Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-10-07

and sought out Mr. Markay, a friend Of Mr.. Clay
and colleague Of Mr.. Buchanan from Pennsylvania,
as a fit person through whom to open up the matter
to Mr.. Clay; and Maj. Eaton, the warm personal
friend, biographer, and colleague Of Gen. Jackson
in the Senate through whom to approach Gen.
Jackson. Mr.. Marklay, being called upon at his
room by Mr.. Buchanan, promised to see Mr.. Clay,
and did call at his lodgings than once for that
purpose, but did not get to see him. Msj. Eaton,
on the other hand, declined to approach Gen. Jack
son on the subject, remarking that he was satisfied
the General ''Woud neither say who should, nor
who should not, be Secretary Of State" Thus baf-
fed in his attempt to have Mr. Clay and Gen. Jack
son approached through others, and eager to avert
the total failure Of his brilliant scheme, he deter
mined boldly to approach directly both Of the
distinguished men themselves He accordingly
called at Mr.. Chys room, and had the interview
with him and Gov. Letcher, which has since become
so notorious, and then called upon Gen. Jackson
and made the proposal which caused Old Hickory
to blow up the whole scheme. These are the
general facts.
But there are some particular circumstances to
which i wish to call your special attention
Mr.. Markay testified on the SOth October. 1897.
that Mr.. Buchanan came to his room he being
alone and introduced the topic BY stating that he
had hearda TlaRor that Gen.Jackson had determined,
should he be elected President to continue Mr..
Adams Secretary of State, which rumor he (Buch-
anan felt was not true and that he had been think
ing that he would either call upon Gen. jackson
himsefOr get Maj Eaton to do So and thus endeavOr
TO get from him a contradiction Of the report He
then asked" says Mr.. Marklsy, IF had seen Mr.
Clay, and whether had any Conversation with him
touching the Presidential election ?" On being told
that there had been no conversation, Mr. Buchanan
replied, 't was importaRt not only for the success
of Gen. JacksOn's election, that Mr. CLAW should 90
with Pennsylvania, flor Gen. Jackson but on ac-
count Of his uteriOr political Drospects-declaring
that he mr. Buehanan) hoped to see Hy. CTay Pres
ideRt Of tie United States and that was another
reason why he should IKE 10 see Mr. Clan Sscretqrv
Of State, IA case Gen. Jackson elected and that
he certain that Mr.. Gays views were faror-
able to Gen. JaeksOn's election, he would take an
opportunity of talking With Gen. Jackson on the
subject, or get Major Eaton to do So. Mr. Marklay
adds :-"Hr. buchanan urged me to use NO delay ia
seeing Mr.. Cldy.n my impressions are, that the
object Of has risit that srsHig ras to urge the pro-
priety Of my seeing Mr.. Clay and to gre him nv
Vieacs as to the importance Of identifag himself
nth PenHsy1vdHia IN support Of Gen. Jaeksoan-
This visit, Mr.. Marklay thinks, was on the evening
of the 30th December, 1924.
Major Eaton testified on the 18th September.
1927, as follows:
ain January, 1925, few DAYS before it bad been
known that Mr.. Clay and his friends bad declared
in favor Of Mr.. Adams, scas called NpoA BIZ Mr..
Buchanan, of Pa. He said it was pretty wen as
certained that OVertures making By the friends
Of Adams on the subject of cabinet appointments
that Jackson should right them nth their ocn req
pons. He said the opinion was that jackson would
retain Adams, and that il was doing him injury
that General Jaeksoa should state rhoua he IcoaslS
make Secretary Of State, and desired that would
name It to him.
Major Eaton declined said be "was satisfied
Gen. Jackson would neither say who should nor
who should not, be Secretary of State" and sug-
gested that Mr.. Buchanan "knew HIM well, and
might talk to him well as could" To this a. Mr..
Buchanan then said, that on the next day, before
the General went TO the Senate, he would CALI
IL next appears trnm a statement made in Col
tons Life Of Chy which statement Mr.. Cotton SAYS
Mr.. Clay himself wrote, aud Of which he (Coltonl
now has the manuscript in Nr Clays own hand, that
" Mr.. Buchanan caliei IT TIE IofgiRqs Of Mr. CLAY"
in Washington. What then tuOk place the state
ment diScoses, as iOllow-.
Mr.. Clay was at tha; ZINE IN the room Of his
only messmate in the hVHac, the Hon R. p Letcher,
since Governor Of Kennedy then also a member
Of the House. Shortly attcr Mr. Buchanan's entry
into the room, he introduced The subject Of the APP
preaching Presidential ,leiiot. and spoke of the
certainty OF the election OF his lAyorte (Gen Jack
son. adding that he would form the most splen-
did cabinet that the country had ever bad Mr.
Letcher asked, How could he have one more dis
unguished than that of Jefferson in which were both
Madison and Gallatiny Where would he be able
to find equally eminent men!' Mr.. Buchanan re-
piled that he roUld not 60 oNt Of this room for a
Secretary Of State looking at Mr.. Clay. This gen.
teman, (Mr. Clay,) playfully remarked, that he
thought there was no timber there fit for a cabinet
officer, unless it were Mr. Buchanan himsen'"
The statement continues
Mr.. Clay, while he was 50 hotly assaiIed with
the charge Of bargain, intrigue, and corruption,
during the administration of Mr.. Adams, notified
Mr.. Buchanan Of his intention to publish the above
occurrence; but By the earnest sstSeaties Of that
gentleman, he teas induced 10 for6edr to do So"
" The author has understood, that several tines IN
later years, it las been minated to Mr. Buchanan
that it might be his (Mr. Clay's) duty to publish
these facts and that he was dissEGded from IL By
JfT. Buchanan"
Remember, that these are Mr. Claws own words,
Gov. LetcheF also who had been present, applied in
1874, to Mr. Buchanan to be released from the
pledge of silence which Mr.. Buchanan had obtained
from him as to this interview. But Mr.. Buchanan
refused 10 release him, Insisting on his hoaoT TO
obserre a. in letter which has since found its way
TO the public; and in which he uses this language
The publication, then, of this pirate eoHUersa-
tion, could serve no other purpose than to sabdT-
rass me, and force me prominently into the pending
contest, which ! wish to avoid. You are certainly
COIItCb III YOUR FeCOuccuOn. lou tclu me eApuclt-
y that you dad not FEEL at liberty 10 girS the
satiOn alluded to, and would not do so under any
circumstances, ritlOut nay srpress permission. In
this you have acted, as you have ever done, Ike q
man Of honor and principle.
JAMS BUCHANAN"
This testimony Of Mr.. Clay and of Mr.. Buchanan
himself, unfortunately did not see the light while
Gen. Jackson lived, and therefore, left him unac-
quainted with what would unqucstioRably have ma
terially lowered Mr. Buchanan and elevated Mr..
Clay in his honest estimation. But wish next to
call your attention to Mr.. Buchanan's visit to Gen.
Jackson, and to Gen. Jackson's own statement as to
what Buchanan proposed TO Ain. Here are Gen.
Jaekson's words:
HERNITAGE, June 9th, 1897.
" Early in January, 1925, member Of Congress
Of high responsibility he subsequently gave TO the
public the name Of James Buchanan as the men,
Der alluded to visited me one morning. and Obsery-
ed, that he had communication that he was anxious
20 make to me; that he was informed that there
great Intrigue going on, and that il was right
should be informed Of il; that he came a friend,
and let me receive the communication as might,
the friendly motives through which it was made be
hoped would prevent any change Of friendship or
feeling in regard 10 him." " lie said he had been
informed by thelriends Of Mr. Clay that the friends
of Mr.. Adams had made Overtures 10 Them saying
If Mr. Clay and his friends would unite in the aid Of
Mr.. Adams election, Mr.. Clay should be Secretary
Of State; that the friends Of Mr.. Adams were ur-
ging. as a reason to induce the friends Of Mr. Clay
to aecede to their proposition that il elected
President Mr.. Adams would be continued Secretary
Of State, (inuendo, there WOald be for Ken
tueky,) that he frisRds u Kr Gay stated tie psst
did not rish 10 seParofs from tie West, and II I
seOEidSay, orPerHnif any Of nay eosfdsRtiai friends
to say that ia case I ,ocTs elected President, Mr..
adams should not b. eoafiREed Secretary Of State
By complete s'sioR Of Mr. Clay and his friends
they ro,ld PET esd 10 he PresihHfiai eoHtest in
hour. ASD NIX WAS OF OPINION II WAS Right
TO FIGHr SUCH ISTKIGUEEs WIN THEIR OWN WA
PoSsi"