Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-06-25

fdentia friend, the Hon. R. P. Letcher, since Gov
ernor of Kentucky, then also a member of the
House. Shortly after Mr. Buchanan's entry into the
room he introduced the subject of the approaching
Presidential election and spoke Of the certainty of
the election of his favorite adding that he would
form the most splendid cabinet that the country
had ever had. Mr.. Letcher asked, how could he
have one more distinguished than that of Mir. JEFF
fersOn in which were both Madison and GalIatins
Where would be be able to find equally eminent
men? Mr.. Buchanan replied, she would not go out
of this room for a Secretary of State" looking at
Mr.. Clay This gentleman mr. Clay) pIayfully re-
marked that be thought there no timber there
fit for a cabinet officer, unless it Mr. Buchanan
himself
Mr.. Clay, while he was so holly assaulted 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 entreaties of that
gentleman, he was induced to forbear doing so.
This statement, published in Colton's Life of Clay,
was, every word of it, as it now appears. written
out for Mr.. Cotton, who was then at Ashland, By
Mr. Clay hi1,sslf. 1t contains two very material
statements Of fact:
First That in January, 1925, before the election
of President by the House of Representatives took
place, Mr. Buchanan, warm friend and supporter oe
Gen. Jackson, called upon Mr. Clay at his lodgings,
and after speaking of what he considered as " the
certainty" of Gen. Jackson's election, distinctly
intimated that in that event. Gen. Jackson would
appoint Mr.. Clay Secretary of State
Secondly: That Mr. Clay, when he was afterwards,
during the Administration of Mr.. Adams, so holly
assailed with the charge of bargain intrigue and
corruption, notified Mr.. Buchanan of his intention
to publish this occurrence; but by the earnest
e,,treaties Of Mr.. buchanan he oas induced to
torbear doing so.
Should the truth of these statements be denied
by any of Mr. Buchanan's present supporters-it
will hardly be denied by authority from hin-the
strongest corroboratve evidence will be found in the
following
LETTER FROM Mr.. BUCHANAN TO Mr.. LETCHER.
LANCASTER, June 81, 1874.
Ny DEAR Sir: this moment received your very
kind letter and hasten to give it | can
not perceive what good purpose it would subserve
Mr.. Clay to publish the private and unreserved con-
VerSation to which you refer. was then his ardent
friend and admrer and much of this ancient feeling
still survives, notwithstanding political differen
ces since. did him ample justice, but no more
than justice, both in my speech on Chiltons resolu-
have not myself any very distinct recollection of
what transpired in your room nearly twenty years
ago but doubtless expressed a strong wish 10 him
self as | had done hundred times to OTHERS, that
he might vote for Gen jackson; and if he desired
it, become his Secretary of State. Had be voted
! for the General in case of his election, | should
| most certainly have exercised any Influence might
have possessed, to accomplish this result and this
! | should have done from the most dsinterested,
friendly, and patriotic motives.
This conversation of mine, whatever it may have
been, can never be brought home to Gen. Jackson.
| never had but one conversation with him on the
subject of the then pending election and that upon
the street. and the whole of it. UerbdtiD Ct terdtim
| when comparatively fresh upon my memory,
given to the public in my letter of August, 1927.
! The publication, then, of this private conversation
could serve other purpose than to embarrass me
and force me prominently into the pending contest
| which desire to avoid.
You are certainly correct in your recollection.
"You told me explicitly that you did not feel at hb
ery to give the conversation alluded to, and would
/ not do SO under any circumstances without my ex-
! press permission" In this you acted, you ever
have done, like a man OF honor and principle.
! What flood of light does the statement of Mr..
| Clay, as furnished by him to Mr.. Cotton, and this
/ letter of Mr. Buchanan shed upon the memorable
conversation which Mr.. Buchanan had with Gen.
Jackson, and out of which originated the charge of
bargain, intrigue and corruption" against Mr..
Clay and Mr. Adams? With the aid of this new
light, let US examine the material facts of the case,
and see what they prove.
The CASE Truly STATED.
Mr. Clay states that Mr. Buchanan called upon
him at his lodgings and in the course of converse
ton, expressed the confident opinion that General
jackson would be elected, and that, in that event,
he would appoint Mr. Clay Secretary of State.
| Mr. Buchanan, in his letter to Mr.. Letcher, says
/ he was at the time the Presidential struggle of
! 1925 before the House Of Representatives too'S
! place, can ardent friend and admrer' of Mr..
Clay, and he admits that during the call referred to
! by Mr. Clay, he, Mr. Buchanan doubtless expressed
a strong wish to him, Mr.. Clay, as he had done a
hundred times to others, that Mr. Clay might vote
for Gen jackson, and, if he desired it become
Secretary of State.
Gen Jackson testifes that Mr. Buchanan, in his
interview with him, wanted him, Gen. Jackson, to
let his friends say to Mr. Clays friends that if he,
Gen. jackson, was elected, he would make Mr..
Clay Secretary of State.
Lastly Mr.. Buchanan says, in his Lancaster let
ter Of the sth of August 1927, thathe called upon
Gen jackson, upon his own individual responsible.
person.
And for what purpose did he thus call, on his
responsibility as be AYERS, upon Gen. jackson?
Is It not nor AS clear the at MONDAY that,
his purpose was, with the view of securing Gen.
.Jackson's election as President and of Mr. Clay's
appointment by him as his Secretary of State, to
/ induce Cen jackson TO authorize il TO be said to
I Mr. Claws friends that if Mr.. Clay and they would
aid in electing Gen. Jackson President, Mr.. Clay
should be appointed Secretary Of State? The pro-
position, then, for bargain" which Gen. Jackson
understood being made to him through Mr.. Blu
chsnan by Mr. Clay or some Of Mr.. Clay's conf
Dental friends, for Mr. Clay's benefit, and which he
so Indignantly repealed was, in reality, the propO
sition Of Mr. Buchanan and made by the latter with
a view of effecing two objects which he had greatly
at heart namely, the election Of Gen. Jackson as
President and the appointment by him Of Mr. Clay
as his Secretary Of Statel
The corruption" which Gen. jackson so loudly
denounced, was, if any where, in the heart oil Air.
Buchanan, and was clearly developed in his overt
acts Gen. jackson, himself, says in the extract
( from his letter we have given above, and which
was written only about two months before his death,
that Mr.. Buchanan did want him 20 let his friends
/ Mr. Buchanan being one of them) say 70 Dir.
Claws friends that if be, Gen. Jackson, was elected
by the aid Of their and Mr. Gays votes, he would
/ make Mr.. Clay Secretary OF State, which appeared
to 'hm deep corruption deep corruption m
EhoD,9 II in any person, undoubtedly in hr. Blu