Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-09-24
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. "a, 1855.
The Catron Statement and Majoc Don
elSan.

The CatrOn Statement and MaJoc Dom
elSan.
The Union and american attempts to
rescue Judge Catron from the unfortunate
position in which his partiality for his bland
old bachelor friend has involved him; but
the frail plank which it pushes to his Honor
will not sustain him, and bis statement
must go beneath the wave of the popular
disbelief We do not intimate by this, an
Impeachment of the credibility of the ven
cradle occupant of a seat on the Supreme
tice of the Judges letter, we and the public
are thoroughly convinced that Gen. Jack
sons conversation was either wholly miscon-
ceived or badly remembered. We suggested
that Gen JacksOn's proverbial polteness
may have led the Judge to suppose, that be-
cause the General did not enter into con-
troversy with him in the parlorS of the Her
mitage concerning Buchanan'S fitness, that
he aSsented to his earnest pleadings in be-
half Of his friend, when really nothing was
further from the conclusions of his singu-
larry correct judgment of men, or the
wishes of his heart The JUICES partiality
for Mr.. Buchanan is well known, and we
may say that were it not known, it might
well be imagined. Even at the date re-
ferred to, twelve years ago, so long had
both of them been encaSed in the vestments
of Office, that they were fast becoming
what they have since passed into-oficial
mummies, dead to every emotion which
finds a response 10 the public heart Their
sympathy and attachment is easily account
ed for.
But upon matter so important we do
not think that Gen. Jackson would have
permitted mere point of polteness to
forbid frank expression Of his opinions,
especially when according to the Judges
statement, the conference was called at the
instance Of Gen. jackson himself. With
this view we are driven to conclude that
Judge Catron left the Hermitage with an
entire misunderstanding of Gen. JackSon's
conversation, or that his memory has played
hun false. And although we speak of
high judicial dignitary, we cannot conceive
either of these results impossible The err
mine, though spotesS ITSELF does not exempt
from the errors aud weaknesses so common
with mOrtals.
We have presented evidence which clear
ly proves that it was impossible that Gen.
Jackson could have preferred Mr. Buchanan
as his choice for the Presidency, as well as
proof establishing that at the date of
Judge Catrons visit, Gen. jackson still en-
tertained the hope that Mr. Van Buren,
would place himSe f rcctuS IN curia upon the
Democratic position on the Texas question,
while it is notorious that if he had done
so, he was Gen. Jackson's favorite, as he
was also Mr. Folks, and that of the entire
party. Admitting that in the conversation
alluded to, Gen. jackson had intimated
that in case Van Buren's Texas position
rendered him Objectionable as a candidate,
it would be the duty Of the convention to
select another, he certainly could not have
indicated Buchanan. A reference to the
proceedings of the convention will show
that Buchanan commenced with four votes
and never obtained more than twenty-six
on any ballot Can any one suppose that
If he had been known as Gen Jacksons
preference that his claims would have re-
ceiVed such cavalier treatment! Was Gen.
JackSon'S influence with the Democratic
party on the wane, that he could comm nd
scarce a score Of votes in its national con-
venton? Impossible He was all powerful
then, and the world knows that at his die
tation Mr. Polk was nominated He was
the only President, which the country ever
had, powerful enough to name his successor,
aud he named two-Van Buren, aud Polk.
His influence with the Democratic party
nominated them, and his hold on the public
confidence elected them The ungrateful
dependents on his favor had not then com
meuced to intimate that "in moments Of
irritation he suffered unjust impntatons to
escape him, much less had Democratic
orators aud newspapers charged him with
falsehuod aud Tyranny. No breath Of such
calumny had then dared to leave the lips of
those who now assault his reputation for
veracity. Had be desired the nomination
of Buchanan Instead of that OF Mr. Wright
or Mr. Polk, Mr. Buchanan would have
been nominated But he never had such
thought, he had read. With that sagacity
winch was prominent element of his
greatness, Nc BIchanans heart, aud knew
him 20 be corrupt, aud devoid Of moral
honesty aud courage
A reference % the correspondence be-
tweea Gea Jark'on ana Major Lewis viii
show thar when Nj. Polk's cabinet was
formed, Gen. Jacksohs inflaeuce kept Blu
cnanAn out Of the department Of state
ultll lie would bind himself 10 comply with
ccrtlnr'"ierms" He knew that be was an
- itr ara7g " ks r. AMI An unsafe conn-
Ga. ,f,.s.a 81 PIX. arleSs he VAS guarded
-iai v &c ,ed 10 give him seat in the
81 Ga J.ae.t sas q deDt oi graf uae Which he
a.. -eara.-d f,ata the President by hls