Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1852-07-14
FROM JACKSON TO SCOTT.
HEAD QUARTERs-DVIsIoN OF THE SOUTH, }
NASHVILLE, Dec. 3, 1877. {

considerable time rendering the last friendly Of
fee l could, to particular friend, whose eyes
closed on the Goth ultimo. Owing to this your
letter of the 4th of October was not received un-
ill the 1st inst.
Upon the receipt of the anonymous commune
cation made me from New York, | fastened to
lay it before you. That course was suggested
to me, by the respect felt for you as man and
a soldier and that you might have it in your pow
err to answer how far you had been guilty of so
base and inexcusabe conduct. Independent of
the services you had rendered your country, the
circumstances Of your wearing the badge and in
sigma of soldier, led me to the conclusion, that
Twas addressing gentleman. With these feel
ings you were written to, and had an idea been
for moment entertained, that you could have
descended from the high and dignifed character
of Major General of the United States Army,
and used language opprobrious and insolent as
you have done, rest assured should have view
ed you as rather too contemplate to have held
any converse with you on the subject.
If you have lived in the world thus long in
entire ignorance of the obligations and duties
which honor imposes, you are indeed past the
time of learning; and surely he must be ignor-
ant of them, who seems so little to understand
their influence. Pray, sir, does your recollection
serve, in what school of philosophy were you
taught! that to letter enquirng into the ma
ture of supposed injury, and clothed in Ian
guage decorOus and unexceptionable, an answer
should be given, couched in pompous and bully
ing expressions? | had hoped that what was
charged upon you by my anonymous correspon-
dent was unfounded. had hoped so, from a
belief that General Scott was a soldier and
gentleman but when | see those statements
douby confirmed by his own words, it becomes
a matter of enquiry how far man of honorable
feelings can reconcile them to himself, or longer
set up a claim to that character
Are you Ignorant, sir, that, had my order at
which your refined judgment is so extremely
touched, been made the subject of enquiry, you
might, from your standing, not your character,
have been constituted one ofmy judges? How
very proper then was it, thus situated, and with
out knowledge of the attendant circumstances,
for you to have pre-judged the whole NATTER
This at different times, and in the circle of your
friends you could do; and yet had been ar
ragned, and you detailed as one Of my Judges,
with the designs of an assassin lurking under q
fair exterior, you would have approached the no.
ly sanctuary of justice. Is conduct like this
congenial with that high sense of dignity which
should be seated in soldiers bosom! Is it
due from brother officer to assail in the dark
the reputation of another, and stab him at mo-
ment when he cannot expect it? might insult
an honorable man by questions such as these,
but shall not expect that they will harrow up
one who must be dead to all those feelings which
are the characteristic of gentleman.
In terms as polite as | was capable of noting,
l asked you if my informant had stated truly, if
you were the author Of the publication and re-
mark, charged against it, and to what extent
A reference to your letter, without any COM
ment of mine, will inform you how far you have
pursued a similar course-how little of the gen.
tleman, and how much of the hectorng bully
you have manifested. If nothing else would,
the epauetts which grace your shoulders, sho'ld
have admonished you, that however small may
have been your respect for another-respect for
yourself should have taught you the necessity
of replying, at least mildly to the enquiries |
suggested; and more especially should you have
done this, when your own conviction must have
fixed you as guilty Of the abominable crime of de-
tract'on--of SIandering, and behind has back
brother officer. But not content with answering
to what was proposed, your ouerwee,ing uanitg
has led you to make an offering of your advice.
Believe me, sir, it is not in my power to render
you any thanks. think too highly of myself |
to suppose that stand at all in need of your ad- |
and too lightly of you to appreciate |
them as useful. For good advice am always
but never fail to spurn it, when |
know it to flow from an incompetent or corrupt
source The breast where base and guilty pas
sions dwell is not the place to look for virtue
or any thing that leads to virtue. My notions
sir, are not those now taught in modern schools
and in fashionable high life. They were imbi.
bed in ancient days, and hitherto have, and yet
bear me to the conclusion, that he who, can
outrage the feelings of another-who
without cause, can extend injury, where none is
done, is capable of any crime, however detesta-
bic in its nature, and will not fail to commit it,
whenever it may be imposed by necessity
shall not stoop sir, to justification of my
order before you, or to notice the weakness and
OF your tnsel rhetoric. 1t may be
quite conclusive with yourself, and have no dis
position to attempt convincing you, that your in
yenuity is not so profound as you have imagin.
ed it.. 10 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 intermedng pi,nps
md spies of the War Department who are in the
yarb of gentlemen, | hold myself responsible for
my grievance they may labor under on my ac-
count, wih achich yOu haze my permission 10
lumber yourself For what have said, offer
10 apology; you haze deserved ii all, and more
mere If mere e19.,J IN co,, ooo.o 7 u,;ll