Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1852-07-14
GEN. Jackson's opinion of Gen. Scots.

" hlch the latter is drawn TO The life. This
tho, Of Jackson's was empha.ically.a fire
n the rear" for in this instance Gen.
Scott failed 10 face the music, not out OF
! want of courage. probably, but because
he was clearly in the wrong.
We also published letter from De Wit
Clinton in reference tethe same matter:
From Niles Register, April 10th is 10.
HEAD Quar- TERs-DlyIsIoN OF THE Sourn,
NASHVILLE, Dec. Sd 1871.
SIR:-I have been absent from this place
q conside rablee time, rendering the last
friendly efice icould 10 particular friend,
whose eyes closed on the 2Olh ullimo. -
Owing 10 this, your letter of The 4th of Oc-
tober was mol received until the first inst.
Upon the receipt of The annoy NOUS com.
municalion made me from New York, |
hasten 10 lay it before you, That course
was suggested 10 me by The respect feel
fer you as man and soldier, and that
you might have it in your power TO answer
how fai you have been guilty Of SO base
and irexcusable conduct. Independent oil
The services you had rendered your country.
the circumstances Of your wearing the
badge and insignia Of soldier. led me to
the conclusion that was addressing gen.
,leman. With these feelings you were
written to, and had an idea for moment
been entertained that you could have de-
scended from the high and dignifed charac-
ter Of Mojor General of the United States
Army, and used language opprobious and
iLsolent as you have done, rest assured l
should have viewed you as rather too con-
templible to have held any converse with
you on the subject. If you have lived in
the world thus long in the entire ignorance
of the obligations and duties which honor
imposes. you are indeed past the time Of
learning; and surely he mast be ignorant
Of them, who seems so little 10 understand
their influence. Pray, sir, does your recel
lection serve in what school of philosophy
you were taught; that to letter inqui-ing
into the nature oil supposed injury, and
clothed in language decorous and unexcep.
tionable, an answer should be given, couch
ed in pompous, and bullying expressions?
had hoped that what was charged upon
you by my anonymous correspondent was
unfounded. | had hoped so from belief
that General Scott was soldier and gen.
tleman; but when see those statements
doubly confirmed by his own words, it be.
comes matter of inquiry, how far man
of honorable feelings can reconcile them to
himself, or longer set up claim TO that
character.
As you are ignorant, sir, that had my or.
der, at which your refined judgement is SO
extremely touched, been made the subject
of inquiry, you might, from your standing,
not your character, have been constituted
one Of my judges? How very proper then
was ii, thus situated, and without knowl>
edge Of the attendant circumstances, for
you to have prejudlced the whole matter
This at different times, and in the circle Of
your friends you could do; and yet had |
been arraigned, and you detailed as one Of
my judges. with the designs Of an assassin
lurking under q fair exterior, you would
have approached the holy sanctuary Of jus.
tice. Is conduct like this congenial with
that high sense of dignity which should be
sealed in soldiers bosom? Is it due from
brother officer TO assail, in the dark, the
reputation of another, and stab him at a
moment when he cannot expect il? /
might insult an honorable man with guess
,ions such as these, but shall not expect that
they will harrow up one who must be dead
TO all those feelings which are the charac.
teristics Of a gentleman.
In terms polite as was capable of not
ing, asked you if my informant had stated
truty-if you were the author of the publi-
! cation and remarks charged. against you,
and 10 what extent. A reference to your
letter, without any comment Of mine, will
inform you how far you have pursued a
similar rcourse-how little Of the gentleman,
and how much Of the hectoring bully you
have manifested. II nothing else would,
the epauletts which grace your shoulders,
should have dictated you different course,
and have admonished you, that however
small your respect may have been for
taught you the necessity of replying, at
least mildly to the inquiries suggested, and
more especially should you have done this,
when your own convictions must have fixed
you as guilty of the abominal crime Of de-
traction-of slandering, and.behind his back,
brotohr officer. But not content with an
swerlng to what was proposed, your over
ween:ng vanity has led you to make an of>
fering of your advice. Believe me, sir, it
is not in my power to render you any thanks
think too highly of myself 10 suppose that
stand at oil in need Of your admoni,ions,
and too lightly of you to appreciate them as
useful.
For good advice l am always thankful;
but never fail to spurn it when know j. 10
flow from ar incompetent or corrupt source.
The breast where base and guilty passions
dwell is not the place 10 look for virtue, or
anything that leads 10 virtue. My notions,
sir, are not those taught in modern schools
and in fashionable high life. They were
imbibed in ancient days, and hitherto have
and yet bear me to the conclusion that he
who can wantonly outrage the feelings of
anolher-who, without cause, can extend
injury where none is done, is capable of
any crime, however delestable in lis nature,
and will not fail 10 commi, it whenever it
may be imposed by necessity. shall not
s.oop, sir, to o justification of my order be.
fore you, or to notice the weakness and ab.