Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-10-29

formation OILY Can COTItlt. IL ShoWS 'ha' ho'
thing is TOO absurd TO propagate, or 100 ridicu.
lousto be- believed. -iea fr.'
have shown that by the Constitution the
States were free to choose among the three
highest-that they did so in the exercise Of
their undoubled right-ihat General Jackson,
in fact, had not a plurality-that il he had, tha,
gave him no right to a mn jori,y-that he net
licr had a majority of the electoral votes, or OF
The Staies-and thai, he ought TO take nothing
by his false clamor.
iIAMPDEN.
In orler to enable the public thoroughly to
understand the object of the following commu.
nica,ion, it may be necessary to observe, that,
in an editorial article on The hackneyed SUBJECT
Of a corrupt bargain between the friends Of
Messrs. ADAMS and CLAY, at til last Presl-
dental Election which appeared in a late num-
her Of he Western ItHer an opposition paper puo
lished 4, Cincinnati, our respected fellow citizen
Col. \. BOURNE, is introduced as one Of the wit
nesses by whom this "bargain" can be proved.
Afier enormously asserting, that Col. Is was
"lhc confidential friend Of Mr.. CLAY" The Edi-
tor of the TfAer proceeds 10 state, that he The
Colonel has admitted shat, shortly before the
election, he received from a member OF Con-
gress, also Mr.. CLAWS friend, a letter, which
contained the bargain in so many words: MI
ADAMS has ogreed, Dplaced IN tho P,esi1
dential Chair By The aid Of Nh. : .'s.[iienf
tn mahe him Mr.. C2ay] Secretary."
then adds: "This letter MIR BOURNE says he
will pu blish; Icing a man Of honor, his word
is not to be questioned.
1t is for the purpose Of correcting, as prompt
ly as circumstances will permit, the erroneous
impression which The article above noticed is
calculated m p,aGp ,hot Cnlnpel RnIruNE has
deemed it necessary, in anticipation Of the con
tradiction he has requested The Editor Of the
TILLER 20 publish 10 offer the following candid
statement 10 The consideration OF his friends in
this neighborhood. AS we intend to copy his
"denial," so soon as it shall have appeared in
the TILLER, we do not think IT expedient, a,
this time, TO offer any remarks oil the subject,
further than 10 observe, that, as the Editor has
admitted that Mr.. BoURNE's word is not to be
questioned" his unequivocal contradiction Of
The assertions attributed 10 him must he receiv-
ed as an ,disputable evidence of their incor-
%rectness.
Having on the 9Th inst. addressed to the
Editor Of the Western THer a brief and hasty
Genial Of a statement, said to have been made
by ME respecting the last Presidential election,
and published in that paper OF the 9Th instant;
| now submit to the public the following re-
marks, which will probably be the last shall
ever publish on that subject. i
When ] have occasionally engaged in politi-
cal discussions, the conversation has generally
turned on the political principles and practice
Of governments, rather han party poll
tics, AS have never been a party man, in tn
strict sense of the word, snd being under no
particular obligations to any party; l have
sometimes freely expressed my opinion of
what I believe 10 be the errors of all parties;
and this was one OF The topics OF the conversa-
ton which gave rise to The present controver-
sy.
AS to the last Presidential Election, ! never
did believe, and never said that ! believed that
there was any bargain, purchase, sale or COR
rupt intrigue bet"ee the friends Of Mr. Clay
and the friends of Mr.. Adams, and ! never did
in my own mind, attach the least degree Of
criniDality to their concut in that collection.
This was distinctly stated In the abo,e mention
ed conversation.
About the time Of the election, l formed The
opinion that there was an understanding, or an
expectation among the friends Of Mr.. Clay and
the friends OF Mr. Adams, that if Mr.. Adams
was elected President, Mr.. Clay would be APP
pointed Secretary Of State. 1t is unnecessary
u mention all the various circumstances and
political appearances which induced me to
form this opinion; suffice il 10 say, tina, ! never
have had any good reason to chang: il.
III have ever said, that / received by a let !
ter from a member Of Congress direct proof Of
an understanding, or agreement between the
friends Of Mr.. Clay and the friends Of MIR Adams
respecting the Presidential Election; then l
have inadvertently stated that which is not
true; for have never received any such proof.
| deem /, honorable to confess my errors when
Of them; but ! shall ma Ike no conces.
sions to the Jackson parly-they have exehang-
ed a neutral for an enemy, and they may make
the most they Can Of the bargain.
What advantage could the friends of Gener.
al Jackson expect to gain by repeating The ex-
which has twice completely failed?
They wanted 10 offer another sacrifice TO their
dol; and after consulting and celebrating six
weeks, they concluded 10 drag forward and Of
Ter up-
u A. BOURNE.
October Is, 1857.