Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-09-10
The Presidential Election of 1924.

IN La OI4 AAAtA
The Presidential Election of 1924.
ANDREW JACKSON, HENRY CLAY AND JAMES BUoH'
ANAN.
The New York Herald of Saturday contains
very lengthy statement from the pen OF francs
p. Blair. on the Presidential Election OF 1874
We Law before our readers the part referring ,to
the charge of bargain and corruption on MI MT
Clay. It will be seen that it fixes it upon Mr'
Buchanan beyond even the possibility OF a douo1'
The late contribution of Mr.. Clay to the hlsto,
ry of Mr.. Buchanan's plot, with the refusal OF
the latter to let the whole be known by permit,
TING Mr.. Letcher to reveal the conversation held
with him. if il had seen the light while General
jackson lived, would have confirmed the suppo-
s;t;on on which he acted when Mr.. Buchanan
FIRST approached him on the subject He says,
81 aid suppose he had come from Mr.. Clay, al.
though he used the term of Mr.. Olay's frends,
and. Therefore, in giving him the answer dio
request him to say to MIR. Clay and his frlenos
what that answer had BEEN" This answer dlo
not suit Mr.. Buchansn's design, and hence !,
seems he forgot to give it to Mr.. Clay, or that il
was ever pisSn to him, and forgot also bis visit
and proposal to Mr.. Clay, now verlfled by
Messrs. Clay and Letcher and repeatedly brought
to his recollection, Several times in later years
II having been intimated to Mr.. Buchanan that
it might be his (Mr Clay's) duty to publish these
facts but that he was dissuaded from 1t by MI
Buchanan"
Unless Mr. Clay and Governor Letcher have
conspired to fabricste a falsehood to impeaoh
Mr.. buchanan as he would have us believe, ne
did approach Mr.. Clay to tempt him with the
Premiership. There are pregnant circumstances
and other evidence to prove it. Mr. Markley
repeats and insists on the fact that Mr.. buchan.
an urged him to use no delay to see MIR. Clay,
because eff he were certain that Mr. Clay's views
were favorable to Gen. Jackson's election, ne
would take an early opportunity of talking with
General jackson on the subject, or get Major
Eaton to do il"
This shows that Mr.. Buchanan was intent to
ascertain whether "Mr Clsy's views were fa-
vorable" before he hazarded General Jacksons
displeasure by proposing to him somewhat cor
rupt process to reach Presidential horors. de
told Major Eaton that it was "pretty well ascer-
tanned that overtures were making by the friends
of Mr.. Adams" Why, then, might ne not make
overtures in delicate way to Mr.. Clay he
had urged Mr.. Markley to do it. Mr.. Markley'
three trials proved sbortiye, and ne had gone 70
attend his courts in Pennsylvania. The time OF
decision was approaching, and it was necessary,
if any bargain could be struck, to unite the great
Western rivals. Mr.. Buchanan must himself be
the go-between, Markley having failed to get the
opportunity with Mr. Clay and Major Eaton re-
fusing to 90 to General Jackson.
The great scheme which Mr.. Buchanan had
contrived to make his friend, General Jackson
President, his friend Clay, Secretary, with "the
safe precedent in hand to assure him of the sue
cession if crowned with success by his interposi'
tion," could hardly fail to put Mr.. Buchanan II
the line of heirship under the new dynasty
The Virginia triumvirate, Jefferson, Madison
Monroe-had made an official succession which
ambitious politicians were eager to emulate
Mr.. Buchanan resolved to court the good grace:
of Mr.. Clay in which he had already made some
progress. He approached him with "the saft
precedent" in his hand, which he had previously
told Mr.. Markley would bring the Presidency u
Mr.. Clay after it. He spoke to Mr. Clay "of th'
certainty of the election of his favorite, Genera
| Jackson" adding "that he would form the mos
splendid Cabinet the country had ever seen."-
Mr.. Letcher asked show could he have one NOR.
distinguished than that of Mr.. Jefferson, in which
were both Madison and Gallatin9" MIR. Buch
anan replied, "that he would not 60 out OF thl
room for Secretary Of State-looking at Mr
Clay"
Mr. Buchanan has cunning leer, with cas-
of the eye which renders itimposslble to mlstaK'
the object of his address when he fixes his look
Hence, although Mr. Letcher asked the question
Mr.. Clay saw that the reply was meant Tor nm
and therefore tells US ''that he playfully remark
ed that he thought there was no timber ther'
fit for cabinet officer unless it were Mr.. Buch
anan himself" How Mr.. Buchanan interpreted
this playful compliment to himself given in re
turn for the earnest one placing Mr. Clay abov'
the splendid statesman who adorned the Stat
Department in Mr.. Jeffersons time, is not left II
conjecture. He saw no repulse in the sugges
ton from Mr.. Clay, which would assign to Mr.
Buchanan himself the place he wished to give Il
secure the election of President. If he shoult
command for Mr.. Clay what he himself wa
thought worthy to hold, it would increase tn
obligation he sought to confer. Mr.. Clay's re
mark was. doubtless, meant to draw him ou
further and make him show his hand fully, al
though believe he never meant to accept IT,
Mr.. Buchanan was not prepared for this. L
was necessary, before he used names and pro
posed stipulstions, that he should know hov
General Jackson would relish his plot; accord
ingly he went to the General and broached it,
That the proposal was received with burst
indignation, Mr.. Buchanan himself cannot con
ceal. So far from being willing to pledge tn
State Department to secure his election, he re
PEELED the idea by saying -
"These were secrets he would keep to himsel
-he would conceal them from the very hairs o
his head that if he believed his right hand knew
what his left would do on the subject of appoint
ments to office, he would cut it off and cast j
into the fire, &C."
Mr.. Buchanan omits what General Jackson
gives as the conclusion Of his response:
"That before would reach the Presidential
chair by such means of bargain and corruption
would see the earth open and swallow botl
Mr.. Clay and his friends, and myself with them.
General Jackson when strongly moved, utter
ed his feelings with vehemence, and as his mine
fred. with cumulative figures. 1t is not proba
BILE. therefore, that the language remembered b.
Mr.. Buchanan was employed, and worked d
that heat which exploded in the denunciatiol
that blew up Mr. Buchanan's plot. How Cal
Mr.. Buchanan be believed, when he says in tn
next line, that this answer to his question wa
such one "as he expected" one as h
sought to obtain, not for his own, but for tn
satisfaction of others, and begged leave to repea
it! How can this be believed, when Mr.. Buch
anan says his object was to get General jackson
'to declare that he would not appoint to that of
fee the man, however worthy he might be, wh'
stood at the head of the most formidable part O
his political enemies2" He here expressly ad
mits that the hope which induced his application
was. that General Jackson would not only den,
that he had said he would appoint Mr. Adam
Premier, but that he would declare he woult
not appoint him, which he not only refused t.
do, but said he thought very well of Mr.. Adams
vet, when this hope is blasted, according to hi
own account, he assured the General that it wa
s'the very thing he expected, and what he wish
ed for the satisfaction of others, to whom he ask
ed leave to repeat it.
Mr. Buchanan involves himself in this contra
d;ction. to escape from difficulty which threat