Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-09-19

4
himself, but missed it, and now he tells the
people of the trick. I'm bound it's fact
| This piece Of information being communica.
ted, he cracked his whip, and babe us good
morning, leaving us to envy the better fortune
| Of our friend of the Wing. IT. thought we,
. such are the gulls palmed upon the people, and
swallowed too, God help US! Nothing but
publication under the second section of the
rules and articles of war awaits US. The East
Room Story, propagated by the Enquirer, is
doubtless going the same rounds, in company
with other fables, and receives implicit belief
From the Nashville Banner and WAig, of August 81 ]
Mr.. BUCHANAN'S LETTER,
This document has been, almost exclusively,
the subject Of conversation in our political cir
Giles, since its reception here, on Monday eve
ming last. 1t certainly is not such an article as
was generally expected from that source, and
most anxiously Looked for. II. confirms our
conviction, that recollections OF private CONVEX
sations, after considerable lapse Of time, can
not be confidently relied on, where minute &C
curacy may be important. II is impossible for
any man, however close his attention and reten-
tive his memory may be, to recollect with pre-
cision the language used, or even all the ideas
expressed, in a conversation Of upwards Of two
years standing. Intervening occurrences and
subsequent trains of thought will intermingle
with his recollections, and may be expected 10
create confusion and uncertainty in his mind.
Gen Jackson and Mr.. Buchanan have both un-
deriaken 10 relate the same conversation. Fac h,
no doubt, has enIeavored to do so fairly and
accurately. In the leading outlines they agree,
yet they have given totally different aspect to
some of the most important details. Gen. JACK
son, for example, says, that Mr. Buchanan re-
marked that she had been informed by the
friends of Mr.. Clay, that The friends Of Mr.. Ad.
ans had made overtures to them, saying q Mr..
Clay and his friends ,couid unite in aid Of the
election Of Mr.. Adams. Mr. Clay shoahd be Sec
ielarv Of State" Here is a proposition for a
bargain. If Mr.. Clay and his friends will help
Mr.. Adams, we pledge ourselves that Mr.. Clay
shall be Secretary Of Stale. Mr.. Buchanan
however says that he had understood from Mr.
Markley tina, "Some Of the friends OF Mr. Adj
ans had already been holding out an idea, that
in case he trere elected, Mr. Clay might probably
be offered the situation Of Secretary Of State"
Here is very nearly the same statement in words
yet this relates merely to an expression of OPT
MON as 10 probabilities, without any condition
requiring the support Of Mr.. Clay's friends
The former implies an attempt at something
like bribery, corrup: barter and sale OF the
most important Office in the nation, the latter
speaks Of fair and legitimate mode OF election
eering by reasoning as to the probable results
of the choice TO be made.
Again: what Gen. Jackson seems 10 have re-
garded as an oreriu,e 10 him, through Mr.
Buchanan, from Mr.. Clay and his friends, Mr.
Buchanan represents as merely an in4niry Of his
o,ua, made with view 10 the correction OF an
erroneous report then in circulation 10 the ln]u-
i ,l.,
STOOD Mr.. B. as expressing an opinion, WHICH
he utterly disclaims, "that i, was right TO fight
such inlriguers with their own weapons" Ii
is easy to account for this misunderstanding.
MIR. B. related the substance of conversation
he had had on the subject with Mr.. Markley. in
the course Of which Mr. Markley remarked,
that the impression which had gone abroad tina,
General Jackson would, if elected, continue Mr..
Adams Secretary Of State, placed Gen Jackson
on disad, analogous ground, inasmuch as Mr..
Adams friends could intimate the probability
of Mr. CLAWS appointment 10 the office under
Mr.. Adams, and Gen, Jackson's friends could
no, suggest an equal probability Of his appoints
ment under General JAG kson; but that il the ~
NOR could be contradicled, they would "then
be placed upon the same footing with the Adj
ans men, and might fight them ,cih their smm
ireapons.'
Gen. Jackson considering the conversation
as an overture or proposition made TO him for
an arrangement, to secure for himself the sup
port Of Mr.. Clay and his friends, by promising
not to continue Mr.. Adams Secretary OF Stale,
might naturally have concluded "that 1t was
not unauthorized" on their part Even if he
did not regard the conversation in that liSh'
at the time it took place, subsequent events
may have g wen il that aspect in his recollec-
ton, and he must necessarily presume. when
viewing it thus, that MIR. B. acted by authority
Mr. Buchanan, however, expressly disavows
any such agency. He says--"l called upon
Gen. Jackson on the occasion which have
mentioned, solely as his friend, upon my indi-
vidual responsibility not as The agent Of Mr. Clay,
or any other person" So far then as MIR.
Buchanan's movements in this affair are con-
cerned, Mr. Clay personally, and his friends
as a body, are completely vindicated and rehev-
ed from all imputatiou Of censure. he says FUR
Their, 1.-THE conception never once entered my
mind that he f(,en ! J deemed me to have