Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-10-17


from no other cause. have. known Mr.. bu-
cbanan too long, TO place any statement oil his,
which NIGH, be disc:epant with my own, under
the head Of intentional error, ascrlbe Ii 10 any
other circumstance than inaccuracy OF recollec. |
ton
Tn other words, Mr. Eaton is willing TO adj
nit tina, a brother "nego,ia,or" has not utter
ed a deliberate falsehood, but has merely acted
under the influence of memory so deplorably
bad. that, in dating letter, he forge,s the day
of the month. by twenty days! If Mr. Buchan
ans memory is as wretched in the calculation
of money, as it is here supposed to be IN the
calculation Of time, it would never do Tor Gene
raj ia, kson, if elected President, 10 appoint nm
Secretary Of the Treasury. IN that capacity,
he would be likely TO lose TO the nation, every
day, as much money as il lost by the condue'
of the Opposition in defeating the loan bill, or
by the debate on Mr.. Saunder,' resolution -
But throughout the whole attack on Mr. Clay,
from the time OF Kremer's letter TO the presen'
day, a "bad memory" seems 10 be an endemi'
cal disease Of the party. Ii has already oeen
shown, that il does not lie with Mr. Eaton. "i
all persop., 10 assume tina, this disease has al
tackled Mr.. Buchanan more severely than hlm-
self
AT last Mr.. Eaton comes to the plth OF ms
discourse He makes the grand disclosure
which is to demolish MIR. Clay, and to make
ten "Hero off,Uo wars" President, let what WIZ
happen in Kentucky, Maryland, Delaware, or
in The city Of Philadelphia. As this disclosure
constitutes almost the ii'ary novelty OF IN
Senator'S expose, it is but fair TO give il in his
own words, les, something Of its tragrancy
should evaporate in description.
might here rest my remarks, and torbear
TO say more on the subject, but being IN posses
sion of some facts, which may not be consider
ed immaterial-the tendency Of which may be,
to exhibit matters more fully to public consider
alton, shall not conclude this presentation
without submitting them also. have already
SAID, that a meeting was held on the 22d OF ia
nuary: previous 10 which time, the opinion ol
| Mr. Clay and his friends were but little known
conjecture alone pointed out what probably
their course would b.. On the succeeding
Monday, he opinion prevailed that they had
taken this ground; and in few days afterwards
Mr.. CLAWS military chieltain letter, as II has
been styled, was written to Judge Brooke, ct V'r'
ginia Of whom he speaks as a particular trend
In that letter, he mentions his difficult, nigh
" critical" situstion-the interrogation TO hls
conscience, and the course he had resolved to
pursue Thus, TO a particular friend, on the
2s,h Of January, and not earlier, was cceiara'
ton made of the course he had concluded 10
take. Why the necessity Of a silence SO long,
and so rigidlv preserved?
This Saturday evening meeting and the
course which had been resolved upon, formed
generally onMonday the subject OF conversation.
The Senate having adjourned. Geo Jackson
and myself were passing from the Capitol; beng
yet within the enclosure, aud near TO aflght oil
steps leading TO the avenue when Mrs Clay,
coming diagonally on our route from the House
Of Rspssssn.s.sss passssea ysrynsar ss@ VIII
flight Of steps in front OF the building, and We
were in the act of descending, when some per-
son coming up, accosted US. AT that moment,
Mr.. Clay, turning round, observed, chow are
you to day, General" with manner somewhat
embarrassed, as though he had just then disco.
vered him. The salutalion was returned, and
Mr. Clay passed on. Immediately afterwards,
General Jackson remarked 10 me, that Mr.. Clay
seemed disposed 10 pass him without speaking
my answer was, Gas he has concluded 10 vote
against you, General, suppose he is solicitous
for no further intercourse" We dropped the
bjec,. ! had never before perceived Mr..
Clay thus distant with Gen. Jackson, having
heen previously quite the reverse; and we'll
knowing. from our near proximity al passing,
that it was altogether improbable he should not
his part as a circumstance Corroborative of
what had been the reports of the day-a deter
mutation taken 10 support NJ. Adams.
II is difficult not to commend the Senator's
modesty IN assuming the possibility that the
"facis' detailed in this extract "may not be
considered immaierial" From the expression
81 have already said, that meeting was held
on the 22d Of January" it would seem that
Mr.. Eaton is now certain that this meeting,
which, in another part of his statement he had
spoken Of only as "repored," was actually held.
But it would, ,hink, puzzle the Senator 10
prove that any such formal meeting Of "Mr.
Clay and his friends" took place during the
session Of 1884,; or to prove any other than
casual, unprecedented meetings at that period
between them. "Previous," proceeds the de
ponent, "to which time" (the 22d Of January
"rhe opinion Of Ah. Clay and his friends were
but "GHis kno,ca." This is fat contradiction
Of Gen. Jackson. who asserts that the second
"day after" early in January, it was "dnnou1ced
sin The newspapers that Mr.. Clay had come out
Sin favor Of Mr.. Adams''!
But conceding TO Mr.. Eaton that the "report- !
e1S vtaJ ha L.. |