Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1828-01-10


information, that Mr.. Crawford wsuld
gstsome sixty OF seventy electoral votes,
and that Mr.. Clay would be left out Of
the HOUSE. We convsrssd some time
about the election; and in the course Of
conversation, after speaking freely to
him about his own chances and pros.
poets, 1 asked him which Of the other
candidates he would vote for in the
srsnt Of failure on bis part: He SAID
that the event supposed would place him
in delicate attitude before the House
and nation; that a choice among his
compe titors under any aspect of it,
would be painful and embarrassing: that
from recent information, the restoration
of MIR. Crawford's health was entirely
hopeless, and that he could not consist
emily with his principles vote for Gen.
Jackson under. any possible circum.
stances. | gave il as my opinion, that
Gen. Jackson was not qualified to fill
the station, and discharge its mu.tifari-
Gus and complicated duties, foreign and
domestic: To this be agreed and added,
that the impartial world would probably
consider Mr.. Adams better qualified
than either jackson, Crawford, or him :
self: That at all events, Crawford aside }
the difference in point Of qualification,
| was SO clear and obvious in favor OF Mr.
Adams, that his motives might be ques
toned by impartial men, if be should
vote for JAG kson; and that he would be
unable TO defend the vote. because in
his own judgment it would afford Just
ground for csnsure.
He made several objections to Gen.
Jackson, and in the course of his re-
marks, expressed himself decidedly
hostile to the selection Of military men
to administer the civil government of
free nations. No nation he said, had
ever done it with impunity: The warn
ings OF history were against it: be con
sidered il bad example, and danger
Gus experiment, and declared that be
would not give ii the sanction of pre-
| cedent in our government by any act Of
his. He turned the conversation to the
Seminole war. and to the occurrences
connected With it-rsferred particularly
to the constitutional principles which
were brought forward and supported by
himself and Mr.. Lovndes and others, In
the course of the debate upon that sub
ject, and declared that be could not
consent to place Gen. jackson at ths
head of nation, after seeing him tram
pie upon the Constitution, and violate
the rights of humanity, as he bad done
at the head of the Army, in the pro.
gress Of that war
| made some reference to the suppos
ed difference of opinion between him
self and Mr.. Adams about the Treaty
Of Ghent He said in reply, that it had
been greatly magnified by the friends
of his competitors for electioneering
purposes that it ought to have no in
fiuence in tho vole which he nigh, be
called upon to give-that if he was
weak enough to allow his personal feel
ings TO influence his public conduct,
there would be no change 10 his mind
on that account, because he was then
upon the worst terms with Gen. Jack
son about the Seminole war, than he
could ever be with Mr. Adams aboui
the Treaty of Ghent-bnt that in the
selection ola Chief Magistrate for III,
onion he would endeavour to disregard
all private feelings, and look entirely TO
the interests OF the country, and the
safety of its institutions.
He spoke at large upon the subjects
Of agriculture, internal improvements.
and domestic manufactuPes--said, that
be was pledged to the nation in support
ofsbe American System of policy, and
OF all measures favorable to it, that
his own election had been advoca ted bv
his friends in part upon that ground, and
that be would consider it duty TO him
self and friends to strengthen the grea,
cause in which they were all engaged.
as much as possible. In this respect be
was satisfied, he said, that Mr. Adams
was the best choice. and that If there
was no other ground OF preference, be
would feel himself bound on that ac
count to vote for him.
do mol remember whsther / in
formed Mr. Clay of my own prefe
renee for Mr.. Adams al that time or
not, but / am inclined TO think | did
not and 4 am satisfied that had M,