The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-08-26

poses. This transaclionhrepresents lead ing
members of the brotherhood, combining
together to suppress all important secret
document essential to vindicatc honer and
the truth of history, and acting under the
instigation Of political intrigue.
Surely there must be some grievous error
here, and what purports to be General
Jackson's "exposition,"* never could have
received the deliberate sanction Of that re-
nowned man when in the full vigor Of his
great intellect. Besides, the letter was
"secret" letter, and Implicated Mr.. Munro !;
and Mr.. Rhea was, used as "Mason" to ap-
peal to his brother Mason, General jackson,
to suppress it, and he says be did burn it
about six years after it was written. that it
might not be used and General Jackson
is made to say he never showed it to any
man except Col. McNary, Of Nashville.
Then, after all this soemnity, and after Mr..
Munro and Mr. Rhea are both dead, and
about thirty years after the date of the let
ter, General Jackson himself is sc. forth as
revealing the substance and contents of this
very letter from memory, so that if there
ever was any harm in it, it is now made to
do double wrong, and to inflict far
greater injury upon the character of Mr.
Munro than in any aspect it ever could do
to Mr.. Calhoun.
But it is not my purpose to examine that
part of Mr.. Benton's book, or any part Of it,
except where. in some prominent events, he
uses me as witness or evidence upon
which to make grave charges against Mr..
Calhoun and South Carolina. I will not
examine his account Of the meeting and
organization Of the twenty sixth Congress,
however unjust that account may be, but
merely few prominent points he makes
elsewhere, and particularly where am the
only living witness now who can set things
forth in their proper light Mr.. Calhoun
and Mr.. Polk are both dead, and Mr.. Ben.
ton has used my name to make grave
charges against both these distinguished
men, know the public can never feel
much interest in anything said or done by
SO humble citizen as myself; but as every
thing connected with the integrity and
reputation Of these two illustrious statesmen
will be deeply interesting in history, and
particularly as Mr.. Calhoun's life is bound
up in the character and history of South
(N,rol;r, 7 yr,, ,,nJor tko,o poeSo
the public will consider it no intrusion up
on my part to place my evidence before
them. I do SO entirely from sense Of
duty.
Mr.. Benton's great labor and enlarged
reputation will make his book more studied
by the young men Of intellect in the United
States than any other political book of the
day. In fact, it is the only book that pre-
tends to be political history of the last
forty years of our Government:
In vol. I'd, and at page $50; find an
account of visit l. .tnadeEto, Mr.. Polk,
August, 1914. He aays:. HE Qhatais ~;
made known Tho condition On which the
vote of South Carolina for3him (Mr. Polk)
might be dependent. That condition was
to discontinue Mr.. Blair as the organ of the
Administration, if he should be elected.
Mr.. Polk was certain Of the vote Of the
State if lie agreed to the required condition,
.and be did so. Mr.. Blair was agreed to be
given up, &c. That was propitiation to
Mr.. Calhoun, to whom Mr.. blair was OBJ
noxious on account Of his jinsxorabe oppo.
sition to notification and its anthor."
Twill not follow him his comments and
the account he gives of Mr.. Ritchic, and
the means used to purchase out Messrs.
Blair and Rives He mentions no other
understanding or condition, and seems to
think OF no other object in view in going
to see Mr.. Polk at that period, then
miserable and petty intrigue to turn out
Mr.. Blair and then makes extensive develop.
ffseots which followed, all turning upon
that affair. There never was a more
exaggerated or egregious mistake. The
book will be looked upon, iu after time,
as bistor I feel it duty to state fully
the far more important objects / was charged
with in that visit, than the one he has
developed with 30 much solemn emphasis.
The great Democratic Convention was
to meet in Nashville, August, 1914, when
delegates from all the States West and
SoSth were sfpointed. had been authentic:
ally informed that this convention was got
up in Washington, in consultations with
Mr.. Calhoun and Mr.. McDufis, and under,
their express sanction. Mr., McDufie wac
to 60 to it as representative from sopth
Carolina. There had been some excitement
and division made in tbatysSsate by what
was csiled tiie "Blufton Meeting" aud those
connected with it'were understood to be in