14. Dickinson returns from New Orleans and, on May 24, publishes a bitter attack in the Impartial Review, on General Jackson, saying among other things “notwithstanding he is a Major General of the militia of Mero District, I declare him to be a worthless scoundrel, a poltroon and a coward.” The editor of the paper showed this to Thomas Overton before it was published and that gentleman rode to the Hermitage. “General Jackson,” he said, “it is a thing you cannot pass over. You must fight him.” “General Overton,” said his friend “this is an affair of life and death. I will take the responsibility myself. I will ride to town and see the piece and form my own judgment of it.” 15. He did and this is Jackson’s famous challenge to Dickinson. “Charles Dickinson.—Sir: Your conduct and expressions relative to me of late have been of such a nature and so insulting that it requires and shall have my notice. “Insult may be given by men, and of such a kind that they must be noticed and treated with the respect due a gentleman, although (in the present instance), you do not merit it. “You have, to disturb my quiet, industriously excited Thomas Swann to quarrel with me, which involved the peace and harmony of society for a while. “You, on the 10th of January, wrote me a very insulting letter, left this country, caused this letter to be delivered after you had been gone some days, and viewing yourself in safety from the contempt I held you, have now in the press a piece more replete with blackguard abuse than any other of your productions. You are pleased to state that you would have noticed me in a different way, but my cowardice would have found a pretext to evade that satisfaction if it had been called for, etc., etc. “I hope, sir, your courage will be an ample security to me that I will obtain speedily that satisfaction due me for the insults offered, and in the way my friend who hands you this will point out. He waits upon you for that purpose, and with your friend will enter into immediate arrangements for this purpose. “I am, etc., “ANDREW JACKSON.” 16. T. Swann still butts in. He comes out in a card, in which he says: “I shall now conclude this address to the public by assuring General Andrew Jackson (to use a favorite expression of his own) ‘that I shall at all times hold myself answerable for any of my conduct.’”