WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1826
66
In a few days I will call, and look in the Dept for your letters as directed by you, and let you know the result of my search! Mr. Randolph 10 has returned, and is one of the most cool & digni- fied men in the Senate- I met him, when he asked me most kindly about Mrs. J & yourself- When I presented you to him, he was much pleased; and asked me to express to you his thanks. The Old Dominion will reelect him, I have no doubt. Be pleased to present me to Mrs. Jackson, & say to her that her friends here are very many, and express a confident hope of seeing her here before long! ! Sam Houston P. S. Nothing will be done until I hear from you. Matters do not require expedition! Maj. Genl. Jackson. 1 Jackson MSS., U.S. Congressional Library. Photostat, The University of Texas. 2 .Rugh Lawson White (October 30, 1773-April 10, 1840), jurist, United States Senator from Tennessee. See the Dictiona,·y of American Biography, XX, 105-106. J. W. Caldwell, Sketches of the Bench and Bar of Tennessee, 109-135. Biographical Directory of the American Congress ( 1928), 1690.
8 See Houston to Joseph McMinn, February 15, 1823. 4 See Houston to General Andrew Jackson, July 4, 1827.
~In July, 1826, in a private conversation at the home of John S. Wellford, at Fredericksburg, Virginia, Samuel L. Southard criticized Jackson's defense of New Orleans, and praised Monroe's (who was Secretary of War at the time) skill in manipulating affairs so as to save the city. A somewhat exag- gerated account of this statement was made--and finally put into writing- by Dr. J. H. Wallace. It was carried to Jackson, who became violently angry and wrote Southard a severe letter, sending it unsealed to Houston for delivery. But in his anger Jackson exaggerated Southard's offense even more than had Dr. Wallace, so Houston and other managers of Jackson's parly at Washington took the letter under advisement and decided that for the sake of Jackson's interests it ought not to be delivered. Houston, there- fore, appeals to Jackson not to command delivery of the heated letter. [See John Q. Adams, l\1emofrs, VII, 218-225 (passim); also Jackson MSS, also, John Spencer Bassett, The Life of Anclrew Jackson, II, 394-396.] Jackson yielded to importunity, but some weeks later he sent another open letter to Southard by Houston. This time he merely demanded an explanation of the statements made at Fredericksburg. Southard replied that he had not intended to reflect on the military conduct of Jackson, and there the matter rested for the time being. It was destined, however, to play an important part in later events, for at a later time Jackson had these two letters to Southard and the replies thereto published in pamphlet form. See Bassett, Life of Andrew Jackson, II, 396; also Bassett, Correspondence of Andrew Jackson, III, 342-344.
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