The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-09-20


Buchanan with me orbds the idea that he was acting
his responsibility that under any circumstances be
could have been induced propose arrangement unless
possessed Of satisfactory assurances that accepted 4
would be carried fully into effect. weak mind would
seldom be thus disposed act intelligent
never.
"Under all the circumstances appearing at the time,
did not resist the impression that Mr. Buchanan had APP
preached the cautiously proposition OF
some authorized person and therefore In giving him my
answer did request him TO say to Mr. Clay and his friends
what that had been "-ISee published letter of
General Jackson, dated Hermitage, July 10, 1871
This statement the entire charge made against
Mr. Buchanan, in all its length breadth, and thickness
IL Is not pretended that at any other time upon
other OCCASION he in any connected, up TO
that PERIOD with the matter in controversy Assume for
the moment that Mr.. Buchanan had made any
ponse whatever TO the subject of this interview with Gen.
Jackson ask my old whg friends analyze it, and sit It's
true meaning Can anything be made of it than that
preceding and pending the election in the House of Rep
esentatiyes for the presidency, many very
naturally in circulation TO the political combination
that might be formed to effect election2 Amongst
Others II reported that if General Jackson should be
chosen President he would continue Mr. Adams in his posi-
ton OF Secretary of State. Mr. Buchanan, according
this hypothesis desired General jackson to disabuse the
public mind upon this point and TO let IL be stated
horitayey that such arrangement had bsen entered
into and that this simple declaration of neutrality be-
tween Adams and Clay would satisfy the friends of the
latter
chanan in this whole statement by the most thorough and
rigid analysis was that in the event of the election of his
friend Gen Jackson to the presidency, Aeprsred that Mr.
Clay should reege the appointment of Secretary of State
rather than John Quincy Adams. But will now read
the reply made by Mr. Buchanan to the of Gen.
Jackson dated 9Th August 1927 and addressed to the
editor of the Lancaster Journal
Mn. Buchanan's Reply 10 Gen. Jachson's Statement
"on the I'd of January 1925 called upon General
a" then stated him that there report in crcu-
laon that be had determined he would appoint Mr. Ad
ans Secretary in case he were elected President and that
] wished whether inti-
mated such intention That he must perceive how
injurious 10 his election such report might be- That no
doubt there several able and ambitious In the
country, among whom thought Mr.. Clay might be irclu
ded who aspiring to that Office and if they be-
lieved he had already determined TO appoint his ch
petor ii might have unhappy effect upon their ex
erons and those of their friends That unless he had so
determined thought this report should be promptly con
tradcted under his own authority.
:" mentioned that it had already probably done him
some injury and proceeded TO relate TO him the substance
of the conversation held with Mr. Markley. do not re-
member whether mentioned his name, or merely de-
scribed him ss friend Of Mr. Clay.
called upon General jackson on the occasion which
have mentioned 8oey his friend upon my npid
uaIres0oasibty and not as The agent Of Mr. Gay or any
other never have been the political friend Of Mr.
Clay since he became candidate for the Office of Presi-
dent you very well know Until Gep Jacksons let
ter 10 Mr. Beverly Of the 5h ult and AT the same time
informed by letter from the editor Of the United
States Telegraph that was the person whom be alluded
The conception necr entered my mind that he believed me
intended TO propose any kind for them or that h.
he could have supposed capable OF expressing an op-
ion that it was right to fight such ntrguer with their
weapons had authority from Mr.. CIau or hi,
friends to propose 10 Gen Jackson ia relation 10 er
rotes nor did 4 epey make any such proposition"
Could any language have been fuller conclusive or
more expct2 Throughout the length and breadth of the
land Mr. Clays friends hailed its publication as complete
vindication of his innocence Mr. CLAY was everywhere
congratulated npou his triumph and in every quarter his
friends gave evidence of their gratitude towards Mr. Bu-
IN nd
trust the old followers OF Clay will not forge, the time
when and the circumstances under which Mr. Buchanan
called upon to display this OF moral heroism The
Jackson party was then in the ascendency all over the
country Mr. Clay, almost crushed by tho nnpopuarity II
his connexion with the administration Of Mr. Adams and
the torrent Of public opinion which seemed everywhere 10
set against him, noby breasted the storm but s all eyes
were turned 10 Mr. Buchanan, who called upon TO
testify as TO his guilt or innocence One word from him
one nsnunon that be had been authorized by Mr. Clay
or his friends TO make corrupt proposition upon the sub
ect Of the pending election and IL is admitted by both
friends and foes that that word would have crushed Mr.
Clay and would perhaps with many persons have left
impression OF his guilt TO be eradicated But a
Wa-a spoken True to the instincts OF noble
nature Mr.. Buchanan said II there Is any guilt II Is
mine spoke only upon my individual responsibility
M. Clay % iaRocentf
All honor to the Who in the midst Of such con-
hc rose superior 10 the appliances and the Establishments
OF party, and dared do usuce 10 political adversary
But stand not alone among the freads Of Henry Clay
in the estimate have placed upon the honorable conduct
Of Mr.. Buchanan Eyery single bographer every hsto-
ran every friend Of Mr. Clay whose opinions have been
recorded up TO the period Of Mr. BuchanRns nomination
for the presidency embracing period Of thirty years has
expressed the degree Of admiration for his course and
the opinion rs TO the importance Of bis testimony
Mr. Cays defence. | will read 10 you an extract
From Coi,on'S life Of Clay Vol l, Pages 1880
ain the form Of reply dated June O. 1884, he General
Iackson) directly charged the friends Of Mr. Clay with
having made the alleged propositions, through dstn
gushed member Of Congress and accompanied his alega
ton with ipsinuations that the offer made by the
authority Of Mr. Clay. Mr. Clay Immediately demanded
the Of the distinguished member oCongrtss through
whom the bad been made and received from Gen
Jackson the Of Mr. Buchanan Of rennsyvania Thus
publicly called upon, Mr.. buchanan although personal
and political fend Of Gen Jackson DID NOT HESITATE
fatty contradict he staeH lie denied havtRg made any
spoh o and said that in the only conversation he
had with Cen Jackson the subject Of retaining Mr.
Adams Secretary OF State he had not the distant
dee that the General believed suspected he
half Of Mr. Clay his friends Thus the assertion OF Cen
jackson only LEFT unsupported but shown by his
own witness 70 be naked fasehood But Il made by
distinguished man, and still carried with It degree
OF weight enforced was by the whole opposition press
in the Union which circulated the charge aud srw Rrdu
pgTpo'ely sPpres,ed the DlSPR0YAL II produced In the
public mind deep prejudice against Mr., Clay"
EVsn those vko allopsd psrss tiH 10 cherish ,vs-
pcon against Mr. Clay were deprived Of thcr only shoo Of
egdsRoe by letter o. hr Beverly in ls4l explicitly ad-
mtting that for the tale OF conversation with General
Jackson concerning the alleged which he had
first given currency 10 his letter Of 1926 there the
sightest foundation ia truth
Il will be observed that this historian declares Mr. Bu-
chanans testimony TO Mr. Cays innocence oonclu-
sve that the charge against him e entirely unsup
ported And further adds that the only show Of evidence
left annihated by the disclaimer OF Carter Beverly ia
l84l How II possible TO reconcile these declarations with
the idea that Mr buchanan inmaed a solitary doubt