Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-02-25
To THE EDIToRs OF THE WuIG.


Gentlemen: In your paper of Monday you insinu-
ate II am sorry to say, ipSnuate) an agency on the
part OF NJ van Buren, IN getting up the controversy
between Gen Jackson and Mr.. Calhoun. Your rea-
son for this insinuation derived from the crcum.
stance, that Mr.. James A. Hamilton was the person
who applied intermedia tey TO MIR. Crawford for his
"reminiscences oil the Cabnei transactions of I3.
If you have any other reason for the inference YOU
do not state it. and the public is therefore, left 10 the
conclusion that you have other This, Won seem
to esteem conclusive, to Justify you in declar-
ing the matter too plain to be argaed and in drawing
emphatic attention by the topographic artice OF
pointing the sentence with Is al either end.
Does this comport with your usual berality? Adj
init that Mr.. Van Burens political prospects would
be advanced by the demolition of Mr.. Calhoun
Admit that the Presidents anger potent enough to
wither any man upon whom it fails: Admit that Mr.
Hamilton as the friend and clerk of Mr. Van Buren,
Still, is the case made out? Is there am thing but
slight pres umpion raisrd which may be rebutIed and
repealed by circums ances? Is enough proved to au
thorze you consider Mr.. Van Buren's secret aeon
cy established beyond contradiction, and direct the
public indignation against him, as If he already
convicted Of dishonourabe conduct? say enough
is no; proved; that nothing is proved.
What act OF Mr.. Van Burens lie will sustain the
Inference you atempi to draw, and pretend TO consi-
der irresistible? He and his friends for HIM. challenge
reply; challenge vcs'igatIOD. AS far as his
conduct in life affects the question how he will act in
particular circumstances, how he has acted in regard
to this matter, that conduct throughout repas the
suspicion of his having acted unfairly dshonoura
Y,
prove 1t if they can, if they dare If this be the
case Mr Van Buren's life and conduct have been
such as to destroy, and not invite, suspicion. You
are driven to support your inference, rely solely
upon the relation, personal and official, which Mr.
/ Hamilton bears 10 Mr.. Van Buren,. By what new
code of ethics, rules of logic, is Nr Van Bu.
rem to be made responsible for the of Mr. Ham
! l!ton? Are you ignorant that Mr.. Hamilton was n
friend believe an intimate friend) of AIr. Crawford
Permit me to offer some suggestions, which will,
II this Pubic is liberal credit for, cuci-
date Mr.. Hamlltons motives justify them and c.
quit Dir. Van Buren, of the baseTess nsnu4l ed
against him. Nj Hamilton the friend of Dir
Crawford He and all the friends of that gentleman,
know how much he has been weighed down by the
reputation of having been Gen Jackson enemy in
the Seminole business. Mr Hamilton becomes init
male with Gen Jackson lie discovers that the
/ General bears Mr. Crawford i'll will, for his supposed
hostility in 1916 and that he bears NJ Calhoun af
lection for his supposed friendship at that time. He
knows (ao matter howl that the case exactly
different; that Mr. Crawford, if not the friend oil
Gen. Jackson III 1918, was more his friend than Mr.
Calhoun. He desires to remove Gen. Jacksons
prejudice, and to reconcile him to Injured man
crushed in part By his enmity-aDd with this view he
seeks TO furnish Gen. Jackson with true history OF
the transactions Of Mr. Mouroes cabinet What
there in this, worthy of blamc3 What is there in
it, otherwise than fair, aIaaJ's, and correct
Thus you see, gentlemen, that this affair may have
originated in the best motives and that 1t IS vert
possible to account for Mr.. Hamiiton's being tht
person 10 begin the enquiry, without rejecting eIthc
upon him. or upon Mr. Van Buren,, his friend ant
principal. Suppose however, that hir. Hamilton
may have had other views, and that it was obvou
TO him as TO others, that VI the effect Of the disCO
sures was to bear down Mr.. Calhoun with the weigh
Of Gen Jackson's hostility, the circumstance voul
relieve Mr.. Van Buren, from the rivalry vt the othc
in the esteem Of the dominant party. / DO rot sus
poet this or state it. leave others to 90 il the
choose. But suppose it TO be true, and yet blam
h can attach to Mr Van B1ren for the spcculotions
his friend or his attempt 10 carry them into eHecu
+ ton There are such things as iHp,Udeni friend
d and there is such Proyerb as save me from W
j friends" 7 am, gentlemen, with considerations
f Il Friend md Subacri5sr.
i The New York Commercial states that the br
b Montila, which arrived at that port few wCeI
since, brought all the papers connected with q
whole political career Of Bolivar, which were CO
, lected by himself in the anticipation Of his denis
. and have been sent, pursuant 20 bis directions,
\ tho care Of LaIrc, the French Minister They o