Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-02-26
The Hon. JOHN c. CALHOUN,
Vice President u. ).

N.
Copy Of letter to Mr. Adams l2th January 1881
wAsHiNoroN. 18th Jan. 1881.
SIR: A short time bs,ors the last adjou rnne OF
Congress cory OF ieiterf,om Mr.. Crawford to Mr..
Forsyth, in relation to the dsberston OF the cabinet
on the Seminole question, was paced In the bands
OF General aekson, aud became The subject Of
| fe'pondsnse bs'~eca bin ADD myself in the eour,e
81 that Corresponds ncs, az became necessary order
10 aNceftsn he truth or Of oil the
made by Mr. Crawford to refer 10 come OF the other
members oil the cao'n,t, and accordingly addressed
notes TO MIR. Monroe aud Mr.. Writ, both OF whom
obtained statements. la selecting those gentlemen,
INSTEAD oil yourself aud Me Crowrin.hieid, was not ia
the least degree influenced by any want of confidence
10 either Of you but simply by feelings OF delicacy
growing out Of poca, relations, and which trust to
preciGto.
me subsequent TO the close Of my spondence with
GENERAL Jackson, that lie has written to YOU aud Oh
tanned your snswsr on the subject to which il refers
though he has not furnished me with copy Of his letter
TO VOC, nor thai Of your answer
THIS step on HE part has. Of course moved the deli
easy which at hist fe and which the prevented me
10 ON addressing you.
The part took in the cabinet elaboration was die.
ta'ed by .erse OF duty, uninhuebcsd by either the
feelings OF friendship snnity. That Genera, Jack.
son his orders In taking ST Marx. and Pen
saroh, have never doubted, then or since. La my
opinion, the Executive peIber did or could con s.
onaiy give orders TO take either Of those or an,
.'he. Spanish post Under this Impression, 1 was de.
cdedy in favor in ths early stage Of the d.Lb.r,tior
oil bringing the subject before court of n oury bu,
hnaiiy yielded my opinion TO considerations glowing
out OF the political aspect Of she question: a.
WIN spain, witch wste presented by Won aud Mr.
Monroe; bui, 10 yielding TO them .l he'll, we'd and
do now, that apart from them, and considered under
the military aspect OF the sut, c as at FIRST view M,
opiuon correct
Having thus concurred in the final d.ei,ion of ,h.
cabinet, gave /, faithful support without, however A.
oanuonng the correctness of my best conce ptiops.
make his preliminary statement in order that you ma,
perceive why my inquiry should be directed only 10
"nat might seem a mere collateral circumstancs
whether the letter OF Gem Jackson to Mr. Monro.
W winch aiiusion 10 made to John Ray, wa, before
me cabinet which, though not calculated to afec, tbs
question oil the correctness Of my course however de-
eided, from the prominence thai Mr. Crawford has civ
en H. has assumed no small degree of importance m
'he corresponience. H. in hi. letter to MIR Forsv
says: "Indeed my views on the suit ct had undr
gone material change after the cabinet had been con-
vehed. Mr.. Calhoun made some illusions to a latte,
inc General had written the PRECEDENT, who had fo,
goiten that he had received such letter bu, said if he
nad received such an one, he could mud it, and
went directly to his cabinet, and brought the latter
ou' In General jackson approved Of tina detsrmip.
ahon OF the PresideDt to break up Amelia leland and
Gsvs zown and gave II also az hi. opinion tbs, 1hs
rioHdas ought to be taken by the United State, n.
una, might be dslisae matter for the Ex.eu
I'VE aso'de bui, u the President approved Of it, he
nsd only to give hint to confidential msmber Of
congress. say Johnny Ray, and he would do il. and
'akt the responsibility OF 1t on himself"
The object of my addressing you IT, TO obtain .,a,.
nant rom You, whether such letter wa, or was no.
o''ore tn. cabinet during it's deiibsraton.
As connected with the subjse, OF my inquiry mu,t
ask OF you the favor tu5 nish me- il YOU can mir
P'oPrety, with copy OF MIR. Crawords letter 10 vou
ana copy OF your answer. l make IN. re,u..t nm
.e assumption tha' the correspondence e6niaa no.
,eing that would render II iHFropsr thai cow ,bonJd
be placsd in my possession. / would make tbs rs
quest OF Mr.. Crawford himself, in,tssd OF Won had
nor oeennea an communication with him in relation 20
the suoJest oil the correspondence he ween Gen lack
son and myself, except thou Oh the G.nsrai ,brouyh
~hch channel no opportunity TO make the REQUEST has
been Afforded me. "