Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1840-09-01


spoiIs Of victory instead of feeling bound |
by the obligations Of a sacred trust conn
ded for the benefit of the people. q re-
spect to defaulters, referred to The case
Of Mr.. Livingston, of whose attachments
as a iufist. not more consistent with truth
than my feelings, spoke in the highest
terms. He was one Of the earliest and
one ofAhe greatest deiaulters. lis case
occurred under Mr.. leiIerson's admins
tration. The records both of the Execu-
tive and Judicial Departments established
his default. lie remained a deiaulter
about quarter of a century, ifnot more.
How he finally liquidaied the balance
against him, and when, ! do not certainly
know, but believe it was by property
and under the first term Of General Jack
son. But whenever and however it was,
tardy payment OF composition OF the
debt could not and did not expunge the
fact of his original default.
In arguing from cause TO effect, con-
tended that the appointment of Mr.. Liv-
ingston was q pernlcious precedent
That it was a virtual proclamation to all
who were or might be defaultcrs that their
infdelity, in public trust, constituted no
inseparable barrier to promotion to one
Of the highest offices in the Government.
did not attribute to Gen. Jackson a
knowledgo Of the default. | went even SO
far as to say that he might not have re.
Elected upon the consequences of the APP
polntulent Of an individual so situated
must now say that, until Gen. Jackson
otherwise asserts, | am constrained to be-
lieve that he could not have been ignorant
of fact, so conspicuous in the annals Of
our country, as that of the default Of Ed
ward Livingston, Esq, as Attorney Of
the United States, in the district of New
York, durirg the administration of Mr..
Jefferson, TO the amount of about 500,
600.
1t was in the train Of the same thought
and argument, that adduced the appoint
ment of Mr.. S. Swartwout to the office of
Collector of the most important port in
the u. s., as one of most unfortunate
and injurious example. His participation
in the schemes of Col. Burr, was a fact of
such universal notoriety that | supposed,
and yet suppose, that no man the least
conversant with the history Of the country
could be ignorant of it. But it was not
upon Gen. Jackson's knowledge of that
fact, 1t was upon the fact itself that
dwelt.
1t is now said that tie appointment Of
Mr.. Swartwout was recommended bv the
citizens Of New York. | know nothing OF
these recommendations. Whether they
were cause or efect-whether they were
gotten up to produce or to give color and
cover TO the appointment, previously deter.
mined to be made their secret history
only could disclose. The appointment
occasioned general surprise among the
friends and foes of the administration, al
The time, and the sequel demonstrates how
unwise It was.
These topics ofmy address to the Con
vention on Monday last have been select
cd by Gen. Jackson for comment anC
animadvsrs;on. He was not present or
the occasion. lie has made no applica
ton to me for q correct account ofwhat
actually said bat has been contented t.
rely upon "being informed" by whom
with what motives, and with what objects
have no means of coniecturing Wheth
er his informer may not be some friend 0
Mr.. Van Buren, who, in the present des
perate state Of his political fortunes, wish
es 10 bring the General into the field an,
% turn the tide of just indignation on tn
part Of the People from the Generals pro
toge, the exhibition Of his name only woalc
enable the public to decide.
With regard 10 the insinuatious an
gross epithets contained in Gen. Jackson
note, alike impotent, maleyolent and de
rogatory to the dignity Of a man VIII
has filled the highest office in the unvers
respect for the public and for myself a
low me only to say that like other simila
missiles, they have fallen harmless at my
feet, exciting no other sensation thar
scorn and contempt.
II. CLAY.
Nashville, 2ug, 20, 1870