Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-02-28
From Mr.. Forsyth TO MIR Hamilton.

From Mr.. Forsyth TO mir Hamilton.
MuLEpGEvILLE, FEB. 9th, 1928.
DEAR SIR: Our friend, VIM II. Crawford was in
this place few hours yesterday on private business
had very unexpectedly IN opportunity to comply
with the request made in your letter lated Savannah
| January 25th had long conversation with Mr. /
G.. and afterwards read to him your letter He re-
GREETED that your engagements did permit you to
pay him passing visit. BY his authority state in
reply 10 your inquiry, that at meeting of Mr.. Mon
roes cabinet to discuss the to be pursued
wards Spain in consequence of Gen. Jacksons pro- |
ceedmgs in Florida during the Seminole war, Mr.. !
Calhoun, the Secretary OF the War Department,
submitted to and urged upon the President the pro
priety and necessity of arsesting and trying General
Jackson Mr.. Monroe very much annoyed by |
IT; expressed belief that such step would not meet
the pablic approbstiOn that General had perform
ed too much public service to be treated as young
er subaltern officer might, without shocking pub
lie opinion. Mr. Adams spoke with great violence
against the proposed arrest and justified the General
throughout, vehcmently urging tho President to make
the cause of the General that Of the administration
In consequences of the strong excitement produced
ny the Presidents obvious embarrassment. Mr.. Cruw
ford interposed in the discussion und suggesting that
there was no necessity for deciding upon the course
to be pursued towards the General, as the question
for which the cabinet convened did not require it.
They were called TO determine how Spain was 10 be
treated in relation the Floridn affair; the conduct
of the General q matter exclusively between the
General and mis- own Government, in which however
Span might feel interested she had no right to med
de- The subject was then disposed of and wa. not
renewedt
y Mr. Calhoun had previously communicated to MIR.
Crawford his intention to present the question to Mr.
:, Monroe; an intention Mr.. Crawford approved, al
Il though not beiviDg ne stated to Mr. Calhoun that
c General would be either arrested or censured BY
o the PRESIDENT
o JOHN FORSYTH.
IF Maj, JAMES HAMILTON, New York
Mr.. Crawford to Mr.. Calhoun.
- WOODLANDS, I'd Oct. 1880.
u SIa-Since the adjournment Of Congress- the copy
OF letter from you to the President containing e1e-
" ven sheets, has heen placed in my hands. The OBJ
ect of this lubored essay to prove that statement
contained in letter from TO the Hon. John For
sym, OF the Senate OF the United States incorrect.
Ii there was evidence but that which is contained
e IN that essay, should not be afraid of convincing
every rational and unpreJudced mind, that my state
e ment to blr Forsyth is substantially correct.
,f In the BRET continent which intend to ma Ike UPON
r your essay OF eleven sheets, propose avoid the
example you have set me i'll three things, viz shall
r not 6egia by deprccatng the official dignity and
: weight of character Of the person address; when
meet with fact that frankly and distinctly
deny, will not attempt to prove negative by aror
ment: and shall not falsely and approximately profess
a forbeara rance which do not feel
shall first notice your observations upon the disclo
sure OF the secrets of the cabinet, which you say is
the first that has occurred, at least in this country
Do you really believe this assertion Hfr. Calhoun
How did the written opinions of Mr. jefferson and
Hamilton, on the first bank BILL ever see the ncht2
How were the facts and circumstances which Drece
: ded and accompanied the removal of Edmund Ran.
dolph from the State Department. by General waeb
inston, disclosed and made known to the publicly If
your assertion be true, those facts and circumstances
: would at this moment, be buried in Egyptian dark.
ness. While a cabinet is In existence and its user,i
ness liable to be impaired, and common sense
l. point out the propriety of keeping i,s proceedings
secret But after the cabinet no longer exists when
IT'S usefulness cannot be impaired by disclosure Of
i;s proceedings, neither reason, Common sense NOR
Patr'o,s", requires that tho'e proceedings should be
ira lie Hdrfroa
csbne, become history and the nation has the ssme
right to knowledge of them, that ii has to av oher
historical fact 1t is presumed that all nations have
o entertained this opinion and have acted upon il
s Hence the great history Of cabinets, the most tes>
potc III europe Hence the history of the house Of
IF Stuart, by Charles James Fox, which tsc,osea the
most secre; intercourse between Charles the IT an,
e the French Minister by which it was proven tha,
Charles vas pensioner of Louis the XIV, King of
ri perry i'll Engand.H Yet in the face of all thse facts
yon dare to presume upon the ignorance OF the dis.
tlngu:shed Persun you addressing far ~ to
irfsinuae that such disclosures had never been made
in any country, but certainly in this republic
y The next thing which shall observe is, the man
WHICH you attempt 10 obtain evidence to contro
vert my statement to MIR. Forsyth. That statement
contained one prominent and distinct fac eyery hint,
else in that statement secondary and collateral
That TACT 1t was reasonable, IN contEoyer,g that state
TIent, That you should have sought to obtain eyide
10 controvert that fact. You apply Mr. Monroe and
| Mr. Writ f)r evidence. But of WHAT Not of the
principal TACT, but of secondary collateral matter
! Inc omission to appeal to Mr. Monroe whether Won
made the propositions ascribed you in my letter to
ir Forsyth, is strong presumptve evidence that YOU
oe'ieVed his answer would confirm my statement Yoa
remembered the excitement which your proposition
produced IN the mind and upon the feelings of the
MIR Crawford has since admitted to be
ms letter TO Mr. Forsyth. page Of the published
deice and his letter to Mr. Calhoun, herewith published
\ fFor different OF MIR Crawfords course in IN. t
Ge ses Mr. AicDgfe Letter page 45, pamphlet
ehce copy OF which, ANNEXED TO note upon Mr. Crawfrds
ieiteT to MF Calhoun, heresi b published
~ remarkable that in this letter luson made IN
confidential letter of Cen Jackson AIR Monroe reied n
dr Cfa~tords letter TO Mr. Forsyth, which Mr. Craw ford
now relies as the Justification which he now gro unds hi
opinion in the cabinet council, and on Which he noy
In the cabinet $3.50 ~ ''N''e
| trhs is a rnnsi nnGn.,,n... ..1.-..-