Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-12-16


this dissatisfied his constituents. Mr. lngham
had lain by until he found the war popular In
Pennsylvania, and this encouraged him to be-
come war man, and he succeeded once more
in deceiving his constituents, and got into con-
gress. This was period in Mr.. lngham's po-
litica life that afforded him fair opportunity
of redeeming in some measure his lost charac-
ter. The people Of Pennsylvania had not for
gotten his former tricks and tergiversations;
but they were disposed to overlook and forgive
them, or attribute them 10 the influence OF
youthful ambition and personal vanity, rather
than worse motive. But the restless spirit OF
Mr.. Ingham could not be controlled by pruden-
tial considerations. He knew he must forever
occupy subordinate station III congress, and
he again turned his attention TO the political
concerns Of Pennsylvania and upon the election
of MIR. Finday, received the appointment OF
parliamentary of Bucks county. He was sue
ceeded in Congress by Dr.. Samuel Moor, the
son-in-law Of Mr.. Robert Patterson, the Direc-
tor Of the mint a: Philadelphia, and an old
friend of Mr.. Jefferson. After remaining in
the situation for year or eighteen months, he
was chosen by Governor Findlay, 10 be secre-
tary to the Commonwealth in the place OF Mr..
Sergeant. Previous, however, to his appoint
| ment as secretary Of the commonwealth Of Penn
sylvania, the crooked and disngenuous policy
Of MIR. Ingham and his friends had SO far pre-
| vailed that the administration Of Mr.. Findlay
was to,tering to is ruin, and Mr.. lngham only
came in, as il were, at its death
The first year Of Mr.. Heister's administra-
ton, was spent by Mr.. Ingham in visiting the
different parts Of the state, endeavoring 10 make
friends and conciliate enemies-and when, by
the result Of the fall election he found great
L IL. a. 7 cric1a arI
those opposed 10 Mr.. Heister's administration,
his ambitious hopes revived, and the next sum-
mer, after many visits to Washington city, and
consultations held between him and John G.
Calhoun, the "mighty plan" was laid between
them-First, Mr. Ingham was to be made Go
vernon Of Pennsylvania, and then through his
influence the state was to be handed over 10 MIR
Calhoun and he was 10 be made president OF
the United States. To effect these political O.
perations, it was necessary to employ a num-
Der of subordinate agents; these agents were
selected with very little skill or judgment, and
the campaign opened at the next session Of
Congress at Washington All the politeness
and urbani,y Of Calhoun were put in requisi-
ton The members Of the Pennsylvania dele
CATION were iattered and caressed by him.
Like candidate a, southern election, he kept
an open house; there they dined and supped,
they eat MS beef and drank his wine, and gave
him credit for being prodigious clever fellow;
but all would not do-they refused 10 90 for the
whole; they refused to meet as the delegation
from Pennsylvania, and recommend MIR. Cal
houn as the next President This was truly
discouraging, but ambition never tires. Baf-
fed in this scheme with the members Of con-
gress for Pennsylvania, another was resored to.
The servie tools Of Mr. Calhoun and Mr.. Ing
ham were hidden to write letters in favor of Mr.
Calhoun for the presidency, and letters immune
rabIe were written to individuals in every coun-
ty in the state, and to the members Of the legis-
lature. All this, however, was Of little avail;
the people was memorable, and the state legis-
lature diourned without recommending Mr..
Calhoun for president.
Another project was then set on foot, Mr..
Calhoun was not personally known in Pennsyl-
vania, and he must be exhibited to the good
people, for their qualification. Here Mr. Cal
houn played his part like Snowman. Under
the pretence of illness, he visited the Bedford
springs, and then made the tour Of the state,
declared himself Pennsylvania, his father
having on his way from Scotland passed through
the state certain number of months before his
birth. Hitherto Mr.. Calhoun and Mr. Ingham,
and their satellites, had found every step to Sc
cure Pennsylvania abortive, but this was mas
ter stroke of policy, and taken in connection
with another project was TO insure success
Mr.. Inyham was to go TO Congress, and aid in
overthrowng the republican party, by putting
down the caucus system, that had SO long kept
the party together. He knew the republicans
in congress would never recommend MIR Cal
houn; for he had not their confidence, and they
must be divided before they can be conquered.
With view to this bject, Mr., Moore was
induced to resign, with the prospect of receiv-
ing the Office of director of the mint, on the
death of his father-in-law, MIR. Patterson, an
event, that was shortly to be expected; an event
which did take place soon AFTER and upon which
Mr.. Moore received the appointment, which |
believe he still holds, Mr. Moore was induced
TO resign, and Mr.. Ingham was sent to Con-
gress in his place from Bucks county. And
although he had been defeated and disgraced in
Pennsylvania when he undertook, with others,
10 play the same mischievous game, he, aided
by combination of circumstances, induced
fifteen members of the Pennsy vania delegation
in congress to publish proclamation renounc-
ing and discarding all previous concert by the
republican members Of congress respecting
candidate for the presidency.
T. I.,-Sl 49, ~ t>,,t,,