Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-06-25

that if Gen. jackson had not determined whom he
would appoint Secretary of State, and should say
that it would not be Mr. Adams it might be of great
advantage 70 cause for us to declare Fit upon
/ his authority we should then be placed upon the
same footing with Mr.. Adams's men, and might fight
them with their own weapons. That the Western
members would naturally prefer voting for West
ern man, if there were probability that the claims
of Mr.. Clay to the second Office in the Government
should be fairly estimated; and tia. if they thought
proper to vote for Gen. Jackson they could soon de-
eide the contest in his favor"
This is the conversation with Mr. Markley,
friend of Mr. Clay, which Mr.. Buchanan says he re-
lated to Gen. Jackson in this memorable interview
! Mr.. Buchanan further says in this letter Of his
from which we are quoting:
! do not recoeet that Gen. jackson told me
might repeat his answer to Mr. Clay and his friends,
though | should be sorry to say he did not The
whole conversation being upon the street, it might
have escaped my observation"
| Mr.. Buchanan continues:
+ 81 called upon Gen. Jackson, on the occasion
which l have mentioned, solely his friend, upon
my individual responsibility, and not as the agent of
| Mr.. Clay or any other person. never have been
the political friend of Mr. Clay, since he became a
candidate for the Office of President, as you very
well know. Until saw Gen. Jackson's letter to
Mr.. Beverly, of the 9TH ult, and at the same time
was informed by letter from the editor of the
United States Telegraph, that was the person TO
whom he alluded the conception never once entered
into my mind that he believed me to have been the
agent of Mr. Clay or his friends, or that had in
tended to propose to him terms of any kind for
! them, or that he could have supposed me capable
of expressing the opinion that it right fight
such ntriguers with their own weapons. He could
/ not, think have received this impression, until
after Mr. Clay and his friends had actually elected
! Mr.. Adams, and Mr. Adams had appointed Mr.. CLAY
Secretary of State. After those events had tran
spired it may readily be cOnjectured in what man.
ner my communication had led him into the mis-
take. deeply deplOre that such has been its effect
How Mr.. BUCHANANs STATEMENT OF WHAT HE SAID
TO GEN. JACKSON COMPARES WITH GEN. JAcKsoN's
STATEMENT OF WHAT Mr. BUCHANAN SAID TO HIM.
Gen. jackson says that Mr.. Buchanan, acting as he
supposed, under authority either of Mr.. Clay his
confidential friends, proposed" to him, Gen. Jack
son. san arrangement" the ''terms and conditions"
of which were, in effect, that Mr.. Clay and his
friends should elect Gen. jackson President and that
Gen. Jackson, when thus elected should make Mr.
Clay Secretary of State.
Mr.. Buchanan denies that he proposed any such
the part of Mr.. Clay or his friends.
Gen. jackson says, he gave to Mr.. Buchanan an
answer to the proposition for such an arrangement,
and requested him say to Mr. Clay and his friends
what that answer
Now, Cen Jackson might have been honestly
mistaken as to the true purport of things said
by Mr. Buchanan to him, but he could not be hon
esty mistaken to this specific allegation of what
he said to Mr.. Buchanan by way of answer TO the
proposition which he understood Mr.. Buchanan to
bring to him from Mr. Clay, or some Ofhis cOnfden-
tial friends Gen. jackson was therefore, guilty of
a deliberate falsehoOd, if he did not, he alleges
he did, land have doubt, truly not only give
to Mr.. Buchanan answer to the proposition, but
request him ito say to Mr. Clay and his friends
what that answer had been"
Mr. Buchanan, therefore, did not deny these ale
cations, and they are very material ones, Of Gen.
jackson, of what took place in the memorable in
teryiew between them;-Mr. Buchanan, we repeat,
did not deny that Gen Jackson did make him an an
swer to the proposition, and did request him to
make known to Mr. Clay and his friends what that
answer was, but he could not recollect the facts.
81 do not recolect," he says, shat Gen. Jackson
told me | might repeat his answer to Mr.. Clay and
his friends, though l should be sorry to say he did
not The whole conversation being upon the street
IL might hare escaped mn observation"
Further:-In his statement, Gen. Jackson says
positively that Mr.. Buchanan expressed to him the
opinion that ''it was right to fight such intrguers
with their own weapons"-that is, that nasmuch as
Mr. Adams friends, the alleged 'intriguers, were
proposing that Mr. Clay should be Secretary Of
State if he and his friends would elect Mr. Adams,
it would be right" for Gen. Jackson and his friends
to pursue a similar course, and TO promise that Mr.
CLAW should be made Secretary of State, if he and
his friends would unite in electing Gen. Jackson
President
Mr.. Buchanan, in his statement, gently and cour'
teously but sneq,ipocdlty denies the correctness Of
the Generals allegation that he, Mr. Buchanan, e1-
pressed the opinion to him, Gen. Jackson, that il
was right to fight such intriguers with their OWL
weapons" Mr.. Buchanan says Until saw Gen.
Jackson's letter to Mr. Beverly, Of the 9th ult, and
at the same time was informed, by letter from the
editor Of the United States Telegraph, that was the
person to whom he alluded, the conception never
once entered into my mind, that he Gen. Jackson
believed me to have been the agent of Mr.. Clay OF
his friends or that had intended to propose to hin
terms Of any kind for them or that he could have
believed me capable of expressing the opinion
that it was right to fight such intriguers with thei
own weapons.
That Mr. Buchanan, however, notwithstanding
this denial, did express that opinion to Gen. jack
son. on the occasion referred to, Gen. jackson as
serted most positively and explicitly in his dying
hours.
DYING OPINIONS AND DECLARATIONS OF GEN. JACK
son IN RESPECT TO THE CONDUCT OF Mr.. BIZ
cHAxAN RELATIVE TO THE ALLEGED INTRIGUE
BETWEEN Mr.. ADAMS AND MR.. CLAY.
We term them dying Opinions and declarations,
because they were expressed and made in his last
and dying Illness and just two months and ten DAYS
before his death, and when he must have been in
constant expectation of that most solemn of earthly
events.
They are contained in the following extract of q
letter (which we have lying before us) written to
friend by Gen. jackson, under date of Hermitage
February 2sth, ls45":
Your observations with regard to Mr. Buchan-
an are correct he shOtsed a rant Of moral c0uraq,
in the affair Of the intrigue of Adams and Clay
did not do me justice in the expose he then made,
and am sure about that time did believe there was
perfect understanding between Adams and Clay
about the Presidency and the Secretary Of State.
This | am sure Of Bat whether be viewed that
there was any corruption in the or not, know
not, but thing do know, that h. 'cished me 10
combat them rih their oten peapons--thdt toas IA
LEI mg friends soy j rds elected, I 'cot'id mako
Mr.. Clay Secretary Of State. This TO me appeared
gtoss corruption and repealed it with that honest
indignation as which thought it deserved"