Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-01-05
APPENDIX.
6,hiiientne lfn,,1s 1897

APPENDIX.
Chilicothe, .Ndy Is, 1927.
SIR; With respect 10 the letter from Nashville,
oi the Sth OF March last originally published in
the Fayetteville Observer to which you have done
me the honour 10 call my attention, in your favor
OF the first OF this month"; only state, that, so
Tar as my knowledge extends, the assertion of the
writer ''tha. Gen. Jackson told me thiIn this morn
ing before all itis company in reply to question
put to hin concerning the election of J. -. Adams
TO the Presidency, that Mr.. Clays friends made a
proposition to his friends that, ifthey would promise
tor h'n not 10 put Mr.. Adams into the seat of Sc
cretary of State, Clay and hi friends would in
hour make him, Jackson, the President" is totally
destitute Of foundation.
Its well known that when it was ascertainei
that MI Clay would not be one of the three high
est persons voted for by the Electoral Colleges,
Tor the office of President, my next choice was
MIR Crawford. Had itnot been for the ill-health
OF that gentleman, and thu little prospect there
oil ms ultimate success, several OF the Ohio Dele
CATION besides myself, would have given him their
support. And it IS with regret, that now see his
friends so much divided, and many of them unit
ing with party by whom he had been ungen-
erously prosecuted.
1t twas evident TO all that the election did then lie
between Mr.. Adams and Gen. jackson. And, al
though so much has been said and written, in Or
der To induce belief that MIR. CLAY had transfer
red and influenced his friends TO vote for Mr.. A
dams, the fact is that the Ohio Delegation, (or at
u.
Mr.. Gays friends who came to the determine
ton OF voting for MIR. Adams, and that too with
out having ascertained Mr.. Clay's views on the
subject.
Ohio had interests at stake, which could not,
under any circumstances, be abandoned or jeopar-
dised. The course which General jackson, and
many OF his friends in Congress had pursued, with
regard 20 Internal improvements and the bill fol
the revision OF the Tariff and, indeed in relation
to almost every measure which we deemed OF i'm
portance to the country generally, and more par
ticularly to the Western States put it out of our
power 10 support the pretensions of the General
without, at The same time, abandoning what we
conscientiously believed to be our duty. On the
other hand, it was evident, that for the support o.
those measures, our only reliance was upon tbs
friends OF Mr. Adams, tho identity OF interest be
/ tween the Northern and Western States, and the
| liberality OF the Eastern members of Congress.
| Another, andsstill more serious consideration
with us was, the qualifications OF those gentlemen
| from whom, under the provisions of the Constitu
ton, President was to be selected by the House
80 lar as was acquainted with the sentiments
of Mr.. Clays friends, do not believe that they
could have been prevailed upon TO have supported
| the election of General Jackson upon any corli-
tons whatever, much less that OF excluding Mr.
ADAMS from the appointment Of cretary of State
The language held by some Of the friends OF tht
General, before the election, acGs that the friend
OF MIR. Clay, burst not vote for any man othe
than General jackson. This go often repeat
ed, IN menacng manner, that il seemed that the,
already considered us chained to the car of the
General; and, if viewed in that degrading light
what inducement could we have had to ask or tc
otter conditions of any kind' But it is also true
that others of Che Generals friends used what they
no doubt conceived, more persuasive langu age
| Indeed, they appeared 10 be willing 10 make any
promises which they thought would induce the
friends OF Mr.. Clay to vote for General jackson.
do not believe, however, that Gen. Jackson
ever made the statement attributed TO him, as sucl
g slang" does not comport with the character OF
so!'iler, or OF high-minded and honorable man
Nor do believe, as before stated, that any sucl
proposition was ever made by the friends of Mr.
Clay TO those OF General Jackson, or that propo
stions OF any kind were ever made 6g them, to any
person, as condition, upon the compliance witt
which, their vote was made 10 depend. But,
the fact should be otherwise, let The proof appear
and the names OF the persons he published 81
that The world may know and Judge how far they
ought, Of right, 10 be considered the friends 0
Mr.. Clay, or were authorized 10 make such gro
position.
have the honor TO be, very respectfully, you
obedent servant.
DUNCAN M'ARTHUR.
DR. II IEyofEiuc