The Litchfield County post. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1826-1829, 1827-08-16
LETTER FROM GENERAL JACKSON.
From the Nashville Republican of July 90.
M THE DITPI 10

Virginia. has lately, without any consent, agency,
wish on my part, found its way into the newspapers
accompanied by statement over the signature OF IL.
Clay c0nradicting and denying, not any thing have
written, but that which he himself makes'me to say.
1t is not the Interpretation given by him to my letter.
but my own language and own statement, that am
called upon to defend, and expect to Vlndlcate.
TO explain the manner in which my opinions have
found their way into the journals of the day. seems, IN
the first place. to be due both to the public and myself
Mr.. Beverly being on visit at my house, requested
to know of inc, other gentlemen being present. wheth-
the overtures heretofore imputed to Mr.. Claywere
well founded, AMI if had knowledge OF any of the
facts myself. | answered him candidy; being una
be as well as unwilling, to refuse telling things had
heard, and knew to be true. A letter, detailing our
conversation shortly afterwards obtained publicity in
the "North Carolina Journal printed at Fayetteville.
On the 18th of May last, from Louisville, Kentucky,
a communication was addressed to me by MIR. Bever-
w. stating, what before had not known, that he was
the writer of this Fayetteville Letter. lie explained
the reasons for having repeated the conversation and
requested to be informed if in any thing he had mis-
quoted or msconceived my meaning. Under such
circumstances, conceaiment and silence might have
seemed mere affectatlon, indeed something OF
different and even worse character. Publicly having
been given to the conversation, and an appeal made
for its accuracy, felt it to be due to Mr. Bev-
eriy, that nothing of fabrication should be imputed
to him: and to myself that what had stated should
be correctly understood. Accordingly on the 9th of
June, and in reply to his on the 18th of May, adj
dressed him letter, of which the public already
possessed How, and by what means, it found its
way into the columns of newspaper, MIR. Beverly
has cxplaned he states to me that he gave it into
the hands of Mr.. Noah Zane, of Wheeling, Virginia,
At his earnest request, for perusa, under pledge OF
honor till should be returned, and with no expectation
that any copy of it was to be retained; that on his
applying for and demanding the letter, refused
to be restored, until two copies should be made Tie
proceeds to say;
Mr. Zane, an old and most respectable gentleman,
asked the loan of your letter favor; and, contra
IN all and N such he
junction with Mr. Clay and his friends, took copies OF
It, wt,ont my knowledge or priVty in any way, and
without asking my leave to do so. Soon as 1 UNDER
son, saich was the use they making of 1t, de-
manded of Mr. Zane the letter, and demonstrated a.
ganst the unprecedented course they were taking
He refused to restore it to me most peremptorly, until
they had satisfied themselves by furnishing to MIR.
Clay one copy and reserVlng another Tor their own
USE"
The orr ina conversation referred to, and the above
extract Of letter from Mr.. Beverly at Wheeling, da-
ted 25th May, presented to show that have not
as is charged placed myself in the attitude OF pub
lie accuser," and that whatever publicity has been
given to this transaction, has arisen from no agency
or procurement of mine and that MIR. Clay, in fact
has himsefhed the matter up to public gaze. In do
ing this he should have quoted what have written
accurately and fairly; for then, the text and his COM
mentary would have suited together; at present. his
contradiction is something suggested by himself,
and is not contained in my letter,
The statement contained in my letter to MIR. Beverly
is this That, in January, 1926, member of Con-
gress of high responsibility visited me one morning
and Observed" he had been informed by the friends
of Mr.. Clay that the friends of Mr. Adams had made
overures to them, saying, IT Mr. Clay and his friends
would unite in aid Of the election of Mr. Adams, Mr.
Clay should be Secretary of State that the friends OF
Mr.. Adams urging, as reason to induce the
friends of Mr.. Clay to accede to this proposition, that
if was elected President, MIR. Adams would be con-
tinued Secretary of State (inuendo there would be
no room for Kentucl<y;) that the friends Of Mr. Clay
stated that the West did wish to separate from the
West, and if would say, or permit any OF my CONN
dental friends say, that, in case was elected Pres
ident, Mr. Adams should not be continued Secretary
of State, by complete union of Mr.. Clay and h's
friends, they would put an end to the fresadeht'ai
contest in hour; and he was OF opinion 1t was
right to fight such intrguers with their own weapons
"This disclosure was made to me by Mr.. James
Buchanan, Member of Congress from Pennsylvania,
gentleman of the first responsibility and intelligence
Tie evening before, he had communicated substan-
TALLY, The proposition to Major Eaton, my COL
league in the Senate. with desire, warmly manles-
ted, that he should communicate with me, and ascer-
tain my views on the subject. This he declined doing
suggesting to Mr. Buchanan that he, as well as HIM
self, could converse with me, and ascertain my opn
ion; though he, from his knowledge of me, thought
he could conjecture my answer--that would enter
into no engagements whatever. 1t was the morning
succeeding this interview, after Maj. Eaton had object
ed to converse with me on the subject, and before
had set out from my lodgings for the Capitol that MIR.
Buchanan came to visit me, and when the CONVERSE
ton have stated took place. The answer returned
has already been published, and need not here be
peated.
"To be thus approached by gentleman of Mr..
Buchanan's high character and standing, with an a.
POLICY proered at the time for what he was about 10
! remark to me who, understood, had always,
to that moment been familiar and friendly terms
with Mr. Clay assuring me- that on certain terms and
conditions, being assented TO on my part. then "by
union of Mr.. Clay and his friends, they would put
an end to the Presidential contest in one hour" what
other conclusion or Inference was to be made, than
that he spoke by the authority either of Mr.. Clay him.
self, or some of his confidential friends The char
acter Of Mr. Buchanan with me forbids the idea that
he was acting his own responsibility or that under
any circumstances, he could have been induced to
propose ag. cement unless possessed of satisfactory
assurances that II accepted would be carried fully
into effect. A weak mind wonld seldom or ever be
thus disposed to act an intelligent one never.
Under all the circumstances appearing at that
time, did not resist the impression that MIR. Bucha
nan had approached me on the cautiously submitted
proposition OF authorised person; and, there
fore in giving him my answer did request him ''to
say to Mv. Clay and his friends" what that answer
had been. Whether the communication made
to Mr.. Clay and his friends know not; this, though
do know, that while the opinions and course of Mr.
Clay to the election, but matter of conjecture
with many at and before this me very shortly after
this conversation took place, his and his friends o.
pinion became forthwith matter of certainty and gen.
erai knowledge. Still have not said, nor do now
say, that the proposal made to was "rith the priU-
ty and coaseAf, Of Mr. Clay; nor either, have said
that his friends tn Congress made propositions to
These are Mr. Cay's interpretations of my letter to
MIR. Beverly, and what my letter itself contains.
What have stated the facts of conversation be-
tween myself and a member of Congress of high
spectahllity. The conclusion and inference from
that Conyersation-thc tme-manner-and all the cir
cunlstances satisfied my mind that il not anGn-
tkOri:sd. So have thought, andso still think; and
yet again repeat that, in this supposition, may
have done Mr. Clay Injustice, III he should be able