Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-01-04
APPENDIX TO MR. CLAY'S ADDRESS
"A
CutrIlcOrHE.

a.
CHLLicorHE, May IS, 1897
Sir: With respect to the letter from Nash"
Vile of the Sth Of March last, originally pub
ishea in the Fayetteville Observer, to which
YOU have done me the honor to call my a,ten-
ton. in your favor oil the first Of this month, I
can only state, that, so far as my knowledge
extends, the assertion Of the writer "that Cen
Jackson told, me him this morning, before all
his con,pony, in reply to question put to him,
co,cerniaS the election Of ]. Q. Adams TO the
Presidency, that Mr.. Clay's friencs maze
proposi,ion 10 his friends that il they would
promise for him not TO put Mr.. Adams into the
sea, of Secretary Of State, Clay and his friends
would, in one hour, make him, Jackson, the
President" is totally destitute Of foundation.
II is well known that when it was ascertained
that Mr.. Clay would not be one OF the three
highe,, persons vored for by the Electoral Col
leres, for the Office of President my next choice
was Mr.. Crawford. Had ii not been Tor the
III he ath of that gentleman, and the little pros
met there was or his Ultimate success, several
Of The Ohio Delegation, besides myself, would
have given him their support. And II Is win
reyre,, that now see his friends so much d.
yided, and many of them uniting with a party
nv whom e'had been so ungeneI oasly perse-
cuted. -.
II was evident TO all that the cleo lion did
tho, lie between Mr. Adams and Gen. Jackson.
And. although so much has been said aud
,.,;.,ar IN order 10 induce a belief that Nj
1,l,v had transferred * Influenced his irienGs
:, vote Cor Mr. Adams, the fact Is That the
f,hio Delegation, Cat al least large majority
or ,heml were the first OF MIR. Ciay's TRENDS
Tho came 10 the deter minalon OF votinS
,;n,, for Mr.. Adams, and that Too without hav-
inc ascerraned Mr.. Clay's views on the SUBJ
lect. .----------zF,,.v r,zz-s.s Cs.u.- ar Ann.
s.sssss -, TIE course whieh bsS r~r
sued. with regard to Internal improvements,
and The bill for the revision of the Tariff; and
indeed, in relation TO almost every measure
which we deemed Of importance 10 the country
generally, and more particularly TO the Western
States, put it out OF our power TO support, the
preiensions Of the General, without, al the
same time, abandoning what we conscientious.
ly.believed be our duty. On the other AMI
il was evident, that, for the support Of those
measurss, our only reliance was upon the
friends Of MIR Adams, the identity Of interest
between the Northern aud Western States and
the liberality Of the EASTERN members of Con-
,sress-
Another, and still more serious consideration
with us, was, the qualification of those gentle
men from whom, under the provisions of the
Constitution, a President was 10 be selected by
the House.
So far as was acquainted with the senti-
ments of MIR; Clay's friends, do not believe
that they could have been prevailed upon 10
have supported the election Of General Jackson
upon any conditions whatever, much less thai
OF excluding Mr. Adams from the appoin,-
ment OF Secretary of State.
The language held BY some Of the friends OF
the General, before the election, ,oas, that the
friends Of Mr. Clay burst not vote for any man
other than General Jackson. This was so Of |
ten repeated, IN menaCing manner, that il |
seemed that they already considered us chain |
ed TO the car Of the General; and if viewed |
in that degrading light; what inducement !
could we have had to ask, or TO offer conditions |
Of any kind' But il is also true that Others of |
the Generals friends used, what they no doubt
conceived, more persuasive language. Indeed |
they appeared to be willing to make any prom
Uses which they thought would induce the
friends Of Mr.. Clay to vote for General Jack.
son.
I do no. believe, however, that General
Jackson ever made the statement attributed to
him, as such " sang" does not comport with
the character ola soldier, or Of high minded
honorable man. Nor do believe, as before
stated, that any such proposition was ever
made by the friends OF Mr.. Clay TO those Of
General Jackson, or that propositions Of any
kind were ever made by item, 10 any person,
as a condition upon The compliance with which
their vote was made to depend. But, ifthe fact
should be otherwise, lei thr proof appear, and
the name of :he persons be published, SO that
the world may know and judge how far they
ought, Of right, 10 be considered the friends of
Mr.. Clay, or were authorised to make such a
proposition.
Ihaye the honor 20 be very respectfully your
obedient servant,
DUNCAN M'ARTHUR.
Doctor T. Watkins.
URBaNA, July 18th, 1927. <
Sir: On my return from visit to West