Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-03-02


isis between gentlemen, that my name was not To be-
u Sod before the public III coDncXoH with any thing
said. 1 certainly did not suppose that my Conduct
or that OF any other individual, was put at issue and
could huvc had 10 intention of making erroneous
us to the proceedings of the cabinet,
the part took. suspected no sinister object.
On his return to New York, I received letter
lrom him dated the o5th February, the object of
which vas, apparantIy;to know II he understood my
conversation correctly
He stated that his object i'll oein. thus particular
in cndedvoring to ascertain from whether his re-
collection faithful or not with regard to the con-
versatcn, was because he wished fulfil the object
of his enquiry by confirming Major Lewis, q CONT
Dental friend nj Cen Jackson in the truth, not with
view to make the publication then, but to be pre-
pared against an apprshcnded attack, founded on
events connected with the Seminole campaign. This
disclosure, particularly THAI the information in
tended for Ma lewis as confidential frs I'd of
General JlckSsH, excited my suspicion. Circuul-
stances however, gave my eye wrong direction,
not towards myself, but Mr. Monroe. What they
were, i, becomes necessary state with tie view
of understanding the correspondence which followed
,yith Alr Hamilton.
When Mr. Monroe received the letter of General
Jackson of the 18th of August, 1919 i'll answer to
his of the i h Of September of the same year. both
OF which published with my correspondence with
General Jackson, he was at his farm in Abcrmavlc.
Gen. Jackson III his letter, objected the construc-
ton which had been placed on his orders. MIR Mon
roe addressed me private letter Of the 9lh Septem-
Der, 1919. copy of which Is hereto annexed, mark
ed A. stating the view which the General took of his
orders, the tone of his letter, and with other
circumstances, his (Mr Monroes) for think
ing that there ought to be official correspondence
between the General and myself, that the views
which We respectively took Of his orders might ap-
pear on record.
This letter passed out OF my possession into that
OF Cen Jackson without my consent, but at what
time or by what means, or through whose agency
am to this day uninforned. In December 1927 /
accidentally heard from gentleman of this CITY, IN
rpTiy titan fr -
ings of Mr.. Monroe towards General Jackson,
(Which stated knew to be friendly. that there was
letter of the former i'll the hands ot the latter,
winch afforded conclusive proof OF his !os,il " To
the General. Having found, some time before. that
the letter OF Mr.. Monroe to of the 9th uf Sop
TENDER, copy of which is hereto Qnncxrd, was mis-
sing, ascertulncd the fact by an examination ol the
letter to me- that 1t ,n;sriag, on iiint from n
TREND that there was letter written by Mr. Monroe
as 1t WINS supposed, TO me, which out OF my pos
session, and was I'M enGed TO be used tor political ,ur
poses. My friend could inform Il.: III .fIosc pos
session the letter was. On hearing that there wa, Il
letter ot Mr.. hiorrues Ill General JacisUl's posses
sion, concluded /: must he tire same though WA,
utterly at loss To conjecture how it had passed into
his hands, how he could conceive that It Indicated
untriendly feelings to him on the part OF the writer
communica cd whatI had hvari 10 the two S.ua-
tors at that time from Tennessee, Judge Wt.itc aud
SlGjof Eaton, and my belief that the letter in Tie o-
session OF the General was Mr.. Momrocs To me- and
stated, IT 1t was, 1t would tc ii my power to skew
~
vt an opposite character. They wro.e to the Gene
raj to ascertain II it was the one supposed, and
addressed note to MIR M"nroe to apocIso him of
what had heard, and to request lin to send me
copy OF MS private correspondence with (cDnr Il
Jackson, tho published with Ih2 cofr..,ruicc
brtween General jackson and nys-lf,) TO &c placed
N the hands Of the :Wo Senator'S rs epanarv OF the,
letter in question should prove 10 bt. the one SIM
posed. have not been ablc to lay my hand on irv
note TO Mr.. Monroe, all certain that retained
Il copy, but hereto annex extract from Mr.. Mon
goes answer OF the 23th Dcccmaer 1927 marked T.
It was in this stage % this aiIalr, that receiv. d
Mr.. lasn!ltons letter of the 25 OF Februavv, and
very naturally suspected that his inquiry might have
reference to something connected With the same and
my answer to it necessarily Sore ii in mind.
| could not answer his question whether his under
standing OF my conversation currect or NOT wit g.
out gong into explanations which would lead to de-
tails that did not feel myself o. liberty 10 state; nd
which if had, could not pruden!; not In wi 40
the bearing that 1t might lave in relation the aft r
above referred to. / accordingly waived an answer
but IN such terms as were intended 10 convey thu
idea that his understanding Of my conversation was
not correct.
Believing that an operation carrying on against
Ir Monroe, at Nashville, we'll from the fact of
the letter being placed in Gen. Jackson's hands. as
other circumstances which about this time came to
my knowledge, and suspecting that the object WAS to
bring Mr. Monroe and General Jackson iuto conflict
to- purposes bearing on the pending election; but not
knowing IN what quarter II originated, was 4: loss
to understand how it to be effected; vet I could
not doubt that the apprehended attack Oh Gen Jack
son, was scma how or othe. connected with this base
Object THESE impressions will explain the charac
ter OF my correspondence with Mr.. Hamilton 2 conv
OF which IS hereto annexed, and marked e. 'rhcc
letter OF Nh Forsyth TO Mr.. Hamilton places this
correspondence and tho conversation that precutcd
It, IN very different light from the one in which
then viewed 1t. 1t Is impossible now To doubt tina,
his correspondence with Mr.. FORSYTH and his convnr
satIon and correspondence with me- formed parts or
the same transaction Dir. Hamilton proceeded from
savannah directly to this place, where he probably
received The answer Of Mr.. Forsyth dated af Mi
ledgeye, on the 9th of Februarys o his letter daIed
the 25th OF January preceding The ycry question
which he put to me, as must now say SO Insjtllouslv
whether there was motion to arrest General Jack
son, Is explained by reference 10 he letter Of Sr
torsyih, IN which the motion 10 arrest makes nro
tnnon part of what he represents as the statement
OF Mr. Crawford of what occurred in the cnbinet on
the Seminole war. Mr.. Crawford has since how.
ver stated IN bis letter to Mr. Forsyth, and the one
to Inc, that the statement Of Mr. FORSYTH was erro.
Dcous this point.
Viewing then this whole affair az one transaction ~
can be viewed in no other ght,) what spectacle ;s
presented! am approached as a Jealous friend of
General Jackson by one, who from his political reIa-
lions with ut the time had riuht IN cone;Ior -