Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1840-09-12


was called upon to address the Convention.
In what terms Of respect and, for his military
vices, OF praise, spoke OF the distinguished indi-
vidual, who is the occasion of this note all who
heard me can testify. Among the subjects which
[ discussed, was that of the degeneracy in public
virtue, and especially the delinquency and infidety
in public officers, Of which within the last few
years we have had such lamen.abe proof. In as
signing the causes for this deplorable state of
things, | stated as among them, the subyersior of
the rule laid down by Mr.. Jefferson, Of honesty,
capacity and fidelity to the Constitution, and the
substitution for it Of one founded on devotion and
subseryiency not to the country, but to the chief
OF party. That persons appointed to office too
often consider themselves being only put in pos.
session Of their legitimate share OF the spells of
victory, instead OF feeling bound by the obligations
of a sacred trust confded for the benefit of the
people. In respect 10 defaulters, referred to the
Of Mr., Livingston, Of whose attainments as
jurist, not more consistent with truth than my
feelings, spoke in the highest terms. He was one
Of the earliest and of the greatest of default.
ers. His case occurred under Mr. Jefferson's adj
ministration. The records both of the Executive
and Judicial Departments established his default
He remained defaulter about quarter of n CEN
tury if not more How he finally liquidated the
balance against him, and when, do not certainly
know, but believe 1t was by property and under
the first term Of Gen. Jackson. But whenever and
however 1t was, tardy payment or composition of
the debt could not and did not expunge the fact of
his original default.
In arguing from cause to effect contendcd that
the appointment of Mr.. Livingston was perni-
cious precedent. That it was a virtual proclama-
ton 10 all who were or might be dciauters, that
their in6delity, in public trust, constituted no
insuperable barrier to a promotion to one of the
highest offices in the government. did not attrib-
ute to Gen. Jackson knowledge Of the default.
went even so far as to say that he might not have
reflected upon the consequences of that appoint
ment of an individual SO situated. | must row
say that until Gen. Jackson otherwise asserts,
am constrained to believe that he could not have
been ignorant of fact conspicuousin the annals
of our country, that Of the default Of Ed. Liv-
ingston, Esq, Attorney of the U. States, in the
district Of New York. during the administration
Of Mr. Jefferson, to the amount ofabout 500, 600.
1t was in this train of the same thought and ar
gument, that adduced the appointment of Mr.
Swartwout to the office of Collector of the most
important port in the United States as one of the
most important and injurious examples His par
ticipation in the schemes Of Col Burr was a fact
of such universal notoriety, that supposed, and
yet suppose, that man, the least conversant with
the history of the country could be ignorant of it.
But 1t was not upon Gen JacksOns knowledge of
that fact, it was upon the fact ITSELF that dwet.
1t is now said that the appointment of Mr.
Swartwout was recommended by the citizens OF
New York. / know nothing of these recommen-
dations. Whether they were cause effect
whether they were gotten up to produce or to give
color and cover to the appointment, previously de.
termined TO be made--their secret history only
could disclose The appointment occasioned gen
era surprise among the friends and foes of the ad
ministration, at the time, and the sequel demon.
straes how unwise it was.
These topics of my address to the convention
on Monday last, have been selected by Genera
Jackson for comment and animadversion. He wa:
not present OIL the occasion. He has made no ap.
plication to me, for correct account of what
actually said but has been content to rely upoI
"being informed" by whom with what motives
and with what bjects, have no means of coniec
turing. Whether his informant may not have beer
some friend Of Mr.. Van Buren,, who, in the presen
desperate state of his political fortunes, wishes t.
bring the General into the field, and to turn thu
tide of just indignation the part of the people
from the Generals protege, the exhibition of hi,
name only would enable the public to decide.
With regard to the insinuationS, and gross cpl
thets. contained in Gen. Jackson's note, alike i'm
potent, malevolent and derogatory from the dignit
of man who has filled the highest office in tn,
Universe, respect for the public, and for myself
allow me to say that, like other similar missiles
they have fallen harmless at my feet, exciting nj
other sensation than that Of scorn and contempt.
H. CLAY.
NASHVILLE, August 20, 1910.
Hr The General has issued a second card
worse than the frst-for which we have no
room. and which his real friends would no
thank us for publishing if we had. To shev
how ''his memory has failed him. the Louisvil
Journal copies the following sentence, in rela
ton to Mr. Clay and remarks upon it as will b
seen in connexion:
ale cannot say, in an article which bears his sig
nature, that ever appointed detaulter or retained
ono in Office, knowing him to be one"
Now every body that knows any thing at all @
the matter, knows that President Jackson, wheth
er he did or not knowingly appoint defaulters II
office, did knowingly retain them in office. VIII
lit was during President Jackson's administrator
that the famous correspondence took place be
tween the Secretary of the Treasury and the nc
torious Harris Of Missssippi-a correspondence
extending through year and halt--the Secreta
ry continually reminding Harris Of his deialca
ton and threatening to remove him, and Harri
continually promising to pay, but taking care t
steal more and mole Of the public money ever
day.
1t wasdurng the progress Of this celebrated col
Tespondence. that the Hon. J. F. H. Claiborne
afraid that the continued defalcaton and increas
ing peculation Of his friend Harris might possibl
wear out even the patience and long suffering
Gen. Jacksons administration, addressed the To-
lowing letter TO the old General, begging that tn
defaulter might, for political reasons, be retaino
in Office at all hazards--and he loaS retained ii
his delalcation amounted to a sum abso utely emo
nous!
Extract Of letter from Hon. John F. H. Cla
borne 10 Gen. Andrew Jackson, President {