The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1824-05-11
My 3tI.1ap


w. IL.
.9pril IS, 1924.
DEAR SR-Tn yours of the 18th, you de
sire To be- informed of what rrcolect OF a
letter addressed by Gen Jackson to the
President, received between the time OF his
election aud installation in office. | was al
thai time frequently III his company, often
calling on him as Il friend, aud received by
Inn As such. was penetrated with a
grateful sense Of his public services, and a
partially toI his personal character. Our
intercourse had ripened into warm and
dlsntrrested friendship, cherished with
quail satisfaction by both of US. In one of
these interviews III spoke of letter he had
lately received from Gen. jackson, then ~
ing on his table hich he took up and read.
The letter WAS of consider able length, care
fully and deliberately written, giving tie
Generals views as to the policy OF his
administration. Among these views wes
the proposition To divide the principal ca
binet appointments between the two grea.
hartes INTO which the citizens are divided,
Against this policy, |, without further soil
citation, earnestly expostulated, both on
account Of the President personally, aud on
account of the public veal aud public ser
wee. The Presidents situation seemed to
he an embarrassed ont, anG the COnsldera
tie an answer MAS agltdtrd. The Pre-
ssdeet seemed disposed TO reply, but he 10
anated nothing OF the nature of that reply
My OWL impression WAS, that reply at all
Vas not i.nprrlously called for. think |
heard the President read this letter again
III the presence OF third person.
tie appeared 10 read the whole letter
He did not intimate Il rs private and CUuii
Dental from Gen. jackson. understood
the letter To be- communicated 10 me in the
confidence Of friendship, though il was left
entirely To my discretion, as not = word
dropped in regard to it. 1t would seem
that, II the same letter was several years
afterwards communicated TO you and Nh,
FIndlay rs i reason for an official act, and
thai the General, both 10 YOU and to the
public, has said ht has written nothing bat
what the pnhic might freely know, it is no
longer necessary To friendship or t" duty,
To lorheap communicating II Ia your dIspO
| sal. ! cannot be mistaken as to the eXis
| teuce Of such letter. Let the Litter be-
gwen to the public and It's contents will b,
known. Gen. Jackson is now put forth Ia
| ill the Presidential Office, and II is due t.
INN and 10 the nation, that his sentiments
in relation 10 the policy otthr government
especially when urged upon the President
elect, with all the sober force OF his mind &,
W. isIlt of character from success in a higNl
and arduous military trust, should be known
However may have iouud;t my duty Il
| dsstnt from some part of Mr.. Mouor's ad
mlolstralloa, my feelings towards him per
soaally have renamed unaItcrtd nor have
| forgotten the merit of wee and the
many e,idraaes of kurdnessaud confidence
| have rec.hed from him. cannot for Z,
moment DOUBT, that, if the letter Of Gen
Jackson be IL his possession, the fact will
not r. withheld from the public. BE- thiS
rs Il ma, the circumstances have related
took place IN regard 10 letter understood
- be received from him. With the trucst
sespcct, am, &c.
JONATHAN ROBERTS.
Hon N aI1.1u pV-pYY