Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1837-02-15
GENERAL JACKsoN's LETTER TO MR.
CALHOUN.

GENERAL JACKS0N'S LETTER TO Mr..
CALHOUN.
In SENATE, FEBRUARY 0, 1885,
Mr.. CALHOUN said have received,
within the last forty. eight hours, a com.
munication from the Chief Magistrate,
connected with the bill now before the
Senate, Of such a nature, that duty to
myself, as well as to this body, renders
it necessary that | should lay it before
the Senate.
Here Mr.. c. sent to the Secretary
the letter, which was read as folIows:
WASHINGTON, Feb. 7th.
Sir: In the Globe of the 9th inst, |
find the report of a speech made by
you on the 4th, upon the Land Bill,
which contains the following passages,
viz Was it not notorious that the
President of the United States himself
had been connected with the purchase
of the public lands? Yes, the expe.
rlment' Mr.. Calhoun delighted in the
word,) was the cause of speculation in
public lands, and if this bill should not
be passed, speculations could not go
on, and the price of the public lands
must consequently be reduced. He
contended every man could not but see
that it would be utter ruin to those
who had borrowed money to speculate
in lands, if the system was not to go
on" In a former part of your speech,
as reported, you say The specula-
ton which a particular state of things
had given rise to, had been produced
by those in power. They had profit.
ed by that state of things and should
this bill be passed, it would only on
sumate their Wishes" &c.
knowing the liability of reporters to
err in taking down and writing out the
speeches Of the members of Congress,
have made ar inquiry in relation to
the accuracy Of this report, and have
been furnished with certificates ofgen.
tlemen who heard you, affirming that
it is substantially correct.
You cannot but be aware, sir, that
the imputations which your language
conveys are calculated, if believed, to
destroy my character as q man, and
that the charge is one which, if true,
ought to produce my impeachment and
| punishment as a public officer. If |
caused the removal of the deposites for
the base purpose ofenriching myselfor
f my friends by any ofthe results which
might grow out of that measure, there
IS no term ofreproach which | do not
deserve, and no punishment known to
the laws which ought not to be infict-
ed upon me. On the contrary, if the
whole imputation, both as TO motive
and fact, be a fabrication and a calum-
ny. the punishment which belongs to
me, if guilty, is too mild for him who
willully makes it.
am aware, sir, of the constitutional
privilege under which this imputation
is cast forth, and the immunity which
It secures. That privilege it is in no
degree my purpose to violate, howev-
er gross and wicked may have been
the abuse of it. But / exercise only
the common right of every citizen,
when inform you, that the imputations
you have cast upon me are false in ev-
cry particular, not having for the last
ten years purchased any public land,
or had any interest in such purchase.
The whole charge, unless explained,
must be considered the offspring of a
morbid imagination or of sleepless ma
lice.
| ask you, sir, as an act due to JUS
tice, honor and truth, to retract this
charge on the floor of Senate, in as
public a as it has been uttered
it being the most appropriate mode
by which you a repair the injury
which might flow from it.
But in the event that you fail to do
so, then demand that you place your
charge before the House of Represen-
t~atives, that they may institute the me-
cessary proceeding to ascertain the
truth or falsehood of your imputation,
with a view to such further measures
as justice may require.
If you will neither do Justice your.
self, nor place the matter in a position
where justice may be done me by the
, representatives of the people, | shall
be compelled to resort to the only re.
medy left me, and before | leave the