Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-10-01


their names to be used as candidate for the sue
Session.
rU,.dey this special rule, Mr.. Buchanan may be
drought into the cabinet and be made Secretary
''of State" 2.
/ Signed, --As- ANDREW JACKSON.
These letters are in the original handwriting of
Gen. jackson, and are left with me for the inspec-
ton of any one who may question their anthem
ITCHY.
In this last letter, manifestng in every line of it
modification at the selection of Mr.. Buchanan to
ell the State Department, Gen. Jackson consoles
himself with an assurance from Mr.. Polk that he
would adopt "a special rule" which would close
the door to Mr. Buchanan as an aspirant to the
Presidency whilst in the Cabinet The same feel
ing was also manifested when Gen. Jackson In
formed that Mr.. Buchanan's confidential friend
Gen. Cameron, had desired me to become the editor
of tn paper now known the Washington Union,
proposition, which after consultation with Gen.
jackson, declined; although it was accompanied
by the assurance that the position would be one of
great profit and honor.
state these circumstances in Justice to the men,
DRY OF Gen. Jackson, repelliDg, as they do, the
idea that Mr.. Buchanan was ever his preference
for the Presidency.
Up to the period which disclosed Mr.. Buchanan
the preferred leader Of those ultraists who made
wa. on the compromise of $780, and claimed the
right Of State to nullify the laws of the Union,
my intercourse with him, personal and official, had
been kind, friendly, and unsuspecting. had no
n 7
in lS45, nor of many of the incidents which were
brought to light by his letters to Mr.. Blair publish
ed in April last, and which show clearly that he
anticipated the disorganization of the Democratic
party in consequence of the ascendency, in its
councils, of the partzans of notification and Sc
cesson. was, great portion of the period en-
braced in the dates Of these letters out of The
try in the service of the government.
In my last interview, however, with Gen. Jack
son, after Mr.. Polk had made known to him the
project of bis cabinet bis forebodings in regard to
the influence which the appointment of Mr.. Buch-
anan would exercise upon the Democratic party,
were freely expressed to me, and have distinct
recollection that be adverted to an effort of Judge
Catron to induce Mr.. Polk to retain Mr.. Tyler's
cabinet, one of the ominous signs that Democ-
racy was losing sight Of its ancient faith. But
did not then the dangers he depicted, nor ap-
preciate fully the foresight which enabled him to
descry the storm which is now lowering in our
political horizon, and which has sprung from the
influence of that sentiment under which the HART
ford Convention, in 1912, and the Nashville Con-
vention, in 1850, claimed the right Of State, at
her pleasure, to withdraw from the Union and null
ffy the laws Of the land-a sentiment which has
quired its force mainly from the counsels of men
calling themselves Democrats
am aware that this note may subject me to the
imputaton of oversteppng the bounds of proprety,
because | am the candidate Of party which Mr..
Buchanan and Judge Catron oppose. But when
Judge of the Supreme Court volunteers to say what
think is erroneous, and what is alike injurious to
the fame of Cen jackson and the great interests of
the country, feel that generous public, remem~
herring the confidential relation existing between
Gen. jackson and myself, will permit an expression
of what is, necessary to bis defence.
1t is of the deepest moment at this critical juno.
ture in our national affairs that the spirit of sec.
tiOnalism should not receive strength and encour-
sgement from the attempt to tarnish the character
Of the patriot and statesman who has risked so
much TO repress that spirit. The brilliant light in
Gen. Jacksons civil career is that in which his serS
Webster in preventing dissolution of the Union
in 1882. To put out that light by destroying con-
6dence in his personal character seems to be the
object of the utrasts of both sections of Union
and no witness has yet appeared, in my judgment,
better calculated to subserve their purpose than
sanctity of the Judicial robe, charges, trust unin
tentionaly, Gen. Jackson with dupicity and fases
hood This is the inevitable effect of his statement
knowing, as he does, that Gen. jackson, on his
death.bed, declared that Mr.. Buchanan displayed
want of moral courage, and made to him most
corrupt proposition, and yet alleging, as be does,
that this same Mr. Buchanan was Gen. Jackson's
preferred candidate for the Presidency in 1874, at
the very time when he, Gen. Jackson, through con.
fdental friends, authorized to act for him, was
giving his support to other persons.
/ can only account for the mistake OF Judge Cat.
trou by surprising that his memory has failed him
in this instance He was himself at that time the
active friend of Mr.. Buchanan, and urged me
to espouse his cause in numerous private in
terviews, which / would not allude to if l
had no other evidence of them than my own
recollection. But the Judge was not content
at that time with verbal expressions of his pre-,
ference. He recorded them in a letter, and in that
letter which now have, he sets forth the idea that
the people are afraid that Gen. Jackson was in IA.
vor of the nomination of another person than Mr..
Buchanan. / am, very respectfully,
Your obedent servant,
A. J. DoEELsoN