared at another
time. 10. BELL
Jackson, june g. 1851.
The above statement is substantially the same
made by Gen. Bell, in the presence of Maj. Hunt,
and admitted by Hunt to be true
{. X. DICKSON,
II. J. SHACKELFORD