Delaware journal. [volume] (Wilmington [Del.]) 1827-1832, 1827-08-14

Al nm
u ,ae, f,s;shed to as, him question in relation to
aha prao;aan.;a, election, that knew he was un-
,yI,no 10 converse upon the subject that therefore
;f he deemed the question improper, ne MINI re-
t,se r. Give il an answer. That my only mouve IN
asL;na f was friendship for him, and trusted ne
would excuse me for thus introducing SUBJECT,
,,pon which | knew he wished to be silent,
His ren,y was complimentary to myself, anu ac.
companied with request that would proceed.
then stated tp him there was report IN circulation
that he had determined he would appoint mr. Adams
secretary of state in he were elected freseht
and that wished to ascertain, from him whether be
had ever minated such an intention. - That he must
at once perceive how injurious to his election,
such report might be. That no doubt there were
several able and ambitious men IN the country,
among whom thong ht Mr.. Clay might be included.
who were aspiring to that office, and II 1t were be
lcved. he had already determined to appoint hs
chief competitor, it might have most unhappy ei-
feet upon their exertions, and those Of their friends
That unless he had so determined, | thought this
report should be promptly contradicted under his
own authority
mentioned, it had already probably done him
some injury, and proceeded to relate to him the sub
stance of the conversation which HELD with Mr.
Markley. do not remember whether mentioned
his name, or merely described him as a friend o
Mr.. Clay
After / had finished, the General declared he had
not the least objection TO answer the question:
That he thought well of Mr.. Adams. but had never
said or ntimated that he would or that he would not
appoint him Secretary of State. That these were
secrets he would keep to himsef--he would conceal
them from the very hairs u his head. That If he
believed his right hand then knew what his lett would
do, upon the subject of appointments to office, he
would cut it off and cast it into the fire. That if
he ,honfJ ha ola cd prpSIent NOnlu bp
without solicitation and without intrigue upon his
part That he would then 20 into office perfectly
free and untrammeed, and would be left at perfect
liberty to fill the Offices of the government wlththe
men whom at the time he believed to be the ablest
and best in the country.
| told him that this answer to my question was
such one as expected to receive if lie answered it
at all, and that had not thought to obtain it for my
own satisfaction. | then asked him, if were at
liberty to repeat his He said was perfect
ly liberty to do SO to any person thought proper
need scarcely remark that | afterwards awaited
myselfof the privilege he con, ersation upon this
topic here ended and in all our intercourse since,
whether personally or in the course OF cores
pOndence Gen. Jackson has never once advcrted to
the subject. Drior to the date OF his letter to MIR
Beverley.
do not recoect that Gen. jackson told me,
might repeat his answer to Mr. Clay and his friends;
enough Silcuiu Dc suTfY W SAY hc ulu HOt. Inc
whole conversation being upon the public street, it
might have escaped my observation.
few remarks and trust shall have done with
this disagreeabe business Tor ever
called upon General Jackson on the occasion
which have mentioned, safely as his friend. npoa
my individual responsibility ind not as the agent d
Mr.. Clay, OF any other person. | never have been
the political friend OF Alr. Clay since he became
candidate for the Office OF President rs you very vel
know; until saw General Jacksons letter to Mr.
Beverly of the 9Th ut. and at the time was IN
formed by letter from the Editor of the I nitet
States Telegraph that was the person to when h,
alluded, the conception never once entered III,
mind, that he believed me TO have been the agen
of Mr. CLAW or Of his friends, or that mad ntenGc,
TO propose to him, terms Of any kind from them, d
that he could have supposed me TO be capable ofeA
pressing the "opinon that it was right 10 fight suci
intrlguers with their own weapons. Such sup
position, had entertained it, would have rendered
me exceedingly unhappy, as there is aian upot
earth. whose good opinion more valued than tina
of General jackson. He could not thnk have
received this impression until after Mr.. Clay and hi
friends had actually elected N,r. Adams President
and Mr.. Adams had appointed Mr. Clay Secretar,
of State. After these events had TRANSFERRED it ma,
be readily conjectured in what manner, my commu
zication might have led him into the mistake.
deeply deplore that such has been its effect.
owe Ii to my own character to make another Oh
servation. Had | ever known or even suspected
that General Jackson believed | had been sent /,
him by Mr. Clay or his friends | should have i'm
me lately corrected his erroneous impressions ant
thus prevented the necessity for this most unpleas
ant explanation. When the editor of the Unite,
States Telegraph, on the 18th October last, aske
me by letter for information upon this subject,
promptly informed him by the returning mail, o
off that ,nnnth boJ NTH r..
Mr.. Clay, OF his friends to propose any terms t
General Jackson in relation to their votes, nor did
ever make any such proposition; and that truste
would be as incapable of becoming inessenge
upon such an occasion, as it was known Gen. Jack
son would be TO receive such a message | hav