Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1831-03-01
mr.. Tvas 10 liz. Calhoun.

WASHINGTON, Aay @, 1880.
DEAR SIR: Your letter of yesterday relates TO a
meeting OF the cabinet in the summer OF 1913, relative
to the Seminole war. should not feel myself at iber
ty to disclose the proceeding of any cabinet meeting
without the concurrence Of the presdentand OF althe
members who attended it; but your inquiry relates
TO your course only, and speak OF that with
out involving any one else, see Improperly IN do
ing so at your request Among other ideas thrown out
for consideration, according TO the usual course OF ca
bnet consultations, think that at the first meeting,
you suggested the propriey of inquiry into the CON
duct OF the commanding general, but remember that
the course ultimately adopted had your hearty concur
rencei and remember II the more distinctly because
you mentioned repeatedly TO me afterwards as sri-
KING evidence OF the practical wisdom Of the president
who suggested it, This much feel myself authorized
by the call to say OF those deliberations. The crcum
stances mentioned in the extract you enclose purport
ing to be extract of letter from w. III. Crawford.
Esq. to John Forsyth, ESQ., dated April 30, $780, have
no place in my recollection The letter from general
jackson to president Munroe, therein mentioned Is on
trey new to me. According to the description OF the
letter. gwen OF ii in the extract one OF singular
character, that it had been exhibited at any meet
ing at which was present. think that could not
have forgotten it, The occurrence is SAID to have ta-
ken place twelve years ago. kept no notes in writing
OF any OF those deliberations, and speaking merely
from men Try. But still think that if such letter
had been produced and read in my presence, should
have retained some recollection OF it whereas II
strikes me, IN the description, thing perfectly new,
and OF which never heard before. In the close OF
the extract the writer says Afer that letter pro-
ment upon the general who had considered the silence
OF the president as tacit consent" have recos
lection that punishment had been proposed by any one
unless an inquiry into the official conduct OF the gene
raj can De regarded az punishment. II strikes me, too
that that letter had been produced and Mr. Crawford
had placed his implied change OF opinion on the refer
ence OF acquescence which he supposed the general
TO be authorized 10 draw from the presidents silence,
It could not have escaped observation, and such dis
cusson as would have tended to have fixed the
renee on my memory, that the general had not asked
the president for an acquiescence to be inferred from
silence but for positive hint Of his appreciation thro'
" some confidential member Of congress, say Johnny
Ray" Upon the whole sir, if these things did really
occur in my presence, only say that they have ei
not the slightest trace my memory.
remain, very respectfully, your obedicnt servant,
The Hon. John C. Calhoun, vice president U. S.
N.
Copyof a letter 10 M. adams, I2h JGnstwy, 1891.
WASHINGTON, l2th Jan. 1881.
SIR: a short time before the last adjournment OF
congress, copy OF letter from sIr. Crawford to DIR
Forsyth IN relation to the elaboration OF the cabinet
IN the Seminole question: was placed IN the hands Of
Ien jackson, and became the subject Of correspoH-
fence between him and myself In the course OF that
became necessary, in order TO
certain the truth error of some OF the statements
made BY Mr. Crawford, to reiero sosae of the other
Members Of the cabinet and accordingly addressed
notes To Mr. Monroe and Mr Writ, from both of whom
obtained Statements In selecting those gentlemen,
instead OF yourself and Mr.. CroWnulshied, | was not
Q the least degree influenced by any want of conf
ence IN either of YOU simply by feelings OF deiica
y growing outof political relations, and which trust
corresponding feelings on your part properly TO APP
,reciate.
| learn By letter from Mr. Crawford, addressed to
ne subsequent to the close OF my correspondence with
zen. Jackson that he has written TO you, and obtain
d your the subject to which refers, though
re has notimnshed me with copy Of his letter u yeu,
Ior thai OF your aaswcr.