Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-08-14

would call upon the Generai myseh, OF get oHe
of his other friends TO do so, and thus ehdeavor
70 Obtain from him contradiction Of the re-
mort: although doubted whether he would
hold any conversation upon the subject.
Mr. Markley urged me to do so; and obser-
we'd if General Jackson had not determined
whom he would appoint Secretary OF State, and
should say that it would no. be Mr. Adams, 1t
might be of great advantage to our own cause
for us so to declare, upon his own authority;
we should then be placed upon the same foot
ing with the Adams's men, and might light
them with their own weapons That the west
ern members would naturally prefer voting
for western man, if there were probability,
that the claims of Mr.. Clay to the second Of
fee in the Government should be fairly esti-
mated; and that if they thought proper 10 vote
for General Jackson, they could soon decide
the contest in his favor.
A short time after this conversation, on the
3oth Dec. 1924, q am enabled to fix the time
not only from my own recollection but from
letters which wrote on that day, on the day
following, and on the I'd January, 1929 | CALI
ed on General Jackson. After the company
had left him, by which / found him surround
ed, he asked me TO take walk with him; and
whilst we were walking together upon the
street, introduced the subject. told him,
wished to ask him question in relation to the
Presidential election, that knew he was I'M
willing to converse upon the subject, that there
fore if he deemed he question improper, he
might refuse 10 give II an answer. That my
only motive in asking twas friendship Tor him,
and trusted he would excuse me for thus in
Producing subject, about which / knew he
wished 10 be silent.
His reply was complimentary to myself, and
accompanied with request tina, should pro-
coed. then stated TO him, there was report
in circulation, that he had determined he would
appoint Mr. Adams Secretary Of State, in case
he were elected President, and that wished
10 ascertain, from him whether he had ever in-
,imated such an intention. That he must al
once perceive how injurious to his election,
such q report might be. That no doubt, there
were several able and ambitious men IN The
country, among whom l thought Mr.. Clay
might be included, who were aspiring TO that
Office, and it il were believed, he had alre ady
determined TO appoint has chief competitor, IL
might have Almost unhappy effect upon their
exer,ions, and those Of their friends. That un,
less he had SO determined, thought that this
report should be promptly contradicted under
his own authority.
mentioned il had already probably done
him some injury, and proceeded TO relate to him
the substance Of the conversation which / had
held with MIR. Markley. l do not remember
whether mentioned his name, or merely des-
cribed him as friend of MIR. Clay.
After / had finished, the General declared,
he had not the least objection to answer my
question That he thought well of Mr.. Ad-
ans. but had never said or minated, that he
would, or that he would not, appoint him Sec
rotary of State. That these were secrets he
would keep to himseE-he would conceal
them from the very hairs ofh head. That II
he believed lis right hand thea knew what hrs
left would do, upon the subject OF appoint
nents to Office, he would cut it off and cast II
into the FIRE. That if he should ever be elected
President, it wouldbe without solicitation and
without intrigue upon his part That hi
would then go into office perfectly free and un
trammeled, and would be left at perfect liberty
to fill the Offices of the Government, with the
men, whom at the time, he believed to be the a
blest and the best men in the country.
told him that his answer to my question
was such an one as | had expected to receive
fine answered at all; and that had not sough
to obtain it, for my own satisfaction thei
asked him if were at liberty to repeat his an
swer. He said was perfectly at liberty to d.
so to any person thought proper, | neet
scarcely remark that afterwards availed my
self oft privilege.
The conversation upon this topic here ended
and in all our intercourse since, whether per