Delaware journal., 1827-12-28
From the National Journal.
MR.. JEFFEKSON'S OPINION OF GEN. JACK
SON-SEI FLED


After candid pernsal ui the following correspon-
dence, which we find IN the illinois lneigencer Of
the lst inst. not DOUBT Can remain IN the minds OF
our readers as to the character Of the opinion en-
tertaned by Mr. Jefferson, OF the qualifications and
fitness of Gen. jackson for the Presidency. The
letters OF Cove, nur Coles and Gilmer con.
elusive on the point. Mr.. Jefferson treated the
qualifications of Gen. Jackson with unaffected con
tempt; and regarded 1.-THE extraordinary vote he
had received" as ground On which to establish ..a
doubt Of the durability of our Institutions" !"
1t appears from slr. Gimers letter, tina, Mr.
Jefferson was also ininica 10 the claims Of MIR
Adams. participating the Virginia feeling thi.
was o be expected. But his dislike Of MIR. Adams
was excusl. l.eiy political. He had given evidence,
b, the confidence he had himself rep0sed In him.
that he regarded him qualified by intellect and
Wedge for high trusts; anu there is nothing In
the aalner in which he Is described toucnlng the
claims ui Mr.. Adams, which ca parallel the con
temptuuus phrase and feeling winch mark his refer
ence to General Jackson.
We invite our readers every where to read the
facts as detailed in the following letters:
From tte Illinois LatcLigencer
EDwAKDsvILLE, Nov. 20, 1927.
GoUernor Coles:
SIR: We nave seen, in the public journals, opn
ions ,ad TO have been entertained and expressed by
Mr.. Jefferson vi General Jackson, set of which
was SAID to have been communicated to YOU BY that
ustrous man a short time previous to his DEATH
and to the expression of which the Generals extra
ordinary run at the last Presidential election. is sale
to have gwen rise.
The U. 5. Telegraph of the Gath Of October last
asserts, III an editorial article, that you have deni
ed ever making the statements on that subject Whci
have been imputed to YOU, and other papers as con
lenty assert that you have made them. We have
I,nr M aut tla Hncor stpf
by you when this SUBJECT has been jhe topic Of
versatiUn in your presence and have ielt its propr
ETY. but we now think it due to Yourself and thu
people that frank and explicit declaration of tht
facts should BIZ made public. We thereto ask you
to state, with that view, the last conversation you
iad with M. Jefferson in relation to General Jack
snl,, and ms fitness tor the Presdency-the time u
which it was had, and the exact words. as nearly a
you can recoect them. used by llr Jefferson whel
speaking To YOU on that subject
We yenerate the memory u Mr.. Jefferson, ant
profoundly respect his opinions, and wish that thos
he really did entertain and express i'll relation to Gen
Jackson, may l.a gwen to the world
Very respectfully we are, sir, your ob't sery'ts.
George Forquer, Sidney Breese,
| Thomas Fo,d, David Prcket,
Wm 7. 4NKee, Thos. Llpplncott,
Alexander Miller, John Todd.
MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
/ .Nouember 23, 1897.
| Gentlemen II have seen, with regret, that rc
mark made by Mr. Jefferson to me, in the freedom
OF social and friendly intercourse, and was re
peated in the spritto friend last winter, ,shoul
have found its way into the newspapers. My reluc
taace to appearing before the public, and giving pub
icity to an expression used in conversations has re
strained me from noticing the many unjusfable vel
sons and animadversions which its publication ha
given rise to yielding to the frequent application
made TO me by many ofmy friends and acquaintance
IN make known Mr. Jefferson's opinions of Genera
Jackson's qualifications and fitness for the Preslder
i cv. Nor should now be induced to depart troi
INV purpose of remaining silent, but for the extraol
dnary efforts which have been made, u the peculla
character Of some of the parties concerned, to di
prove the correctness of the opinions OF Mr.. j. q
EXPRESSED to, and repeated by, me. After what ma
past, do not feel myself at liberty any longer
decline making explanations, which have becom
the more necessary FROM the erroneous assertion re
Gently attributed to me, and the improper use mad
of nv name in the public journals: | shall. there
FORE so far yield to the call contained in your lette
of the Goth instant, as to make, in reply to 1t, tn
following statement-under the conviction that
has become net less due to me and to the occasion
than to the opinions of SO respectable IA portion
nv felow-citlzens and with the full persuasonth tn
Iif there be any thing objectionable in my conduc
an excuse will be found in the fact of my name ha
S ing been brought before the public without my COZ
sent, the improper liberties taken with it, and the III
y iustifabe attempts made in disparagement,n mot mer
/ ly of my memory, but OF my character
n On the lth of August, 1925, while on visit
'f Mr. jefferson, at Monticello, had a very long ar
o highly interesting conversation with him, in relate
70 the last Presidential eection in which he spol
: very freely and fully of men and things, and dwe
d at considerable length, on the character, prnclpl
st and conduct, of the gentlemen who had been ca
lie didatcs He expatated dispassonately, and witho
reserve; drew comparisons. made discrimination
and described in his usual forclble language, II
rood and bad traits in the character OF each. /