Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-02-24
M. NofmGn to Mr.. Poirderfer.
Gov. Poind


ASEINGroN CTTY, Feb. is, 1892.
SIR: Your note of yesterday was handed to mo
IN the House OF Representatives, and | reply to it
as promptly as other and prior engagements, which
L could not postpone, will permit
| have looked into tho New York Courier and
Enquirer of the 18th last, to which YOU refer
Inc article to which i suppose you refer. and the
only ono in which | find any reference for proof
to members of Congress, from New York, is an
Editorial, headed Samuel b.. Clement. To avoid
all possibility of misunderstanding, l extract all
that find stated on such authority.
ain the first place, Mr.. Clement has confessed,
since writing tho letter, that he never was intro.
duced to MIR. Van Buren,, and has never seen him
to converse with him but twice. He states, that
having become acquainted with the son of Mr.. Van
Buren, he called at the City Hotol to sec him, and
was, through mistake, introduced into the room
occupied by Mr.. Van Barren. He made himself
known to Mr.. Van BURN, who politely requasted
him to DO seated, and after some other converse.
ton, proceeded to mako the important and conf
deniial declaration ito 4 FRIEND which wo extract
above"
"What we have stated as to Mr.. Clements
knowledge of Mr.. Van Buren,, and the eircumstau-
ces under which he became the depository OF Mr..
Van Burcn's confidence, we have from two mem.
bers of Congress from this State, whose yeracity
mover has boen questioned, and on their authority
we make the following statement, for the truth of
which we are ready to vouSh.
"Mr, Clement informed the gentlemen referred
TO, some days previous to the appearance of his
letter, that he had been engaged 10 edit n newspa-
per, In the State of Mississippi. by Mr.. Poindextcr
of that State, and Mr.. Moore of Alabama: that Mr.
Poindexter had agreed to contribute his portion of
the expense of establishing the paper in cash, but
that in consequence of MIR. Moore being somewhat
embarrassed in his circumstances, he had proposed
giving an endorsed note for fifteen hundred dollars,
that being his portion oftho sum required!n!'
Upon this statement, certain conclusions are
carried out by the Editors Of that paper. With
their conclusions | have no concerns; they were
not made at my request, or upon any suggestion ef
NINE. Nor am | at all connected with the publ
cation of the statement of facts, as made in that
paper. II was made by the Editors without any
communication whatever betW cen them and nv
self.
This might DO deemed a full answer to yosr
note. But | think it consistent with the sco2c of
your inquiry TO state that Clement was a stranger
to me until since the commencement of the pre-
sent session. Since then, and before tho rejection
of Mr.. Van Buren, in the Senate, and in the pro.
gress of conversations with me, sought by Mr..
Clement, and perfectly voluntary on his part, he
informed mo, that Governor Poindcxtcr and Co
vernon Moore wanted him to 90 into Mississippi
or Alabama and edit a papcr.-That if he went in
to Mississippi, Governor PoindeXter offered TO
furnish the cash TO procure and set up the press
and establishment; that if no went into Alabama.
Governor Moore could not furnish the cash, as he
had lost money by endorsing for a frie nd; but Of
fcred him his paper TO fourteen or fifteen hundred
dollars. In the progress Of that conversations, he
stated that he had seen Mr.. Van Barren, but
had no acquaintance with him. These decla-
rations, except the fact last stated, ho repeat
ed to me in several conversations: in the
last Of which, and shortly before tho rejection
of MIR. Van Buren,, he said, speaking Of both
yourself and Governor Moore, that you offered to
furnish him money to establish tho paper he contem-
plated, in one of your States. I know that seve-
raj Of my colleagues heard some Of these state
ments made by Clement 10 me, and have been
informed by several Of them that he had made
similar tatcmcnts to them. For the truth Of what
was stated by Clement, | have at no time vouch-
ed, nor is that u point with which ! have any con-
Germ.
! have the honor TO he,
With great respect, Sir,
Your obedicnt servant:
MICHAEL HOFFMAN.