The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1827-08-16
rc1lTISAI.
GEN. MCKSO.N'S LETTER.
From the Nashville Republican.
TO THE PUBLIC.

any consent, dEcHty' VI WE" W" Wy P"i
found its way into the newspapers, accom-
panied by a statement over the signature OF
Fl. CLAY. contadictIng and denying not a.
nv,bin9 have written, but that which he
himself makes me TO say. IL is not the in
terpretaon given by him TO my letter. but
INV own language and own statement, that
am called upon TO defend, and expect to
vindicate.
10 explain the manner in which my o
pinions have found their way into the jour
nails of the day, seems, in the first place, to
be due both to the public and myself. Mr.
Beverley, being on visit at my house. re-
nuested 10 know OF me, other gentlemen
being present. whether the overturrs here
tofore imputed to Mr., Clay were we'll found
! ed. and III had a knowledge of any Of the
! facts myself. | answered him candldly :;
being unobe, as vell as INV iling, to re.
fuse telling things had heard, and knew
to be true.--A letter detailing our conyer
satlon shortly afterwards obtained publci-
ty in the "North Carolina Journal" printed
al Fayetteville. e.-On the 18th Of May last
| from Louisville, Kentucky, a communIca-
ton 4" as addressed 10 me by Mr.. Beverley,
stating, what before ! had not known. that
he was the writer of this Fayetteville Let
| ter. He explained the reasons for his hdv
! ing repeated the conversation. and request
ed TO be informed II IN any thing be had
mlsquoted or mlsconcelved my meaning.
Under such circumstances, concealmeni
and silence might have seemed mere nt-
tectation, OF indeed somc,hIng.oi .firr
ent and even worse character. Publicity
Iu,t lnnr 70 hs nd
an appeal made 10 me for its accuracy, !
iclt 1t 10 be due to Mr.. Beverley. that moth.
ing oflabrlcutlon should be imputed to him.
and to myself, that what had stated should
be correctly understood. Accordngy,o on
the 9th of June, and IN reply TO his OF the
l,Jlh df MAY, | addressed him letter OF
WHICH the public are already possessed.
How, and by what means, II found IT'S way
INTO the columns of newspaper, mr. Bey-
rrley has explained: he states to me that
Ihe gave 1t iuto the hands Of Mr.. NOAH
Zane, Of Wheeling, Virginia, at his earnest
request for perusal, under pledge OF hon
or that il should he returned; and with nj
| expectation that any copy OF 1t was TO bt
retained; tlnt on his applying for, and de
manding the letter, it wasreiused to be re-
|
lie proceeds 20 say
"Mr. Zane. an old and most respectable
gentlemen. asked the loan of your letter a
favor; and, contrary to all custom and pro
priety in such cases, he IN conjunction WIZ
Mr.. Clay aad his friends, took copies OF II
without my knowledg" or privity IN an.
way, and without asking my leave To do Sc
. soon "a | understood that such was the vs.
d they were making of it, demanded otmI
Zane the letter, and demonstrated aGG'us
the unnreceden,ed course they were tax
, ug. lie refused 20 restore it tn me, mos
percmptorily, ontil they had satisfied them
p selves by furnishing to Mr. Clay one cop,
and reserving another for their own use.
The original conversation referred I,
+. and the above extract of letter from M
Beverley, at Wheeling. dated 25th of Ma,
are presented To show that have not. 2
~ charged, "placed myself in the attitUd
{ public accuscr," and tha; whuteve
j publicity has been to this transaction. ha
{ arisen flom no agency or procurement
mine; and that Mr. Clay, in fact. has hin
self held the matter up 10 public gaze ]
doing this he should have quoted what
had written accurately and fairly; for thor
he text and his commentary woul9 hsv
suited together; at prescni. his Cou'radir
ton is a something suggested by hmscl
and is not contained in my letter.
The statement contained in my letter
? mr.. Beverley is this: That, in lanuarv. lSH.
a member of Congress, OF high respectable
itv, visited me one morning and observed
he ha been informed by the friends
rIr. Clay, that the friends Of Mr. Adam
had nude Overiuros 10 them. saving. If m
, Clay and his friends would unite in aid ,
mr.. Adams. mr.. Clay should be Secretar
of State; that the friends Of mr.. Adam
were urging, as reason to induce III
friends ofmr. Clay to accede To this propC
= sition, that If | was elected President. m
, Adams would be continued Secretary
State, Gnueudo, there would be no ROOF
for Kentucky;J that the friends ofmr Cla
> stated. that the Wcst did not wish to sepG
J rate from the West, and i'll would say. @
permit any ofmy confidential friends to sa,
, that in case | was elected President M
Adams should not be continued Secretar
OF State, by a complete union Of mr.. Cla
and his friends. they would Put an end {
the Presidential contest in one hour; an
he was of opinion 1t was right 10 fight sue
intriguers with their own weapons"
This disclosure was made To me by m
James buchanan, a member of Congres
from Pennsylvania, gentleman of the fr'
responsibility audintelligence The ever
ing before. he had communicated. substar
tally, the same proposition to major Eator
my colleague in the Senate, with desir
warmly manifested that he should comm,
ncate with me. and ascertain my views q
the subject This he declined doing, sre
gesting to mr.. Buchanan tha, he, as well !
3 himself, could converse with me. and al
certain my opinion; though. from his know
4. llnhnu &c n,n he fhnnnhf he cnnll we'll col