The Yazoo Democrat., 1852-07-14

that, hoWeNersmali may nave Deen your respect
for another, respect for yourself should have
taught you the necessity of replying, at least
mildly, to the inquiries suggested and more
especially should you have done this, when your
own constructions must have fixed you as guilty
of the abominable crime of detraction-of slan
officer. But not content with answering what
was proposed, your over weening vanity has led
you to make an offering of your advice.
Believe me sir, it is not in my power to rem
der you my thanks; think too highly OF my
self to suppose that stand at all III need of your
admonitions; aud too lightly OF you TO appre-
ciate them as useful. For good advice am al
ways thankful; but never fail to spurn il when
know it to flow from an incompetent and cor
rupt source the breast 1chere base and gully pas
sions diceH, is not the place to look for rirtue
anything that leads 10 pfrtue. My notions, sir
are not those now 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 wanton-
ly outrage the feelings of another-who without
cause, can extend an injury where none is done,
is capable of any crime however detestable in
its nature and will not fail to commit it, when
ever it may be imposed by necessity.
shall not stoop to a justification of my con
duct before you, or to notice the weakness and
absudities of your tinsel rhetoric; it may be
quite conclusive to yourself, and have no dis
position to attempt convincing you, that your
ingenuity is not as profound as you have imag
ined it. To my government, whenever it may
please, hold myself liable TO answer, and to
produce the reasons which prompted me to the
course took and to the intermedIing spies
and pimps of the war department, who are in
the garb of gentlement, l hold myself response
BILE for any grievance they may labor under on
my account, with whom you have my permis-
sion to number yourself. For what | have said
offer no apology; you have deserved it all, and
more. Twill barely remark in conclusion, that
if you feel yourself aggrieved at what is here
said, any communication from you will meet me
at this place.
have the honor to be. very respectfully, &c,
ANDREW JACKSON.
Brevet Major Gen. w. Scott,
T. S. Army, New York.
The foregoing letter contains Gen. Jackson s
opinion of the man; and it is well known that
there has lived no better judge Of character.-
But the Hero of New Oeleans did not base his
denunciadon of Gen Scott upon mere surmise.
He spoke from knowledge of the injury which
he himself had sustained at his hands.
To this letter Gen. Scott, after months de-
Law rettlrned the fOlloyving answer.
GEN. SCOTT TO GEN. JACKSON.
HeadQuarters, Ist and 3ra Military Depart
menfs, Neto York Jan. ?, 1877.
SrR-Your letter of the Sd ultmo. was handed
to me about the ID, and has not been read
might say, thought of since. These circumstan-
ces will show you that it is my wish to reply to
you diSpassionately."
regret that / cannot accept the challenge that
you offer me. Perhaps may be restrained from
wishing TO level pistol at the breast of fel-
low being, In private combat, bg sense Of reli-
gion, but lest this motive should excite the rdi-
cule of gentlemen of liberal habits beg leave
to add that / decline the honor of your invita-
tion from patriotic scruples III M ambition
is not that of Erostratus. | should think il
would be easy for you to console yourself under
this refusal, BY the application of few epithes,
coward &c, to the object of your resent tulent,
and here promise to leave you until the next
| have the honor to be,
Your obed't serv't
WINFIELD SCOTT.
To Gen. Andrew Jackson,
Commanding the Southern
Division of the u. S. Army.
Here two reasons are given for refusing to
accept Gen. Jackson's challenge. One a sense
Of religion and the other !" patriotic scraples."
But how did his subsequent course comport
with these excuses The facts will speak for
themselves.
In April 1919, De Witt Clinton of New York.
made the following publication in regard to
General Scott:
TO THE PUBLIC.
Gen. Scott of the army of the United States,
having in letter of the I'd of January, 1917, to
Gen Jackson, insinuated that had written, die
tated or instigated an anonymous letter to, the
latter gentleman, for unworthy motives and i'm
proper purposes; and having also concealed the
imData ton from me until the publication OF
aamohlet which reached me on the 18th inst, !
have thought proper to declare that have bad
no agency or participation in writing, debating
or instigating any anonymous letter whatever to
G ell. Jackson-and that | am entirely ignorant
of the author-and that the intimation of Gen.
Scott is totally and unqualifedly to all intents
md purposes and IN all respects. This declara-
ton is made from motives of respect for public
opinion, and not from any regard for Genr Scott.
whose conduct on this occasion is such total
departure from honor and proprIety as to render