Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-10-24
F,ors TIE National htslHgeneer.


coun,eract ting our statement Of what were Mr.
Jefferson's real opinions concerning the quail
{ication of Gen Jackson for the Presidency, we
supposed we might serve the cause Of truth by
producing sush testimony rs no one would
question, Of what was the tenor of MIR. Jeffer-
sons frequent conversations on that subject.
With this view we addressed letter to the
distinguished citizen of Virginia, whose au-
thority and permission we had for giving our
information on the subject to the public. To
this letter we received the annexed reply with
the enclosure which follows it. We subjoin,
also, the following extracts from the Rich
mond Wing and the Lynchburg Virginian,
which amply corroborate what was already
Sufficiently estab lished 10 need no confirmation
10 our minds.
We for ourselves wanted not the dictum Of
Mr.. Jefferson, or of any other individual, how
ever lliusrrious, to mould our opinion upon, in
relation to the pending Presidential controver-
sy, or to any other public question of which
we have ample means of Judging. We have
long made up our opinion Of the disqualified.
lion of Gen. Jackson in comparison with other
Of our eminent citizens, for merely civil
trust; though we never have permitted our
selves to call him a bear or bull dog that ought
TO be caainsd-nor, as the Richmond Enquirer
did, publicly TO deprecate his election as q
curse upon the countIy-no, not even as the
Albany Argus did, to say that he stood at an
Unreasonable distance from the Presidency,
though We agreed with the Argus, that his ha-
bits were too sumna' y for taai. We never had
any personal hostility 10 Gen. Jackson, and,
when we have deprecated his being placed at
the head Of the Government, we have done it
almost as much for his own sake as for that of
the country, whose dearest irI,~rvY.- f....-
hazard, not for his advantage, but for that OF
few intriguing and aspiring individuals who
have occasion for ladder to climb upon.
We first stated the opinion of MIR. Jefferson
20 counterfeit the effect which others sought to
produce by misreprcsenting the sentiments oil
MIR. J. on the subject OF Gen Us claims OF
qualifications for the Presidency; and we now
nroduce the confederation Of our statements
for no other purpose. We have right to ex~
rect that all who have disputed our former
statement on This subject, or treated 1t lncred-
ulouslv, will copy the following authentic and
conclusive articles. Such a course will do
them credit, whilst it does us justice.
-, Ia. October ISM, 1927:
MEssRs. GALES * SEAToN:
. Gentlemcn:-I have seen the attacks which
have been made upon you by some Of the Jack
son prints, because of your publication OF the
information which / gave you as derived from
gentleman of The first responsibility and cha
racter of our State, respecting Mr. Jeherson's
opinion as 10 the election OF General Jackson
ito the Presidency, and the alarm and uneAsiness
he felt upon the subject; and l have also re-
ceiyed your letter, requesting permission to
give ND your authority. My informant receiy-
ed the information from gentleman Of Virgil
mia, who, ii is well known, saw Mr.. Jefferson
Frequently, and was in habits Of great intimacy
with him. With view TO sustaining you In
Your publication Of Mr. Jefferson's opinion up
on this all-importan, subject, have written my
friend, requesting to know whether he would
be willing to give his name, and that Of his IN
formant. to the public. II seems, from his res
My, which you are authorized TO publish, il you
think proper, and which enclose to you, that
7 misconceived him in bis willingness to give
10 TIE press the Information he gave me, and
which you published upon my authority-be-
cause Of an unwillingness, on his part, to bring
himself, or any of his friends, under the abuse
and SANDER Of party Editors, in this conrulsed
state Of the country. He is Of course opposed,
at this lime, to the publication Of his name or
that Of his informant. But, sirs, you and the
public may rest satisfied and assured, that the
opinion aseribed to Mr.. Jefferson, as TO General
Jacksons fitness for the Presidency OF this
country, is as true as that that Statesman and
Patriot now sIumbers in the grave.
Mr. Jefferson's opinion, on this subject, is
known to five or six other gentlemen OF high
character and distinction in our State, to whom
he communicated his feelings--thei- names are
well known. This is fac, most distinctly as
certained; and earnestly trust that some one
or more of them will yet &c, over their scruples
and objections to giving their names in the
public prints, as authority on this point, in or
der that all denials and caviliing may be put 10
rest forever Is not this course, on their part,
due 10 the country, to the Administration, and
to Justice?
1t was saying of Mr.. J. that General
"Jackson was good bulldog; but that these
bulldogs ought to be chained in time oil
"peace," and was used when he was speaking
ofGeneral Jsckson's pretensions TO the Presi-
dency. Other expressions of strong objection
10 his elevation to the Presidency might be re-
Psated, if necessary.