Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-10-02
NEW SERIES, NO. Al.
TERMS {9I,50 strictly I'm advance
lEnM =, s2.oe at the years end.

|
hat Mr.. Buchanan undertook the task of as-
certaining how Mr.. Clay would receive che ten
der made. by him of the premiership ina Jack.
son cabinet. This account Of the long sup.
pressed secret overture on the part of Mr.. Bu-
chanan, testing Mr.. Clay's inclina,ions. is
marked throughout by italics, in the volume
to distinguish it from statements made by the
author of the work
Some time in sJanuary, 1926, and not long
before the election of President Of the United
States by the house Of Representatives, the Hon.
James Buchanan, then q member Of the House,
and afterwards many years senator of the
United States, from Pennsylvania, who had
been n zeafous and uaiziaas,.si~is suppostsr OF Gen.
Jacksons, in proceeding canvass and was sup.
posed to enjoy his unbounded confidence, called
at the lodgings of Mr.. Clay, in the City Of
Washington. Mr. Clay was OF the time in the
room of his only me,smate in the house, his
Intimate and confidential friend, the Hon. R. P.
Letcher, since Gov. of Kentucky, then also
member of the House. Shortly after MIR. Blu.
cbanans entry into the room. he introduced
the subject of the approaching Presidential
election, and spoke of the certainty of the elec.
tion, of his adding, that he would form the
most SPLENDID cabinet that the country had
ever had Mr.. Letoher asked How could he
have onemore distinguished than that of Mr..
Gallatin,'
Where would he be able to find equally emil
ncnt men! Mr.. Buchanan replied that He
would not 60 cut of the room for a Secretary
Of State looking at Mr.. Clay. This gentle.
man mir. Clay] playfully remarked that to
though, there was no timber there ft for a cab
met officer, unless it were Mr.. Buchanan him
self
"Mr Clay, while he was so hotly assailsl
with the charge of bargain, intrigue, and corr
ruption, during the administration of Mr.. Ad-
ans, notified Mr.. Buchanan Of his intention to
publish the above occurrence but by the earn
est entrcatics of that gentleman, he was in
duced to orbcar doing so."
The author has understood, that several times,
in later years, it has been intimated to MIR. Bu-
chanan that it might be his[ Mr.. Clay 81 duty
to publish these facts, and that be was dissua-
ded from it by Mr.. Buchanan"
i Cohon's L,tc and Times Of Henry Clay page
AIS.
Mr. Cotton vet retains the manuscript Of
this in Mr.. Clay appended note, advising him
(Mr. Colton) to apply to Governor Letchcr for
further information. He accordingly addressed
Governor Letcher, and found his lips sealed ''y
pledgel of silence given to Mr.. Buchanan"
Governor Letcher applied to Mr. Buchanan in
1874, to be released from this pledge, which he
declined in letter. rcstating his promise and
insisted on his honor to observe it, in these
words:
" Tho publication, then, Of this private conver.
:ation, could serve no other purpose than 10 en-
barrass me, and to force mo prominently into
tac pending contest-which desire to avoid.
=. You are certainly correct in your reccoi-
lection. 8 You told me explicitly that you did
not feel at liberty to give the conversation al
t ludad to- anl would not do so under any cir
e cumstances, without my express permission.
: In this you have acted, as you have ever d"''s'
like man of honor and principle.
JAMES BUcHAsxs.
y The late contribution of Mr.. Clay to the his
!. ,ory of Mr.. Buchanans plot, with the refusal
8 of the latter to let the whole be known by per-
d mittine Mr.. Letcher to reveal the conversation
!, held with him, if it had seen the light Willie
:. General jackson lived, would have confIin
y the supposi,ion on which he acted when Mr..
n Buchanan first appro ached him on the suhjr,t
r He says g 1 did suppose he had come from
o Mr.. Clay, although he used the term os Nh
9 Clay's friends" and therefore, in giving hin
S The ans,cer, did request him to say to Mr. Clo.
q and his friends, what that answer had been. ,
This answer did not suit MIR. Buchanan's de-
sign, and hence itseems he forgot to give it Il
II MIR. Clay, or that it was ever given to him
g and forget also his visit and proposal to Mr.
n Clay now verified by Messrs. Clay and Letcier
Is and repeatedly brought to his reccollecto'
II several times in later years, it having been in
It timated to Mr.. Buchanan that it might be hi
G (Mr. Clay 's) duty to publish these facts, b"
i that he was dissuaded from it by Mr. Buchan
nt an
r. Unless Mr.. Clay and Governor Leteher b"'
ne conspircd to fabricated ialsehood to impcal
In Mr.. Buchanan, as he would have US believe
r. he did approach Mr.. Clay to tempt him VIII
e. the premiership. There are pregnant circum
ng stances and other evidence to prove IT, e'r
he Markly repeats and insists on the facs 'na' ~
tn buchanan urged him to use no delay 10 se'
IN, A. Clav because, " if he were certain that
as Mr.. Claws views were favorable 70 Gen. JACK
,al son q election, be would take an early oppor'
NJ ,unity of talking with General jackson on the
ed ,ub ;ect or get Major Eaton to do It,
he Th;, shows that Mr.. Buchanan was intent to
to ...ar,o;n whether " Mr.. Clay's views were fa
vorable before he hazarded General Jackson 9
cd d;.pleasure by proposing to him somewhat
N. corrupt process to reach presidential honors
he He told Major Eaton that ii was "pretty well
NJ ascertained that overtures were making by th'
of the friends of MIR. Adams" Why, then nigh,
H. he not make overtures in delecats way to Mr.
II Clay, He had urged Mr.. Markley to do it
Mr.. Markley's three trials had proved abor-
be tive, and he had gone to attend bis courts in
d. Pennsylvania. The time of decision was ~
N preaching, and it was necessary, il any bar
= gain could be stuck in unite the great western
n. rivals, Mr.. Buchanan must himself bc the go
I'd between, Markley having failed to get the op
k lportunity with Mr.. Clay, and Major Eaton re
% fusing to 20 to General jackson