Delaware journal., 1827-12-28
ERzDs4X, December rs, 1927.

by far better qualified that Gen. Jackson to dis
charge the duties of the presidency. In aword, he
spoke of Mr.. Adams an enlightened and exper
fenced statesman of Gen. Jackson valiant and
successful solder-with no other preension to the
Chief Magstracy than that derived from his militia
ry services While conyersng about Gen. jackson,
took occasion to say, that the great zeal which had
been displayed to elect the General, and the extra
ordinary vote he had received, had made me doubt
of the durability of free institutions. Mr. eter
son braced himself in his seat, looked steadlasty at
me, and in the most emphatic manner, said, ''Sr,
IL has caused 10 doubt han any thing aohich
has occurred since The Revoiuion." This part oithe
conversation repeated to Mr.. Williams, and which
regret has fouod its way into the newspapers, and
subjected me to the necessity OF making this COM
munication.
The conversation I held with Mr.. Jefferson, was
not a confidential one. Believing, however, the
language to have been more free and full than he
would have held with every one, | have thought
1t due to that confidence and discretion, which IS
tacty reposed in friends, and usual in the freedom
OF social intercourse not TO speak OF 1t lndlscrl-
minately, much less to give it publicity IN the
newspapers. But | have felt myself at liberty,
using, as conceived, "A proper discretion to re-
peat, both before and since his DEATH many OF his
remarks to particular persons some OF whom
were his neghbors, and others his intimate and con-
posed, he himself would have done, or as would
repeat the free remarks of any other friend made
to me under similar circumstances. And in one
instance, | communicated the substance oil those
he had made in relation to General Jackson IN Il
letter to a mutual friend in Richmond, Va. Though
in some respects, if might be desirable, in conse-
quence of what has past, to give more in detail
the remarks of Mr.. Jefferson there are other and
obvious reasons which induce me to prefer tram
scrlblng the brief statement contained in that let
ter, as it was written by me near two months be-
lore heard OF the death, Or eten illness OF Mr
Jefferson to one who had been in favour of the cleo
ion OF Mr. Crawford, was in opposition to the Fed
eral Administration. and an intimate friend OF Mir.
Jefferson, residing not remote from him and who,
IT he thought had in any respect misconceived Mr.
Jeifers0ns opinions, exposed them in language
too strong, would, presume, have had frequent
personal opportunities OF ascertainlng their accura-
cy from that great man himself In the letter
above alluded to- written from this place, and dat
ed May 80, 1895, are the following remarks
'lf the Crawford men determine to support
Jackson, |, for one cannot go with them. And
am happy to kno1S shall have the company Of
(, Messrs. Jefferson and. The former Mr.. JET
ferson) told me, last Summer, that the zeal which
had been dispayedin favor Of making jackson Pres-
dent, had made him doubt of The duration OF the Re-
public that he did not possess the temper the ac-
qulrements, the assduity, the physical qualifications
for the office and he had been in various civil
offices, and had made figure iii none and that he
had completely failed and shown himself incompe-
tent to i'm Executive trust in Florida; in word,
said the venerable old Patriarch, there are one hun
dred men in Albemarle county better qualified for
the Presidency
These were the opinions expressed by Mr.. JEFF
ferson to me, in August, 1885, and were greatly am
plificdand illustrated by reference to, and state
ments of, the official and personal conduct OF Gene
raj Jackson. Whether Mr. Jefferson afterwards
changed his opinions and thought better OF Ja kson,
or worse of Adams know not for, soon after
holding this conversation with him, returned to
Illinois, and did not again visit Virginia until last
/ Winter. when | must here be permitted to add,
among his numerous friends and acqualntances, with
whom convcrsed, | do not recollect to have met
with single individual who did not seem 10 be per-
fectly aware of the low estimation in which he held
the civil talents and qualifications OF General Jack
i son.--Many of these persons could refer TO- and
repeat expressions they informed me they had heard
i Mr. Jefferson use, did the occasion require 1t, or
Justify nv bringing their names before the public.
feel myself, however, at liberty, from the manner
Fl have received the normation to say that Garret
Minor has letter from his brother, the late Peter
Minor, the neighbor and intimate friend OF Nlr. JET
ferson, detailing opinions expressed by MI. JET
farson, which, informed. very similar to those
he expressed to me. understand Mr.. Minor S con-
yeraation with Mr.. Jefferson to have been subse-
quent to mine.
From my knowledge Of Mr.. jefferson, was con-
vinced he would not be pleased with some parts OF
, the Executive Message of December, 1928 nor
/, with some of the principles avowed, and measures
advocated by the Administration and IFS friends IN
. Congress- | felt persuaded that these things would
render him less satisfied with the present Eyecu-
t tive, and should not have been surprised to have
heard that he was desirous Of seeing the Government
, administered by another But with strong recol-
e lection of the opinions expressed by him. and un-
il der the influence of the deep impression made by