Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-02-21

case, which supported by presenting fully aud freely
"H tho arguments that occurred to me. They were
mot by other arguments growing of more en-
larged view of the subcc', Connected with the con-
duct oi SPAN and her officers and the course of pol
icy which honor and interest dictated be pursued
towards her, with which some OF the members of The
cabinet were wore familiar than myself. and whose
duty 1t was to present that aspect of the subject us
1t was mine to present that immediately conncc-
| tea with the military operations. Nlcr dc alternately
weighing every qnes ion, when the members of the
Calumet came Ia firm their fina opinion, OH view OF
the Whole ground. it was unanimously Determined
as understood, in favor of the course adop, ed and
which was fully made known To YOU by Mr. Monroe's
letter Of the 18th of July, 1915. crve 1t my assont
and support as being that whmh, under all tho cir
cun,stanCes, the public interest required to De adop
ted.
shnll now turn to the examination of tho version
which Mr.. Crawford has given of nv course in this
lmportan, elaboration, beginning with his apology
ior having disclosed what took place in cabinet meet
ing" he says, " In the summer ef or the meeting
an extract ct letter from Washington was publish.
ed in Nashville paper, in which It wus stated that
(Nr Crawiord had proposed to arrest General Jock
son, but that lio was trIunphan'ly defended by Mr.
Calhoun and Mr. Adams. This letter, ALWAYS he
licvcd was written by Mr. Calhoun, by his direc-
ton. 1t had the desired effect General Jack .ou
b"camr inimca to me-" and friendly to Mr. Calhoun"
aul not At al surprised that aTr. Crawford should
feel that he stands i'll need of apology for bctray-
| ing the deliberations of the cabinet. 1! IT, believe
not only the first instance our country but one of
4 very few instances 10 he found in anv coun,rv mr.
any age that individual has felt himself absoved
from TIE h'9h obligation which honor and duty i'm
pose OIL one situated as he 1t is not however
my intention to comment the mnrality of his dis
Closure; that more immediately concerns himself:
and 1 leave him undsturbcd TO establish his own
rules OF honor and fidelity, in order to proceed to the
examination "f question in which am more i'm
lhiediafciy concerncd-the truth of his apolooy
! l desire not to speak hnrshly of Mr. Crawford
sincerely Comm sernte his misfortune. may be
warm IN political contests; but Ii is not in to re-
tain cn'ny, particularly towards the unsuccessful
IN the political contest which ended in 1925 MIR
! Crawford and myself took opposite Sides but what
ever ie igs of unkindness gave rise TO- have LONG
Since passed. away on my part. TIE contest ended
IN an entire changc of the political elements OF the
country; and, IN the state of things which fol-
lo"cd, found myself acting with many of the
friends OF Mr.. Crawford, 10 whom had been recent,
iy opposed and opposed to many OF my friends with
i WHon' had TIL then, been associated In this new
SUITE ct things my inclination, nv regard for his
TRENDS who were acting with me-, and the SUCCESS of
the cause for which Jointly conten,lrno all
contributed to remove from my bosom every feeip1
towards INN, save that of pity for his misfortune. /
Wonid not speak harsh word if / could avoid IL:
and II IS OF pain to that he extraordinary
position IN which he has placed me- compel me- in self
defence, to say any thing which must, in its conse-
quence, tear on his character.
speak in this spirit. when | assert rs do thai
his apology has no foundation in truth He offers no
reason for charging with SO dshonorable an act
as that of betraying the proceedings of the cabinet
'iiit Iilc purpose or lnlurlDg OF
cates IN the administration The charge rests wholly
an his suRpcion TO which oppose nv positive as.
ssrtlon that it is wholly unounded. had no knoyi-
cdge e! Inc letter, or connection with it nnr do
recoiicct That l ever the extract But why
charge ne, and not Mr.. Adams, ! wish no. to be
understood as nmating that Mr.. Adams had the
least conneXion with the affair believe him to bs
wholly incapable of such baseness. had then been
| but few months in the administration, and Mr.
Crawford and myself we're on the best terms without
feeling, certainly my part, of rivalry or jealou-
sy' In assigning the motive that he does for the
ieurFs' nc forgets the relation which existed then
between you aud himself. He says it had the dcsir-
cd eftict; that yau BECAME friendly TO me- and en-
treinely lni'nicai to him. lie does not remember
that your hostility to him long preceded this period,
and had very different origin lie certainly could
not have anticipated that copy of his letter would
be placed in your hand
These are not the only difficulties ACCOMPANYING
me apology; there eve others still more Formidable
and which must compel him to assign some other re
son for disclosing the proceedings of the cabinet
AIR McDufe's letter. to me, of the 14th instant, of
whch enclose copy, proves that Mr. Crawford spoke
freely OF the proceedings of the cabinet on his yay to
Georgia, in The summer of 1918, and dates will show
That he could not at that time have seen the extract
from the Nashville paper, which he nov resta his
apology. The deliberations Of the cabinet took Mace
between the 9TH and 25h July, 1873 On the for
meF day, Mr Monroe returned 10 Washington from
o"don, and on the latter general exposition of the
eMs on the Government in relation to the operations
IN Florida appeared in the Inteliigencer The letter
sp Mr. Monroe TO you of the 10Th July, 1819 xes nro
badly the day of the final decision of the cabinet Mr
Crawford passed through Augusta on the 1lh August
as IN the papers of that city, which day.
or the preceding his conversation to which Mr Nc.
Duties letter relates, must have taken place On a
comparison of these dates, you will that it was i'm
possible that Mr. Crawford could have seen the extract
from the Nashville paper when he wa in Edgefeld !
ana he must consequently find some other apology for
MS disclosures This not the only instance Of his
making the disclosures before he the extract He
was at Slledgevilie on the 18th of August, 1873
Jew days after he passed through Augusta and little
AFTER there appeared statement in the Georgia Jour
nal somewhat varied from that made at Edge6ed, bu,
agreeing with 1T in most of. the particulars I cannot
lay my hand on the article, but have distinct recol
lection OF it. You no doubt remember it, CircurD. |
stances fixed it Mr. Crawford, and it has not to nv
knowledge been denied.
With such evidence of inaccuracy either from want
OF memory, or some other cause, what relates to his
own motives and actions, it would be unreasonable to
suppose that ;r Crawords statements will prove more
correct IN what relates to will now proceed TO
examine them; lie first states that proposed that
You should "be punished i'll FORM or reprimanded
~ some FORM, and to make my course more odious as
suppose, he adds, that Mr. Calhoun did not propose
70 arrest General Jackson" will not dwell on a !
which tie 10