De Witt Clinton and the late War.

The following letter from the late Thomas Addis Emmet, Esq. silences for ever the charge which has been so often reiterated, that Mr. Clinton was unfriendly to the prosecution of the late war. It is already known that Mr. Clinton was active and efficient in procuring money for the general government to carry on the war; that the officers of the United States repeatedly and gratefully acknowledged his services; and that no public officer took more pride and pleasure, in bestowing civic honours which the corporation of New-York awarded to our gallant and naval military heroes, in a manner that reflected equal credit on his head and heart. The following document will show that it was not his fault that he did not engage in actual service. It is perhaps unnecessary, at this time, to inquire whether Governor Tompkins had any design in thus excluding an active and able officer from the public service. The reason assigned, that it might give offence to older generals, is entirely unfounded; as every man who knows any thing of the late war, knows that generals were selected to command without reference to the dates of their commissions. One thing is certainly extraordinary, that while Mr. Tompkins was so anxious to communicate to the public the patriotic language of the Hon. Rufus King, he should have forgotten the offer of Governor Clinton.

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To the Hon. John C. Spencer, Esq. Speaker of the House of Assembly.

"ALBANY, March 21^st, 1820.

"DEAR SIR,

"I have this morning been honoured with your letter, requesting from me the information I may possess, respecting Governor Clinton's application during the late war to Governor Tompkins, for an active command, and an opportunity to render his services in carrying on the war.

"Although I am in general unwilling to have my name introduced into public discussions, yet I have always held myself bound to give to Governor Clinton, or the Vice President, or to the friends of either of those gentlemen, as full a statement of what I know of that transaction, as my memory and the lapse of time may permit.

"In the summer of 1814, Mr. Clinton, who was then mayor of the city of New-York, requested me to be the bearer of an application from him to Gov. Tompkins, to be called into active military service, and particularly as apprehensions then began to be entertained for the safety of the city over which he presided. I had previously understood, or was then informed, (and I cannot now say which) that the late General Curtenius, had informally suggested the same thing to Governor Tompkins, but apparently without success. That circumstance, and the manner in which I was applied to, induced me to be very explicit in stating to Governor Tompkins that I came directly from the mayor. At the same time I took the liberty of urging from myself such arguments as appeared to me best calculated to second the application. Governor Tompkins, as far as I now recollect, made but one objection. He said that Mr. Clinton was a very young major-general, and very little known as such, and that calling him into active service would be contrary to etiquette, and would probably offend older militia generals, whom he did not think it right or prudent to employ; some of whom he named to me.

"This application formed the subject of more than one conversation between Governor Tompkins and myself; and I endeavoured to convince him that the situation of Mr. Clinton as mayor, and the confidence placed in him by the citizens of New-York, ought to have much greater weight than any military etiquette, or at least in the selection of an officer for the protection of that city, which then seemed to be very seriously threatened. Governor Tompkins did not refuse to comply with Mr. Clinton's application; but he seemed to hesitate so long and so much, that I considered it virtually refused. After some time, however, and when affairs appeared to have grown more gloomy, his excellency, of his own accord, desired me to inform the mayor, that if the enemy landed in the vicinity of New-York, he should be employed as he solicited, and to prepare himself accordingly. This message I immediately communicated to Mr. Clinton, who observed that if his wishes were to be gratified, it certainly would be desirable that he should be appointed some time before the enemy's landing, so as that he might make the necessary previous arrangements; but he nevertheless desired me to inform the Governor, that he should be prepared, and hold himself in readiness at a moment's notice, whenever called on. That message I accordingly delivered to Governor Tompkins, and have never since heard any thing on the subject from either of those gentlemen.

"I have the honour to be, Sir, with much respect,

"Your obedient servant,

"THOMAS ADDIS EMMET."

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Transcribed from the original text and html prepared by Bill Carr, last updated 5/22/99.