Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-12-18
JOHN SLOANE.
Fauir HILL, Nov. aosh, 1928.

D.or Sir. When your favor OF the lst INST
came 10 Chilico,he, ] was absent on short
surveying tour; and having taken violent co'd'
returned home much indisposed, which mas
prevented me from answering your letter uh'h
now.
Ii was with regret that observed IN the
,swx,.oers. The controversy between you and
AR Stevenson. And although feel myself IN
d,,,y bound, when called u'!on, to make any
statement Of facts within my knowledge, when
would render To you, or to anv other Seh.'e-
man, an act of justice, yet to ne 1t IS an W. plea
san, o.iy in he present case; and 90 not kho"
,ha, auy COW ersaton which l ever had with
Mr.. Stevenson can have any bearing Oh the
controversy between you and MN.
became acquainted with MIR Andrew o'e-
yenson soon after took my seat i'll Congress.
From his free and easy manners, was pieasea
with his acquaintance. We had Tree ana ne
oueu, conversations (they were by no means
private o, confiden,iaD on the subject OF the
Pr, siden,iaI Election. They were generally in
The House, and but short. And although well
rrcolIect their substance, cannot, al this time
pretend 10 give he precise words OF Mr. Ste
,ensoE in any one OF them. AT the comn enoe'
mept oelhe contest, distinctly unders God HIM
TO saw rha, bis fast choice was Mr. Crawford,
and that his second was Mr.. Clay. Mine was
precise,y the reyerse-as first preferred Mr.
Claw and neg; Mr. era ford. Bat after the
election came to the House of Representatives,
and Mr.. CLAY was excluded, then understood
MIR. Stevenson 10 say tina, Mr.. Adams Was his
second choice. lie did Frequently say 20 ne,
could IN any event support General Jackson
or vote for him; as they considered him, IN eve
~ respect, unqualified for the Presidency. At
Ter MIR. Adams was elected by the House, he
expressed TO me his entire satisfaction as TO the
resul,; acknowledged that he though, the state
of Mr. Crawford's he alth such as would, most
probably, reader him unable 10 discharge ihe
duties of pre- sident.
Mr.Stevsnson ever declared to M the great,
es, friendship for MIR. Clay, and his entire con-
Il lrnce in his integrity, and ability to discharge
the duties OF Secretary OF State II certainly
appeared to me tina, Mr.. S. appluded Mr., ~
dams for Offering the appointment Of Secretary
of State 10 Mr.. CLAY, & approved OF MIR. Clay
accepting of IL. II such was not the case, l
confess tina, greatly misunderstood Mr. Ste
,enson.
Shortly previous TO the Adjournment OF Con
gress, MIR. Stevenson in his familiar and ea>
sy slyle, asked me who the friends of Mr.. Clay
would support for The next Speaker; 10 which
I answered, that could not info m him; as
would not be a member Of the next Congress;
and asked him, in turn, il he would no, himself
be candidate. lie answered that he would, it
Mr.. Clay 5 friends would supper, him. He ,hen
went on to state ONE OF his pecunisry embar-
easements and To mention some large amount
that. he would be compelled 20 pay, for having
endorsed, or for having been security Tor some
friend; which was the only :nducemsnt that hr
had for wishing 10 remain in Congress. said
that hoped that they would support him; and
elect him speaker Alter, which, he added, in
substance, "That he thought they ought to snp>
por, him. for they could not support better
friend to both Clay and Adams than he was.
This last conve, sation, think, communicate
ed 20 General Vance, and yourself, shortly al
forwards. cannot but think that Mr. Seven
son was al that time, sincere in his statements.
He will, doubtless. reeollect them; AMI ,hink,
will, without hesitation, admit that they are in
substance correct.
Although this hasty scrawl is not drawn up
in order Tor publication, you are at libery to
show il 10 your friends. and 10 the friends OF
MIR. Stevenson, or 10 use it as you may deem
most proper.
Yours, respectfully,
DUNCAN MACARTHUR.