New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-09-04


ceiye the tender made by him Of the premiership in
a Jackson Cabinet. This account Of the long sup.
pressed secret overture on the part of Mr. Buchanan
testing Mr. Cays incinations is marked throughout
by italics, in the volume to distinguish it from state
ments made by the author of the work
Some ms n n1er ss and long before the election
lives James Buchanan lien men6sr Of tie House.
and years Senator Of the United States from
Of ii ne5sndad The
Clay the City Of Washington Mt Clay was at that time in
tile Of his only the house his
i
s ne s The
election Of his ayErte adding that he would e
i a could he hays
He e anS g ne 90 ont III
~ ,st s he St thought Rs s"
timber there lit for Cabinet officer Mr.
| Buchanan hinlse.n
Mr. Clay, while he was so holly assailed with the
charge of bargain, intrigue and corruption during
the administration Of Mr.. Adams, notified Mr.. Blu
chanan OF his intention to publish the above occur
renee; but by the earnest entryates of that gentle
| man he was induced to forbear doing So
The author has understood that several times in
later years, it has been intmated to Mr.. Buchanan
that it might be his (A[r Cay's) duty to publish
these facts and that he was dissuaded from it by Mr.
Buchanan r. @ - =
Mr. Cotton yet retains the manuscript in Mr. Clays
handwriting, and to which & Mr.. Clay appended a
note advising him Chr. Coton) to apply to Governor
Letcher for further nformation He accordingly adj
dressed Governor Letcher, and found his lips sealed
bya pledge Of silence given to Mr.. Buchanan
Governor Letcher applied to Mr. Buchanan in 1S44,
to be released from this pledge, which he declined in
a letter, re-sating his promise and insisting on his
honor to observe it, in these words:
The publication, then of this private conversations coul
ne e sn an to
1 sa So @ FEY ssH % M ,S me
|
without my on % In this you havs acted as
s"" nave ever ' S man o. D0 JaME a spBf;1sRHSA
The late contribution of Mr.. Clay to the history of
Mr. Buchanans plot with the refusal of the latter to
let the whole be known by permitting Mr. Letcher to
reveal the conversation held with him, if it had seen
the light while Gen. Jackson lived, would have con
frmed the snpposition on which he acted when Mr..
Buchanan first approached him on the subject. He
says supposed he had come from Mr.. Clay although
he used the term of Mr. Clays friends and therefore,
in giving him the answer did request him to say to
Mr. Clay and his friends what that answer had been
This answer did not suit Mr. Buchanan's design, and
hence it he forgot to give to Mr. Clay or that
it was ever given to him. and forgot also his visit
and proposal to Mr. Clay, verified by Mr. Letcher
and repeatedly brought to his recollection several
times in later years it having been intimaed to Mr.
Buchanan that it might be his (Nlr. Clays) duty to
publish these facts, but that he dssuaded from it
| by Mr.. Buchanan"
Unless Mr.. Clay and Gov. Letcher have conspired
to fabrcate talsehood to impeach Mr. Buchanan, as
| Il.
to tempt him with the Premiership. There are preg-
nant circumstances and other evidence to prove it.
Mr. Markey repeats and insists on the fact that Mr..
Buchanan urged him to use no delay to see Mr..
4 Clay" because, ii he certain that Mr.. Clay
views were favorable to Gen. Jacksons election, he
would take early opportunity Of talking with Gen.
jackson on the subject, get Mayor Eaton to do it,
This shows that Mr.. Buchanan was intent to ascer-
tain whether " Mr.. Clay's views were favorable be-
fore he hazarded Gen. Jacksons displeasure by pro,
posing to him a somewhat corrupt process to reach
Presidential honors. He told Major Eaton that it
pretty well ascertained that overures were making
by the friends of Mr.. Adams" Why, then might he
not make overtures in a delicate way to Mr.. Clay
He had urged Mr.. Marley to do it. Mr. Markley's
three trials had proved abortiye, and he had gone to
attend his courts in Pennsylvania. The time of de-
cison approaching, and it was necessary, if any
bargain could be struck to unite the great Western
rivals. Mr.. Buchanan himself must be the go-be.
tween Marley having failed to get the opportunity
with Mr.. Clay, and Major Eaton refusing to go to
Gen. Jackson .,-M .u
The great scheme which Mr.. Buchanan had con
trived to make his friend, Gen jackson, President
his friend Clay Secretary, with "the safe precedent
in hand to assure him OF the succession if crowned
with by his interpostion could hardly fail t.
put Mr.. Buchanan in the line of hership under the
new dynasty. The Virginia triumvirate--Jeferson
Madison, Monroe-had made an official succession
which ambitious politicians were eager to emulate
Mr.. Buchanan resolved to court the good graces
Mr. Clay, in which he had already made some pro
gress He approached him with ''the sole precedent
in his hand, which he had previously told MIR. Mark
ley would bring the Presidency to MI. Clay after it
He spoke to Mr.. Clay Of the certainty of the cleo
) ton of his fayorite, Gen. Jackson, adding, tina
It he would form the most splendid Cabinet the country
l. had ever seem" Mr. Letcher asked, 90 how could h
have one more distinguished than that of Mr. Jeer
SON. in which were both Madison and Gallatn ~ Nj
Buchanan REPLIED that he would not go out of tlii
room for Secretary OF State-looking at Mr. Clay.
n Mr.. Buchanan has cunning leer, with a cast o
~ the eye which renders it impossible to mistake til
pf biG add Np1e 10 fixes
although Mr. Letcher asked the question, Mr.. Cla
N saw that the reply was meant for him, and therefor
tells that he payfuly remarked that he though
g there was no timber there fit for Cabinet officer
rs less it were Mr. Buchanan himself.'' How Mr. Br
is chanan interpreted this playful compliment to hin
,e self given in return for the earnest one placing
Clay above the splendid statesman who adorned til
~ State Department in Mr.. Jefersons time, is not le
II to conjecture He saw no repuse in the srggestio
ny from Mr.. Clay Which would assign to Mr.. Bchana
r. himself the place he wished to give to secure Il
" election of President. If he should command for N
c Clay what he was thought worthy to hold it wou
er increase the obligation he sought so confer. NJ
NJ CIays remark was doubtless meant to draw him Oh
no n" further and make him show his hand fully athoua
a. believe he never meant to accept it, Mr. Bucani
rot was not prepared for this 1t was necessary beto
10 he used names and proposed stpuations, that
his should know how Cen jackson would relish his pic
lf accordingly he went to the General and broached
x That the proposal received with burst of ind
tly nation Mr.. Buchanan himself cannot conceal Sot
o from being willing to pledge the State Department
M secure his election he repealed the idea by saying
APP These secrets would keep to mself-e would et
cea them from very hairs of his head thar if he heev
VI his right hand what his LETT would do on the subject
appointments office he would cut OIL aud cast into
raj Ere
nI Mr.. Buchanan omits what General jackson gives
the conclusion Of his response:
That before would reach the Presidential chair by 81
: means of bargain and corruption, would see the ca
open and swallow Clay and his friends, and myself "
IN. them.
nd Gen. jackson, when strongly moved, uttered
The feelings with yehemence, and as his mind fired, w
his cumulative figures. 1t is not improbable, thereto
that the language remembered by Mr.. Buchanan
lint employed and worked up that heat which explod
ms in the Pronunciation that blew up Mr. Bucanans pl
said But how can Mr. Buchanan be believed, when he 81
ny in the next ne that this answer to his question
said such one as he expected to receive such
ait he thought to obtain not for his own, but for
Inn, satisfaction of others, and begged leave to repeat
son How this be believed, when Mr.. Buchanan s.
rk- his object was to get Gen. Jackson to declare Il
; he would not appoint to that Office the man, howe
Of worthy he might be, who stood at the head OF
En most formidable part of his political enemies
MD here expressly admits that the hope which Undue
his application was, that General jackson would
'. only deny that he had said he would appoint
Adams PREMIER but that he would declare he Wo
wn not appoint him. which he had not only refused
s. do, but said he thought very well of Mr.. Adans
als when this hope is blasted, according to his own
MS count he assured the General that it the v
ich thing che expected and what he wished for the
MS isfantinn OP DtherS 10 asked leave TO