, 1840-09-05
Mr.. SWartWnnt

Swartwout's appointment. Mr.. Swartwout
I the time of his appointment was rs res
pecttble a citizen as Mr.. Clay himself. His
connection with A. Burr was far less obnox-
ious than Mr.. Claws because at that period
of our history Mr.. Clay was a lawyer of
experience and Mr.. Swartwout was a mere
bov. Mr.. SgIrtwout was scarcely capable
of Understanding what was meant by the
term "reason.' aud certainly was not held
responsible by anv portion Of the communi-
ty for the designs of Burr. He was excused
on the score of his youth, and a, the time
of his appointment TO the Office of collector
enjoyed az highs reputation as any other
citizen Of New York-as such he was recon-
mended to Gen. Jackson. No one knew
these circumstances better than Mr.. Clay.
and we therefore pronounce the charge he
p~referes against Gen. Jackson as both un-
christian and malignant.
1t is well known TINT Mr.. Swartwout's re-
appointment tn the office of COLLECTOR of the
Port of New York was the result ofan inves
tigarion by a Federal Wing Committee Of
the Senate, which was rrediiable tn his chr
acier; and that such was the esiim"te in
which the Wing or Federal party held him
that he was nomin ited as n candidate for
the Vice Presidency to be run with M.
Webster.
We had written thus far when we received
the following letter from General Jackson:
To The Editor of The Uninn:
SIR: Being informed that The Hon. Henry
Clay of Kentucky, in his public speech AT
Nashville yesterday. alleged that had ap-
pointed The Hon. Edward Livingston Secre-
iarv of State when he WAS n defaulter and
knowing him 10 be one, ! feel that ! am JUS
Il fed in declaring the charge Ia he false. IL
is. known To all the country that the nomina.
lions made bv the President To the Senate
are referred 10 appropriate committees OF that
body, whose duty il is {" inquire into the
character of the nominees. and that IT there
is any evIden ce of default. or any dIsquaIt-
fving circumstance existing agalnt their. Il
rejection OF the nomination follows. Mr..
Livingston WAS memher of the Senate from the
Stale of Louisiana when he was nominated
by me. Can Mr.. Clay say that he opposed
the coniirmatinn of lis nomination, because
he was a dcfiul,er! lfso. the Journals of
the Senate will answer. But his confrma-
rion by the Senate is conclusive proof that
on such election, If made. was sustained, and
] :nl Sll>lleu tlil SUCH Il Cnir1e against utn
could not have Eeen Substaniiated.
am also informed that Mr.. CLAW charged
me with appointing Samuel Swartwout col
Iecior of the port of New York, knowing
thai he had teen an associate of Aaron Barr.
To this charge 1t Is proper 10 say, TINT |
knew of NJ. Swlrrwout's cunnectinn with
Arr"u Burr. precisely as ] did nf Mr.. Clay
.himfcif. who, IT The history of the times did
not do him great injustice. was far from
avoiding an association with Burr when he
WIS at the town of Lexington Kentucky
Yet Mr. CLAW was appointed Secretary Of.
of State. ani | may say confidently with
recommendations for character and fitness
not more favorable than those produced To
me hv the citizens OF New York in behalf
"f NJ. Srsrrwnur. NJ. Clay, too, at the
lime o' ht, nyn appointment To that hllh ni-
f'",Ii vI.' bee eel rtel. was directly charg
ed ;hrHu-:.nu; he Unrrn with having tar-
camel lor il. aud bv none vas this char-e
more earnestly made than hy ms present as
~suciates il; Tennessee. MsSsrS. Bel and FuS-
ter.
Under such circumstances. how contempti-
DIE does this demagogue appear. when he de-
scends from his high place in the Senate and
roams over the country. retailing SANDER
against the living and the deld.
ANDREW JACKSON.
Hermitage, Aug. 18Th, I840.
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