The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-10-15

The thus obtained from the General at the time
was invited and provoked, have not the shadow Of
doubt by the remarks Of the writer win be seen viz
WASHINGTON, Feb. n, l845
Ny DEAR GENERAL; Your two confidential and very In
eresng letters of the 4h and 9th instant have been
ceved and disposed Of as requested am happy % say
that entirely satisfied and MIR. Blair, with the
gentlemen who is supposed viii constitute the new cab
met Mr. Blair and myself both think il doubtful, how
ever whether Mr.. Buchanan will accept upon the terms
proposed The should be appointed unless he does)
he is full OF the idea stated TO you in my previous let
ters oheh Ihaue) OF being candidate for the success
ment win then be offered to Mr. Stevenson. With with
Mr. Buchanan however think the cabinet will be
able one and fully entitled to- and doubtless will receive,
the confidence of the nation
The truth is General have had any very great
respect for Mr. Buchanan and OF late have even had less
than formerly. He did not out upon the subject OF
that "bargain intrigue and corruption charged upon
Messrs Clay and Adams in 1926 he ought to have DONE
and as expected OF him. Besides have heard him
say, not than month ago, that he never had be-
leved there any truth in the charge. This occurred
at dinner table, and the remarks were addressed to
Judge Mangum the President of the Senate but having
taken place the time and place where did have said
nothing about il to any one. w. Ii. LEWIS.
As have said before the General being clearly invited
and provoked by the remarks Of the above letter. what he
thought hen and at the time Of the barganntrgue case
which he had expressed than thirty years ago. by
stating that Mr. Buchanan may have not viewed in eny
light of bargain and corruption but he did At that time
and treated it accordingly.
The General adding to the latter clause Of this
tract sentence which not published for best
known to the gentlemen themselves viz: "Mr Buchanan
is of fine talents and, if he into the Depart
ment of State win execute the duties with ability"
Garbed or not in regard to the publication Of extracts
from the private and confidential letters of my father
which was first attempted by Major Wm B. Lewis shortly
after his decease in ls45I then protested with him against
it. and also to Mr. F. p Blair me subject; to
which he replied as follows:
SILVER SPRINGS, Feb 25, 1896
MY DEAR SIR: have just this moment received your
letter Of the 18th inst and had read after writing you
Yesterday Major W. B. Lewss publication, in which my
is used think his unwise and unjust both
as regards himself and the General He must be ss
fled that friend of the administration, and anxious for
its up his last moments your father If living
would not approve Of the made Of the letter in ques
ton. shall write the Major and beg him to desst
with Major Lewis since he left and rst shall be re-
' ~ : ~ = " F. P. BLAIR.
Major Lewis writes to the General thus in relation to
his private letters and extracts:
WASHINGTON, May 20, 1914.
Ny GENERAL: Yours Of the lth inst was received
Yesterday a well the Of your friends here
in Of Congress both south and north OF Mason
and Dixons line exceedingly grafed at the firm and un-
finchng of your letters to and others. never
permit extracts to be taken from them, they might in
that epent find their toay into the neWspdper which have
supposed you would not desire Your last letter. however
!
deutially to ., who was would be
very much gratfed at its perusa under positive
junction that it was not to be published.
Icoud add others of similar import but will desist.
Thus you see what these gentlemen then thought of
publishing private from the Generals letters
In relation to my fathers papers He did not mention
the disposition of them to any in bis last will and tes
lament neither did be leave with single stroke OF
his peu any memoranda expressing wish in regard TO
.l.ll, a. thnrn
TO his friend f. p Blair of Washington city to whom ho
had written the subject pointing, at the time to
his drawer the only and only place he kept his pr
confidential letters saying, my son. in that drawer
you will find the letters private business Affairs,
and Of sincere friends, which you keep and pre-
serve Of their kindness and friendship me-
and reference TO private business matters, loans
ect, etc. which have literally complied with. Most of
the letters now hold in my possession backed in his
own hand thus: to be placed my private fle pre-
served and kept A. j. And say to Mr.. Blair
that his expression of breach of trust is unounded and
unjust all the imputatons he has cast upon
In the spring Of ls43 Mr.. Blair visited the Hermitage,
and recollect distinctly-and does my famyof hay
ing long conversation with him relative to the dispos
ton Of my fathers papers He spoke freely Of Mr. Kendall
etc. etc Said Bancroft was the man. in his opinion, to
write the life and history Of General jackson, to connect IL
with the history Of the United States. speak posi-
lively about this for had conversation with my father
on the subject well recolect aforesaid that the Gen
era then determined TO leave them to Mr. Blair 10 be pre-
pared and arranged for Mr. Bancroft Mr. Blair admits
in 1896 he spoke to the General the subject OF Ban
croft writing his life and history, and in regard TO my
preston OF his having in ls43tben retired to Silver
Springs-I mistaken that expression occurred in
subsequent letter written me and have many letters Of
Mr. Blaifs in which he mentions Mr. Bancroft in
ion with himself OF writing the life and history Of the Gen
eral. As proof Of which, will give the following:
II SILVER SPRrsas, near Washington City,
! June g. ls45
\ Ny DEAR GENERAL Your kind letter received day
before yesterday ETC. etc Montgomery who has returned
from the NORTH will take your letter 10 Mr. Kendall get
your papers lie will say TO Mr. Kendall that he shall have
copies OF any he may designate and free 10 them
always aud that do design TO hurry the publication
Of your life which is TO itself with Bancrots his
tory so compete with the sale Of his publication but
that as am at perfect leisure, want to begin the
study Of your history in earnest and put your papers in
i order for Its production, etc, etc, etc.
Afectionately yours
r. P..BLAIR
The following letter addressed to about the Generals
papers:
WASHINGTON, July 81, ls4S
\ NV DEAR siR In regard Mr. Kendalls course about
the Generals papers know not what to expect The Gen
era says expressly in Of his letters that he Hwills
them 10 me" II is bequest that value more than
would John Jacob Astors fortune II Ia my purpose
use them II can obtain them defend aud found his
fame on imperishable basis his glorious achieve
ments and heroic patriotism. In this work mean 10
avail myself Of Mr. Bancrofs historical genius and celeb