Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-11-27
Col. johnson and the Adams Meeting.


deny that he took part in the Adams meeting
held at Clarksburg in November, 1927. The
Enquirer of Monday publishes communica"
zion, containing the following statements on the
subject:
alt is true Col ]. present at that meeting, and
was appointed by the Chairman one OF the committee
five, but the following blef statement OF the facts OF
the case, will satisfactorily account Tor both his pre-
sence and his appointment.
Col Johnson, being in upon that day, Ia court
day. did manv other Democrats, attended the meet
ing as asPEoTAroR. He TOOK NO PART IN 1T WHAT
EvERcame 10 alter It organized; and as the CHAIR
man (Mr. Webster appointed the committee SILENTLY,
Col j. knew nothing of his appointment until the pro-
ceedngs appeared in the "Clarksburg Enquirer. =
When it came to his knowledge, Col' j. Immediately
called upon the chairman (Mr Webster) and inquired
why he Col. J9 had been appointed one OF the COM
mittee Mr.. Webster replied that he had no authority
/ for so doing that at the time OF appointing the COM
mittee he happened to see him (Co j. and WITHOUT
THINKING HIS POLITICS appointed him; that he re-
membered Col j. SAID NOTHING, uor took any part IN
the meeting whatever. Mr.. Webster gave Colonel
Johnson written statemen OF the above facts-a lit
tie more in detail but substantially the same as here
given.
Major John i,eiper, now Justice of the Peace in
laYlor county, who has always been Democrat, and
who was likewise spsctaorin the meeting referred
to, gave certificate also at the foot of Mr. Webser's
ststsmen verifying it, so far as he saw, heard and be-
lieved. o.
Tim Rives, ESQ, prominent member of the late
State Convention, has the above certificates, and
srespectuy referred to, to voueh Tor the correctness
OF The statements eonsaned IN this communication re-
latlye thereto.
Unfortunately the certificates prove too much,
and it is not surprising that after the lapse of
| many years the atlantis should be Inaccurate in
their reeollecsons. That Col. Johnson YVES not
mere spectator in the meeting, is conclusively
proved by the following article, which appeared
in the Clarks6wg Enquirer of Nov. 22d, 1927.
and Immediately preceded the official report of
| the proceedings:
| From the Clarksburg Enquirer Nov. 22d, 1927.
| "ANTI. JACKSON MEETING.
"The meeting of the friends OF the present admins
ration held at the Court House in this place on Mon
day last notwithstanding the nclemency OF the wea.
Their, was highly respectable both tor the number and
| high standing OF the gentlemen who composed it.
| "When The report OF the committee was read, John
J. Allen, Esq, offered substitute, WHICH WAS Sc
| coNpED BY JosEPH JOHNSON, ESQ. Some discussion
ensued, aud thereupon the report OF the committee
adopted by large majority, and the substitute re-
leced but few voting in favor of it. The discussion
turned upon the views taken OF the qualifications OF
Gen. Jackson in the report and the substitute. The
substitute will be published in our next"
| Then the official report followed this preface.
| commencing as follows
| In pursuance of previous notice a meeting of the
Citizens OF Haron county, aVofa Die 10 Inc re-eec-
ton of John @. Adams, as President ofthe U. States,
took place at the Court House in Ciarksburg, on the
| 18th inst. John Webster, Esq, was chosen Chair
man, and Maj. Thomas Raymond, Secretary.
| The object Of the meeting having been explained,
| a committee OF the following gentlemen was appoint
ed to prepare prea nble and resolutions, conformable
thereto viz: John Jas. Allen, Jededah Waldo Benla-
min j. Brice, Samuel Fl. Morris, Edwin S. Duncan,
| and William J.. Jackson, who retired, and after
short time returned and reported the following pream.
| bic and resolutions.
The preamble contains an able and severe cri-
ticsm upon Gen. Jackson. The resolutions have
recently been repubshed One of them declares
''that this meeting will use all honorable means
to promote the reelection of John @. Adams as
President of the United States" Immediately fol.
lowing the resolutions, and without notice of
Mr. Aliens substitute the report states that ''the
Chairman then proceeded to appoint the following
gentlemen as Deputies to the proposed Conven~
tlon viz: Edwin 3. Duncan, VIM. L. Jackson,
John J. Allen, Phineas Chaplin and Joseph John
son, Esquires."
The editorial statement of the Clarsburg En-
quirer, that Mr.. Allen proposed substitute for
the committees report. and that Mr.. Joseph John
son seconded it, is contemporaneous proof not to
be questioned, that COL Johnson took an active
part in the meeting and it is evident that he con-
CURED in the recommendation of Mr.. Adams, but
| objected to the structures upon General Jackson.