Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-04-26

cided friend. Thought il incumbent on me
to underceive the gentleman alluded 10, ana oio
so by stating what had passed between Col J.
and myself in the Senate Chamber. su6se-
oueutly mentioned the conversation 10 one 9TH
err gentleman; but whether either Of the two
communicated il 70 Mr.. Clay, or whether Mr..
CLAW ever was informed of il at all, know not,
as have not exchanged word, beyond sim
pie salutation, with that gentleman, since he
became Secretary Of State; and therefore Col.
is jnsinua alton that betrayed him TO Mr. 4. Is
wholly gratuitous and untrue.
1t may he proper to state, in explanation OF
nv remark, respecting Mr.. Clay's hostility to
our paper, that it mad reference not altogether
to public indications Of feeling on his part,
which he took no pains TO conceal tor whatev-
er faults he may have, want Of frankness in a.
vowng his dislkes or resentmenrs is not among
the number) but TO the communication oil dis
tineushed member from Virginia, who, in dis
coursing to me, some time before, on the pro-
prety of our assailing the Administration, urg
ed as reason, within his knowledge, that Mr.
Clay had always been inimical to US That
gentleman will recollect the answer which |
made 10 him also:-that in shaping our edito-
rial course we threw our personal affairs entire
Iy out of view.
But Col. Johnson alledges that his remarks
TO me were confidential The fact is, Col. j.
had as little right 10 make me the depository Of
his political secrets, as / had to know that his
revelations were intended to be confidential; for
we were too well acquainted with each others
Presidential predictions, 10 invite from him
confidential disclosure Of his attachments on
that head, or 10 render such disclosure neces-
sary. AS far back a, the preceding session, that
is, the session in which Mr. Adams was elect
ed President, aud even before his Inauguration,
Col. Johnson had determined to enter the ranks
OF the Opposition that was 10 be, and urged me
TO go with him and his party II may he well
10 advert to this incident little more Particu-
larly: for every body acquainted with the Colo
nefs earnest and impressive manner, knows
that what he says is not easily forgotten
| 1t Was just before his departure from Con.
gress, in March, 1925, meeung the Colonel in
the vestibule Of the Senate Chamber, he stopped
20 take leave, and said TO me, he hoped that as
General Jaekson's friends would support us in
the election Of Printer, Ito take place in day or
two,) we would come out against the Admins
tratIon, after the adjournment of Congress, al.
though the Administration was not then form.
ed, for the President was not installed. and Of
his Cabinet and farther said. if we did not, we
might expect the opposition Of the friends OF
the General. ! informed the Colonel then, as
afterwards, that we could not regulate the
course OF our paper by private considerations;
that as Mr. Crawford had not succeeded, we
were content that Mr. Adams had; that we
hoped he would administer the Government a.
bly, and benr6cially, and if he did we could
not oppose him simply bee ause we had opposed
his election; that General Jackson should al
ways receive al our hands that fairness and re-
spect which his eminent public services and
we'll earned standing entitled him TO; but that
we never had and never would trammel or COM
promise our editorial course by any private
stipulations. Is it probable, after this CONVEX
saton, that Col ]. should, al the following ses-
sion, think Of making to me a confidential re
violation of his sentimenIs-on the same topic?-
But repeat, was not authorised BY single
circumstance to consider il confidential, and |
had not The remolest idea that j. was SO. nor |
indeed did Il deserve to be. AS we'll might a.
mother Opposition Senator claim to have been |
confidential, who, in public place, in the hear
ing of several, on being rallied on the triumph |
Of the Administration party on the Panama
mission, said, ives, they have beaten us BY few !
"vo,es, after hard battle, but if they had only
"taken the Other side and refused the Mission, I
eve would have had them"
| am far from imputing TO Col Johnson in
territorial mistatemen,; but he has done me great
injustice, and have defended myself by de-
tail of facts, as brief as could make it. | would |
have said less, had less su ficed; but when an
humble indn idual is called on to vindicate him
self agans, the great odds Of distinguished
name and high station, it is due to himselftaat
he omit nothing which truth authorises him to
use. w. w SEATON.
Washington, aprR 1882.
PRINTING THE LAWS.