North Carolina Newspapers

-A v HALKirVn, -mmtii cauouxaV TIIUIISIUY,'JUIY 5. ts7 NO. 28. . 3mi i-. f 1 ; -.X " TIir. STAR,' ; r trivnura tour; ' li r (Mlart per sn mmt a smw w.wu J! Wl ulW nk flflh- r.fil-ll " ,, M-w li.4iKrtIlWr traefirorM -jj'w ' t titT-6 en.t fr each rojii" Ul i-f" t iitar t Ut "stat tit North. Caroltmi, v ,?Hoi Ctaily. , ' v Court of Plr ni1 Qjnrter Sesip.n April Term. 18. - . f r;f rXuiU) '-' Artaeliroeut letied on .1 , . weereev fVlpbr and Ji nn C yirnplr. I cliiS I Mid Hink t ,p k -inc to the asit'tHCtkm of tbw Court, tV.t di-fen. lanf m,ta'K i ot n fchii"unt cf ";'e: " ' were live Conrt ,t i.iblicttio fi h wVi lertkrlr bf ,.,:,. ni !) ftairij'i Str, fo aid dpli-ntlnt tn ..'ir ' wir ""l f oart of Pints ri'l Q-mrter w f" 4mmtt, tlie Co Ht Hpu i V ai!clTroiigh, on the sfetct Ntnn'tny m llr ''it '' rfjJevT the p jwrtT m atiaclil, nr plrt 1 to isilCj 'tPill fiiuil juiluMmt fc.- rnti r-cl r"i hitni nd the property levlert ...liMiiiml to the nluitr!VS -wjttt. ' X T.T.TTF.R vj" fi Jackson. Com-niue luAt'uto it qui-vr t ! Jrmn a titivlar Commit fr. tit ma'ria!?", arrampnuitd Ay itociunimU ' nn i.' p-wlir tU'rrtn tvintred. To Klijali llftyvrsnt, Moen TDairifm, J ho. tiws HciVkr"!"!). .Imei .N. Miller, Tlr tmith mii1 Arthur tlemlric, Committer ' ' roi rcspcnjppc, on behalf of the Cinii!a' i .laottiinn Commits e. , - Uiillemen, In reply to vour noW puUY:&U. c,l in the N:tshviJl,J!cpuh!ar mvlerNtlute Mav 12(h, 182r,' Calling ir Mt'rw tn rer fniii iiewnivrMer charges aeatnOen'-ral .!-trk' jon and hi MyV. 'd, ftrtiarly the charge ti nile irt onft wswspapef of Cincinnati,' that "inthe tmrtiei of 7W, Oeaenl .i.-.icon prevailed upon ;.tbe-',fe of Uw'j l?obarJi, of Mercer ccnu'fJV Kentucky, to tttr;t her husband :iiH''e with himsejl' in the ch'arnc. tf r of wife," and having nh" een the evi (Jenr; hy which tliei KOitor attempts to supjiort t'hi charge, we jiow u!mit to vou a succinct statement of tlie fnts attending the separation of - Lewis uIibMs, ami lus wife, ami the subsequent mah-iage of Mrs. K, ttith dm. Jackson, ami. such evidence --Jfl(mmcntas will probably be sufficient ly satfsfactory to'the public. Before wc proceed, it may be pmpcrto know something of the persons Whose testi mony is sub joined, alluded to, or quoted. Hie character of Gen. James ISivcken fidge, of Kincastle, Va. iff, nr doubt, w. ll Jttiowu to yort; ills said to be high and un spotted) he yas a' member of the Virginia Legislature when Capt. Hubards applied for a divorce, and one ofther.ommittce appointed to examine hi application and report a bill, as stated in the Cincinnati paper.' f a ) Judge Vl'Nairy, whose letter is subiVui'ed, is the district judge of the Federal t'ourt, a tnan of high and unblemished reputation, whose statements may be relied on as most accurate and incontrovertible: those who know himt know, that no considerations could induce him to give the slightest color ing to any part of .his testimony. ("KJ Mrs. Elizabeth Craighead is the widow of the late Rev. Thos, B. Craighead, and sister to Janes Brown, our present 'Minister-to France, a lady of the purest character, with a mnul highly intelligent and cultivated. ( a j Mrs. Sally Smith, widow of OneraHUn iel Smith, formerly a Senior iii Congress, ii lady of unblemished character, and of excel lent good sense., (c. ) Mrs. Mary U. Howen, widow of Capt. William Tlowen, sister of .lien. .Russell and tli e lute (Joh. Russell, of i ivettc county, Ky. a in a, respectable and seni'de la'dy. 'e ') Mr. Thomas' Cr-t--lv-r, the. Trcastire'V of West Tennessee. whAs-i elaraCter f it V.iin esty and veracity ib as high aiidiinqtfesttOned as that of any man in the J ate.-.) " Of Mi-. A. Foster, it i ony.' .rfeosary to say that he. was, for man yeaN, President, of the Board of our t.and Cmi'tiifi'Hieri one of the most honorable and.cortect men of our country, (m.) " Of Judge Overton's character, we need nay nothing; the testimony i' no person.has been resorted to, where there could be any, the si (j litest, question ra..v 1 as to their char acirr". ' " ' '...."'' In making the invesf.gat'on you yished, we have met with some difficulty and delay on account of the great length of time since the ti.cts occurred, and that the public mind, for a great many years, in thh country, had erased to think on this subject. At the time When Mr. liobards separated from Jhis wife, applied for a divorce, obtained it, and Gen eral Jackson married hen when U the facts were fresh and distinct public lopjnion was formed, and the cotemporaneous judgment Of the society, in'which thos?, persons resiiled, came to a Hear and decisive result iij their favor. There, did not existven an injurious suspicion with regard to their previous con duct; to the justice of this judgments thirty even years' of domestic peaces and useful virtue. have given a sanction Which , must operifte upon every candid and" generous mind, with irresistible power." But notwith. landing all thes difficulties, e believe that e are able to present to you a correct his tory of those transactions; ,u ; ,'..t- . In the summer or. fall tf 1788, Mrs, Ro tarda was compelled by her husband, Capt Robards; who then resided 5n Mercer eoun 'y Ky. to leave him; ahd to seek a. home with her mother. Mrs. Donelson, a widow la- iy,! living .about ten miles from Nashville, in, Tennessee. ,- t Dat Mrs. Kpnaros was ctmtueu f t tins Wtnel bv her. husband to leave him, is proven; by judge Overton's testimony by , , wn Kay anct by Mr. 0n wcumnisj tua the was an injured' and, innocent woman, of f iost irreproachkbia cnaracter ana conciuc, wproyen by ; the same persona, and by Maj. Thomas Allen and Cflpt. Joha MeauxitU) cpt. ltobards himself acqutU her,, and ad mitted tha his 'suspicions were unjust. (J.) nthe spring or summe of 1789' Judge Ovenonand Gem Jackson became hoarders Mrs, Donnelson's when Gen Jackson first aw Mrs. Hobards; in the same spring for gum nr, Capt. Hobards, and his wife became -conciled, and lived together atuev mother1 fVI . j .? J.l.-i .-...7..,'.-,. vm. uoneisnn.) ie. s , t a Appendix no 1. b n, 2. rffw.S. , c no e no. X 8, S no. o. j tun m no. 12. 3, IV i I, U9H. I i, nnn.i (, lJi, 9, 1J & 3. 11. 1 " mWbe "' C?., now n arcn rkmt T &. h'Ufc ipn'Oii jpart of ih sibjl U1 qj turn ratra if Jude Otert on. , r W . yt:VMt utWit account r irrevalj tacts riMC trmns:ire4 about tHat tiine. llel fcr -nnt W moot as latsed Wfirr Rtv. fcanla bersfv leakw of Jvckvm, vfcteti "I felt COfcfKbt' a WRjMMtttk feMtlTTWMM. om of hi irrnating uemtiMi m this nbjeet witr his w'.fr, I heard amidst the tears of Lrrvlfaod htr vwiher, who wrr iraatly Cir.teL I wyrd to,.'.Hrd Oi nmanbMes of Ji's tgndict, after the paws I had taken to produce harxony, as a mutual friend of ivth families, and my. hoaeat on wction that itia euipicioo wrra grondU-. Tiiee rr mimtrnc afvme4 otrto htve the desired efTecl. as' much eonMHotion and unhappirss pretaiUxl fn tn family, a in thut of Mrt Hobards in Kentucky, At length I oommunicated to Jaclmon tht nnplrasant situation of living hj a fmiTv jvhere there tfaano much dislttrOMKe, wid concluded,- by telling Vim, that we would endeavor 10 get rmr other plsoeto this he readily assrnted,1 but where to- go we dl I not know. Bewig eonseious of his lnooence, be said, that he would talk to Rohards; '"Wlm pasted be tween Capt Jtoha'tfV an'facktrnvf do not know, as I wai tbu-qtsome wbere.not now recplJetfed, when tl- convervdion and re wifts tnok jilace, but returned soon afer wari, . TV whole affair was rn)aed to me by Mrs llnirUrMi (the moher. of Mr. Ho-S.-irtK) audas . ell as I rt collect, by Jackson hinweif. T!)e s ibstauce f their, account tha 'it. Muon met Cpt. Robanls nrxrthe -.'i i '"7i-e, and brjran mildly to re;mnv : ,' r'l) lum, respecting the injus ' e '.(: 'f ju d fi'i 'vifr a well as himself. , : -itijt -Jtuljaftls .Wetfame violently an. ' . ,fwpc", ati ttbratctml to whip Jack . .iide, l,qw of V.omr ,, c Jackson ' h"c,iie-hH fiot4oddy st cngth to fight ' ' . ! ali'ild he dn si, fEefng conscious I' t-'s ;nie.'cf, 'td fetttrned to 'hleabin, 1 lellit'tr hi:n a time time, th-it'-if he-in-,j h,jv;:i i,t outd girihim gentje ;r':i"ly 'i 'i r . words to that effect, i X' '! I .- '; !n' return out of "ho house, '''n. '.ivd-said) that he did not eare for ; !iiji n r his wn, abiisniaf tliem both -tht .h(- tvs determined not, to live with -irs. Ito l,i'.'.. ..lack'souretiredjfroni the family, add ... ni o t.ve at -aiiskeraa'atiou. Capt. lib t i(X riiiained several months with his wife,' and hen went to Ke ritcfey.ln company' with Mr, Thumss Crutdier, and probably some other persons " "; , " V -.i ., .: So. fiir n 've have been able to ascertain by inquiry, this is the only terca.tion thtt ever took place between .Gen. Jackson and Capt. Robardsj ttf. Cfutehef savv" I never heard of Gen. JacHson and Capt. Hobards havinganv quarrel of -rnisunderstandme ':t he one, nor do I believe thev overdid." (.) ' This difference or .quarrel, wasv in asser tion of the injustice, (as declared by Gen. Jackson;) of Capt. Itobards' suspicions against him: G.-n. Jaekson seems hTcnediaiely to have left Mrs. I)onelson's; Capt, R)b(rds and his wife lived together several months after wards, in apparent harmony (m.) t Ii the month of May or .Tone, 1790, Captain Robards left Mrs. Oonelson's to go to Ken. tncky in company with Mr. Thomas Crutch er, with the owwerf intention'-of returning and settling in Mrs. Donc'son's neighborhood, rhich had been made one of the terras of reconciliation by Mrs. R. though ra his de. termination appears'to have; been never to return or live with his wife again, but to de. sert.'her for ever; (n.) and n fact, never did return or see het again. For this part of the testimony we refer you to Mr, Cmtcher's statement.- 'i '" ' , ' . frs. Hobards lived at her mother's during the whole of the summer and (all of 1790, or perhaps occasionally at Col -Hays' who had married her sister. ,,In. December, 1790, t while Mrs. ftobards was living at her mo ther's, where Capt, Robards left her on his departure For Kentucky,) apt. l?obards ap Tilied 6 the Legislature ;-of Virginia for a di. i rtrce, upon the allegations that his wife had .deserted him, &c. upqq, which, the Legisla ture authorised a judicial inquiry,' and a di vorce, 'iffound true. , " Vh,etTc?i' the suspicions of Capt; Robanls at this period.were just, and whether Gen. Jack son had iij'fured i'apt. Robards in the htanner which his jealousies suggested, are faqt as to which, we, will presenyoy with such cirCuim gtapco! testimony and conclusions, as we can obtain or arrive 'it: '','.' ' . Here we wilK remark, that if true,, it is a charare which should be affiirmatW'tly proven byrleai' evidence of specific facts. Those who make the' charge, rely on the act uf the Legislature of Virginia.the legal proceedings in Kentucky, with the uubsequent acts of the' General an'd Mrs. Jackson. The decree of Mercer countj cnur and what loccured subsequently to the act of the Lep!ature Of Virginia, shall be considered presi ntjy, . ... , That Capt, Robards, was lealous or suspi. clous, would probably weigii but little, as he was predisposed that way, x seems to have en tertained those feelings long before, in a most violent degree; most Unjustly. 1 That the Let gislatpre of Virginia passefl the act, whic,ft has been referred1 to, .will pot probably be consi. dered in any degree as tending to prove the justice of the charge against Mrs.. R. by her husband, because the Legislature clearly was not satisfied of the truth of any charge mado, and referred it to further inquiry by a court; but of tjjis you will be satisfied by reeorrencc to General Breckenridge's letter, of which' we will here quote a part. '-.; I was a member of the Yircrtnia Iesrislature' in the -session of 17901' when- petition was presented in befjalf of Mr. Robards for a thvorce. lie was saivt to be H resident in one of; the counties ofthe district of Kenlucky, then a part of Vir ginia. It Was, I believe, the second instance of an application for a divorce that had been madeto the Legislature; very certainly the se cond, that I had been called upon to vote. I was a young man at that time, and the deep impression, made ou my mind was, the nov elty and the importance of the cast, combined with the interest which IfcH tn behalf of the female concerned--remain with great dis tinctness!'. Mn Hobards vas' represented to be a1 man of vile wild habits, and harsh tern per, Ui wife Jpvtly and htvmeitt in her dispo sition and deportment; so Cruelly treated by her husband as to make a wparatmn necessa ry to he Jiappinessj It was" under iinpress iuns prcduced by aatate cf facts like tliese, that I voted for a judicial inquiry on the sub ject, which I always understood eventuated in f Mri Uofjarda alleged incbnlinency in his wife as it ground of divorce, and 1 rather think that he did,- I am.-very sure that 1 thought her i;wcf, and that tny vote was in tended to liberale her, as the injured party .J ( e AlfentH no. fi. I; i 6. m Hit. 6, H. n nrni. 6, Id U aJ taYK WVwBl trt'rmr:'4tmih4 te'sfesewaat th tw ik Col auntiu ia M-k iwmIiIm . m h elccttl. m t tM kd-i efrapt tbttW aad e cWni ada a pumtC.. Jaekaoiw' . .. . i , J irM,tla it niigq,iiciini nim,iii i vncicai ana ma fonfi.lcntl mfimacy with him, states. bis soVmn, elear behei, that Mrs. R. a is no , ent, and nut nnhiatly Mwpected,- that tch was the twsuK of h' own ebervmtioa, and sue! were, al all timts, the t4fnn ajaevers. tK of General Jackson during t't period, smlat a1 times since fpj- 'Mrs Crajrhrad. Mra.9tittta.anil M nowen had ih beatov porttmiries at 'twLnnr correct In in aneakivr of Kn. R's conduct duriue the period which elapsed from the time she came from Ken tucky, and of the in justice of U's suspicions, Mra.'C ssyi, M ha no tirsitatUjn in vtating It as my firm belief, that his (Capt. It's) sua. picioos were entire!; fxindhrsai no lady e rer conducted herself in a more becoming manner, during the whole f that period; I hat -lived within a few miles of Mrs.!Jk aon's ever since that time, (with the excep tion of khotit two rears,) and have been inti mate with her, and ean sav, that AO lady main, tains a better character, or is mce ese'mplarr In her deport inetil, nr more beloved by her friends and neighbors Cq.J . , Xtrs. Smith ys, ''an the circumstances at tehdinn this rupture, I cannot attempt to S'ate with much particularity at thia lal dav; hit it .is hardly possible, considering tbe free and utrservel mrercotirsf that prevailw a mongsi all the respectable classes of people here at that time that an incident of this kind should occur withi-.t being fully indgener ally known; and that every "rterson should roncur in the same- views nrtnn its character, without the best reasons. In lids transaction, Mr Hobards alone was Ceiisureil. and 1 never heard a respectable man-or woman in'i'pste, thst 'he conduct of bis wifediffered from that ofthe most prudent andvirtinusf-uvdiv tJen. Jackson hoarded at the time in Jhe hoiis of Mrs. Donelson, and it was the ciimnton belief t'at Ins character and standing, added to hi engaging f.-i-rh"."' nt u. erh 1np th:? t:. ' ii' r Roliaifls, addtot' t 4 i Hj was. i riofiH habits ar.d the most eidalataspicions ' f r.J - :VA; Hre Bowen savs. " in this trsnsictton, frei feHnq1 to the ies'ousy of Rnhard-i and h?s last separation trom in wite.l I "'an sai-'v ssv, from mvlnHmacv wih both M. none:onJ and her daughter; Mm.-Robards. as weft w Genl Jackson, that not the least censure ought to be thrown upon aviv orrson hut Mr, Robanls. When the rircumstanee s happen ed this was the language of a'l the county, t id I never heard, until now, that then' was anv person living who had, fi-im a hna-aifiliff of the fnrt ener'ained a different oninion. eeept Mr. Robards h'mse!1'. n whnsr'weak and childish d'snos'tion I think the Whole af fair originated." (.: . ' , From this testimony, concurring with the testimony of all tire other perns whose statements are' subjoined for vonr eiranvtia tion, thet'e seems to he butane possible com elusion -that the chartremade on rn Jack son was unfounded, and Mrs Jar ksnn perfect ly innocent; but of this, vou and the public will juUte, and perhaps more satisfacton' up on seeing thn further progresi of this affair and the testimonv connected wi'h it Some time in the month pf. Januarv, 1791, Mrs Robards descended theriverto Natche, under the protecion of Col. Stark,' an old and respectable gentleman, Gen, lacksnn aeoom paitied Col."Stark and Mrs. Rohartls to Nateh ez, and so soon as Gen. Jaekson saw them saftdv landed ,at Natchez, he immediately re turned to Nashvillewas at the May Superi or Court, and attended to business as Attorney General, Mrs. Robards, during her res i.'ence in the neighborhood, lived principally in the family of Col. Tho. Green, and Col.Bruen, families as highly respectable as any in that country. The causes of this journey bv Mrs, Robards, and the .reasons which induced Gen, Jackson to accompany Col. Stark, we . will give literally in the language of the testimo ny of Judge Overton, and Mr. Crutcher. Judge Overton says, w some time afterwards, during the winter of 1791, Mrs, Donelson told me of. her .daughter's intention to go down the river to Natchez, to some of her fritnds, in order to keep out the way of Capt, Robards, as she said he had threatened to Aunf" her. Knowing, as I did, Capt. Ro bards' unhappy jealous disposition, and his temper growing out or it, I thought that she was right to keep out of his way; though do not believe that I so expressed my self to the old ladv, or any other person." . : f " The whole affair gave Jackson great tin easiness and this will not appear strange to one as well acquainted with his chararier as 1 was: continually together during our attend ance on wilderiess courts', whilst other vourtg men were indulglngln familiarities with fe males of relaxed morals, no suspicion of this kind ofthe world's censure, ever fell to Jack son's share In this in his singularly delicate of honor, and in what I tho'ughl, his t ch-.nlmna . nhhHnnf thKfemale. e. It 1 alwavq orrurred to me." that' he Was disfin. guishable from every other person with whom I was acquainted. . ' . " About the time of Mrs"., Donelson' com munication to me respecting her daughter's intention of going to Natchez, ! perceived in Jackson, symptoms of more than usual con cern. I determined to ascertain the cause, when he frankly told me, that he was the most unhappy of men,' in having innocently, and I unintentionally; been the cause ot the loss or the pedce and happiness of Mrs Robards, whom he believed to' be a fine1 woman. . In this I concurred with him, but remonstrated upon the propriety of his not, giving himself any uneasiness ahout,it It was not long after thfs.before he communicated to me his inten tion of going (o Natchez with Col. Stark, with whom Mrs . -Robards was to descend the river sayitig that she' had no1' friend ,or relative that would go with her, or assist in preventing Stark, his family, and Mrs,. Robards from being massacred by the Indians; the il tit a state of war, and exceedingly troublesome, A ccord Ingty, Jackson in company w ith Miti; Robards and 'Col. Stark; venerable ' and highly es teemed old man, and friend of, Mrs. hobards, went down the riser from Nashville to Natch J ez, some time in the winter or spring of 1791. n was itoi, noweverj wuiioin. mc urgent en treaties of Col Stark, who wanted protection from the Indians, that Jackson consented to accompany them, of which J. had heard, be fore Jackson's conversation with me, already tended to,'' j Jlr, Catcher .say Capt, Rob ai ds never, to my knowledge,-returned to West Tennessee, or what , was then called Ctfmberland It was reported, however, that htf threatened to com and take his, wife t Kentuckyimlcompel,her,to Hre-therei. She, as well as all her friends, .was very much Op posed to this, and in order place herself be yqtid his reach, as I understood at the time , -fcJ i-ui ,tilr fw. 13. q m,fl. r no. 4. no. 5i '4 Stack's p"ekMi ta Kttetira, H was hs ri'r, hf fwrlMip Jarmtry.beweCol.tta'k euU get ent:thhi farnilvj Gen. Jartsoa aVi wep alog; a,t afiev they kiklej at Sai cites, im ,eral nturacvl v lint ceu- Uf Cfc) - v . - ., Id the winter or apriog of 1731, infurnwktioa was yrcoirH at JCaaiU that Cant Robaids hwl obtained. divorr fhw tkta Le4laiwe of Wgimas lh was the belief of all persona m tht 0O4'try. Vr. Crete her aava, I do w ktiw how t hi In formal ion rrK-he I h eonn try, but It sraj generally .'indeed, believ univenaJly, reBed on as beipg correct" Judei Ovrrtoa'a arirouitt is snbtnt'.ally the same, and further, that in the auianwr of 1791, he was in Kentucky, remained p'artof hit time told Mrs. liobrtla',fc iwvev understood other wise than Uiat Capt, tiibrds' dioro was fi nal ttnvl the latter part of tbe year 1790, (a.) Of the strength and universality thisnpintofl, theh: can H m doubt, fpon the receipt and general belief of thia Information, Gen. Jack sob, in July r August, 1791, returned to Natches In compaoy with Mr. David Ura driek marrietl Mr, liobards, ami returned in September 1791, to J'ahvitle with her., . . , . These txaaactiona, would seem, under the ctrtumat ance accompanying llitm, to require no connent, and could not fairly be subject to misconstruction, when the -eha'acter of Gen Jackson and the coMuct and character of Mrs. Jackson are in the slightest degree understood and appreciated; but we will a gain call your attention to such testimony, as will be entitled to the greatest and most "con clusive weight in public eatimaiitwa. , We cannot do uiatic to Judge M'Nairy's testimony,' but by using his own M orda . Gen, Jackson & rays. If have been acquaint ed more than forty years, 1 think 44 or 45 years; part of th tine we lived together, and the balance in the0 immediate neighborhood of each other. We moved together from North Carolina to this State, and-arrived at Nashvilh in October 1783. Not long if?r e came here, I as inform ed that tri. , Wksun and her then huand liad bti vp:iriiel in the State of Kentucky. kiew Gen. Jackson had never seen her un lit this time, sn l I do no think for some time afterwards. About '.his time I was informed that Robatds and 'ii wife were living very un-hapnily-af htft idowed mother's. The'pub'. lie report and impression, I trav, was, thai Robards was treating her cruelly, hy charges toa"J n-'wii jealou imagination alone. " As"to the particular facts, which took place, that produced the second separafjan I have no knowledge of my own I can only Speak f what was the prevailing opinion at the tirne a Rut this, much, I can say, with as much phsitiveness ss any man tisiv when speaking ofjRnother. that from, "mv1 particu Isr acquaintance with, him, I believe Gene ral Jackson was, at any period of his life, incapable of seducing 'any, man's wife from him " ' - , "I haveknqwn Vtrs. Jackson for nearly for ty years. No woman, for that time, has sus tained' a more irreproachable oharaeter than she has; hospitable, kind, and charitable. The evening pf her days was hastening to a close, m much peace ami comfort.1' (a.) . 'i.We will also trouble vqii with quotinir from the testimony of Mrs. Smith, on Account of its Own weight, and more particularly as giving the sentiments and opinions ofthe Rev. Thus. U. Craighead, known to most literary divines as oneot the ablest anri most enlightened cler gymen in the Unfted States; Vnoji'llto all.his acauaiiitauee as a most pious and good man, and one who . had the best opportunity to judge correctly or tne true character ot those transactions, and of Gen. Jackson and Mi & Jackson. Mrs, Smith states, " Mri Robards had not been long gone from, Tennessee when information was received "here, that he had obtained a divorce from his wife. ' Whether this informatioii ,'came by ' letter," or bv newspaper from Virginia, addressed to my husband, I cannot now eay with ctrtainty, but I think by the latter. ' It was after this information came, that Gen.' Jackson married Mrs. Robards; and I recollect well the, ob servation of tha Rev. Mr, Craiirheiid in tela- t on to the marriage; it was, 'hat it w'as a hap- pv change. -.tor Mrs. Kohards, and highly ere ditable to 1en. Jackson, who, by this act of his life, evinced his -own magnanimity, a well as the puritv and innocence of' Mrs. Robirds) and such was fheseniiment of all my acquaintances. .' 1 t ,' vt" Since" this period, 1 luvelived Wilhin a few miles of Mrs., Ja'.kscn, and have never been acquainted with adailv niore enemplarv in her deportment, or one to whom a greater share of the. respect and regard of friends and acquaintances not be awarded" tb. ) ' ' The testimony -of Judge Overton, Mr, uvutcner, sir. AtiTnotty roster, and others, accompaiiying this letter, proves substantial!)' the same. V .' ' i ; In the .fall of 1 793; Cen. Jackson for the first tiniev understood -that the act of the Legislature of .Va only nuthorised a judicial inciuirv and decree of divorce, ahd that, such PloceedinEs .hld beenHaken- in the Mercer quartet! ?srsston court, an that w uivorce M11 beep granted iu Sept, 1793, tie was then, inj-Jaiiuafy, 1794, maificd again to Mi jacKSMin. ,,. , Of this judicial procecdipg and decree, it Jwill only be necessary to remark, that we hare' given you such 'evidence as will satisfy you of the ' trite state of the facts, and the in nocence of Mrs.' Jackson; such as shews that this proceeding ''.was ;entirely ex parte, vaud wbout any knowledge ofitby Mi-s Jackson or en. JacHson; that al th time when the offence was charged ' in thepetitipn to have taken place. Vim July 1st, 1790 Mia Robards was living at her mother's, where Robards had left, tier and . where he had ptomised to re turn to her. Hut in addition to all this, we have the strongest reasons to believe that Hugh M'Gary, the only 'witness who seems to have' beeu'introduced on that inquiry, n--ver saw. Genv and ' U'...JckBonitcgcther, until .the mpnth otjSept, I79V after iheir marriage-"atjlatchez, when they were living together as muniexl persons, in the' most fair, honest,' and innocent belief' that "they weie lawfully, joined? in wedlock." Jlngh M'Gsry came through the Indian country trom Match es to Nashville, at this same time and in the same company in which jiGener'al and! Mrs. Jackson came, in Sept, 1791,' and eirumstan. ces then occurred calculated to. exdite in M'. Gary a stronger 1 feeling of dislike towards lien.' Jackson, which it is . unnecessary . to detail, as ..they ' K'lsted mlefy to a meditated kttack, by the Indians, -,,,'.,. llte petition for di voire seem not to htve been filed until the fall ofl792-i-tt:d gep. 1793,' andthereda much greater probability, upon an exparte hearing, that the tcatiniotiy off Hush M'Gary was not very accurately ap- plied, .or confined to the allegations jn the declaration,' . than fihat he swore tflat whicti was untrue; wliich must have been the ease f : 13, ft.1 n no.l.l, ya no 3. bd h'm iriJsart agreed U1 tW dltaratMSu . W e fca jmw, gvntkMea, la4 ber o th beta eecstsl vwxb GewenJ Jaehtoa'a - of bia JaJy. Mock., mw -tomimmuy mM nt aeew pooueed, if MsesMrr, prwitg th. m,m U mntuUf, Im.i , o-.r rit M ,,'y i) ne ha., snt wob wa rflctingf.Vw fr,rt-w vraJ M OwHv,, .tk t).S. wtiKh we prt-senteJ. Th the mMl Mr Jack, a4 '.miN. r.v , aily for thia ctnirst. the mentors fthia Cos, and smied tba n-nt, vn. W a pwttet ba fJt with deep rryerV oux, rrmaesaw. . sm Hi" il rc.d hem, caaot b VtoprMd that , Auwi'v UwUw I r f' wrtl " , this regret, should wamW basmoosiace .-"J"' ' i:t- bad a inn w f V , "e of t lve aMncialed with General "'J?''0" - about Mf-nty ve, .. Jackaua and kit f.n.Uy for mor, than tWrtyi, J,a3 5r;,'?U,r ! Ifcinag Ihrse perwa. srw aad fcrmlwa' Vh.ehst if 1 Mrs li 'otlo 'Ha ,' ' have met xir d..nguuhed eountryman, and 'mmW of M-a. J Uw, watf with m a.Meui4i( . hm pumi charitable and amiable Mt, in the' and kr suwtm h svMtjty aa tfviortn t'a . most elevated ranks of society. In this pro-' of o niher K n tkaaaant-r., Sbo r peof-d tracted scries of year we lisve seen M'rH gra wkl : h lived, and uird i the h-pe comroanuiBg tno respect or all men, awl (lie . w- '-aurr, f eothushstic tUchment of"hls frirads. v3 ? M's. JarUan.lhew Mrs. R we Uv aeciu desrrving and enjoying the i leoia Keatak acuaiataiKes.4.X and, tht nquaUbe4. and eaatted regar.1 of th boooralle moral, and religious tneo of) our country. '. 4 ' J , I Tho result 'of.tli's inquiry must placet' j character' cf Mrg Ja. kson upon that baa where it has tefled for nearly forty years,' in incaocicr wiR'tc ice n is uve anq eeh oeat knowp. It must show. f Jckm In tb! part, of bis history, sustaining that high char-' acterfot honor and magnanamity, which has distinguished his course through' life, ' To the honorable and high mimled politi cal opponents of Ce.ii. Jackson, tliia result will bo received with great pleasure such persona must,,at all tiire, have viewed this attack itb pain and rtissatisfaqtion. ' ' , . .- .. . B. C. FOSTER, , , . . , '. Chairman pro tenx. j v., , " JloKtrt ffbyte, . - v , : rrhtirton -' iFvifimtt. - , "Danltl frrnhmn, , . . jyULL Brown, s. Alfred Bafch,' , ' "jP'hpctrd Hard, II Hi-.. Lewis, , ' fidix Robhsont , ' ' ' Jno.y Shelby, . ri Jnurth fticol, t Jit, Catron, . . 1 Nelson Pattersok, Secretary, TThe-' undersigned has not signed or acted on this subject tor tho envious reason that his ' testimony has been given and used. tt , JOHN M'NAinV. ' I have not. signed, it for the same reason 1 , v ,..') JXO. OVERTON,', , ! I NO.; J.J vf '!. nn : ' fe ": -rjHcutttt; April 8,1827 -Dear 8m--Ij have had the honor of le.usiv nor your tetter of the 28'h ult; and hasten to : say, in reply , to It, that it Is' utterly out of my ; I'wwqi w give vu wiwi t.t;ui MiVj me papicu la . facts and circumsiancet in detail of the transaction alluded to,' ' Such traces of them,,; however, as a lape. of near forty years, has left upon mv memory. I will state with area I nt.jir. . ... . . .f. pleasure. . "-..', r i I was a member ot the Vlririoia Legislature. . . .. I ' . ... .. , .. , rj.'l'v,1"""!' i liracuTH im ui iiu uf a twr. ' nooaros tor, divorce. lie. was said to be a resident in one of the counties of the District of Kentuc ky, men a paii oi irgima- it; was, b-.-heve the second instancef an application for a divorce that had been made to' the Legisla ture; very certainly the second that 1 had been., called upmv to wtr.'.i l was a young man at that 'time, .and the deep impression made on my. Vnind waa the novelty and Im portance of the 'case,', combined ' with , the, interest which I felt in bebalfof the female concerned-remin witli irreat diatinctnes. Mr. Robards was represented to be a man of vi i e nvu'i n'toiis ana uarsn semper, ana- Ills wife lovely and blswlcsa in hor disposition ami deportment, artd so cruelly j treated by her husband as to make a sepiration ticcen. sary to her happiness. It was under impress ions produced by , state of facts like these t that I voted for a judiciallnquiry on the sub ject, which 1 always understood eventuated in a diorse, , , ,' 4, , . If Mr. Kobarda alledgrd inconsistency in bis wife, as a k round, o! divorse, (nd I rath er think that he. did,) am very sure that I thoitght her Innocent, and Jhat my vote was intended to liberate her, as tbe injured par ty. ). , y a .v, T" " Since Gen. .Tacksoh has becom lo'dUtlh guished ; militsr'y pian, I have understood that Jus wile is the same, Mrs. Robards, of whom ' I have been speaking, and 1 very of ten, when that," subject has been referred to in conversation, given the same account of it that you got,, from Dr. Sim'.a coming from me I now rejoice that I have m an agen cy in enabling Mrs. Jackson Ho", form" new alliance witft soldier. Who ftroucrlv arinre. dates Jier worth, and treat her1 with that generous feeling;' which js due to the best portion of our race. ;'"",. , f W itu much esteem, &c. I am your obedient servant MMia IJHECKESRIDGB ; f . No. -a. , , ,'-'-,' VV"flsAWVW J 7th, 1827. I)ias Siai You desired ne to statc-miv knowl edge mid opiniun of the prirate character of Gen erai iacKsou, as it itifcij ins couuuel In hit connexion and hitei-nuirince Willi Mrs, Jackson. General Jackson and mvselfliave been acquaint- ed more than, forty yearn I think 44 or is years; part of the tinie vte lived together, and tho bal ance ia the immediate nuighliowliood of eauli other: M e moved together trom ISdrth Carols na to this state, and arrived at Nashvilltiin Oi tobrr, I7SH. '. v',-l: Not long after we eame here, I was informed that Mrs. Jackson . and her then biliaiul hs! been seniunled In the Ktate 'of Kemuckv. I know Geo. Jackson Itsd.never cen herv until j tin mire, bl uw iu)v. iioniw iw aontw unie miiuih wam ADOUttiiisiimc4auiormetiUiatKoUri ards and lus wif'.werolivin!!' verv uidiamiilr at . W widowed motlier'v:, TJe public rt'iioiland iiijircwivti,.! umi, ivdunrnn was iiTu,i 11117 licr . viut:ii, , ii. jealous hwaghuttion i As to. tiHt -psi wuiar Uiut pronuueu tlie knc-wleilge of iuj: oit I ancnly hieakof what was tne prevailing opinion at tliu timo. t ljut tin niuthlnx! say, with as much posmveneis at any dibu ran, kimu-ai attentions of her frmalt tunigrriunnutii is iip owu ( pvnti o poor n uitis, auoiKTefl as ne was, to i. t ilone. .. i, , ' l eious habits. and the most ehttdlsh lmsn5Win -seeon" senuration. 1 hne no Tennessee. w!ie.n yiformation wss recnivett tn i, heti speaking ,ot mother, that from band, I cannot now say with certainty, 'but I think' -tienlar ' teiiuuumnpn, a Mh Mm; I Jietieve ;'bv the latter.-v -It was after thia tnfor qtion taina 1", Jaeksoii' was at any period of his lile,) that General Jaekson marrlei) "Mn. KoUrdsC " ' my par General IncapsLIe oP seducing any man's wife, from bim, v Ihaie kuon Mrs, Jaekson lor nearly forty years. No Wirfnsn, for that time, has sustained a more irrenrosulmlile, eharsiter limn 'she lm hotiihable, tind, aad ... isharitableV'' The.vtning of itieK days was liustening U ,'eIose in .much peace and tomfort, , , , ' ' . - ' 1 ' I do 'iluulk il s'irwt and nnmatilyto jlrsg her before b pnl.li :,f,f in the piifdie, nrmts: it would ntnkc a very oic'rai: eat jnstirr it. S". raoer. Pvi- . , , Nv wiel "CM -a. C. kcaL aiof I't Jtevi Ti .t I o. -V it.. ' ttfaeariCr lha West ltwr l.;te-' ' oliards, u bcon jiit . t r hr f o 61 her r ,1 : r Z.' ) " 7?t"T. Z""r f , srrj resjHM.V:ij t"n,, rftW " rf' ,M. ,V, waa 4 . wad nUa man of j-alons ir..nuiii, and sirione ; habks'i This wa ,sS.t-uj-i bvaha as;ileinnaM h entertained of the liirotHir amiduet his , . , wife. ' i ib tin she IiwhI bha.at h ; 'rise oi bis mother, m henincar, an muto-t ot . tho na.ne jf Sbvt, alia omrll with the old la . . dr. J With -regard 1 Ihe uuhappy diff irnea whk tnok pi-fee W-tweeir Roli:ir1 mi Ms wife, , ' It as hnlir red I bat it aroae frem die eirourasfAnee f Shirt's living in the mm family wiih Mrs Rro- ardi, and showing her pertups a liUle nrire thttn-i -ordinary politeneasw.- Mr. Jsmo Hrowti, mv bro- ther, wha is now a) TarU, it Frn came to $ . thia country shortly after Mrs. Moharnfs rnil from Kentucky i and, speaking of her, deeu'y t grj-tted her minC-tiines. Ilrt said tht n" Vn . tiered her W bo aehmtP'Snd rtrtijons woirtn, '-'A and gv4 as a reaaoii fr thinking so, that he as Mimalff-with ; Mr. Short, and had fnveTfl i with hitn partienlm-ly with respect tr Mm, f jb i ' arl-hit,he assure bin as the stmn'e if ndv moat snh-nia tcrmi, Mix'nhw-ds was wir thy, virtnnus woman, and that fh atspfchas . tf , her husband were entirely (lanPjunfJed,r4'jnl,' and tmgmtMrnua, ' ' .. '"' ' , ..: . ' - Mrs Rnbanls after having been driron frm : hW tiinthnr-ui-law's fir tho enirl treatm-nt, of," herliushand, Capt. RohanU, "lived with her tf- thr, ; Mrl VDotielsim, tleversl years, nnd ( ; ducted herself with the Kehtest prnpnetv, n . tli i'ly withdraw log herself frm nil plsees of ph lio (amusement, such -as balls, parties, He". bout two 'Jrears after his wKV left ,teftnnl!V .v,ti btir's rami tn this enHnlrV IV the purpose of bo , iu5 l-eeAtirilcdf to her.' lie made every ncknorU ? 3f ; edg"n"nt, and appeared to hen;' . 'nr : his psst oondunt, ststinjc,1. as 1 .' 1 the ' . time, that ho did nit blamn. his n' him, and ciniln'j tolivts.wilh her t lv afler his ariirnl.ihv thehit' , I friends and aeiintaiiecs,' he i. wmii mm, (m uoiL'jin .n unit iiu vj . s sulfin her .mother's neighborhood, t which he gave his consent, and actually puiuliased a trtrtt, tfland. Ktti'T thrv'.brcsme iwonneiled, V'rs. .- Uwidson,' f . (he first lime, took InM her Wtse: , Z , as lvnuHfers. si'-v-rsl vounof aenth'rnon. thi-re hiv n lug then tow, if any" regular, boarding hnnecs pr -" inverns, aruong wiiom wuit,iumv jvenon Hiia ? Gen. Jackson I laving sgreed to live together, Uo- -j. bsnl went hsek to Kwituekr for the puiivttr 'fl i moving.iim property in umwmniry,: upon nia, . ... (t. l .. ...... ..... ., ., - ivilrn. -bnvlliir hflnft TAHl .Tar.lcsoii in lb, tu.ivjltf ' jus caltustes appeatvd to revives I'hU wwW, i fu'iiv paitiipiy uuiunevfj tuwania t.ent jaca- Fsoo,' iu coniioaiienoe,": I .suppose, of his y, rightly -..disposition, snd oourteous manners; if""" ,nT jqwuntatiee ,.witlt .Mr. Jackson,' I V":a y,na. " my-tusa beJ Ui "i miapirinns were enmiy (troiinfl-, V(. ' , --..i..,,,, i,iriA ,.,.' v..,. ' ... -L.i.t ,,., :;.7TV" in.i,ivt,, kiiimi vr,T ii-inr till,, HDF' me. , i navo uveu, witnin a iew,mues ot :lr TJackcnn ever Sin" thiw luho. I with the mt-rt- . '. tion of ahtmt two yesr.J anil have, been iuH'tlats'.- whh her, and can W that no "ladv mintains a & i deportment, or more beloved by her fiuouds ami '"' neighbors. V ' "- , -,' - r ., -' ELftA PETTI CRAIGllfeAD, " ' . Spring Hill, 9d Devs.', IStfO. - .'. , J V. i?t tri addition ta what ha been stated 'tJ hove. It was my understsiulihg, ahd the tinder standing, ) believe,, ofthe settlors generaHv, that -on the application of C'npt. -Roburdv the )ts ' , lature bf Virginia divorsed hint from his wife- and I never heard any tiling to the sontrart 0n-" til lately -s .'..,ry ,' . -j i ' , - The ststement of Mrs,' Smithy widiw of Gt;n, jl Daniel, .iSinith, formerly the. rprpentstiw ef v 1 Tennessee in the Senate ofthe United SI'UMt, i '.', As well a I now reoolleet, AIv. Smith tid rriT. ' ' -"-' self settled In this country in the year 1714! At that period, or shortly after It,. Mrs Donelnon.- ann lamily wtre' atnnnff the lew tamf!,sho " came and Rttled on the sonth 'side of, Cumf.ee., ; land river, where;,, though they wew but, few' ' . milai frmn me, yet, in onnsefucnr of the river. : running between us, and the danger of Visiting iis? V those dsysi I did not become pmnwslfs'eansin'(V'' ed. with them for two or three years after. Th - family, however, was, uuirersl)y spoken ofn ' one of the mot ' respectable and worthy in th whole' country. .. Tho first time that 'I eversaal ' lJfrs.1 Jairksnn, .then .1rs, Tlpbords, was at tha station of Ool vlftrmker. One of her brothrra "Ei had not long before, brought her-from Kentucky' Inhere she and JUr, .Robards had been married and settled. ! The eanse of her 'return' tnTennc.si see w tlit-n ,ttribmed to ha erne! and unjust' tr-atnvoit other husband, who was spekcti pfevc. 2 where as n man iriT):Ulr h.bu, imif much ' ven to jualous susplelans, '., ' ikAf)out twa years after .'(frst. saw .tA-s." Itf , 1 bards, I , learned that liobards had arrived in th - :. country (,' and by the assiBtnnee' .of tho family of -bis" wife, that theie diusrcticcs had been Yccoh' r " siled, and that thej jere again living Uigether at " , vtfi-s, Donelson 't. .Tbey ,Wcre not inng, how, ; vnrT together,. before the ssme unhappy appro!" ,' . heusiops seized the mliid of ftobsrde, ncd the, i eonseqiieni'.e. of wbiuh .warf, another- separation ' ' and,s it soon -appeared, a final one, Ml 'tl.e - -' . cimumstanoess, attending this -rnpture, I eanhot r ' attempt .to stste with much particularity at "tWs '" late day; but it , is hardlit tiOSSible.- enAsldei-iw , . t. tile five and unreserved intercrnne that pre-. .,' k veiled amongst all the respectable classes' of teP - pie here fit that lime, that an incident cf this kfn( ' . should occur. without being fully and generally .'.' known, and that .ever person should conew in the- sams, view unnniits ibamMr'-wiiJmiitith'-b-'-bet reasons. In this trusaetioo; Mr. Robards- "' alono icas cenmredi and I never heard repreta-i Die man or'womao intimate lhat the conduct of . bi'wif .differed from' that of the most tunidcnt' huh vinuous lemaie. i,ct). .laeiCRnn ' nnnrdea at the time'.. in the tioiwe of ,.wrs. . Donelson unit it h tKo e.nmmnn t.oti..f tUat M. -i.....'" racter and stsmling,. added" to his ene-aging and spngnuy manners, were enougn to ipnamevihe' i tlist be hild obtained divorco fi"om lis why." facts ..which took place, 1 Wis . RolmrdA hud not been. Irt..: gone from'. k Wbctheriliis intormatmn rsme bv letter, hrbr'a' i 1 f newspaper hwn Virginia addressed to W Tiu-r " " f od I recottcrt well "the oservat en; of the He t ' jfrr Craighead,1 jn VesJn',tt'thi!'ifl4m-i$r?:r it ' ' '" ' .was'hat if was ahapvy cncbe foffrs. It'ibe ' ' ards, and highly" "ereilitsble to t,eneral Janksnn ' ' rwhol5y vhin act of his lifis, Avroa'ed bis wn vnae ' ' ' nanimity, as well as the pifc hy and tanocenee of " i JW-i Hnbsrfls, anil saci was tVs snnfimentof air r my acquaintances. .? 5 ??-"' .. -,- ' ' f Wince this period, I have' IrVril within a fow- , I tiiles of-IIrA, JriMn, find have aer brfea an-' - i.-v'.-1 f 1 'A. r. I si , ''