The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1846-03-12
from The New York Courier and Enqirer.l

COutculCul ~ IClCi " tiiO oStOAoPAASshS 'AA
Coiron's "Life and Times OF Henry Clay.
concerning the conspiracy, by which the at-
tempt was made to overwhelm Mr. Clay with
a charge OF having been bribed TO support
Mr.. Adams for the Presidency. Mr.. Cotton
in the portion of his work referred to, has
collected and published, in clear and meth
odical manner, every fact, with The evidence
on which it rests, and every document rela-
tngto this charge; and he has thus enabled
every man of ordinary judgement and ability
10 form distinct and decided opinion as TO
the nature of the charge itself, and the mo-
tiues which actuated those by whom it was
made. The charge was that certain friends
of Mr.. Adams had made the proffers which
Mr. Clay, it was alleged, had accepted; and
that Mr.. Adams was induced TO fulfil these
engagements into which his friend bad en-
tered in his behalf. The documents submit
ted prove conclusively that not one particle
of Evidence was ever adduced, by those who
made this charge,to sustain it. Of course it
must, therefore fall to the ground.
But Mr.. Cotton goes farther than this, and
declares that offers of precisely this nature
were made to Mr.. Clay by the friends ofGen.
Jackson; and in proof of this very serious ac-
cusaiion he gives the following:
"Some time in January, 1925, and not
long before the election of the PRECEDENT of
the U. States by the House of Representa-
lives. the Hon, JAS Buchanan, then a men,
Der of the House, and afterwards many years
Senator of the United States, from Penn
sylvania, who had been jealous and inffu-
entail supporter of Gen. jackson in the pre-
nd n
his unbounded confidence, called at the lodg-
ings of Mr.. Clay, in The city of Washington.
hir. Clay was al the time in the room of his
only messmate in the House, his intimate
and confidential friend the Hon. R. P. LEIGH
er, since Gov. OF Kentucky, then also men,
Der ofthe House. Shortly after MIR. Buchan.
ans entry into the room, he introduced the
subject Of the approaching Presidential cleo
lion, and spok of The certainty of the cleo
ton of his favorite, adding that he would form
the most splendid cabinet that the country
had ever had.' MIR. Letcher asked, How
could we have one more distinguished than
that of Mr., Jefferson, in which there were
both Madison and Gallatin? Where would
he be able TO find equally eminent men? Mr..
Buchanan replied, that he acould not go out
of this room for a SECRETARY OF STATE
looking at Mr.. Clay. This gentleman [Mr.
Clay playfully remarked, that she thought
there was no timber there fit for cabinet of
icer, unless it were MIR. Buchanan him.
self"
u Now this occurrence is narrated on the au-
thoriiy of two witnesses, Mr, Clay and Mr..
Letcher. 1t The remark attributed TO Mr.. B.
was made by him in grave earnest, ii eslab-
fishes the whole charge. What proof have
; we that il was not mere pleasantly? That
which is furnished by the following fact, stat
ed evidently on the direct authority of Mr..
Clay himself:
"Mr. Clay, while he was so holly assailed
: with the charge of bargain, intrigue, and cor
ruptien, during the Administration of MIR.
Adams, notified Nh. Buchanan of his inten-
ton 10 publish the above occurrence ;bui, by
; the earnest entredties OF that gentleman, he
was induced to forbear doing so.
MIR. Buchanan himself, therefore put it
/, out of our power TO believe that the remark
was not serious one, and that The offer it
+, embodied was not distinctly and seriously
made If when Mr.. Clay notified him of
his intention TO publish the occurrence, he
had said, "very well-it was mere pleas
have been difficult to show the contrary
But instead of that, Mr.. Buchanan "earnest-
ly eatreats" Mr.. Clay not 10 make it public.
: Why did he do this, lift was unimporlant?-
He sealed at once lis truth and lis signifi
canoe by the effort be made to keep it Sc
: cret. He virtually confessed the fact which
its publication would assert; and that fact
was that he assured Mr.. Clay that, if Gen.
Jackson should be elected by his means, he
would be chosen for the Secretary of Stale
The Ne,cs INDUCES in a repetition OF the
stereotyped eulogies of Gen. Jackson's in
: tegrIy, and denies with staggering air
either thai the Gen'l is proved 10 have been
! capable of sending MIR. Buchanan on such an
errend or that the latteris willing TO be SENT
These points are not at issue. Whether Gen.
Jackson sent him or not-whether he was
willing or not to be sent--fhis fact is clear
that he went, and that he went with most
serious and important message 10 Mr.. Clay.
The Neps calls upon Mr. Buchanan TO
make some response TO this publication, and
thus expresses its conviction of The necessity
. of ouch step:
SIT appears to US due TO Gen. Jackson's
= memory, 10 the ruth of history, TO the dem
. ocraiic party, and TO himself, that il should
be done; and we hope that while he
will pardon the freedom of such cali pro-
ceeding from friend, and veniured in the
, conscious strength of integrity and safety, he
will consent TO meet the general wish OF his
party and the disinterested public, by giving
his personal testimony in regard TO the real
and true facts of the case, SO far as il may
ha. in his mo- ar IN make if-f0 The corclIi-