Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-03-02
THE CORRESPONDENCE.

| Sulliouli NiNu ouNNs'h, VII 'hN Soo-
ject of the opinion maintained by the
former, on the subject of the course pur-
sued by the latter, in the prosecution of
the Seminole war. We have copied to
day the address of the Vice President,
by which he prelaces the publication,
and also the letters of Mr.. Crawford,
which gave rise to the correspondence,
with the letter of General Jackson, ask
ing an explanation. We shall copy the
residue of the correspondence with as
little delay as possible.
The next document in course TO those
which we publish to-day is the answer
Of the Vice President to the letter of the
President. He points ont number Of
errors in the statement of MIR. Crawford,
and describes the course pursued by
himself in the deliberations of the cabi-
net on the subject in question. He says
that he came to the cabinet meeting held
for the discussion of the subject, with
the impression that General Jackson, in
the prosecution of the Seminole cam
paign, had exceeded his orders, and act
ed on his own responsibility, but he nei-
ther' questioned his patriotism nor his
motives. lie was of opinion that when
orders had been transcribed, that in
vestigation ought to follow in Justice to
the government, as well as to the officer,
unless there were strong reasons to the
contrary, and came to the meeting un-
der the impression that the usual course
ought to be pursued in this case. Be
ing entrusted with the affairs of the War
Department, he stated these views, but
they were met by other arguments grow
ing out of more enlarged view of the
subject, as connected with the conduct
of Spain and her officers, and when the
members of the cabinet came to form
their final opinion on view of the whole
ground 1T was unanimously determined in
favor of the course adopted, and which
was communicated to General Jackson
by Mr.. Monroe. To this course MIR.
Calhoun says he gave his assent and sup
port, as being that which under all the
circumstances the public interest requir-
ed to be adopted. But he never chang
ed his opinion that Gen. Jackson had
| acted upon an erroneous construction OF
his orders, and of this opinion probably
were the whole cabinet.
This explanation proved quite unsatIs-
| factory to Gen. Jackson, 81 had a
right" he says, 'to believe you were
my sincere friend, and until now, never
expected to have occasion to say of you
! in the language of Caesar, Et tu Brute?
| The evidence which has brought me to
this conclusion is abundantly contained
! in your letter now before me-"
Several subsequent letters passed be-
tween the parties, but without any ap-
proach to n reconciliation. The Prcsi
| dent seemed anxious to close the cores
pondence, and to avoid further discus
sion. Several letters are introduced by
way of appendix. Among them are let
ters from MIR. Monroe, Mr.. Writ, and
Mr. Adams, in answer to inquiries by
Mr.. Calhoun. Boston Daily advertiser.
ORRESP NDEN CE
Between General Andrew Jackson and
John G.. Calhoun, President and Vice
i President of the United States, on the
subject ofthc course of the latter in the
| deliberations of the Cabinet of MIR.
Il Monroe, on the occurrences in the
| Seminole War.
To the People ofthe United States:
come before on, as my constituents,
to give an account of my conduct IN an
important political transaction, which has
been called in question, and so crrone-
ously represented, that neither usticc
to myself nor respect for you will permit
me any longer to remain silent; allude
to my course, in the deliberations of the
Cabinet of Mr. Monroe, on the Seminole
question, know not how | can place
more fully before you all the facts and
circumstances of the case, than by put
ting you in possession of the corrcspon-
dence between General Jackson and my
self, which will show the difference be-
tween the views that we have rCrpec-
lively taken, and by what means, and
through whose agency, this long gone
by affair has been revived.
u | have not taken this step, strictly de-
fcnsive as it is, without mature dclibera-
ton, and n calm and careful estimate of
all the obligations under which | act
That there are strong reasons against IT
feel and acknowledge; but ! also feel
the most thorough conviction that the
sacred obligation to vindicate my char
actcr, impeachcd, as it has been, in one
of the most important incidents of my
life, and to prove myself not unworthy of
the high station to which you have ele-
vatcd me, far outweigh all other consid-
erations Should my vindication have