Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-09-10

but by Mr.. Buchanan (; for, after ascrlbIng the
proposition to Mr.. Markley, Mr.. Buchanan ad.
mits that he related to General Jackson "the
substance of the conversation he had held
with him." but forgets whether he mentioned
his name or merely described him as friend Of
Mr.. Clay" And yet Mr.. Buchanan has the
hardihood to say, in the same paper that, until
he saw General Jsckson's letter to Carter Bever.
". "the conception never once entered his head
that she could have supposed me capable Of ex.
pressing the opinion that it was right to fight
such intriguers with their own weapons"
Is this not singular affectation of surprise,
when it is considered that MAJOR Eaton's state.
ment, although not published, was put in Mr.
Buchanau's hands, attributing this thing. to him
nearly wear before General Jackson's letter te
Beverly was written, and had not been denied
by him 2 ~ -,
Why then, did he deny the fact which pro,
duced such an outburst of feeling from Genera
jackson that he could not have forgotten it. or
if that were possible must have had it revived
by Major Eaton's remindera General Jackson'i
comment, in his letter to Major Lewis, divulges
the secret of Mr.. Buchanan. .self-contradictions
He wanted s'moral courage" If he had avowed
the wrong which General Jackson rebuked and
pardoned, it would have brought him in collision
with Mr.. Clay, who had made known mis- hxed
purpose to call to account any man who STOOD
upon equality with him, and who suggested the
idea that he was capable Of being influenced IN
his vote by the Secretaryship. If MIR. Buchan-
an, then, had acknowledged what he told Mr.
Eaton-what he urged on General Jackson
what he conned over with Mr.. Markley, and
what the latter falsely imputed to hin-Mr. Clay
would have had no alternative but to hold MIN
responsible. In this dilemma, he threw himself
upon the magnanimity of that man who ne knew
would pardon any weakness in one who could
plead that his fault had originated in friendship
for him. Mr.. Webster was enabled, from what
had passed around in Congress to fathom the
depths of the intrigue as soon as General jack
sons letter to Beverly was published, and before
he had named the man who approached him
with the overture. Cotton gives letter from
Mr.. Webster to Mr.. Clay about General jack
sons letter to Beverly, June g.: 80.
BosroN, July "a, 1927. 3
have suspicion that the respectable mem
ber of Congress" is Mr.. Buchanan. If 1t should
turn out so, it will place him in an awkward sit
uation, since it seems he did recommend bar
gain with your friends, on the suspicion that
such a bargain had been proposed to them, on
the part Of friends Of Mr.. Adams l am curious
to know how this matter will develop itself.
am, always, truly yours, DANIEL WEBsTER.
After Mr.. Buchanan came out with his res
ponse, and Mr.. Clay had commented on it IN his
speech at Lexington, Kentucky, Mr.. Webster,re
marking on this speech, writes to Mr.: Clay =
BosroN, Aug 22 1927.
Mr.. Buchanan is treated too gently-many
persons think his letter candid-I deem it other.
wise. It seems to me to be labored very hard
to protect the General as far as he could without
injury to himself. Although the Generals
friends this way, however, affect to consider
Buchanans letter as supporting the charge, it is
possible the General himself and the Nashville
commentator may think otherwise and complain
of Buchanan. Ever truly yours.
DANIEL WEBSTER.
Mr.. Webster saw at the first glance what al
must see now, that General Jackson had good
reason to complain of Buchanan" MIR. Clay
too, repeatedly complained of the wrong he suf
fered. and, in spite of earnest entreaties, fell
himself called on at the close of life to expose
Mr.. Buchanan's sinister conduct towards him.
Mr.. Prentice the editor of the Louisville Jour
nal the earliest and ablest of Mr.. Clay's biogra
piers in an article reviewing General Jacksont
and Mr.. Clay's last declarations on the subject o.
Mr.. Buchanan's course towards them, after de-
plorfng the injustice which he thinks his grea
friend received at the hands of the majority O.
the American people, sums up his conclusion
with saving that Mr.. Buchanan was "the very
man by whose treachery and falsehood they
were induced to do twas himself the only
guilty party-that he pertinaciously sought, flrs
BY lying to Henry Clay, and then lying to Gen
eral jackson, to effect precisely the kind of bar
gain and corruption that he caused to be charg
ed upon Clay and Adams"
But the judgement which Gen. Jackson pro
nounced in all his public and private letters
touching Mr.. Buchanan's attempt to implicate
him in 5deep corruption" his adopted son il
bid to say 'was not any deliberate conviction o.
his mind, as is simply shown by his cordial treat
ment during his whole administration-hi ap
pointment to Russia, &C." Mr.. Buchanan, before
he broached his proposal to Gen. jackson, stlpu
lated in advance Gn case it was disproyed) fol
his pardon. His design being friendly, Gen
Jackson, although he sternly rebuked it at TIM
time, did not make it a bar to all subsequent IN
tercourse. 1t was his natures fault to be tot
confding, and to men who attached themselves
TO him with shows of friendship he was apt u
be indulgent, without looking into their seltsl
motives, or relying upon the frmness or puritI
of their characters. He had SO much reliance
on himself and his power to prevent Ill design
in bad men or mischieyous results from thel
attempts, that he never feared betrayal III
put Latitte, the pirate, at the most vita! point
his defence before New Orleans, and felt that ~
had nothing to fear from his want OF prlnclpi'
while under his command. In his bank war n
did not apprehend danger from its friends IN tn
cabinet. BE even trusted them at the head
the Treasury.
His confndence brought him into difficulties
but he had so long successfully baff1ed dliflcul
ties that the apprehension of them never inter
fered with his course. His sending Mr. Buchan
an abroad would have been considered, The ha'
been weak and timid President, as proof OF
design to get rid ofa willy, ,unscrupulous intrguei
whose schemes in his own favor he had repuls
ed. and who might be inclined to practise III
arts against him in resentment of what might b.
construed into an an ungrateful return for tn
offer to exert them in his service. This, howey
er. never could have influenced General Jack
son in sending Mr.. Buchanan to st. Petersburg
he doubtless gave him this mission in compli
ment to PENNSYLVANIA, the State which gave tn
noblest earnest of its confidence and affection TO
himself before and after his defeat in the Hous
of Representatives.
Mr.. Buchanan, notwithstanding the rebui
given him by General Jackson, still went wit
bis State in his support, and was himself return
ed to Congress. Coming with this endorsement
from his State, and having capacity for diplo
mat to refuse the State in his person woul'
have eyinced a sternness which he never exhibit
ed towards those who made appeals to his kin'
feelings, based on services rendered to the eaus
in which he was engaged, and especially whel
associated with those ofa great State toward
| which he had the deepest sense Of gratitude
He gave the mission to Mr.. Buchanan, | hav
no doubt, with pleasure. He had no fear tina
Mr.. Buchanan would intrigue against his coun
trv in Russia. He knew that political advance
ment was not to be sought in that direction
But if he had been asked to place Mr.. buchanan
:: ..a;l;on ,ubara he conld barter all the Office