The southern press., 1852-03-09
E1y.u,A fAla Ian. - l851.


EuFkuLA, (Als.,) Jan. - 1851,
GENTLEMEN; Youf note Of this date is re-
ceived. For my own part, | never recognized
any obligation of secrecy in relation to the
Clemens affair. l supported Mr., Clemens Gas
is we'll known with extreme reluctance, and
with the reservation Of the right to make any
explanation of the reasons / might think proper !;
and besides, heard of no pledge of secrecy in
the caucus. | would not, however, have volun-
teered my testimony in this matter, nor have
given II, but for the reasons stated in your note
On the eve of Mr.. Clemens election to the
United States Senate, there was caucus OF the
Wing party; did not contemplate attending but
went at the urgent request oimy colleague, Mr.
Gardner. When we arrived we found the caucus
organized--the only question was whether the
Wings, as party, should support MIR. Clemens
Some of bis friends gave verbal assurances that
he would, If elected, act with the Wings, and
said they were authorized by him to say 80. IL
was objected that it was unsafe to support him
without written pledge and the caucus being
unable to agree, a member from Greene stated
that pledge could be obtained, and called on
Mr. Rip Davis, from Limestone, who rose land
produced small scrap Of paper, and read it as
near ms can remember, in these words:
"sIf elected to the United States Senate, ]
pledge myself to sustain General Taylor's ad
ministration JERE. CLEMENS,
GA good many gathered around to inspect
the paper, and some seemed 10 question its be-
ing in Mr. Clemens handwriting, when Mr..
Davis said in substance, pledge my honor as
gentleman it is Mr.. Clemens hand and written
by HIMSELF
"The same gentleman who had called on Mr..
Davis, as above stated, then took the paper, and
holding il up, read il in louder tone, and in the
same words.
aYours, &C., PAUL MCCALL"
For the advertiser and Gazette.
WASN'T, GToN, Feb. 2lst, 1851.
SIR notice in your paper and several 9TH
ers, that the old charge of corruption between
myself and the Wing members of the legsla-
ture of lS49 has been revived in the form of a
letter from Jefferson Buford, and sustained by a
similar letter from Paul Mccall. Mr.. B. alleges
that he makes the present publication because
he would be trhng with his own character to
maintain longer silence. He did something more
than trifle with his own reputation when he
made the charge. According to his own show
ing he made corrupt bargain with me-aided
in carrying il out, and then upon the first sug.
gestion of interest betrayed his confederates.
cannot relieve him from willingness to do all
he says he has done, but in point of fact he is
less guilty than he represents himself. lie made
no bargain with me, and he did not betray me,
! for he had nothing to belfay Mr.. Bulord's
memory is a bad one, and he should have learn
ed to distrust it long since. lie undertakes TO
give the exact words of paper which he saw
| but once and that more than two years ago.
| Mr.. Mccall, who never saw il at all, but only
heard it read, gives it precisely word for word
and syllable for syllable as Mr.. Brford does.
| Now, this is a little too accurate. II is sus
| tanning a friend little too strongly, but am
willing to suppose that both of them are honest
| ly mistaken. The precise charge is that ! ad
dressed note to the Wing caucus in "nearly or
exactly these words :"
! If elected 10 The United States Senate, pro
mise 10 support The ddminstr alton Of Gen. Tdy-
! lor
Signed, JERE. CLEMENS.
The slip of paper which Mr.. Buford saw, and
which his Imagination has converted into the
above pledge, contained no pledge of any sort I;
no expression Of opinion even. II was a short
note addressed to l.. r. Davis, esq, authorizing
him 10 state hoiO far | would consider myself
pledged TO support Gen. Taylor. Mr.. Davis
was nay warm person al friend, he is a gentleman
Of as high character as any in the State, he was
perfectly familiar with my opinions, and knew
NC WOuiu M opportunity OF explaining
them when | would not. In accordance with
the authority had given him, Mr. Davis stated
i that If elected 10 the Senate, would oppose 81
Gen. Taylor's administration no factious party
opposition. That believed the time had come
when il behooved Southern men TO look rather
to a satisfactory settlement Of the slavery ques.
ton than TO old party divisions That If I found
Gen. Taylor true to the South. would sustain
him-f found him under FIR, esoil influences
! should oppose him. This pledge and no other
was made by Mr.. Davis. lie has so stated again
and again. Messrs Baker, Gardiner, Aber-
crombie, Gum, Bevins, Murphy, and others, all
concur with him. No one believes that either
Of these gentlemen would utter an untruth, and
il is impossible that they can be mistaken about
matter in which they all took so warm an in
terest.
The charge rs made by Mr.. Buford is absurd
on the face oft. Nv first act in Congress was
one Of opposition 10 General Taylor AMI that
opposition continued undated mp 10 the day OF
his death. No two men sustained me in IL with
more zeal than Jefferson Buford and Paul Nc.
| Call, which establishes beyond controversy that
neither Of them asked or expected me 10 sus-
tain any man whose course was not entirely sat
isfac'ory 10 the South.
! do not consider il necessary 10 write another
syllable upon this subject. For my own vindi
cation ! would not have written 80 much. but
foresee that IL is 10 be used in aid Of certain
schemes now connecting in Alabama, and there
fore, choose TO put it st rest
Very respectfully,
JERE. CLEMENS.
Col. J. j. SEIBELs.