The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-19


Others, who should compose his Cabinet" Mr.. Cin
tons political future and power we're 50 change
ful that he might one day be sure 10 lose Tor IN
administration Of which he should be member
he support Of New YORK as the preceding FOL.
lowing day he might obtain il.
NEW YORK FIFTY YEARS AGO.
New York did no; have much better reputa
ton in those days than 1t mas now. Postmaster
General Mclean carried a story to Adams in
August to the effect thar De Witt clinton. believed
that the Legislature OF New York would elect
electors favorable TO Crawford. The truth was
that 4 majority OF them voted for Adams De Witt
Clinton said TO Mclean, "a number sufficient "a
make majority will be bought. and that the
same might be bought for any purchaser and
by any purchaser-eVen foreign Power" This
statement was made nlty years ago by no less
man than De Witt Clinton ana 70 no less man
than John Mclean, afterward to be Judge OF tue
Supreme Court and candidate for the Preslden'
tial nomination in 1856 against Fremont Upon II
Mr.. Adams makes this strange comment:-"De
Witt Clinton ought well TO know the people OF
New York and their Legislature. He has himself
applied Tor his own advancement TO the Prest
dency so much money as TO have ruined his own
fortunes He has, therefore, no scrupe against tho
use OF money for thar purpose, and has pernapslH
former times bought some OF the very individuals
OF whom he now speaks thus. / hope better
things, and believe that corruption mas not YET
quite arrived that pitch That the Legislature Of
New York will sell all the Suffrage OF the State I
think more than probable, ana must find salts.
faction In the certainty that 1t will not be sold TO
me.u
THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE FAILS TO AGREE.
Clearly the contest was more ana more between
Jackson and Adams. We have Senator Johnson,
OF Kentucky, protesting neutrality between Jack.
son and Adams. and have an expression, the
Adams The Electoral College had voted without
result. Jackson received ninety nine votes, John
quincy Adams eighty -four, Crawford iorty-one ana
Henry Clay thrty-seven. The States that voted
for Jackson were New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
North Carolina, south Carolina, Tennessee, In
diana. Mississippi and Alabama with scattering
votes in New York. Maryland Louisiana
and Illinois. Adams received the votes
OF New England, the majority or those
in New York and few In Dela.
ware, Maryland. Louisiana ana Illinois. Crawford
was supported by Virginia and Georgia, with five
votes in New YORK, two in Delaware and one in
Maryland. Clay received Kentucky, Ohio and
Missouri, and four votes In New York. If the
Electoral college in any way expressed the sense
OF the country Jackson certainly was the choice
OF the people, for his strength extended over
North and South, while the others received local
ana sectional support. Under the constitution
there was no election. and the matter. there.
fore, went to the House. Clay was out OF the can
vass, and the first expression we have OF his atti
tude is an entry In the diary, dated January IL,
1926, "Clay says his course is fixed. and ne should
consider the elevation or the hero Jackson as the
greatest calamity which could beial the country"
THE BARGAIN AND sALE'' CHARGE.
We have looked into this diary carefully to dis
cover. II possible, II there could be any basis for
the charge that afterwards became one OF the
notorious political scandals or the time, that be-
tween Clay and Adams there was ''barRain and
sale' OF the ONCE OF the Secretary OF State in re-
turn for Clay's support OF Adams as President.
On the 18th or December, Congress having been
in session and the unfortunate result or the
Electoral College being known, Roberto Letcher.
of Kentucky, q member OF Congress afterward
Governor or that State, the intimate friend OF
Clay, called upon Adams ''ostenslbly about q
matter OF business but really to talk about the
Presidency Letcher was anxious TO know the
sentiment OF Adams towards Clay. "The drift OF
his talk was" says Adams, shat Clay would will
ingy support me II he could thereby serve him.
SELF Tue subject OF his meaning was that II
Ciay's friends could know that he would have q
prominent share in the administration that might
induce them 70 vote for me- even In the face OF
instructions. Letcher did not profess 10
have any authority from Clay for what
posals. He spoke OF this interview with me
as altogether confidential. ana In my answers
TO him spoke IN more general terms.n This Is
the first int.mation we have or any desire on the
part OF Clay 10 support Mr. Adams; ana the fact
that this conversation took place between
Adams "a candidate for electionl and Letcher-an
ayowed and intimate friend or Clay-Gnd that the
substance Of T. was in reference to patronage and
appointments 10 ONCE under an administration
that a. yet had not been formed, Is certainly Q
singular revelation or the interest and feeling in
splred and its moral tone, uy the canvass.
CLAY AND ADAMS IN ALLIANCE.
On the LIST OF January, 1925, Letcher called
again upon Adams and asked him II he would
meet Clay for conversation; that the differences
between Clay ard Adams had "given concern 70
some OF the members OF the Kentucky delegation
Later, on the same day, Clay and Adams met at
the Lafayette dinner, and Clay himself expressed
o desire to have q confidential conversation. This
conversation seems 20 have taken place on the 9th
or January. 1875, sunday evening. Clay called on
Adams at six, remained and spent the evening
In a long conversation, explanatory OF the
past ana prospective OF the future. He said that
the time was drawing near when the choice must
be made in the House OF Representatives OF
President from the three candidates presented by
the Electoral College; that ne had been much
urged and solicited with regard TO the part In that
transaction that he should take. and he had not
been i've minutes landed at his lodgings before he
had been applied TO bY friend OF Mr.. Crawiord's
IN manner so gross that II had disguised him;
that some ofmy friends Also disclaimlng indeed to
have any authority from me, had repeatedly APP
pied to him, directly or indirectly, urging consd'
erations personal 10 himself a. motives 70 bis
cause. lie had thought IL best to reserve Tor SONS
time his determination 10 hlmsef-nrst, 70 give q
decent time Tor his own funeral solemnities ass
candidate, ana, second, to prepare and predis-
pose all his friends to state OF neutrality be-
tween the three candidates who wouId be before
the House, so that they might be iree ultimately
10 taKe that course which might De most con-
ducive TO the public interest. Tue time had now
come at which he might be explicit IN his com.
municatio with me, and he had for that purpose
asked this confidential interview. lie wished me,
a. far as 1 might think proper 10 satisfy him with