Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-09-15
Nros, tie National hielisenesr.
HAMpDEN-No. ii.

HAMpDEN-No. ii.
The letter of Gen. Jackson 10 Beverly, as
well as his subsequent address, contain clear
inference. that no other proposition was made
70 him BY o, from Mr.. Clay,or any OF his friends,
and that no other communication OF similar
character, was made by ANY individual but Mr..
Buchanan.
The communication made bythis gentleman
10 Gen. Jackson constitutes the whole iounda'
ton for the grave charge which he has brought
against MIR Clay and Mr.. Adams-and this is
ali the authority he had for the belief that Mr..
Adams had made, or Mr.. Clay accepted, cor>
ropt proposition. Ifbe has other evidence let
!, be produced: until il is produced, the public
must believe that this was the only ground oil
his opinion.
MIR. Buchanan made no communication from
MIR. CLAW, or from his friends, to Gen. Jackson;
nor did he even state TO him, that any combs
nation had been formed between Mr.. Adams K
Mr.. CLAW. or their friends, or that any PROPOSE
ton had been made in regard to the Depart
men, of State, to induce the friends OF Mr.. Clay
to yole for Mr.. Adams.
MIR. Buchanan had no knowledge Of any i'm
proper influence or corrupt proposition. he
disclaims the idea Of being the author or bear
er of any such communication. He made known
distinctly, in October last, that he could not
sustain the charge Of Gen. Jackson. II results
therefore, BY an irresistible inference, thatGen.
Jackson has no evidence, nor ever had, either
that MIR. Adams, or his friends, made any pro-
position 10 Mr.. Clay, or his friends, or that
Mr.. Clay, or any oil his friends, had made any
prooosition 10 Gen. Jackson, or his friends.
Here the question might end. We may char.
itably ascribe the error 10 misapprchension; and
as Gen. Jackson has done injustice 10 MrClay.
he will, no doubt, have the magnanlmity to
make the suitable acknowledgements.
This misappr ehension Of the General is the
source of all the accusations that have been
made-ail the calumsy that has been uttered, &
all the malignity end abuse which has been
vented sas. los congress mrs
communication was made, with what other ex-
aggeration and coloriDg is not known-to how
many the secret was intrusted, and how far the
story has gone on the authority Of the General,
cannot now be traced.
1t is known that Gen. J. privately commune.
Gated to the Editor OF the Telegraph, that he
had rejected corrupt propositions from MIR.
Clay, or his friends, and that this IS the only
foundation for all that has been published in
that paper on that subject. Ills acknowledged
that he made public arowal Of the fact TO a
large party at dinner at his own house, in the
presence of Be verly--that this was circulated
through all the papers for months-that the
General mentioned il al taverns without much
reserve, on hi, way TO Wheeling, and on board
the Steam boat, afterwards, 10 different persons
How far The story had privately circulated, no
one can now tell. What unfavorable impress
sions it made upon the public mind, can only
be imagined The high source from whence it
emanated, the n,inuteuess Of the circumstances,
the particularly ofdates, all conspred to give
credi, to the charge. What means had the &C
G. 1afan ,I~.
PLANTATION comes too late. Justice cannot now
be done to the fame Of Mr.. Clay, Truth is slow
in Its progress, and will never overtake the err
ror, or eradicate the impressions and prejudi,
ces ithas created. The an,idote will not reach
The poison; il is TOO widely diffused.
BY what f:ail tenure do public men hold
their fame! which even breath Of suspicion
may blast! How uncertain all human evidence!
how feeble our memories! how yiolen, our sus-
picions! how imperfect or senses! how strong
our passions
General Jackson would, no doubt, have con.
scientiously made oath to the truth ofhis state
men,; MIR. Eaton would probably have confirm
ed it; and, ii MIR. Buchanan had died, the evi~
dence Of 4 rsost shameless and corrupt propo~
sition from Mr.. Clay would have been com
pleie and nothing could have saved him and
Mr.. Adams from the indignation OF the coun.
that Mr.. Buchanan iives--thank God!-to de.
fend his own character, and project their fame
from the meditated sacrifice.
General Jakkson may have been deceived
We are not the searchers Of hearts. God for.
bid! But il requires the exercise OF the great
est candor and moderation to believe that he
could have misconceived or misap3reh ended
the nature Of the proposition. Without im>
peaching his integrity, or impugning his mos
tives, it must be confessed that no man ever
acted under the influence of higher temptation
or Of stronger passions. Issuing warm from
violent and angry political conflict; stung by
disappointment; it requires the exercise ofchar-
ity to believe that be was "impelled by no pr-
yale resentment, stimulated by no personal in |
jury, and instigated by no expectation OF re-
waid,--and that he was moved only by sense
Of the public good The charge itselfis ofthe
most serious character. Il involved The ruin of
MIR. Adams and MIR. Clay-a rival and an enc
my; the hopes Of great political party, and his