New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-09-20

npon she that Nh Buchanan was lie prime
mover Of the Which General jackson frank
decaratlol q ny made on him eoerced to
it, Is manifest that had confidential coTespon-
dence with friend Pennsy lvana on the subject 81
bringing the premiership to bear on the Presidential
cerI1eapondenee which, while he admits
pears that this determined him to act on General
jackson with view to make the Secretary,s appoint
ment give direction t. the Presidential election
appears that ne sought Mr.. Markley at his own room
and, as Mr.. Clays friend, asked his co.opeation III
the scheme, and urged him to use no delay in zee.
ING Mr. Clay. ~ That the object Tor MI Buchanansl
visit lto MI Markley1 that evening was to urge the
proprety Of his seeing MI. Clay and to give him his
view as to the importance Of his identifyine himself
| with Pennsy yana in support Of General jackson
and that his Bachanan'sl solcitude twas on &C.
count Of ms r. Interior political prospects
| declaring that he Nh. Buchanan hoped to see Mr.
Clay President of the United States, and that was
i another reason why he should like to see Mr.. Clay
Secretary OF State in case General jackson was
/ elected.n M 81 S. ~ va rs
It appears that Mr. Buchanan also attemnted to en-.
list Major Eaton as the friend Of General Jackson in
carrying his point with him that he urged on him
"that it was pretty well ascertaned that overtures
were making by the friends of Mr. Adams on the sub
ject of Cabinet appointments jackson should
| fight them with their own weapons,n
| Itappears that Major Eaton declined the service
proposed, and that Mr.. Marley failed after making
three attempts to accomplish anything favorable to
| that Mr.. Buchanan then made his movement iInme.
dately and personally on both Mr.. Clay and General
jackson. 1t IS now revealed and in a written state
ment = MADE Gde ny MI Clay end given in Mr. Cotons
4 General Jacksons death, that Mr.. Buchanan under
took the task Of ascertaining how Mr. Clay would re-
ceive the tender made by him of the premiership in
jackson Cabinet. This account of the long sup
pressed secret overture on the part of Mr. Buchanan
testing Mr. Cays nciinations Dis marked thro,Iphont
by italics in the volume, to distinguish it from State
ments made by the author Of the work
%s e In III ts b Mt n o, e
tyss the Hon James Buchanan, member Of he House
1 81 S
lis cssS an
Washington Mr. Clay Was sG at t M IN IL
aS h ID
en an na member Of House Shortly after
IL he s esao tef
saa et had sys Sad fern e
a # soaa he have %
latin p Where would he be able ul equally eminent
ron @ s. SSfd 5sy %s !es
Wss no GaSnsf s he fSs
/ Buchanan hmselt1' -Ft7I. - 49, wac
Mr.. Clay, while he was so holly assailed with the
charge OF bargain, intrigue and corruption, during
the administration of Mr.. Adams, notified Mr. Bu-
chanan OF his intention to publish the above occur
renee but by the earnest entreaties of that gentle
man a., he was "a induced to forbear doing so.
| 3
later years it has been intimated to Mr. Buchanan
| that it might be his (A1r. Clay's) duty to publish
these facts and that he dssuaded from it by Mr.
| Buchanan.
handwriting, and to which Mr.. Clay appended a
note, advising him MIR. Colton) to apply to Governor
Letcher for further information. He accordingly adj
dressed Governor Letcher and found his lips sealed
\ by.a pledge OF silence given to Mr., Buchanan
Governor Letcher applied to Mr.. Buchanan, in 1914,
to be released from this pledge which he declined in
letter, re;satlng his promise and insisting on his
honor to observe it, in these words:
The publication them of private conversation cold
prominently into the pending confeswhc desire to avoid
explicitly at liberty 10 give the e0 eon Sa s
ea Hn In ss
ever done ike man Of oGo @N Nh
The late contribution of Mr. Clay to the history of
Mr. Buclanans plot, with the refusal Of the latter to
let the whole be known by permitting Mr. Letcher to
reveal the conversation held with him, il it had seen
the light while Gen: Jackson lived, would have con-
firmed the suppositon on which he acted when Mr.
Buchanan first approached him on the subject He
says, supposed he had come from MrClay, although
he used the term of Mr. Cays friends, and therefore,
in giving him the answer, did request him TO say to
Mr.. Clay and his friends what that answer had been
This answer did not suit Mr.. Buchanans design, and
hence it seems he forgot to give it to Mr. Clay or that
it was ever given to him, and forgot also his visit
and proposal to Mr. Clay, now verified by Mr. Letcher
and repeatedly brought to his recollection several
times in later years It having been intnlated to MI
Buchanan that it might be his ATr Clayts) duty to
publish these facts, but that he was dissuaed from it
by Mr.. Buchanan
Unless Mr. Clay and Gov. Letcher have conspired
to fabrcate falsehood to impeach Mr.. Buchanan as
he would have lis believe, he did approach Mr.. Clay
to tempt him with the Premiership. There are preg
nant circumstances and other evidence to prove it.
Mr.. Markey repeats and insists on the fact that Mr.
Buchanan urged him to use no delay to sec Mr.
Clay" because, if he were certain that Mr. Cay's
views were favorable to Gen. Jackson's election he
would take early opportunity of talking with Gen.
jackson on the subject, get Mayor Eaton to do it,
This shows that Mr.. Buchanan was intent to ascer
tain whether :" Mr. Clay's views were favorable" be-
posing to him somewhat corrupt process to reach
Presidential honors He told Major Eaton that was
"prety well ascertained that overtures were making
by the friends of Mr.. Adams" Why, then, might he
not make overtures in delicate way to Mr. Clay?
| He had urged Mr.. Markley to do it, Mr. Nlarkleys
hree trials had proved abortye, and he had gone to
| ttend his courts in Pennsylvania. The time OF de-
cision was approaching, and it was necessary if any
bargain could be struck to unite the great Western
| rivals. Nh. Buchanan himself must be the go-be-
tween Markley having failed to get the opportunity
with Mr.. Clay, and Major Eaton refusing to go to
| Gen. Jackson
The great scheme which Mr.. Buchanan had con-
trived to make his friend, Gen. jackson, President,
his friend Clay Secretary, with the safe precedent
in hand to assure him of the succession if crowned
with success by his interposton" could hardly fail to
new dynasty. The Virginia triumvirate- jefferson,
| Madison, Monroe-had made an official succession
/ which ambitious politicians were eager to emulate.
| Mr.. Buchanen resolved to court the good graces of
Mr.. Clay in which he had already made some pro-
gress. He approached him with 'the sole precedent
in his hand, which he had previously told Mr.. Mark
ley would bring the Presidency to Mr.. Clay after it.
He spoke to Mr. Clay of the certainty OF the cleo
ton OF his avorite, Gen. Jackson adding, q that
he would form the most splendid Cabinet the country
had ever seem" Mr.. Letcher asked, - how could he
have one more distinguished than that of Mr.. Jefer-
son, in which were both Madison aud Galatin 7" Mr.
Buchanan replied, that he would not go out of this
room for Secretary Of Sate-looking at Mr.. Clay
\ Mr.. Buchanan has cunning leer, with a cast of
the eye which renders it impossible to mistake 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 for him. and therefore
tells US that he playfuy remarked that he thought
there was no timber there fit for Cabinet officer IN
less it were Mr.. Buchanan himself" How Mr. Btu
chanan interpreted this playful compliment to him
self; given in return for the earnest one placing MI
Clay above the splendid statesman who adorned the
State Department in Mr. Jeferson's time, is not Left
to conjecture. He saw no repulse in the suggestion
from Mr.. Clay, which would assign to Mr.. Buchanan
himself the place he wished to give to secure the
election of President. If he should command for Mr.
Clay what he was thought worthy to hold, it would
increase the obligation he sought to confer. Mr.
Clays remark was, doubtless, meant to draw him ou
further, and make him show his hand fully, although