Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1852-07-03
GEN. SC0TT--GEN. JACKSON-GOV.
CLINTON,

I In Aprll,l6l7, Gen Jackson, the commander
OF the Southern Division of the u. =. Army. Il.
sued an order concerning the government Of that
division. This order was spoken Of by Gen
Scott by terms highly insulting to a brother off
Ger, with whom he had been on terms Of iniima.
cy OF the language of Gen. Scott, Gen. Jack
son was informed by an anonymous letter from
New York, and he Immediately made respect
iul call upon Gen. Scott for an eGplana3io on,
The reply Of Gen. Scott as appeared from the
annexed letter, was insulting and opprobrious.
This letter we have never seen in print, but to II
Gen, jackson replied as follows.
GEN. JACKSON TO GEN Scorr.
Head Quarters, Diuision Of the South.
NASHVILLE. Dec. 8, 1917.
| SIN 81 have been absent from this place a
considerable time, rendering the last friendly
office could, to particular friend. whose eyes
! closed IN the 20lh uL Owing TO this, your
letter Of the 4lh October was not received until
| the LIST instant.
Upon the receipt Of the anonymous commun-
cation ma me from New York, | hastened 10
lay il before you; that course was suggested 10
me by the respect felt Gor you as soldier and
that you might have it in your power to answer
how far you had been guilty OF so base and mex
you had rendered your country, the circumsian-
ces Of your wearing the badge and insignia of
a soldier, led me to the conclusion that was ad.
dressing gentleman. With those feelings you
we're written to, and had an idea been for
moment entertained that you could have decend,
ed from the high and digniied character Of
major general Of tho army Of The United States,
and used language so opprobrious and insolent
hap taI \ .ka ta,
viewed you as rather loo contemplate to have
held any converse with you on the subject. Ii
you have lived in the world thus long 10 the en-.
tire gnorancy ofihe obligations and duties which
honor impose, you are indeed past the time OF
hearing; and surely he must be ignorant Of
them, who seems so little TO understand their ia.
fiueDce.
Pray sir, does your recollection serve, In what
what school of philosophy you were taught; that
to a letter inqulring into the nature Of suppos-
ed injury, and clothed in language dccorous and
uneIceptonable, an answer should be given,
couched in pompous insolencs and bullying eI-
preston | had hoped that what was charged
upon you by my anonymous correspondent, was
uniounded; | had hoped so from the belief that
Gen. Scott WAS soldier and gentleman. .brf phen
see those statements donbiy confirmed by his
oDn words, II becomes a matter OF inquiry how
far man Of honorable feeling can reconcile
them 10 himself or longer set up claim TO that
character. are you ignorant, sir, that had my
order, al which your refined judgement IL SO ex.
tremely touched, been made the subject OF inqui.
ny, you might from your standing. not your char.
acer, been constituted Que ofmy judgesl How
very improper. then, was II, thus situated, and
without a knowledge Of any Of the attendant cir
eumaances, for you TO have prejudged the whole
matter. This at different times and in the cir
Gle Of your friends, yon could dc; and yet had
been arraigned, and you detailed as one Of my
judges, Nth The designs Of an assassin lurking
under a fair exterior, you would have approached
the holy sanctuary of iusticel L. conduct like
this congenial with that high sense Of dignity
which should be seated in a soldiers bosom Il
il due from brother officer to assai in the dark
The reputation of another, and stab him at
moment when he cannot expect ili might in
salt an honorable man with questions such as
Ihese, but shall not expect thar they will harrow
~ one who must be dead to all those feelings
Which are characteristics of q gentleman.
ln terms as polite as was capable Of noting.
asked you If my informant had stated truly, IL
1ou were the author Of the publication and re-
marks charged against you and to what extent,
eierence TO your letter. without any comment Of
nine, will inform how far you have pursued
mar course:-bow little Of the gentleman.
md how much Of the bectoring bully you have
manifested IF nothing ese would. the epaulets
which grace your sholders, should have dictated
different course, and have sdm0nished you that
OweVer small may have been your respect for
mother, respect for yourself should have taught
ou the necessity Of replying Al least mildly, to
BE- inquiries ! suggested; aud more especially
boud you have done this, when your own con-
ructiOus must have fIed you as guilty Of the
bomnable crime Of debacion--of slanderiEg.
nd behind bis back, brother officer. But not
DBlent with answering 10 what was proposed.
ur ouerzceening UsHity has led you 10 make an
iering Of your advice.
Believe ne, sir, II Is not in my power TO rea-
Dr. you nv thanks; think too highly Of myself
, suooose that stand at all in need Of your
and too lightly Of you TO appreciate
ZEN as useful. For good advice | am always
iankful; but never fail to spurn il when ! know
to flow from an incompetent and corrupt source;
e beast where base and guilty passions dwell
not the place to look Cor virtue or any thing
at leads to virtue. Ny notions, sir, are not
ose now taught in modern schools, and in fash.
nabe high life; they were mbided in ancient
ys, and hitherto have, and yet bear me TO the
Inclusion that be who can wantonly outrage the
slings Of ano,her-who without cause, can
tend injury where none is done, is capable of
y crime, however deiestable in its nature,
q will not sil 10 commit u. whenever il may
imposed BY necessity
l shall not slop TO justiecaflsn Of ny e!csr