The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1876-05-24
BARGAIN AND INTRIGUE. ;,
A Highly Interesting Letter of
Gen. jackson Never Before
PubliShed-What he Said
of Clay and Adams the
Year Before his
Death.
From the Nashville American

having served under him as Surgeon
Of the Seventh Regiment of United
States Infantry at the Battle of New
Orleans, and for some years previ.
Gus and subsequent thereto. In view
of the nomination of Henry Clay for
the Presidency. in 1874, he eonclud-
ed to write Gen. jackson a letter,
asking him to disavow his belief in
the charge of bargain and intrigue
made against Mr.. Clay and Mr.. Adj
ans in the election of Mr.. Adams to
the Presidency in 1924. The Doc
tor was a great admirer and friend
of Mr. Clay's, and desired to aid in
his election; and as the General was
now devout member of the church,
it was thought that, with his great
religious change, his feelings had be-
come kinder to all his enemies.
Upon this view, early in the spring
of 1914. DR.. Goodlett wrote to the
General. reminding him that he had
now attained the summit of all his
earthly ambition and retired to pri-
vate life with all life's honors clus-
tering around him: that his race was
nearly run, and that, as a christian
forgiving his enemies, the time had
come to do justice to two of his old
enemies, and withdraw his charges
against them, The Doctors letter
was written in great kindness, and
with the best feeling toward the old
hero, and was so received aud APP
preciated by him, as is shown by his
letter. But the man who never bow
ed his head before the storm could
not be induced even by the kind in
terposition Of an old friend to change
his convictions. The letter of six
closely written pages Of letter pa
per from which the copy printed be-
low was taken, is in his own hand
writing, and was sent by Gen. Rob
ert Armstrong to DR.. Goodlett. 1t
has never been published. 1t was
found among the Doctors papers by
his son, Mr.. M. G. Goodlett, Attor-
ney at Law, of this city, in 1850. and
has been in his possession ever since,
The letter is folded in the old
fashioned way, and sealed with wa
fers. 1t is given just as Gen. Jack
son wrote it, with all his peculiari-
ties of spelling, punctuation and ex-
preston:
HERMITAGE, March II, 1914.
Doctor A G Goodlett-My dear
sir, Your letter of the 9TH has been
received, is now before me. has been
read with care and reply. l have
no doubt it was written with the best
Intentions
Blessed is the peace maker saith the Lord"
[ am fearful from some cause your
eyes have been closed to the imper-
fections of the character of Mr..
Clay and Mr.. Adams-I will state a
few facts, of many that would be adj
duced, for your consideration and re-
f1ection, from which you can draw
your own conclusions. Thus pre-
missed I must remark, that in no case
have [ ever been the assailant Of
either Mr.. Clay or Mr.. Adams
these faisehoods and gross calum-
nies have been often hurled at me
to destroy my character, but have
fell harmless at my feet-I have for
given them, but cannot forget those
vile ISLANDERS they have propagated
, against me. You request me, as ap-
propriate, to express my conviction
of the Misrepresentation made to
me with regard to the alledged i'm
! propriety between Mr.. j. @. Adams
and Mr.. Clay, meaning the bargain
intrigue and management that made
Mr.. Adams President, and Mr.. Clay
Secretary Of State" referring to the
declarations of Mr.. Buchanan, as
making any declaration of their in
! nocence-he only refers to his hav
ing any personal information of the
facts, etc, etc. But from that day
: to this he has viewed them both un
/, worthy of trust as public men.
Let us take a view Of the case,
| from the facts and recorded history
: Of the two. You must recollect a.
that day there was great persona
!, hostility existing between Adams
and Clay and that they had post
! poned question of veracity to settle
The election of President was
!, thrown upon the House of Repre-
sentatiyes. The Kentucky legisla
ture had instructed their senators
and representative TO vote against
Adams, and for me. As the day oi
! election drew near at hand it wa
/. rumored that Clay would make Ad
: ans President and that Adams wotllC
!. make Clay Secretary of State. This
prophecy was fulfilled to the letter
This whole matter was fully investi
!, gated By the Legislature OF Ken
: tucky, and the proof of the courst
n of taeir representatives to Congress
and their excuse for violating thei
instructions we're, "That they founC
I if Mr.. Adams was made Presiden
: he would make Clay Secretary o
State, but il was, Clay wonld no
2 be- Does any unbiased mind re
: auire more proof of the intrigue be
= tween them than this? How coulC
= it be understood by these represen
: tatiyes, that Adams would max
: CLAW Secretary OF State unless b.
: the pledge of Mr.. Adams PERSONAL.
: given, or by Mr.. Adams authorize'
q confidential agent? / think, upoi
!. reflection, you will think such q cas-
y Of corruption and secret manage
= ment coull not be afforded. 4 nc
] collect that / was approached ON tina
= occasion to meet them with thei
! own weapons--l gave the corrup
: proposition such rebulSe as IL dc
= served, and such one as the ger
7 tleman would never forget In his life
Z Ut is reasonable to suppose that thl
: I rebuks, gave the conclusion, that
! I was elected Clay would not b
e made Secretary OF State. al'houg
.. no man knew, nor had i breathed
- CO. hi.nnan being who. III elected