Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1831-03-10
M. Caiiomu 10 .ifr. Hamilton.
WAsTTrNaroN. March .. IsI

suFs 1ts.iVEt w IiuWtttON-
NAsFuNeroN, March ,, 1898.
DEAR SIR | received. three days sinces
your letter Of the Goth Of February, and
have seized the first leisure moment TO an-
swer IT,
In the conversation. to which your letter
alludes, supposed, as YOU did not state tho
object, that your enquiry, as to what had
passed on particular point in the cabinet
deliberesion on the Seminole question was To-
obtalnIlniormatun in order TO meet nere re.
neral rumor, falsely put out TO influence the
result OF the Presidential election bly an
swer was accordingly predic ated on such sup
position, and was intended to meet assertions
unsupported by the authority Of any name
in the same general manner without a name.
and was intended 10 be limited even with that
view to the denial of what was falsely stated
to have occurred. | now learn thar your oo-
jects is more specific. You stale that YOU
desire the Information "because | wish To-
fulfil the object of my inquiry BY confirming
Major Lewis a confidential Giend o Gene
raj Jackson at Nashville, in the truth, not
with the view of bis making publication On
the subject at present, hat 10 he prepared a.
gainst an apprchended attack fcunued on g.
vents connected with that Campaign huvo
under the aspect of the subject deliberately
considered how far could, with ptopriety,.
speak OF the proceedings Of the cabinet nc
all. which has resulted in the conviction that
duty Of very high and delicate character
imposes en- ne silence.
No relation can be rorc confidential than
that between the President and members Of
the Cabinet as his constitutional advisers -
Charged as ne is with the executive duties Of
The Government which were vested in n sun
gle persen, to give energy and prompiitudo
10 execution. il ~ manifest that to divnIge tho
Cahiaet deliberations by any of its members
would introduce dstrust and discord, and
thereby lead TO defeat. in this important par
ticular, the object OF the Constitution. Nor.
on point so delicate, can member OF tho
Cabinet, in my opinion, be justified by reie-
renee to the importance of the object intend-
cal to be effected by disclosure OF its pre-
ceedings. Deeply as a man Of correct feel
ings must reprobate the foul attacks on Gen-
eral jackson, and as important as every pat-
riot must consider the defence OF his chaiac-
ter against such attacks in this great po.tie al
struggle, involving, as | sincerely b, lieve,
the liberties OF the country, yet cannot re-
concie It 10 my sense of duty, even for furh
an object, to 10 an act, tending in any de- Z
gree to weaken, by its example. the conf
dence which ought TO exist between the Chief
Magistrate and his constitutional advisers,
and am greatly mistaken II General jack
son would not be the last mau 10 assentto be
so defended II is, however, satisfaction.
10 pursuing The course that duty impels mo-
10 do, to reflect thai the information, as I
conceive, will never he needed for his de-.
fence. cannot believe that an attack so un-.
fouuded will ever be made; not but shat hos
has enemies aireciens enough TO resort 10
the most diabolcal faisehoods in order to-
wound his reputation: but il is manifest that
an attack of tie kind supposed cannot be
made with the slightest prospect Of success.
without the couD.eHaBce Of some one Of tho
members of Mr. Monroe's Cabinet al tho
time, and cannot admit the possibility that
any one can be so lost to honor and duty 40
10 be the agent or instrument in snch an at
tack Bot, If what seems to NE impossible
should prove otherwise, by there being found
one base enough To lend himself to such a
purpose, thQn wonld il become a question:
worthy Of grave consideration en- the part OF
the other members to determine. whether,
under all the circumstances OF the case, duty
would not impose any obligation. in order 10
counteracs the injurious effect oil false. a
partial, statement Of the Cabinet proc ceilings.
to demand Of the then Chief Magistrate a re-
lease OF the junction of secrecy. or whether
the Chief Magistrate hiuseli would not be
bound to disclose what was necessary TO tho
vindicaton Of the character of General Jack.
son. assaied in the manner supposed Should
such case occur, though TO me apparently
impossible. may, with confidence, appeal "a
the past to prove that would not Re wanting
in zeal to go as far as duty would admit in
defending the character Of General jackson.
and in maintaining. in his person, the great
cause Of liberty and the Constitution.
Entertaining these views, you will see that
decline the Introduction Of my name, in
any shane. as connected with what passed in
the Cabinet on the occasion TO which you re-
fer. What stated in conversation was nes
gatiye in its character, and intended, as above
stated, ia enable YOU to meet, by a general
contradiction. without the introduction of my
name. what supposed existed only in the
shape Of rusor; and must request you TO
consider it as limited TO that purpose only,
Nv. Humilfon 10 Mr. Cel.sma-
NEW SoRE, March 10, 1928.