Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-08-21

/ =
delegation were all going to vote for Ge
eral Jackson. To this answered that
Z could not undertake to speak for them: fo
SO far as knew, no meeting or consultatio
had taken place among them. The mannt
of Gen. Houston was anxious, and evince
much solicitude; and. at this point of tn
conversation he exclaimed, 'What spler
did Administration it would make, with oil
Hickory President and Mr.. Clay Secretar
of State!' Having often before expresse
to Gen. Houston my opinion Of the seyers
candidates, did not at that time think pro
per to repeat it, contenting myself with 81
| implied acquiescence in the correctness @
| his declaration.
| "The conrersation was continued for
considerable time, and, for the most part, ha
respect to Western interests, as connected
with the Presidency, and was concluded b,
General Houston saying, sWeIl, hope yo'
from Ohio will aid US in electing Gen era
jackson, and then your man (meaning Mr
Clay can have, any thing he pleases.'
]. SLOANE"
!, Every one will see the exact coincidence
between General Houston's address TO Mr.
Sloane and Mr.. Buchanan's to Mr.. Clay, and
considering the circumstances and the in
terests at stake, it is morally impossible tina,
there should not have been concert of ac.
ton, at this time, among the friends anc
the supporters Of General Jackson, to obtain
the vote and influence oe Mr.. Clay, and the
approach of Mr. Buchanan to Mr.. Clay, as
narrated by the latter, can be viewed in no
other light. Standing by itself, it would be
enough; but supported by Mr.. Sloane's state.
ment, it is demonstration of concerted ac.
ton, carrying a distinct offer to Mr.. Clay
Mr.. Buchanan has always stood in fear oi
this DEVELOPMENT. which he entreated Mr.
Clay not to make, and 10 which entreaties
Mr. Ciay's magnanimity and generosity
yielded, even to the day of his death always
though at his own expense; for the public
exposure of this affair was always essential
to his own vindication 1t was always in
his power to turn the tables on his vile ca
lumniators; but he pitied poor Mr.. Buchanan
He could not fully vindcate himself, with
out victimizing Mr.. Buchanan before the
American people. Hence Mr.. Buchanan's 5
pains, for so long period, to keep on ami
cable terms with Mr.. Clay. that he might
take advantage Of his generous nature, in
this case, of his compassionate disposition
But Mr. Clay owed something to his own
fame in history, and he was entitled to pro-
tect himself. Conscious that bargain was
proposed to him by Mr.. Buchansh, in behalf
of Gen. Jackson, while he himself had been
accused, by this same party, Of bargaining
with Mr.. Adams, he had a right--it wa, due
TO himself--to cause it to be put ON record;
but still actuated by torbearance, by COM
passion, toward Mr.. Buchanan, he declined
giving his own name as authority. To make
sure, however, of the truth OF the record, he
writes it ont carefully with his own hand,
and passes it over TO his biographcr; who,
as was his duty, has incorporated it with the
history of the country, as pertaining to the
life OF Henry Clay. BY gUud fortunr uIu
original document is preserved. Ii is pre-
cious historic relic.
If Mr.. Buchanan had acted the manly. part,
and vindcated Mr. Clay, as he was bound to
do, when Mr.. Clay was so infamously assall-
ed as having bargained with Mr.. Adams, he
might have been forgiven for having h i'm
self attempted to bargain with Mr.. Clay. 1t
was in Mr.. Buchanan's power, when this
charge of bargaining was rife against Mr..
Clay-which he. Mr.. Buchanan, knew to be
unfounded anG false-to kill it at once and
forever. True, he did not join in the charge
against Mr.. Clay, nor did he dare to do it;
but he was guilty of the meanness Ind wick
edness of giving countenance to it by in
uendo, in his letter to the editor of the
United States Tel, graph, Of October IS.
1896, as follows:
"The facts are before the world, that Mr. =.
Clay and his particular friends made Mr..
Adams President. and Clay was made Secre-
tary of State. The people will draw their
own infererces from such conduct, and the
circumstances connected with it. They
will Judge of the cause from the Effects"
Another very remarkable passage of this
same letter, is as follows:
81 had no authority from Mr.. Clay Or his
friends to propose any terms to General
Jackson in relation to their votes, nor did /
make any such proposition. trust would
be as incapable Of becoming a messenger
upon such an occasion, as it is known Gen.
Jackson would be to receive such mes
ssge'
Compare this passage with the interview
between Mr.. Clay and Buchanan, as mar
rated by the former. Is it not as cool and
subtle as it is amazing, in view of Mr.. lays
statement! Nothing, surely, could be more
true than that Mr.. Buchanan had no author
ity from Mr.. Clay and his friends to propose
any terms to General Jackson; for, as we
have seen, his mission to Ar Clay, whether
from General Jackson, or self-appointed, or
concerted among General Jackson.s friends,
was not very successful Aud who will be-
leve that he who was capable Of approach
ing Mr.. Clay on such an errand as that
which is described by Mr.. Clay in his state
ment, was incapable of making report of it
to General jackson, if he had succeeded. or
tn t success would have been unwelcome to
General Jackson! The affection of such
virtue is ridiculous in mind that was no;
too lofty to make such a proposal as Mr..
Buchanan made to NJ. Clay.
In 1927, after General Jackson's letter to
Carter Beverly, of June 6, accusing Mr..
clay of proffers o. bargain with him, (Gen-
eral Jackson,) making ca witness of mem
Der of Congress of high respectability," and
after his General Jackson's) address to the
public, of July IS, reiteratlng the same
charge against Mr.. Clay, and naming Mr.
Buchanan as the witness referred to in his
letter to Carter Beverly, poor Mr.. Buchanan
was placed between two fires General
Jackson on the one hand, and Mr. Clay ant
Gov. Letcher on the other: and he was
forced to throw water on both of them, OF
be burnt up by them. Which did he do!
Why, he attempted to throw water on botn
in his letter 10 The Editor of the Lancaster
journal of the sth of August, 1927, whict