Indiana Palladium, Volume 3, Number 46, Lawrenceburg, Dearborn County, 24 November 1827 — Page 1

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EQUALITY OF RIGHTS IS NATURE'S PLAN AND FOLLOWING NATURE IS THE MARCH OF MAN, Barlow Volume III. LAWRENCEBURGH, INDIANA; SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1827. Number 46.

TO THE PUBLIC. ' Mr. Buchanan, Mr. Isacks and Major Eiton have thought proper to bring my name before the public, as that of a person implicated, or in some way concerned in an attempt to induce General Jack

son to give a certain pledge, or pledges,

as to a certain appointment it would be his duty to make in the event of his election as President of the United States.

One consequence of the publications of

these gentlemen nas been that they

have given rise to a torrent of abuse and calumny, which has been directed

against me. It is not however for the purpose of averting this polluted stream or of noticing those who have cast into it

their mite of slander that I sit down.

My object is of a higher nature; a desire to do myself justice and, so far as my best recollection and judgment, shall per

mit, to spread the truth and the whole

truth before mv fellow citizens. I do

not hope by any thing I can say, howev er satisfactory and conclusive to propi

tiate any of my enemies, personal or po

litical ; nor shall I, for that, or any other,

purpose, turn from a fall and fair exami

nation of such parts of the letters of the

gentlemen who have imposed upon me

this unpleasant duty. As relates to my

self, I could have wished to have been

spared this appeal, but it is no longer a

matter of choice. I might have been

persuaded to permit the errors and inac

curacies of Mr. Buchanan and Mr. Isacks

arising from a want of recollection, to pass unnoticed; and, from a desire to be at peace I might even have been con

tent to overlook their unkindness; but,

when Mjor Ecton, on their shewing, presumes to call me the negotiator," in what he represents to be a corrupt

transaction I am imperatively bound to

speak, and I will speak that which I do

knov to be true. Let the blame and

conctemnatMMi, fall where it ought;

"where it is merited, but not on me.

If these were not motives sufficiently powerful, thre is another which would

determine me; A?i effirt is making by

the use, and the abuse, of my name, to wound the characters of some of our ablest and most exalted citizens, and by accusations which I believe to be unfounded and in which I am certain I bore no part, to sink them in public estimation ; to cast them down from the heights whirl) they have honorably attained and in their places to put those whom I re gard as having adopted principles and .

avowing a determination to pursue a course of policy which I have no doubt would greatly affct the prosperity and

happiness of the Slate of Pennsylvania

and of the whole Union,

That I was originally friendly to the election of General Jackson to the Pre-

derthe present. I determined therefore both expressed an anxious hope that the

that as a representative of the people West would not separate from I ennsyl

and as one of the people I would not per- vania. I have no recollection whatever

mit my partialities, my disappointments of having urged Mr. B. to see beneral

or my prejudices to get the better of mv Jackson, although I corn urred in the pro

judgment and patriotism,but that I would priety of his suggestion that he should judge the Administration by its meas- call to see him, nor have I the faintest

ures. If it continued to support and recollection of any thing being said about

sustain those that sustained a system fighting Mr. A lams friends with their which promotes national prosperity, own weapons. If any such expressions

American manufactures, Internal im- were u?ed I am very certain it was not

provements and commerce; and tocher- by me; From the recollection I have of

ish peace and administer the govern-' he conversation to which Mr. Buchanan

ment with a due regard to economy, it a reference, in his letter to the public should receive my cordial and heart) f the 8ih of August last, my impressions

support. are that the object of his visit that eve

Tho Ultor. f t iftcM t i--'K was to urge the propriety of my see-

believe, but rnnnnt with nh.nlnie rer- M Mr C,i, and to glv.e hlm mV V,eUS

tween us is incorrectly reported: Hel been offered the nppointment.ofSecreta

assuredly misapprehended or much mis-iry of State; and it is a well knewi- fact;

represents me. From the general tenor that after he had the effer he consulted

of his statement, this, however, does not many of his friends whether he shmld.

appear singular, tie seems, trom nis

narrative, to have paid more regard to

our relative positions, the several meet

ings to which he has reference, than to even the substance of what passed be

tween us. relvine upon the recollection

of Mr. Buchanan, as to dates. Thai there was a conversation between Mr. Isacks and myself, on the subject of th

presidential election, the morning after

Mr. Buchanan had called to see me, J

perfectly well remember, and I have no

doubt that in the course of that con

versation we aereed that cen. Jackson's

nrosnects of an election were fair: in

r i fact, we both expressed ourselves anx ious for his success. I distinctly ret ol

is io rne imnortaiice of his idenfifvinfr

i - - , -

timself with Pennsylvania in support of

Ueneral Jackson. I entertained no

joubt that Mr. Buchanan was honestly lect Mr. Isacks remarking that much ietermined hal no exertions on his part would depend on the course Mr. ClayV

should he ivanfincr. aiwt th.it he Mt mn. friends would take, and rxnrosinc hi

tident he could speak iih certainty as to belief that they would act with u

- I . mm ft ft B.I

he creat mas of Ueneral Jackson's replied that I sincerely hoped tney

of the election of would go with Pennsylvania, and that 11

uld press upo' ,ne event ot General Jackson s electior

nim the appointment of Mr. Clay as Se- I felt confident nothing would be more

retarv ot btate. graiitying to r ennsylvunia, man to set

Mi. Buchanan concurred with me ir Mr. Clay appointed secretary oi stale

pinion that Pennsylvania would prefer Mr. barks replied that he was his se

Mr. Clay's appointment to that of an rond choice for President ; that he would

, hollj i Joiner person, as Secretary of State and be his first choice it generalJackson wa

xpres

no re

fore he believed the General if ejected .collection of having said to Mr. Isack I mm. -T 1

would appoint Mr. Clay. 1 have thus "at 1 wished to see ivir. taton, nor ai

given the conversation substantially as it I with more than ordinary interest ai d

. earnestness, insist tnai general jacKson

appoint Mr. Clay

r...,Mrtori i, ,.,iw i k ..,Mi:fj 0111 ngusi lasi. n was a conversa- It must be apparent that belore 1 or

hln i . I I 111 1

mentioned further that there was great T" Ul ". - B1- " promiscuous any one could nave uu.wie sirong mi

plausibility in such reports, and their re-j Frt' lll'P",u- guage irnpuu-u u ur., wn? uiui

ceivin? credit narticularlv that which 11 18 Pwras oi iwo years since that con- pensible that it should he distinctly ut

rrtA Ctoni lr-h uB; Jver?!,,1" look Place, and considering i' derstood that Mr. Isacks was authorized

determined if he should hp elertpd Hihi T a pnvdie and confidential character Uv Ueneral Jackson, to receive propos

" - - I . . w I . . . . w

he would continue Mr. Adams, S-creta- 1 maae " m.,: u.le ot ll'ri0r d,d 1 ver ex- t.ons to promote his. election. Ut this I

ry of State, inasmuch as Mr. Adams had ' ,'1 "lju!u ,mve

u n,:, ui jr. i j PUDIIC. . 1

ui't:ii unc ui ins iiuitrsi ueienueis a:ia an

tainty say, it was on the 30th, my friend

Mr. Buchanan called to see me in th evening at my boarding house. I hap pened to be alone in my room: he sa with me a considerable length of time

our conversation turned principalis, on

the then pending Presidential election. Mr. R thut hf

felt great solicitude for the election of le,,d2 lh.at 1,1 f se ut Gen. .lackson and that hi friends shonhl Uen. Jackson, they uo-

use every honorable means to promote

it; to which I replied that I heartily unit

ed with him in opinion. Mr. Buchanan

adverted to the rumors which were afloat

that the friends of Mr. Adams were hold

ing out the idea that in case

fered

and

elected he would appoint or continue Mr. Adams, Secretary of State.5 I told Mr.

Klirhanan I thnncrhf enrh n ronnrt tve

calculated to do the General a grat ool: place aS the ont Mr. B. has refer- earnestness, unit th deal of injury, and if it were not well n1ce i ll,s 'f l,er '? ,h" Pu!'lir of th- ,f ,;lecl d' ought

ii; out the idea that in case he should be ""r pejson a, becretary of State and ie Lis nr. cnoicf genera. j- on , lected Mr. Clay would probably be of- 'rom, -blipitions the general w.y un- elected, to be. appointed secretary ired the situation of Secretary of State, ?er ,0 P-n;lviw. he would go .lair, ..d ihnl he had f quenlly elp, nd that in case General Jackson was l"r '? ,l,.,f h:r ?"C8 and l.at ,here- 9fd "nmself to that effect. I have no

been given to the had no evidence, nor entertained 2n

public. . It is somewhat remarkable that opinion, nor did I at any time, or to an

- It r ' ' wa r 9r A m y- lUAt-lU.n - , I . if A I 1 1 Z .4 I

vocatesinhis report sustaining General " -W , , suuu,u.,,uvt iapse u, one, use ine strong larguage impuitu u

Jackson against the charges which were m,. "u"ul mu i,nu meu DO;cii. g to- me r ;Ur. isacKs. l well rememoer mar,

oreferred against him for his rnndnrt in gemVr at tne 8am,? ,,1ust' the two at that time we both believed, and tx-

r r f,,.. f P .j i i i i. .i t r i i i

re ation to the Seminole war. ,n ' s'"& v.u,.c,, uunng wnicn pressed our neiiei, xnai u uenerai jaci

perioo we had many conversations en son was elected, and he could not be

cra'itude towards him for his military

services to his country remain, and ever shall remain.' unchanged. I voted for

him in the Democratic Caucus of 1824.

As a representative of Pennsylvania, t

subsequently not only gave him my vote but used my best exertions, by every

lair and honorable means, to promote

his election to the Presidential Chair.

The united exertions of his-friends hav-

mc failed to cnct his election, I was not

one of those who felt it a duty, or thought it proper, immediately to unfurl the standard of opposition without knowing the principles and the policy of the men who were to be called to assist in administering the Government of the

Union: because 1 had been defeated,

or should not, accept it. He told me in

conversation, he did me the her or to

riold with me on the subject, that the ac

ceptance of it would be to him net oi.ly zi

acrihee of domestic happiness, hut a c

rious pecuniary loss. I know also, that not only his immediate personal and po-

ittcal friends, but many of those who voed for other candidates, were desirous

that he should accept the station, and urged that his country had claims upon

um paramount to other considerations.

and would never see him suffer from de

votion to her best interests.

I am free to acknowledge that at the

time of the conversation between Mr.

Buchanan and myself, my imnression

was that Gen. Jackson would be elected-'

n d it was prett) general!) talked of, as

well as understood among many of hig friends, that in the event of his election Mr. Clay would have the ofcee of Secre

lary of State; and I doubt not bui I may9-

in common with others, have mentioned

my opinion to my political friends. These impressions were founded on the

belief that the western interest would unite in gen. Jackson's election, and that with the aid of one or two ot the states in favor of .Mr. Crawford, he would be elected. I mention those floating opinions of the day, to show thai I have no reserves, and that all I said or did 1 am' quite willing should be known. I left Washington for Pennsylvania on the morning of the 1 1 th or 1 2th ol Janu

ary lijtina aid not return until luesday the 30th of the same month, the day after Mr. Clay's card had appeared in the National Intelligencer. This absence at this critical juncture, ofit:elf "UiTicient to repel the idea that I took any peculiar interest as to the arrangements dependant on w ho might, or who

might ncf, be elected president. I recollect a conversation with a particular

tnend, who travelled with me in the .tage, on my return to Pennsy Kama.1 To him, in the course of that conversation, 1 expressed my regret at not having had an opportunity of a free and general

conversation with Mr. Clay on the sub-

written to, or received a letter from a as well as on public and private matters, his friends, that he would be appointed

mutual mend ot ours in Pennsy lvania, yet, not once in all that time did mv Wretarv .f State. Further. Mr. Isacks

uu iuu Miujeci ui me i it'siuemiai eiec- iriend Mr. Uuchanan ever advert to the dec ared h s belie!, in which I concurred.

tion, and cabinet appointments, and that conversation, which he has recently that a huge portion of the western celehe had determined to call upon the Gen- thought himself called noon to pvh as tmiim.. from the unreserved conversation

eral himself or to get Major Eaton, to iavn g taken place between us. . we had had on the subject, wished Mr.

mention to him the reports that were in I cannot avoid thinking It somewhat Clay to be Secretary ot State, in which circulation, and obtain a contradiction singular that Mr. B. should have been so desire they were joined by a large porof them. Mr. B. also asked if I had riHrved

seen Mr. Clay, and whether I hfid had D'ltT Green had beeo furnished with a friendlv to General Jackson's election.

any conversation with him touching the statement in October, 1 820, of what had It is indeed a well known fact, that a

fidency I do not deny. My feelings of had seen him in the House, but had had

no conversation with him on that sub

ject, but said I was anxious to get an op

portunity to have a conversation with him, as I felt a great anxiety that he should vote with Pennsylvania. Mr. Buchanan replied that no one felt more anxious, for various reasons, than he did himself; that it wag important, not only as it regarded the success of General

Jackson's election that Mr. Clay should

Mr. Buchanan stated that he had the subject of the Presidential electioiJelorted without the aid of Mr. Clav and ject of the presidential election, and saici

: i i . . r. 1 . . " . 7 1 .i-Ti I ?j e

mai i nau some iaea or wrmng 10 rom as soon as I arrived at Norristown. e both expressed an anxiety that Mr. Clay

should rote with Pennsylvania.

Exception has been taken to mv rtTer

ing the resolution of thavks whei Mr Clay was about retiring from the speak-

er s cnairm iwo. oucn a resolution it had been customary at the end of a congress, to offer, a ,d the house to adopt, as it did on this occasion, almost with perfect unanimity. -It was my own voluntary act. I had no consultation with any one, nor the slightest reference to his course on the presidential election -

I offered the resolution because I thought he eminently deserved it. If he, as" speaker, did not richly earn a vote of thanks, who shall presume to think he has pretension to such an honor? The

thanks of the house over which he pre-

Presidential election. I replied that I

passed between Ueneral Jackson and mongst the friends ol all the candidates

himselt, and that a statement had also! there was much speculation on the sub-

been furnished to him by Major Laton in ject, much was said unreservedly nnd August, 1826, as to the purport of the with much al and good humour on the

copversation between himself and Mr. subject of cabinet appointments; that if Buchanan. That thege movements this, or that, candidate succeeded to the should have taken place, and that there Presidency , the general voice was raised should have been no concert improperly in favor of, md the general eye always to drag me into this business, and vet that fixed upon, that distinguished statesman

under aH these circumstances Mr. B. and inflexible renublican Henri Clay,

should have been silent towards me. and as the first officer of the srovernment :! 'deo for a faithful, firm, and impartial

that he should think nroner to introduce and I now sincerelv believe that which- discharge of the duties of the station was

ci I -

go with Pennsylvania, but on account ofjto the public a detailed conversation, in ever of the candidates had been elected

his ulterior political prospects: declar

ing that he (Mr. B.) hoped one day to see Mr. Clay President of the United

States, and that was another reason why

hardly earned and willingly awardtd-

by a constitutional majority of the. Clav s views were favorable to Gener.il States, in my desire to Iwvc General' Jackson's election he would take an op- ' Jackson elected, it did not seem to me Purtonity of talking to the General on that I was called upon to resist, embar-jthe subject, or get Major Eaton to do so; rass and overthrow the new AdminiMra- that re thought by doing so he would tion whether it should he right or wrong.i confer a particular benefit on his coun-

I thought it my duty as a representative' try, and that he could see nothing wrong

of the people, and as a citizen. patientlvi,n Mr. Buchanan Urged me to use

to wait and see what would be the gen--o delay in seeing Mr. Clay, I told him eral character of Mr. Adams' Adminis- I would, and accordingly called upon tration and what would be the complex-: Mr. Clay at his boarding house, I think

ion of his cabinet. When I ascertained the evening after this conversation, but that he had taken to his aid such able he was not at his lodging?. I called to and experienced advisers as Mr. Clav. see him again, but he had some of his

Mr. Rush, Mr. Southard, and Mr. Bar-i friends with him, and I had noopportuni-

which he makes me sav all. and himself he would have had the offer of the most!1 thought it his due even though he hat1

little or nothing a conversation totally prominent situation in the cabinet; that ifTered from Pennsylvania in the choice unnecessary for the purpose of sustain- which he now holds under Mr. Adams. of a president, she owed him much for in? an individual acting, as he Drotests It has reneatenlv heen stated, that iM indefatigable exc rtiona in facr of

he should like to see him Secretary of he always acted, on his own authority was the agent, or as Major Eaton is pleas-jher policy and best interests. N -t oilyState, in case General Jackson was elect- does to me and probably will to the pub- ed to say, the "negocir.tor" of Mr. Clay,!did these considerations, piottpt me te

lle, seem somewhat unaccountable. It authorized to make propositions or ask aioner ,ne resolution of thanks, mr. UayV

gives me pain to think of these things, es- pledge of a conditional character, for the! thought, had been unjustly and unde-

" -

pecially as having emanated from a per- vote of Mr. C and his friends. I do now

son to whom I feel obligations of friend- solemnly and positively declare that the ship for acth of kindness, and in whose charge and insinuation are void of truth.

friendship I reposed the most unlimited I never did, either directly or indirectly,

ed; and that if he was certain that Mr.

bour, men identified with the republican

institutions or our country, in peace and in war; men who had enjoyed the confidence of the republican Administrations of Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Madison and Mr. Monroe; men who had long acted

and were incorporated with, the great democratic family of the Union, I did not feel myself at liberty to doubt what 'would be the character and policy of Mr. Adams' Administration. I considered that in these appointments a pledge was given to the Nation that the policy

which had been pursued under former

Administrations would be pursued un

ty of conversing with him, nor had I ever

any conversation with him until the eve

ning of the 10th or 1 1th of January prior to my leaving Washington for Pennsylvania to attend the courts in Montgome

ry county. Ihe conversation I then

had with him was of a very general char

acter; no mention was made of cabinet

appointments, and I did not ascertain

which of the candidates Mr. Clay would

support. I have no recollection of any thing being said in the conversation with

Mr. Buchanan about the friends of Mr.

Clay moving in concert at the election

I however distinctly recollect that we

confidence.

The succeeding morning after the con

versation with Mr. Buchanan, I met with

Mr. Isacks, of Tennessee, in the Hall of

the House of Representatives. My recollection does not enable me to state

whether it was at his seat, -or in the lob

by, or on the sofa, at the right hand as

you go into the door.

I may here he permitted to remark,

that Mr. IsacKs being a native of Montgomery county. Pa. the district I represented in congress he early sought my acquaintance in the session of 1823 ard

1824, and had many conversations with

me of a private character, in relation to

himself, and in which I took an interest, and to the best of my ability and opportunities faithfully served him. These conversations necessarily produced an intimacy and friendship which frequent

ly brought us together, and even in the habit of free friendly and unreserved

conversation. The conversation whicl

hc represents to have taken place be

receive from Mr. Clay or his friends, any

intimation which could be construed even by political rancour, into 6uch a commission, or any thing even remotely approaching to it. Had any such agency, by any one, been tendered, I should

have indignantly rejected it. I will go

further and state, that never did I in the course of any conversation with Mr.

Clay hear him say, or express a desire,

that in the event of the election ot Ueneral Jackson, Mr. Adams or Mr. Crawford, that he should wish to be Secretary

of State, or hold any station in the cabi

net. Further, I never have to any one, at any time, or on any occasion repre

sented myself, or wished it to be understood, that I was authorised to receive, or

to make overtures on the part of Mr.

Clay, or his friends. 1 think proper t

make this general and unqualified declaration that there may not be left a loor

on which to hang a doubt on this subjec1.

I did not know until ten days after tl

election of JMr. Adams, that Mr. Clay had

iKPrvedlv nsaailpr? fiir an hnnpcf rt i f?V 1-0 r

of opinion; and it was painful to see r.1

man who had-raised himself by hia own talents and exertions to be one of thtmost distinguished statesmen and orators-

of the age ; one who in war and in peace

had never abandoned his country, but always stood firmly by her, defending, bv

the powers of his gigantic mind and powerful eloquence, her rights, and boldly proclaiming her true policy; that such a man should be Outflanked when about

to retire from the speaker's chair of a bo

df of which I had the honor to be a mem

ber, did not comport with my feelings .or

sense of right and wrong; I should in

deed haVe considered such a neglect 3A gross dereliction of duty.

I feel somewhat at a low fof terms, siif-

tn intly measured, in which to speak c f the presumptuous and Unwarrai ted en -

lusion at which Major Eaton has arriv

ed, and the bold and unceremonious epi-

mei wnicn ic nas oeen nis pleasure to apply to me. The conversations, reported, is they are, by Mr. Buchanan and Mr, Nack, and laboriously and carefully dieted against me, furnish no evidence,