The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-06-23
parv. 1928, Mr.. Hamilton addressed To Mr.. Cal

haun the following notes ia szssA -
ts,,ng If a lctter from Mr.. milton, relaiing to
lie deliberations Of Che cabinet on the Semi
mole question.
NEW YoRK, February rs, 1925
Dear Sir: TO avoid mistake as to what passed
between us at the conversation | had the honor
to hold with you the evening before left Wash
ington, submit to you the following, as the inn
port of that part which, it was understood, was
not to be considered as confidential.
In reply to my inquiry ''whcther at any meet
ing of Mr.. Monroe's cabinet, the propriety Of
resting Gen jackson, for any thing done by him
during the Seminole war, had been at any time
discussed?p You answered ssSueh measure
was not thought of-fnuch less discussed. The
only point before the cabinet was the answer to
be given to the Spanish Government.
am thus particular, in endeavoring to ascer-
tain from you whether my recollection is faithful
or not in regard to this part Of our conversation,
because l wish to fulfil the object of my inquiry
by confirming Major Lewis, confidential friend
OF Gen. Jackson's at Nashville, in the truth; not
with view to his making a publication on the
subject at present, but to be prepared against an
apprehended attack, founded events connect
ed with that campaign
MIR. Hamilton says that the letter from Mr..
Forsyth was not received until the 18th, but
subsequent events justify the suspicion that it
that, having Mr. Crawford's declaration of what
had transpired in the Cabinet directly contradict
ing MIR. Calhoun's assertion to him in converse
ton, all that was wanting to PROSTATE Mr.. Cal
honu in public opinion, was to obtain from him
the declaration in writing which had been made
in conversation; to wit-'Esuch measure was
not thought of, much less discussed. The only
I,f,- &I,a 20 ba
given to the Spanish Government" Could that
have been obtained, he would have then had in
his possession Mr.. Crawford's declaration, thro'
Mr.. Forsyth, that Mr.. Calhoun had made the
proposition to arrest and punish Gen. jackson,
and Mr.. Calhoun's letter denying it. He thus
would have been able to show, as he supposed,
upon the authority of Mr.. Crawford, not only
that MIR. Calhoun had been unfriendly to Gen.
jackson, but that Mr.. Calhoun had, as he no
doubt supposed, been guilty OF falsehood, to pro-
tect himself from the consequences.
MIR. Calhoun, in reply, declined to say what
did take place in the Cabinet, on the ground
that what there transpired should be confidential;
but having been induced in the meantime to be-
iieve that confidential letter from MIR. Monroe
to himself, of which we shall have much more
to say hereafter, had been stolen and placed in
the hands of Gen. jackson; and MIR. Hamilton
having pretended that the information sought
for was to be used to defend Gen. Jackson against
contemplated attacks, he said:
'sI cannot believe that an attack so unfounded
will ever be made. Should
such a case occur, though to me apparently i'm
possible, may with confidence appeal to the
past to prove that would not be wanting in
zeal to go as far as duty would admit in defend
ing the character of Gen. jackson, and maintain
ing in his person the great cause of liberty and
the constitution" - p
On the 10th Of March, '2s, Mr.. Hamilton
wrote to MIR. Calhoun as follows:
Mr. Hamilton to Mr.. Calhoun