Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-10-02

"'o "o' ouiy ioih my oWn Tecollectlon, hut
from letters which wrote on that day follow
ing and on the I'd of January, 1926, called
upon General Jackson. After the company had
left him by which | found him surrounded. he
asked me to take walk with him and while
we were walking together upon the street. / III
troduced the subject. Told him wished to
ask him question in relation to the Presidential
election : that knew he was unwilling to con.
verse upon the subject that. therefore, if he
deemed the question improper he might refuse
to give it an answer; that my only motive in
asking it was friendship for him. and trusted he
would excuse me for introducing subject about
which knew he wished TO be silent -
accompanied with request that won ID pro-
ceed then stated to him, there was report
in circulation that he had determined he would
appoint Mr. Adams Secretary of State, in case
he were elected President. and that wished TO
ascertain from him whether he had ever intma-
ted snch an intention tina, he must at once per-
ceive how injurious to his election such report
might be that no doubt there were several able
and ambitiou men in the country, among whom
7 thought Mr.. Clay might be included, who
were aspiring to the office and, If it were be-
lieved he had already determined to appoint his
chief competitor, it might have most unhappy
effect upon their cxertions, and those Of their
friends; that. unless he had 81 determined,
thought this report should be promptly contra
dicted under his own authority.
" mentioned it had already done him some
injury, and proceeded to relate to him the sub
stance of the conversation ! had held with Mr..
Markloy. do not remember whether mem
toned his name, or merely described him as a
friend of Mr.. Clay. After had finished, the
General declared he had not the least objection
to answer my question that he had thought
timated, that he would, or would not, app int
him Secretary of State that these were secrets
he would keep to himself-he would conceal
them from the very hairs of his head that if he
believed his right hand then knew what his left
would do on the subject of appointments to office
he would cut i, off and cast it in the fire that
if he shond ba ever elected President, it would
be without solicitation and without intrigue on
his part that he would then go into office per-
feciy free and untrlna led and would be lett at
perfect liberty 10 ill the Offices of the govern
lnent with the men whom, at the time, he be.
lieved TO be the ablest and the best in the country
6" | told him that his answer to my question
was one as had expected to receive, if he an
swered il at all and that had not sought to OBJ
tain it for my own satisfaction. I had asked
him if were at liberty to repeat his answer.
He said, was at perfect liberty to do so, to any
person thought proper lneeJ scarcely re-
mark that afterwards availed myself Of tle
privilege. The conversation upon this tropic
here ended. and in all our intercourse since
whether personally or in the course of our cor
respondence, General Jackson never once advert
ed to the subject, prior to The date of his letle
to Mr. Beverly.
:" do not recol'ect that General jackson lol'
me might repeat his answer TO Henry Clay an'
and his friends though should be sorry TO sa
he did not. The whole conversation beiag upol
a public street, it might have escaped my obser
vation.
(Signed) JAMES BUCHANAN.
LANCASTER 6h August, 1897"
[Colton's Clays, pages 1853 4, rol.
Mr.. Markley, the party referred to by Nj
Buchanan as the friend of Mr.. Clay, states tha
Mr., Buchanan came to his room he believes
but cannot say with certainty, on the 30th
December, 1924. He was alone, and repea
what Mr.. Buchanan says about his solictut
for General jackson. and the rumors about h
, making Mr.. Adams his secretary, and then col
} tinued his account of Mr.. Buchanans CONVEX
tion thus:
"Mr. Buchanan stated that he had write
to, or received letter from, q mutual friend
ours in Pennsy lrania. on the subject of Il
Presidential election and cabinet appointment
I and that he had determined to call upon Il
: General himself, or t; get Major Eaton to me
, tion to him the reports that were in circulatio
| and obtain, If hc could, contradiction
, them. Mr. Buchanan also asked if I had SCI
Mr. Clay, and whether had any convcrsat'
D with him, touching the Presidential election
t replied that had seen him in the house, b
Y had no conversation with him on that subje
g hut said was anxious to get an opportuni
n to have conversation with him, as | felt
great anxiety that he should vote with Pennsy
t vana Mr.. Buchanan replied, that no o
It felt more anxious, for various reasons, than
s did himself that it was important not on
t for the success Of Gen Jackson's election, til
It Mr. Clay should 20 with Pennsylvania but
g account Of l,is ulterior political prospects-d
d claring that he Mr.. Buchanan hoped to
= Mr.. Clay President of the United States, a
}. that was another reason why he should like
l. see Mr., Clay Secretary of State in case G.
" Jackson was elected and that if he were
t. tain that Mr.. Clay's views were favorable
v Gen. Jackson's election, he would take an
m portunity Of talking with Gen. Jacks on Oh
ID subject, or get Major Eaton to do SO that
of thought by, doing 50, he would confer
e, particular benefit on his country, and that
be could see nothing wrong in it. Mr.. Bucha,
ms urged me to use no delay in seeing Mr.. CT
p | told him would, and accordingly called
l. on Mr., Clay, at his boarding house, think
re evening after this conversation but he was
~ at his lodgings. called to see him again,
be be had some of his friends with him, and
o. no opportunity Of conversing with him, nor