Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-04-24


subject ofappontmants. | commenced my oppo-
sItion IN the mGcst form practicable, and Tor some
time, INDUCED the hope, that the freSidcnt would
perceive his error, and rctraco his s'epS;-but Tie
hope vain and illusofy Tor 1T IL evident, that
| from the moment | refused to lend myself In ms
purposes, he entertained the most bitter feelings OF
resentment against me- and formed Tue dcternina
ton to dcnounce me at convenient time, as he
| had done some of his most distinguished friends,
| for auses which existed only in his imagination.
Anticipating that some difficulties might arse OF
an unpleasant character to me, during the present
session, and wishing to soothc The aSccrbIy OF
| temper which is prominent trait In the cha
/ racter OF Gen. jackson, | waited on INN lnmedl
atcly after my arrival in this city in November last
ana chdeavorcd by my department 10 c"hcllate
| MN, and TO reconcile him to the course, which
| found 1t my indispensable duty to pursue. With
the same object held conversation with gen.
.cman high III his confidence, and whose views
Seevcd TO be honest, who at my request, coimmu
| nlc1tcd the substance of the conversation tn
| Tie President. Bat these efforts, on my part,
70 avoid the controversy, which had FOR a long
tihe hecn breeding in his mind, were wholly nn
| avaiing His hostile feelings towards me, were
strongly Indicated, whenever my name men
! toned in his presence, aud his repeated exfrcs.
sions were calculated to call forth. corresponding
feelings IN my mind towards him. But extended
TO ms iraies, in this respect, every indulgence
which his age and past services entitled HIM to re-
ceive at my hands,
Matters remained in this situation, until the SEN
ate acted on the nomination of MIR. Gwyn, who
Dcch taken from the IOSt Otilcc department
mere, without any Recommendation whatever and
sent to Mississippi, to fill the Office for which lie
was nominated, The rejection of this man, closed
all intercourse between myself and Gen. Jackson
ana ms language became extremely intemperatc
and undignicd, that it excited disgust and mort
hcation among his best friends who were COMPEL
90 TO listen to his coarse vitupcration. This ac: c
mime, which is universally approved here by mon
oil all parties constitutes the head and front of my
offending; and should regret believe that there
dwells within the state which has honorcd me with
us confluence, one man acquainted with the subject
VINO would so far degrade himself, TO submit to,
or approve of, the ndignity often repeated by the
Chief Magistrate by total disregard of the rights
OF It's clzcns, and OF the practice uniformly obscrv-
ed, towards every other state OF the union. 1t will
nc seen ny reference to the vote taken this
nomination. by ayes and noes, that half of the
Senators, who voted against the o.lnee, rank
cd among the most decided supporters OF General
Jackson. why are not they denounced for contu-
macy! These honorable men could have no motive,
TO lnterpose any objection 10 nominations made by
the President, unless there existed the hest rcn-
sons for doing so.--Thcy have by their votes gus-
tanned and illustrated the purity of my conduct on
the OCCASION; for had given lust cause Of offence
by my opposition to This ominaion, thcy are liable
In an equal degree, for the high crime Of having
presumed To differ with the President, the sub
Ject OF distributing throughout the union the patron
age OF the Federal Government. Ny actions as
Senator III Congress dictated by no Fictitious
considerations; they rest the firm basis of prin-
clpe, and am at all times prepared to Justify them,
against the assaults of power and the chickering's
OF disappointed asprdnts to office. No man
knows better than General Jackson, that on all
great questions involving the interests OF the ma
ton, he has received from me a candid and libc- |
raj support. But this is not enough, without |
yielding my own Judgment and aiiOrdinr my aid !
10 advance the views OF certain av0~i:cs, who en- .
"cAVor TO WELD his power and Influence, TO sub 7
serve their own unholy purposes More import /
ancc seems to DO attached TO ndi.idlai Interests, .
IMAM TO great measures, onucc;cd with the hiuh !
American 4 uSfi n
OF mine, and IA highly respectable gcnGrn@I, in I
conversation with the President the other day |
asked HIM as matter of favor, to state his object
ION to my course in Congress. He instantly adj /
vertcd to those nominations and my opposition o |
them and applied TO me the most opprobous cpl |
lhets. But, said the gentleman, as of the cen
stituents of Governor PoindcXtcr, l wish you to
mention any vote, which he has gwen against your
administration of which you have a Just right to
complains: did he not support you at the last SEES
sion OF Congress, when without that support, your
measures would have failed! Sir, said the Pre-
sldcnt, believe he voted with my friends all
important qucstions:---the Journals Will show,
"Tcll Mr. PondeXter, tina: thank him for his
support and for his generous defence OF me the
Scmno ole War"
Notwithstanding these declarations, which were |
forced from him by knowledge that the facts were
undeniablc he permits hinso If to use language in
decorous and unbccomng any man who respects
his honor, whenever he speaks of me. He cannot
drive me from my principles, which were formed on
great consideration and reflection, without reference
to party personal attachments, and which | shall
endcavour honestly and firmly to adhere to through
lite, whatever may be the circumstances in which
am placed, or the responsibility which NAV incur |
1t is evident that Gen. Jackson is fast declining
both in his body and mind, and am persuaded that |
ms own fame If not the good of the country ought
TO admonish him to retire at the end of his present
term OF service. This course am inclined to believe
he would have adopted, but for his known solicit |
tudc to introduce Martin Van Barren into the Prcsi.
dental chair as his successor; to this end all his eff
forts, for some time past have bee directed, and he
now suffers his name to be placed before the Amer
lean people for reelection under the belief that he
fore the expiration ofanOthcr term, the public mind
can be prepared to sanction the precnsons of this |
New York intrigucr to the first office in the gift of
the pcoplc.-Strong cxcrtons will be made to place |
him on the Jackson tickets Vice President; cal
culating OIL the known popularity of Gen. Jack !
son to sustain him. Il in the event of his success
his becoming President, by casualty which |
may create vacancy in that office, and dcvOlve the
trust on the Vice President under the constitution
al provisions that subject This is the plan;
and it remains to be whether the people of tho
South will tasten this curse on themselves, 10 gra-
tIy the within of a man, whom they have hereto |
fore delighted to honor, but whose mind is cncc- |
bled by age ahdSdcblty, and who lends himself |
TO combination of the most corrupt, and unprinci-
pied men, who have ever asprcd to control the dcs-
TIMES of the nation. These my candid OPT
mons of the present state Of things, and | offer
them to the serious consideration of my fellow cit
IONS VIII they support man who fixed on them
the Tariff of 1893, and who is prepared 10 sacri-
fee all the great interests Of the country ut the
shrine of his personal ambition feel confident
that they will not. ] close this Comnunica ION
with an assurance, that although my past services
to Gen. Jackson and my sincere desire to support
him, in all things not forbidden y duty have been
forgotten and overlooked by him, when clothed /
with the power which I contributed to give him. |
hat line nj O