The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-06-16

tributors to my paper, and was told by General
Jackson himself, that certain gentlemen had been
appointed to responsible offices because they could
aid me in writing for the Telegraph. 1t was the
business Of these persons to prepare articles, CO.
pies of which were carefully preserved,-they
were read to, nd approved by Gen Jackson, and
the copies thus preserved compared with the pub
lished article, and any alteration noted, to mn
press his mind with sinister purpose When,
in the progress of time, he became Jealous that
Mr.. Calhoun intended to be the opposing candi-
date, these communications, which were prepar-
ed for the purpose, became an efficient means OF
confirming that opinion. Mr.. Kendall, Isaac
Hill. and VIM B. Lewis, were Mr. Van Buren's
chosen instruments, in this species of intrigue
During the summer of 1929, met, one day,
William A. Davis, in the street. He told me that
he had Just made large contract with the state
Department, and was going to New ork TO Pur-
chase types and materials to establish new pa
per. was on nv way to dinner. l dined, and
proceeded directly t. the State department l
told Mr. Van Buren, what had heard, and that
had come to have a distinct understanding
with him-that it was proper that he should know
that 1 would consider any attempt on his part to
establish new paper, as declaration OF war
against me, preparatory to his becoming can
didate, and that, so considering, | should not
wait for the first blow, and would commence the
war with the issue of the first number. he said
that Mr. Davis should not establish paper; pro-
tested that he had no 9nkind feeling or disrust
of me, and urged me to call and see him, and con-
suit with him more freely.
Things were in this position, when Mr.. Van
Buren, went to Richmond, and the interview took
place, during the sitting sf the Convention, at
which Mr. Richie became so fascinated, as to
call him the 'ssweet little fellow" This was the
latter part of October Rumors were rife that
Mr. Van Buren, was making his arrangements to
be candidate, and came out in the Telegraph
with suggestion that the course of the opposi-
ton had been such that his friends would insist
on the reelection of Jackson. I said, in the
United States Telegraph, of Nov. 1929:
owe wish to see him, General JACKSON
candidate for reelection, because we desire to
see his friends united"
sEWhen we said that our opponents had left us
no other alternative, spoke in reference to the
warfare which they had waged on his admins
tration. What friend of his would consent for
him to retire to private life, under the imputation
that he could not be re-elected'"
! Congress met in December, and on the 18th of
that month, Mr. Van guren was nominated as
a candidate for the Presidency, in the Courier
and Enquirer. This nomination produced much
talk at Washington, and Mr.. Van Buren, soon
found that itwould not be sustained. My recol-
lection is, that the editor of that paper, speak
ing of the nomination said afterwards that it
was forwarded from Washington and intima-
ted that it was from Mr.. Van Buren, HIM
self. Numerous nominations were pending be-
fore the Senate, and the delays in confirming
them, gave Mr.. Van Buren, an occasion to ex-
cite General Jackson's suspicion that Mr. Cal
houn intended to be candidate, and to give col
or to the charge, the Courier and Enquirer,
which, in December, had nominated Mr. Van
Buren,, repeated the nomination, by declaring
that he would not oppose General jackson, and
called upon the Telegraph to disavow for Mr..
Calhoun. To this | replied that tie time had
not vet come to make nomination; that for the
President to enter the lists candidate, at that
early day, would subject him to the inputation
of using the patronage of the Government to
promote his own election, and that it would be
time two years thereafter to determine whether
Gen. Jackson would or would not be a candi-
date for reelection. This article was submitted
to Gen. jackson, and approved by him, before ii
was published. Yet TIE Courier and Enquirer
Immediately replied, seized upon it conclusive
proof that l was hostile to the administration
About this time, was one day conversing will
Mr.. Van Buren,, when Judge Rowan of Ken
lucky, came up, and said that lie had called al
the Department for the purpose of advising, that
the President should hold Cabinet councils, that
the Cabinet measures should be there discussed
and the wishes and views of the administration
communicated through the heads of Department
to their respective friends in Congress, for said
Judge Rowan, 'EMembers do not know what are
the wishes of the Executive, or the reasons on
which his wishes rest.n Mr.. Van Buren, replied.
''Let Congress adjourn, and go home to the peo-
pie, and they will teach them their duty to the
Executive"
was astonished at this reply, but understood
that MIR. Van Buren, had resolved to array the
executive against the Senate, and was, therefore,
not surprised, when the nezt morning received
a message from the President, requesting my
attendance. when entered the room.
Gen. jackson received me with great politeness,
said that he sent for me to talk about his nomi-
nations before the Senate, and urged me to assail
the Senate for delay in confirming them, alledg-
ing that the people had sent them there to sus-
tam his administration, and that, instead of do
ing so, they were President-making. To this |
repled' that was gratifed at the opportunity of
speaking with him the subject. referred
him to the articles in the Courier and the con-
versations | had had with him at his Inaugural
ton; and the pledge that he had given me, that
Mr.. Van Buren, should not, so LONG as he was a
member of his cabinet, be candidate. ees;r.n
said he, 'esMR. VAN buren, is NOT 4 c.xnrn.rr
M VI CIV