Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1840-09-09
TO TIE PUBLIC.

| Your surprise, am quite sure, will he as
great as nine was, on the pGrusul OF
note, signed Andrew Jackson, addressed to
the editor Of the Nashville Union, and bear
ing date on the 18th inst.
! The circumstance OF my present visit to
| Nashville are well known here. ] declined
repeated invitations to attend the Convention
holden on tie l7ih instant, and finally yield.
ed 10 an unusual appeal, with which was
honorcd, and which II would be difficult for
any man TO resist.
Il was called upon 20 address the Conven-
ton. Ia what terms of respect and, for his
military services, of praise, spoke of the dis
tlngulshcd individual who is the occasion OF
this note, all who hoard me can testify
Among the subjects which discussed, was
that OF tho degencracy in public virtue, and
especially the delinquency and niidolity IN
public officers, OF whch within the last few
4 years we IIarc had such lamenlable proof
In assigning causes for this deplorabie slate
Of things, stated ms among them, the sub.
version Of The rule laid down bv Mr.. Jefferson
OF honesty, capacity, nnd fidelity TO the Con
stItulloD, and the substitution to 1t of one
founded on devotion and snbscrviency not to
the country, but Ia the chief of a party
That PERSONS appointed to office too often
considered themselves as being only put in
possession of their legitimate share of the
spoIs OF victory instead of feeling bound by
the obligations of a sacred trust confided for
the benefit Of the people. In respect to de-
iaulters, referred to the case of Mr.. Living.
stOD, OF whose atialnmcnts as "A iurst, not
more consistent with truth than my feelings
spoke in the highest terms. lie was one
ot the earliest aud one of the greatest de.
taulters. His case occurred under Mr.. JEFF
terson's administration. The records both Of
the Executive and Judicial Departments es-
tublished bis default. lie remained a de-
fanitcr about quarter of n century if not
more. low he finally liquidated the bal
ance against him, ald when, do not certain
ly know, but believe it was by property and
under the first term Of General Jackson
But whenever and however it was, tardy
payment or composition Of the debt could not
and did not expunge the fact Of his original
default.
In arguing from canse to effect contend
I'd that the appointment OF Mr.. Livingston
was pernicious precedent. That it was a
virtual proclamation to all who were or might
DC deiaulters, that their iniidelity, in public
trust, constituted no iDsupcrable barrier to a
prorho,lon to one of the hIghes, Offices in the
! Goyernment. did moi attribute TO General
Jackson knowledge of the default. | went
even so Tar as to say that he might not have
reflected upon the consequences of the ap-
p,intnent or an individual so situated. |
must now say Tn, l. until General jackson
otherwise asserts, | am constrained to believe
that lie could not have been ignorant of
Tact, so conspicuous in the annals of our
country, as that Of the default Of Edward
Livingston, Esq. as Attorney Of the United
States, IN the district of New York, during
the administration Of Mr.. Jefferson, to The
amount Of about 100000.
IL was IN the train of the same though, and
argument, that udduccd the appointment, OF
Mr.. ). Swurtwout 10 the Office Of Collector
~ The most important port IN The u. States,
as one OF most unfortunate and injurious cx.
ainplcs. bis participation in the schemes Of
Col. Burr was fact of such universal Doto.
ric'y that supposed and yet suppose, that
no man the least convcrsant vita tho history
of the country, could be ignorant Of II. But
u was not upon Gen. JacksOn's know ledge of
that fact, II was upon the fact itself that
dwcl.
ii is now said that the appointment of MIR.
Swarwout was recoinme pded by the citizens
oi New York. ] know nothing of these re.
coinn,endaIions. Whether they weie cause
or "Hscl--wbciber they were gotten up To
produce or to give color and cover to The ap
pn'nmcnt, previously determined to be made
their sccre: bIstotySDould only d,sc!nso.-
The appointment occasioncd general surprise
among the friends aud foes of the admins
ifail"i, ut the tlmc, and the sequel demon.
siraics how uDwisc IL was.
Tb,s topics of my address IN the Convcn-
tion on MONDAY last have been selected by
Cen Jbckson for comment aud ANNA DYER
SION. lie was not present on The 'ccasiun.
tie has made no application to no Tor o COT.
rect account oi "hst acluali, saIi bat hss
Uccn con!enicj 10 ftly upon icing inlorm