Delaware patriot & American watchman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1828-1828, 1828-01-18
JfFFERSON'S OPINIONS.
Fran The Ji,@inia Idrocate.
GMMER's STATEMENT.


i, becomes nv duty TO submit statement OF the
tan.ac,ion lar as il concerns myself, or may be
Interesting to the public On the 9Th ct May
last \ re4 ei,sd the following note from MIR. Coles
.qlbemarls, .Nny %, 1897.
DEAN Sir Intending TO set out Tor Illinois IN
few days, aud thinking il possible that il may be-
come desirable to have my recollectons strengthen
I'd by those Of others in relation to some remarks
nade by Mr.. Jefferson, which have been repeated
rs me, and which have Just seen with surprise
have bcen referred to in the newspapers, am in
tuced from a recollection OF conversation which
took place between US last winter, to ask the favor
uf you to state what you have heard from MIR. JET
Ierson himself, or from others, OF his opinion OF
Gen. Jackson's qualifications for the office OF pres-
dent OF The United States and Of his declaration OF
the modification ne had expressed at seeing the en-
thusasm displayed by his counrymen TO elect Jack
500 TO the presidency and the doubts il had created
Of the durability Of the Republic. should not
have troubled you at this time with this commune
cation, bu, fos the great distance which We reside
from each other and the apprehension that the
b,uerness OF patty feeling may lead to some " "a
turcd attack upon me. ] assure you no use will be
made Of your reply unless i. should become neces-
sary in self defence 10 resort 10 II.
With great respect and sincere regard am your
friend, EDWARD COLES.
| considered that Mr.. Coles' inquiry related on
~ to Mr.. Jefisrson's opinion OF Cen Jackson ndi
yiauay without references to the comparative esti-
NATION in which he held him as the competitor of
Mr.. Adams. Under this impression my answer
was restricted to the subject OF interrogation, and
| was contepicd to state what was required OF me,
with regard 70 Mr.. Jefcrs0n's opinions OF General
Jackson as candidate for the presidency at the
last election. In Illustration OF these opinions, as
then expressed by Mr.. Jefferson stated the only
remark oi his which remembered with sufficient
precision to qua,e in his own language-an express
sion which indicated no alarm for the &c durability
of the republic' but which was made more in mirth
Tran sadness. With respec, to the Chief subject Of
INJURY contained ia Mr.. Coles letter, knew
nothing, and therefore said nothing
that my silence would be certain guarantee
agains, any attempt to apply my statement TO
a purpose for which it was by means adapted
The conversation o! which I spoke TO MIR Coles
took place as informed him, some time previous
10 the last presilcntisl election, which tact was
4 oh, Sufficient to Distinguish the opinions of Mr.
J4tfcson at ha, time IRON those a.crbed to him by
Ar c. OF a later period. Had Mr.. c. desired it, I
should have been equally explicit as to the opinions
which Mr.. Jefferson at the same time expressed Of
Mr.. Adams. should have stated what Mr.. g..
nigh not have been eager to publish, that while
Mr. Jefferson spoke thus in jest of Gen. Jackson
elevation to The presidency he seriously deprecated
the election oil Mr.. A. as an evil porendiDg most ca
Mr.. Jefferson speak Of the relative merits OF Gen.
Jackson and Mr.. Adams as statesmen, though in
contrasting their respective qualifications with those
Of MIR. Crawford, he greatly disparaged both, and
did 70, hesitate avow decided preference OF the
later gentleman. lie spoke OF Mr.. Adams as the
.2jceAl candidate, whose election would be the
means OF restoring The dynasty OF '9S-as a man
whose earliest and strongest predictions had been
.mbbcd 10 the high school OF ultra federalism
al prin how YER dixou
SD, had undergone change by his pretended
apos,acy lie regarded Mr.. Adams as . learned
rather than a wise man-ss politician more spe
sioas than sound-possessing many OF the crrone-
oJs theories, with lutte OF the practical ability OF a
statesman Mr.. Jefferson often said thai the
test should be confined 10 only Two candidates. Mr..
Crawford and Mr. Adams-ihat the people might
better discriminate between the only political di.
,incions which i, involved Ga the occasion which
elected the remark, to which Mr.. Cole, and the
other friends Of Mr.. Adams have attached so much
Importance. Mr.. Jefferson spoke OF all the other
candidate. as con.rasted with Mr.. Crawford, to
whom they were all postponed in his estimatlon.--
His opinion expressed 10 me, only contemplated
the existing state Of things, and his disapprobaon
Of Gen. Jackson and Mr.. Adams entirely re!a.
tve-his decisions OF the former. and adherence oil
the latter, being urged only evidence Of his pre-
ference OF third candidate.
Thus much I have deemed necessary to state
10 justice to myself and others. | would fegn have
avoided IN. unpleasant task, had that alternative
manned to me alter the very partial exposition Of
Mr.. Coles. That gentleman should have been con-
scous thet his statement Of Mr.. Jeffersons opn.
ions rs detailed to him in August 1925, can derive
oolroootaton from my letter, referring. as il
does, to different opinions, expressed under differ
ent circums ances, at the distance Of years, and in
dnced by causes and considc atoms which subsc
quently ceased to operate. He should have beer
swae, moreover, that the public will not long de
lbeta:e, when their decision necessarily involves ei
Their misrepresentation on his part, or an inconsist
cncy o. the part of Mr., Jefferson II wa. needle s.