The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-09-02

thing herein contained give Mr.. Dickin-
son the spleen, / will furnish him with
an anodyne."
Swami showed the letter to Dickin-
son, who was on the eve of flat-boat
voyage to New Orleans. He wrote to
jackson on January 10. Among other
things he said:
"Do YOU pretend to call a man tale
bearer for telling that which Is truth and
can be proved? Mr.. Swami gave me
liberty to make use OF his name. fused
it, and when he asked what you had
said 1 told him. The word coward is as
applicable 10 Yourself as any one know.
shall be glad, when the opportunity
serves, to know in what manner you
give your anodynes, and hope you will
take in payment one of my most mod
crate cathartics.
On the rext day Dickinson started
down the Cumberland river on his way
To New Orleans. On Jan. II, Swami
sought an interview with Jackson. As
the interview was not satisfactory, the
Virginian threatened a challenge. The
General replied that II he sent HIM "a
challenge he would cane him. Swami
declared that if he attempted it he would
instantly kill him. On the same day
Swami sent challenge by the hands of
Nathaniel A. McNairy. The latter re-
ported that Gen. Jackson said that the
observations made to Dickinson could
not by any fair construction be made to
apply to Swami, but if he thought
proper to trim his head to lit the
cap he could not help it. He refused to
answer the note, and said he would be
in town in day or two.
On the next day Col. John Coffee and
Gen. jackson went to Nashville and put
up at WINS tavern. They had been in
the house but a few minutes when
Swami walked into the room. McNairy
afterward said that Swami merely called
on the General to make an explanation.
The General arose from his chair, cane
in hand, saying 81 am glad to see you,
SIR" He struck Swami severe blow
with the cane. Swami advanced upon
him, and in falling back to repeat the
blow the General fell over a chair. He
would have tumbled into the fire place
had he not been caught by some
Southern gentlemen who were present.
They prevented further blows. Swami
stepped back, and put his hand behind
him as though about to draw a pistol.
A bystander warned him not to do SO.
At this Jackson shouted, "Let him
draw and defend himself" The Gener-
al then drew his own pistol and covered
the Virginian. Swami withdrew his
hand from under his coat and said that
he did not intend to draw weapon.
Mr.. Swami then left the room.
McNairy called on jackson that after
noon, and insisted on reply to Swann's
challenge. The General said he could
not disgrace himself by accepting it.
Swami conduct had been ungentleman-
]y, and he would have no correspondence
with him. Ii, however, Mr.. Swami had
any friend known to be gentleman, who
would step forward IL his behalf, he
pledged himself to meet that friend on
gentlemanly ground. McNairy replied
that he thought he could produce certi-
ficates indorsing Mr.. Swami as a gentle
man. Thereupon Gen. Jackson referred
him TO Col. Coffee, and withdrew. In
reporting what followed, the Colonel
SAID that McNairv observed that his own
knowledge would not justify his sup
porting Mr.. Swami as gentleman. He
urged that court of honor should be
called. he acknowledged that Swami
had been mistaken in the original cause
OF complaint, and said that the Gaming
was now the only thing that stood in the
way OF reconciliation. Coffee assured
McNairy that Gen. Jackson's proposition
was the only one that Swami would get.
They separated without coming to an
agreement.
Within two days Jackson heard re-
port that McNairy had said that when
Gen. Jackson had refused to treat Mr..
Swami as a gentleman, he (McNairy)
had observed that he (McNairy) was a
gentleman. and that as such he would
meet him on behalf of his friend. Jack
son promptly returned to Nashville and
called upon McNairy, who denied the
statement in toto. He called for its
author, and Jackson sent for Mai. Rob-
ert Purdy. That gentleman stated DOS
itively that McNairy had made such n
statement to him. McNairy insisted
that the Major must have misconstrued
his meaning. The Major replied that
the words were plain and construed
themselves. McNairy observed that he
never intended to have said such thing.
nor did he wish such an idea to go forth.
"In the future" Jackson replied, "let
there be no misunderstanding. / now
pledge you my word and honor, if any
gentleman on a standing with myself
will come forward as the friend of Mr..
Swami, will meet him on gentlemanly
ground"
Thus baked, Swami rushed into
print. He filed page Of the Nash
vile Review and Repository with his
complaint. Nor did he forget to use
Dickinson's missive. He challenged
Jackson to prove that he was not gen.
tleman. Jackson's reply was published
within fortnight. 1t was even longer
than the complaint. 1t included five
affidavits from men who swore that
Swami was no gentleman. It further
said that Swami "has acted the puppet
and lying varlet for a worthless, drunk
EN-, BLACKBOARD scoundrel." This refer
ence to Dickinson followed sarcastic
structure on McNairy, who made Bit
ter reply in the Nashville ReUieO. A
contemptuous allusion to Col. Coffee