Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1832-04-26
yaou rpr M,sr..tsgi f.rnlor.
Extract Of letter TO SIC Editor Of tAe Ms.
s,ssippi Patriot, dated
Washington C,ty, Feb. as, 1882.

letters have Deen Nftttfb tou WIS tNF W
M, ssIssippi, purporting to have the sanction
OF Gen Jackson, which placed ne before
nv constituents in the attitude Of an open
enemy to his administration. These CON.
n1unications emanate from individuals nesf
the person Of the President, and | shall,
therefore. consider them as his own The
fact is distinctly known, not only N the
State which represent, but to the whoie
American people, that for hummer OF
years preceding my appointment TO me Be
bate, had taken deep interest ~ defend
Ing the character and promoting The eieya-
tion of Gen Jackson To the high trnst
which he now enjoys. ", since that pc
Rod nv relations TO this distinguished lodi
vidual have been changed, IT must be ascrib
ed 10 causes over which | had no control,
and for which cannot be held responsible
To disa buse the public mind, and to enable
my fellow citizens properly TO appreciate my
conduct, as Senator IN Congress, and u
Judge fairly Of the course pursued 10y Gen.
Jackson, towards both me and them, sub
init 10 YOU for publication, in your newspa
paper, candid summary of the events,
which have led tn an alienation of his for.
,ner professed friendship for me, and which
he now seeks 10 turn TO my prejudice among
the people of Mississippi need not detail
10 YOU, because " ~ dlGtdu1 hupNst hlt
circumstances under which he attempted,
from time to time, TO encroach on the ac-
knowledged rights Of Mississippi, in com
mon with all the other States Of The Union,
to fill with her own citizens, offices undcr
the General Government, located within her
limits. NV course was plain one; | re
sisted, as was bound by the high obllga
ton Of duty these attempts to degrade my
constituents. and place the State on foot
ing with a Territorial Government, on tile
subject ofappointments
| commenced my opposition IN the mild
est form practicable, and for some time 10
dulged the hope that the President would
see his error, and retrace his steps But The
hope was vain and ilusory, for il is evi-
dent from the moment refused to lend my
self to his purposes. he entertained The most
bitter feelings against me, and formed the
determination 10 denounce me at a conve
nient time, as he had done some Of his most
distinguished friends, for causes which only
existed in his Imagination. Anticipating that
some difficulties might arise, OF an unplea
SAINT character to me. during the present ses-
sion, and wishing to soo'he the acerbi,y of
temper which is so prominent a trait in the
character Of General jackson, ! waited on
him Immediately after my arrival in this ci
department TO conciliate him, and to recon
Gle him to the course which | found il my
indispensable duty 10 pursue. With the
same object, behi conversation with
gentleman high in his confidence. and whose
views | believed TO he honest. who, at my
request, communicate the substance of
that conversation to the President But
these efforts, on my part, to avoid the con
troversy, which bad for long time been
brooding in bis mind. where wholly una
vailing His hostile feelings towards me
were strongly Indicated, whenever my
name was mentioned 10 his presence, and
his repeated expressions were calculated TO
call forth corresponding feelings in my
mind towards him. But extended TO his
frallties. in this respect. every indulgence
which his age and past services entitled him
to receive at my hands Matters remained
in this situation until the Senate acted on the
nomination Of Mr. Gwyn, who had been
taken from the Post Office Department
here, without any recommendation whatev-
er, and sent him 10 Mississippi to gill the or
flee for which he was nominated The re
yection OF this man closed all intercourse be-
tween myself and General jackson, and his
language became so extremely incorporate
and undignifed, that it excited disgust and
modification among his best friends. who
were compelled TO listen TO his vituperation
This act OF mine, which is universally aps
proved here by men of all parties, consii-
tutes the head and front of my offending;
and | should regret TO believe that there
d"eils within the State which has honoured
me with its confidence, one man acquainted
with the subject, who would so far degrade
himself, as to submit to. or approve of, the
Ind'gnly SO often repeated by the Chief
Magistrate. by total disregard of the rights
of its citizens. and of the practice uniformly
observed towards every other State of the
Union. Ii will he seen by reference to the
vote taken on this nomination by ayes and
noes. that one half of the Senators who vo:-
ed against the nominee, are ranked among
the most decided supporters of General
Jackson. Why are they not denounced for
contumacy? These honorable men could
have no motive 10 interpose any objection TO
nominations made by the President. unless
there existed the best reasons for doing so
They have by their votes sustained and il
nstra'ed the purity of my conduct on the oc-
castor; for had given just cause of offence (
by my opposition to this nomination, thea i
are liable an an equal degree, for the high
crime OF having presumed 10 differ with the /.
PRESIDENT On the subject Of distributing !
throughout the u MON the Patronage of the .
Federal Government My actions as a Sc |
la'cr IN Congress, are dictated by no fac /
nous considerations; they rest on the firm ha
Us OF princlpe, and am all times prepared
o justify them against the assaults Of now
n, and the chickering's Of disappointed ASH
ants to office. no man knows better than
General jackson, that Oh all great questions