Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-10-08
From The Nashville Republican, Sept is.
MR. EATON TO THE PUBLIC.

any think otherwise, L tender 10 'heW "i
Claws dinner speech, delivered at Lexington IN
July last, with the references that have oeen
made to me both by Gen Jackson and Mr..
Buchanan. Thus situated. it is neither need
full nor proper to remain SILENT shall there
fore speak the things that know, from con
yiction that the references which have been
made, render it proper for me to do so.
Firsr, TO an adjustment on my own account
with MIR. Clay; who, in his speech delivered at
Lexington, uses towards me this language
"Before the election, an attempt was made,
by an Abusive letter, published in the Colum-
bian Observer, a, Philadelphia, paper which,
as ha. since transpired, was sustained oy MI.
Senator Eaton the colleague, the Friend and he
biographer Of Gen Jackson, to assail nv mo
,ives, and to deter me in the exercise OF my
duty"
The language employed in this sentence, is
arranged with so great art and caution, as TO
make ii susceptible of doubtful int ntior ne
meaning which the speaker intended should
attach and which. with nine readers out oil ten,
will obtain, Is, that the Columbian observer
was sustained by Mr. Senator Eaton the col
league, the friend and biographer Of Gen. Jack
son, to assail his MIR. Ciay'sl motives, and to
defer him in the exercise Of his duty. With
this construction take leave to say, it is mis-
representation-it is untrue. This paper was
assisted though not sustained by me for any
purpose, and far less with view to nssa'i mo
fircs, or 10 deter any one in the exercise OF his
duy.
The return made Of me by the editors OF the
Columbian Observer, as one OF their creditors,
has been fruitful theme Ut exnl,ing remark
TO MIR. Clays editors and friends. little ex-
PEE ed 70 see him at small a business; and
sti less that he would hays hazaraed an asser
in proof to support that assertion A single
paper. to be sure, at Philadelphia, the Demo-
cratic Press had asserted it: But Mr.. Clay
should have recoiected, that as he was decrying
the force OF newspaper testimony, as authority
applicable 20 his own case delicacy and a re-
gard for consistency should have restrained
his Willingness to insist on it, rule conclu-
sive towards others. Like himself, though,
cannot now express my satisfaction at hav .
ing the matter presented in some tangible
form, and by "a responsible accuser;" and that
he may be spared all further disquietude on
the sub ject, he shall be afforded the history of
the transaction, pre- else and accurate as i, took
place, with leave to make Of it hereafter what
ever use he can.
To the editors of that paper, & at their re-
quest, did lend sum OF money; at that lime,
before, nor alter, was there an agreement, or
understanding, expressed or otherwise, as to
any political course which they should pursue
More than year preceding this-circumstanee,
and before ever knew Messrs. Simpson s
Conrad the editors, had. that paper been
warmly and zeaously in the cause of General
Jackson. 1t was my own money, not the pub
hes; and have yet to learn, wherein there is
either culpability or criminality in lending
money to the respectable editor of newspa-
per, greater than To any other individual in so.
clety, unless as stipend TO induce to course
not sanctioned by his preference or judgment
The character Of those editors is sufficient to
turn aside the imputation Of opinions thus con
trolled-while recollection that for righte n
months or more they had labored in support
OF Andrew Jackson, altogether forbids it.
But, again: In adyerting to this transac
tion-to my mind very innocent and unoffend-
ing one-why was it necessary for MIR. Clay
4" to throw around me, for description sake so
many far fetched s. high sounding explosives?
Mr. Eaton OF the Senate-(there being in that
body none other bearing same, or even a sim
har name, would as it appears to me, be alto
Sether sufficient, if description Of person was
alone the end and object designed to be attain
ed; but this was not the object, and hence the
lofty addenda, 1.-THE collie guo-the friend and
the oiograPher OF Qeu. Jackson" Wha then
was II! An attempt at decsption-a matter Of
special pleading. by which it was expected, a |
conclusion in the public mind would be arriv- |
ed at, that Gen. Jackson was the shelterer of
this paper, defended and sustained for the
vowed purpose TO assah Mr. Cloy's motiucs and
10 deter hana IN the exercise of ms duty. To
this obviously designed intendment, apply
positive denial Of its truth. Gen jackson
was IN Tennessee, and knew no more OF the loan
made 60 these gentlemen, than Mr.. Clay did;
nor did he know of il. until during last winter,
when--on the superstition, suppose, that it
nigh, be used as good SET off to the changes
and breakings of the Secretary, in his By Au-
THoRrrr corps-it became mater of remark
and censure in those columns which were I
friendly to Mr.. Clay and Mr. Adams. Before
this period, i bad not spoken Of it; nor until
this time, detailed the particulars. do so now,