Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-02-21
o.
Copy o! letter from William II. Crawford to Afr

Balch, Esq
WoonLAwN. 18th December 1897
Nj Dean SIR:
Bv the last mail had the pleasure
OF receiving letter from Won. IF understand
your letter, YOU appear to think public cx-
preston oinf option on the approaching election 10
DE- Pfopor cannot link measure Of this nature
necessary or proper In other words it appears TO
me hghiy improper. md could hardly fail TO stamp
tne charge of ntolerablt arrogance upon me in nfe
blc ch1raCnrs. But few men can ever eynect 70 ~
rive at thar height that would ins ify son of IN
END, much less individual who lives in the moA
a5so'Ht' retirement and who has no ambition 10 EN-
ergo II IN 1t am perfectly rccouced TO nv sua-
I toh' ana would no. willingly exchange 1t with Mr.
{ !ladpls. bU my opinions upon the next Pres,der-
tial election generally known When Mr. Van
( anren nnd Nr Camberleng made visit las, April
2'isst -. ITEM upon every proper occasion 10
maEe those opniIns known. he sBte of the State
OF Georgia will, certainly as that of Tennessee
b" given To Gen Jackson. in opposition TO Mr. Ad-
ANS The only difficulty a. this Stare has unon
thai SUBJECT. is that, ii Jackson should be elected
Cahnuh WAL com lnio power. | confess am not
apprehcnsive OF sucl result. For wri,e.io
me- jackson ought TO knew. and, IL he does not he
snail know, that, at the Calhoun in Columbia
the term Military Chieftan" banded about more
tippany than by II Clay; and that the family friends
OF MIR Calhoun most active in giving il CURRENCY
! and know personally that MIR Calhoun favored M
ADAMS pretentions until Mr-<yIay declared for him.
lie well knc" that Clay would have declared for
Adams without ii was we'll und rstood that he Cal
houn was to be put down if Adams's influence could
effect It, If he friendly to his election why
dl ne suffer his paper to be purchased up by Adams
printer, without making stipulation in favor of
Jackson 1t you can ascertain that Calhoun i'll not
be benefited by Jacksou's election YOU will do him
benefit by communicating the information to me- Make
what u.s. please of this letter and show it to whom
yon please.
am, dear sir, your friend
And most obcdient servant
WIN III. CRAWFORD.
ALFRED BALcu, E~q
a true and exact copy, (notcd In the handwriting
OF Gen. Newnanl
Mr. Crawnrl's assertion he k.err personoyl what Ina
mere aihTa renders II PropertO make few remarks How
ne oud have had any personal ledge of what he states
am al loss to understand Oar political intercourse had
ce o years We had none subsequent the fall Of 1921
an" III aal uohe OF md afcr thai, beyond the mere oi
cvitieS life " ~ ''''~ 0'''-
My course in relation the point in question was very DIFF
i'feh nom what he states When was Withdraw
" 'c 's,s oil residential canjdates, perfectly
neutral position between General alkson and Mr. Adams
was 0eCldedly opposed congress- cauc mi, ,.e
gentlemen were aiSo and bore friendly personal and
political relations to BOTH would been yerv well saris
WIN me eectoh OF aIher " hen they return
eH TO the House OF Representatives found myself placnd in
new relation Them elected Vice Presids, no me
Eeopeania sense Of HCp-y forbade
election IN the House vet ca,'d no, avoid f,r,r an nr
ION as t" the principles that ought govern the choce M
the louise Ins o9m.1l early formed Ion. beoe had
inc least inmatun Of the prominent individual re sd IN INV
iI NiaFArd ana wholly Independent OF what r,iuh no
MS course or that OF any nhec Individual. WHAT the nrnc;
s-"tntIVes ~ the cR1i cOIcs Sci elFc;o 10 =,
y rit! itGdl my Subsequent
ION scA" on what considarc6 sarnl pTfoipio 80 .,e ~.
SFacl that had tine position
fore the House been reversed would NOT have influenced v
course iii the least degree.
As TO the by Nr Crawford cndcavors 10 sustain
|ia ne aif"S he personally kHesy. deem wholly unworthy
c! notice.
r,r,..,