Litchfield enquirer., 1830-02-25

Er6srsou's MenOirS.-A d'sc"Ss'"n - .ad in the United States senate, tcW ""S .;nce. which in its result, mas "npusueu u'e .o;,v of MT. JeffersOn's remark respecting M. Reward and published in the fourth vol M N.'. If Irferson's Memoirs. MT. Clayton re- c'-rod inc Senate to the Following passage rrorn that work, and inquired of the Senators from Maryland and Louisiana whether It was correct :---
 Feb. the 1Qth, l8oI.--Edward Liv'ngs- ,or tsIIs me that Bavard applied to-day, or las, night to Gen. Samuel Smith, and repre- sentad to him the Gxpedicncy of h's coming over to the States who vote for Burr; Indt there was nothing in the way ct appOln'ne"' which he might not command, ana ParuG" larlv mentioned the SecretaryshIp ot th7 N" w Smith asked him if he was authorized to make the offer. He said he was authorlz- ed. Smith told this to Livingston, and to w. C. Nicholas who confirms 1t to me-" Sc.
 In answer to the inquiry, MT. Smhh oI Maryland. observed, that he had not tne most distant recollection of the fact stated oy MT. Jefferson. He and Bayard were intimate friends ;--he considered MT. B. the last man who could have made such propositlon.- MT. Livingston's testimony was of similar import.
 The following took place in the Senate on a subsequent day.
 MT. Hayne said that it would be rccoIIccted that when this resolution Mr. Foots rest" lution respecting the public lands was 'as' before the Senate, the Senator from DtIa- ware had called upon the Senators from Ma rvland and Louisiana to make disclaimer in relation to the memory of the late MT. Bay ard. He did not suppose the Senator from Delaware intended to cast an imputation on the Neracity of Mr. Jefferson, and he presum' ed the Senator from Delaware would make some explanation. He should not have allu- ded to the subject agan, had not an erroneous impression gone forth. It appeared to him that the passage in the work of Mir. Jefferson might be very easily explained, by the cir. cuitOus method in which the information had reached Mir. Jefferson. He had the utmost respect for Mir. Bayard, and 1t was not ne- cessary that he should now defend the mem Ory of Mir. Jefferson. MT. J. was n that res pect the most fortunate man that ever lived. He not only enjoyed the respect and love of his political friends, but he lived down the opposition of his enemies.
 Mr. Clayton said that he had already an nounced his intention in regard to this matter to have been entirely exculpatory; but ne was willing to avail himself of another oPpor- tunity of making the same declaration' to prevent any apprehension. On 'Ih0rsoay while this resolution was under consideration and before the Scnater from Missouri (Mr. Benton) had commenced his reply to the Senator from Massachusetts, he desired per- mission to put a question to the gentlemen from Louisiana and Maryland for the purpose of correcting an error in volume cited in the debate which on account of the extraOrdi. nary iMpWtation it cast upon the memory ol one now in his grave who held distingMsh' ed rank among the statesmen Of his country had become tho subject of general con versa aiOn here, and to which his attention had beer repeatedly called by other gentlemen. He had at that time, saw the gentlemen from Ma ryland and Louisiana in their seats, and as 30 favorable an opportunity then ofered Of re- moving the effects of an error, which, with out their evidence, could never be so satisfac. torily corrected. he chose to avail himself of it. My object, said Mir. Clayton was fully ob' tained.
 The Senator from South Carolina (Mr. Hayne,) says he did not understand me as saying sught against Mr. Jefferson. but the Senator from Missouri chose to work himself up into most patriotic excitement. denoun- cing the proceeding as an attack on Mir. Jef- ferson In regard to this proceeding, 1t is true. as he states, I did not consult him chose to follow my own course. l would pursue the same course again; and it IS now to me a matter of no very great importance whether he approves it or not. As to the charge of an attack upon MT. Jefferson, the gentleman sat at some distance from me, and whether he did or did not misapprehend thy words. it is not my purpose now to inquire but protest against all his inferences on that subject, if drawn from my remarks, as unfounded and gratuitous. The gentleman might put charitable construction upon the error into which Mr. Jefferson had fallen. entertain as high an opinion of the reputation of that great statesman, as others who make much greater professions; but at every haz- ard.-let the consequences fall where they may--I will repel every imputation like that contained in the memoir. upon the memory of Mr. Bayard, who. at the very period re- ferred to, held the vote Of my native state in his hand. and whsse honor in that transac. tion cannot be touched without a reflection upon the state herself Her maxim will ever be. whether she speaks here by me as her rep resentative, or by any other
 "To thine own self be true;
 And must follow, the night the day,
 Thou canst not then be false to any man."
 And now, having repudiated the inference drawn from this occurrence by the Senator from Missouri. let this subject henceforth and forever sleep with the illustriOus dead who have formed the topic of this desultory dis. NnSan