Southern planter., 1832-10-27
GENERAL A. LACOCK's
Letter 70 Hs President Of ttc UnRod States

General AHdreir Jackson. prcsidesf oc "a. n =
oi"; Some days since through the medium Of 4
mutual friend, received your letter. enclo.ing !
humber oi inerogaiorics, that am requested Ia
4 answer IN relation TO the knowledge have of the
course pursued by John G. Calhoun. Vice Prcsi.
uen' OF the United States, and his conduct towards
you 10 regard 10 your conduct in the Seminole
war. BY The same mail received line from Nj
Calhoun, IN which he states that YOU had furnished
MN wllh copy of the inieirouaorios. and ths, he
lad declined putting any questions 10 me. or what
Y ne lurns "loininR Issuc,' but had no objection |
Ahoulu answer whatever questions YOU should nut.
I ie9"esNhR, however as mstior Of Justice, To be
iurnished with a copy Of my answers; TO compli.
ance with this request, could see no valid obiec
uon, and have furnished him with copy accord
ingly,
Undergraduates paf by Andrs.s JacLson. Presideuf
! @ ne nnRed States 70 Abner Lacock, Of Penn.
syiraniu
lst "Did Mr.. John G. Calhoun, a, any time.
ang me session OF Congress in the winter Of
1878, or aiany other time, mention 10 YOU INV cor.
hdeniial letter 20 Mr. Monroe, dated 6th January.
! 1913, relative TO Florida and the Seminole var
show you That letter, copy thereof or spoa Of il,
contents Did he ever tell you that letter had
oeen answetedf u yea, what did he ssy was the
substance Of that answerf II nay, did ne give any
reasons why an answer was moi qiyen, and WHAT
What did you understand 10 be Mr Calhoun, Oh
Ieei IN speaking to YOU Of that letterr'
AHsTer. Mr. Calhoun never did, at any tins
or upon any occasion, communicate TO mo either
Verpaily OF IN writing his knowledge of the exis
tence OF snch a letter, Of lis contents; although,
az 'ne 'me alluded to, lhad knowledge Of the con
tents ofthe letierj did not derive thai knowedge
from Mr. Calhoun; nor have / ever made sue
gcstion TO any man that would insiiG sucba belief
2 "Dld Mr.. Calhoun. at any time. and when.
communicate 10 you the views expressed. as To the
course pursued by him in Mr.. Monroo's Cabinet.
IN relation To my conduct ia tho Seminole warf N
yea, what were those views, and that coursoP-
What opinion, II any, did Mr.. Calhoun express TO
you as at the time of your conversation easertain-
ed by him relative 10 my orders, and the manner
in which had executed themg p
AnsTer. Some time in january 1919. think
towards The latter end Of the month, Mr.. Calhoun
called upon me IN the Senate Chaulber, aad asked
me INTO committee room, and, when there, said
\ ne wlshed 10 eonvorso ~tth mo ia sopurd 10 youf
operations in Florida, as that subject vas before a
committee OF which be had understood was chair.
man. lie then stated tat subject had embarrass.
ed the administration, and presented many difficult
ties at hrst, but course was finally agreed upon
that he had hattered himsolf would have been gen.
orally acquesced in and approved, and he was sor.
ry to find himself mistaken, or words 10 this effect
We then went on TO compare opinions, and discuss
the subject.
Among other things, ! stated, expressly, that,
from the acts disclosed, u was my opinion you had
in the prosecution Of the Seminole war, exercised
cruel a. unprecedented severity IN putting 10 death
captive Indians aud British traders; that, by the
iorcible seizure Of tho Spanish posts you had tran
scended your orders, and usurped the power oi
Congress; and, consequently, violated the Consii
tuion OF The United States Mr. Calhoun repi
ed that he agreed with mo that tho capturing III,
Spanish posts was Unauthorized aud Illegal; and h,
said, when the subject was first presented by ih,
President he had been for taking pretty sironl
ground and insiltuting an inquiry into your con
duet; but after mature consideration, the Cablne
had made a different decision, and he had acquies
. ced and he observed, he had yielded his opnioI
with less reluctance, finding the President strongly
q inclined TO adopt different course, and, be added
that, while he was member Of the Cabinet, h
should consider il his duty 10 sustain the measure
Of the President, If il could be done with any pro
prieiy-or words TO this import To suggestion
by me, that we differed ia opinion as to whehe
you were or were not reprohensible for your con
u duct, he replied to decide this question regar
must be had TO your motives; these he believed
'r had been pure aud patriotic, that, from mistake
zeal in the service Of your country you had oxcoC
ded the powers given you, or any the President hn
G. right To bestow. AZ the same time he observe
III that Spain deserved from us the trcatmon, she ha
n, received and surrender Of the posts all sh
- had right TO look for; that, whether you were Gu
s- pahle or not, was a concern Of our own, and NJ
o. hers lie spoke Of the acquisition Of the Florida
then a subject Of negotiation with the SPANS
a Minister Don Onis, and the prospect Of favor
1g BILE result, that he was apprehensve might be dcie
II ted or endangered by vote Of censure, or the di
ID, approval Of your conduct told Mr. Calhoun
10 ia reply, that his views, or those Of similar n
Of tnre on the subject had been previously presenl'
,b, 20 me by the President but, he had failed TO co
sa sslency or safety in the course adopted by the
sh minisiration That, il the seizure of the Spanr
nd posts by You was lawful, constitutional, and
lid obedience 10 orders given they should not Ia
ct. been surrendered; and the other hand, It th'
us, capture was Illegal, unconstitutional, and IN vol
be tion of your orders, you highly reprohenslb
| and 10 pass over such conduct without censure
lis. animadycrson, was to sanction It, and acting up
cal and fortified by this precedent every land or na
lho officer in our service might, in future, involve
md nation in war at discretion or caprice
the SUCH, stated, were my views, and having be
Of charged by the Senate with The investigation
On should moi shrink from the responsibility OF iaithl
,Ie. ly dischmgmg my duty. Mr. Calhoun then $
,ss he would not wish TO be understood as object
a., tutf ub