Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-08-21

. Having observed in the Louisville Journ,
a statement that certain passage in Co
toms Life and Times Of Henry Clay. assert
r. ing Mr.. Buchanan's proposal of bargai
? ? to Dir. Clay. in behalf OF General Jackson
; having for its object the influence and vot
of Mr.. Clay and his friends, to make Gen
Jackson President in 1925, was from tn
hand of Mr.. Clay himself, we have though
proper 70 address Mr.. Clav's biographer, t.
ascertain whether this statement of tn,
Louisville Journal be true, and have receive,
the following answer:
To the Editor of the ". Y. Daily Times:
In answer to your inquiry | would state
that the two paragraphs printed in talics,o
page 4lS. vol. l, of my Life and Times o
Henry Clay, were furnished me by Mr.. Clay
himself, and that still hold the origina
document, in his own handwriting
caused it to be printed in italics to mark it:
peculiar character and special Importance
but did not state that | had it from Mr.. Clay:
own hand, as he did not signify that to be his
wish-he being actuated, as | suppose, BY
the same generous forbearance towards Mr.
Buchanan which had induced him for SO
many years, at Mr.. Buchanan's earnest en-
treaties. not to publish this conversations
although such publication would obviously
have contributed 10 his (Mr. Clay's) vindi-
cation before the public against the charge
Of bargain brought bv General Jackson, and
show that the proposal came, if not from the
General himself, certainly from one of his
friends acting in his behalf.
As the editor of the Louisville Journal
seems to have been advised Of the fact,
though not through me, that this document
was furnished by Mr.. Clay, and as have
been appealed TO by you for the truth of the
statement, could do no less than to say
the fact is SO.
1t may also be proper for me TO say that
Mr.. Clay appended note 10 the same doc
ument, advising me to apply to Gov. Leicher
| for further Information on the same subject
| acc ording.y addressed Gov Letcher, and
found his lips sealed by a pledge of silence
given to Mr.. Buchanan.
Very respectfully, your ob't servant,
c. Cotton.
New York. Tuesday, July !, 1856.
The following is the statement, certified
to as above, as having been made, and which
is now exrant, in Mr.. Clay's own hand We
have seen it:
"Some time in January, 1925, and not
long before the election OF President of the
United States by the House of Represen-
| tatives, Hon. James Buchanan, then men,
Der OF the House, and afterwards many years
a Senator of the United States frcm Penn
sylvania, who had been Jealous and infu-
ential supporter of General Jackson in the
preceding canvass, and was supposed to en-
Joy his ur bounded confidence, called at the
lodgings Of MIR. Clay, in the city of Wash
jagton. Mr.. Clay was at the time in tine
room of his only messmate in the House,
his intimate and confidential friend, Hon.
R. P. Letcher, since Governor Of Kentucky,
then also 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 GER
tanty Of the election of his favorite, adding
that he wodlG form the most splendid Cabi-
net that the country had ever had. Mr..
Letcher asked, how could he have one more
distinguished than that of Mr.. Jefferson. in
which were both Madison and Gallatin!-
Where would he be able to find equally
eminent men! Mr.. Buchanan replied che
would not 60 out of this room for a Secre-
tary OF Stale" looking at Mr. Clay. This
gentleman (AIr. Clay) play! fully remarked
that he thought there was NJ timber there
fit 70; a Cabinet officer, unless it was Mr..
Buchanan himself.
"Mr. Clay, while he was SO hotly assailed
with the charge of bargain, intrigue and
corruption. during the Administration of Dir.
Adams, notified Mr. BuchaDan of his inten.
tion to publish the above occurrence, but
by the earnest entreaties of that gentleman,
he was induced to forbear doing So"
Tne above is tr1e copy Of the document
furnished by Dir. Clay to his biographer, to
which We can certify, having compared it
with the original, in Mr.. Ciay's own hand.
The same may be seen in the volume, on
the page referred TO above, in DR.. Col'on's
note 10 US. @
On this document, as peg, hangs tail
pertinent to the present time, which we pro-
pose to narrate, unravel and expound.
First, then, let it be observed that, ac-
cording to this statement Of Mr.. Clay, which
can now be verified by a living witness,
Governor Letcher, Mr. Buchanan. the friend,
supporter and confidant of Gen. Jackson at
the time, who ''was supposed" as Mr.. Clay
SAYS, "to enjoy his unbounded COZ tidence,"
approached Mr.. Clay, sometime in January,
1925, not long before the election of Presi-
dent of the United States by the House of
Representa- atives,'' AID made as distinct and
as open proposal of bargain with him for
his vote ano influence in behalf of General
Jackson, as decency and the circumstances
of the case would admit Of. There is no
certain evidence that Gen. Jackson was
he should be so t. make it valid and bind
ipg, if it had been entertained. Gen. Jack
son, IN this affair. was undoubtedly in the
hands Of Mr.. Buchanan. Observe the con-
fdence with which Mr.. Buchanan addresses
Mr.. Clay. "He," Gen. Jackson, "would
form the most splendid Cabinet that the
country ever had. and he would not go out
of this room looking at MIR. Clayl for Sec
retary of State"
That there was a concert of action at this
time among General Jackson's friends and
supporters, to obtain Mr.. Clay's vote and
influence for Jackson, by offering him the
post of Secretary of State, will appear by
: the following extract from the statement oi
of Hon. J. Sloane, Member of Congress from
, Ohio in 1924 and 1925, who, as will be seen
was approached by Gen. Houston, the friend
of General Jackson, Oh the same errand
and in the same manner, in which Mr.. Buch
\ anan addressed Mr.. Clay. This statement
A will be found in Colton's PriUate Cores
! pondence Of Henry Clay, page 489, end is al
: follows: .....-
e "WoosTER, June 90, 1874.