Delaware journal. [volume] (Wilmington [Del.]) 1827-1832, 1827-08-14
To the Editor of the Lancaster Journal.

To the Editor of the Lancaster Journal.
The Cincinnati Advertiser was last night placed
in my hands by friend containing an address from
General Jackson to the public, dated on the 18th
ult. in which he announced me to be the member OF
Congress with whom he had conferred in his letter
to Mr.. Beverly of the 9Th of June last. The duty
which owe to the public. and to myself. now conn
pes me to publish to the world. the only conversa-
lion which | ever held with Gen. Jackson upon the
subject of the last Presidential election prior to its
termination.
In the month Of December, 1924, short time at.
ter the commencement of the session Of Congress
heard among other rumours then in circulation that
Gen. jackson had determined should he be cleo
ted President, to continue Mir. Adams i'll the office
of Secretary of State-Alth ugh felt certain he
had never intimaed such intention, yet was
sensible that nothing could be better cali ulated,
both to cool the ardour olhis friends and inspire his
enemies with confidence, than the belief that he had
already selected his Chief competition, for the highest
office within his gift. | thought General jackson
owed to himself and to the cause in which his po-
litica friends engaged. to contradict tins re-.
port: and to declare that he could not appoint to
/ that office the MAJ, however worthy be might be.
who stood at tn head OF the most formidable party
of his political enemies. These being my impress
snns. addressed letter to confidential friend IN
PENNSYLVANIA then and still 6eh in office, and ex-
allied in character, and who had ever been the de-
c:dcl advocate of General Jackstns election, re-
guessing his opirion an.l advice the subject.
received his answer dated 9th December 1924. up
f on the 29th. which is now before me, and whici!
strengthened and confirmed my previous opinion
then finally determined either that would ask
General jackson myself get another of hislriends
to ask him whether he had ever declared, he would
appoint Alr. Adams his Secretary Of State In THIS
manner. hoped contradiction OF the report might
be obtained from himself. and that he mg ht probah
1oy T.. hiatt at n 4;
i Adams.
short time previous to the receipt of the letter
to which have referred, my friend Mr.. Markiey
and myself got into conversation, very often
did, both before and after, upon the subject of tkN
Presidential election. and concerning the person VIII,
would probably be selected by General Jackson to
fill the Office of Secretary of State, feel sincere,y
sorry that amcompelledth thus tointroduce his nam
but do so, with the less reluctance, because It has
), already without any agency of mine found its way
i into the newspapers, in connexion with the transac
; ton.
. Mr.. Marley advered to the rumor, which
have mentioned and said it was calculated to nlure
= the General. He observed that Mr. Clay's friends
" were attached TO him, and that he thought they
i, would endeavor to act in concert at the election,
e that if they did So they could elect either Mr.. Al
n ans or General Jackson at their pleasure but that
Il many of them would never agree to vote for the
latter if thew knew he had Predetermined to prefer
" another to Mr. Clay for the first office in his gift
n aud that some of the friends of Mr.. Adams had al
ready been holding out theidea, that in case hewere
c elected Mr.. Clay might probably be offered the 81
q tuaon of Secretary of State.
>, told Mr.. Markley that felt confident General
Jackson had never said he would appoint Mr. Adams
Secretary of State because he not in the ha-
bit of couversng upon the subject of the election
n and if he were, whatever might be his secret inten
!, ton he had more prudence than to make such de-
If claraon. | mentioned 10 him that | had been
,e thinking, either that would call upon the Genera
,r myself or get one of his other friends to do and
ii thus endeayor to obtain from him contradiction Of
.. the report although doubted whether he would
4 hold any conversation upon the subject.
~ Mr. Markley urged me to do SO and observed
/. if General jackson had not determined whom hH
would appoint secretary ofState and should say that
it would not be Mr.. Adams, it might be Of great ad-
y vantage to our cause orus so to declare uponhis
!. authority we should then be placed upon the same
) footing with the Adams men, and might fight them
j. with their own weapons. That the western men~
bers would naturally prefer voting for a western
man, if there probability that the claims q
/ Mr. Clay to the second office in the government
f should be fairly estimated and that they though
l. proper to vote for General Jackson, they could
e decide the contest in his favor!
A short time after this conversation or the 30ta
Z of December, 1924, (I am enabled to fix the time
not only from my own recollection but from letters
u which wrote on that day, on the day following,
y and on the I'd January, 1920 called upon Gene