The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-15
The Secretary's Explanation.
the Western Associated Press

To the Western Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, June 14.-In the address which
Secretary Bayard recently delivered before the
students of the Missouri University, he is re-
ported as having said that when, in consequence
of a tie between jefferson and Burr in the
electoral college, the election devolved
upon the House of Representatives., his
grandfather, a Federalist, instructed by Ham
ilton, the great chief of the Federalists, cast
his vote for Thomas Jefferson. This statement
in the report of what Secretary Bayard said
having been denied ard sharply criticised a Post
reporter called at the residence of Secretary
Bayard and asked him if he had seen these
attacks.
''Oh, yes, replied the Secretary, 81 have read
them. They were intended an attack upon
me personally. They are ungenerous and I'M
Just but do not care for that But that the effect
of it should be to call attention to the history
of that period greatly gratifes me- If shall but
be the means of leading my countrymen to learn
the lesson of that epoch, I shall count myself
fortunate in having by any means been the
cause of that result. Now, the facts are,
that, having listened on this occasion to a
beautiful and glowing enlogy on Jefferson by
Senator Vest in which the antithesis between
him and Alexander Hamilton was sharply
drawn, somewhat to the disadvantage of the lat
ter. rose to speak without the least premedita
ton and consequently without a note. was
glad to hear Jefferson praised, but / thought it
ought never to be forgotten, and ought never to
go unacknowledged that Hamilton, when the &C.
casion arose, was superior to party. He knew
the character of the nominee of his party
of the man who seven years after
was tried for treason, and, as the
country Gid not know it, he did not hesitate to
proclaim it. This is the point / was making
that there was time when it became the duty
of a patriotic man to sacrifice party for country
and was illustrating it by the great example of
Hamilton. Naturally, referred to James A.
Bayard, for he stood nearer tine counsels of
Hamilton than any other Federalist. My crime
is that he was my grandfather Now, / do
not think that said he cast the vote for Jeffer.
son, but whatever / may have said in the un
studied address delivered, now say that my
grandfather contributed than any man,
except Hamilton. to the defeat of Burr, and he
did it in such way as to secure
Jefferson's correspondence are letters in which
he urges Mr.. Bayard to break with the Federal
lists and vote with the Jeffersonians. That my
grandfather was actuated by the purest motives
is clearly shown by the three points asked of Mr..
Jefferson by the Federalists, whose action
secured his election: First, the support of
the public credit; second, the maintenance
of the naval SYSTEM third, that
subordinate officers employed only in the execu
ZION OF the u6LdllS eSbaDllSueu Dy law SQOQlQ not
be removed from Office on the ground
of political character, nor without complaint
against their conduct This last is pretty
much the present civilservice rules In
reply, Mr.. Jefferson said that these points
correspondent with his own views and intentions,
and during his administration he made but six
teen removals. A malicious construction of the
third point was that it was a bargain for Office.
When, however, Jefferson nominated my
grandfather for the French mission, and he was
confirmed by the Senate he declined it
upon these grounds: First that he would be
taking money from the Treasury which he had
not earned, this view being based upon the fact
that under the old system the minister to
France was paid, in addition to salary of
80, 900, an outfit of $4,000 and then an
Unfit of about 81. 900, and these two latter sums
he received if he occupied the post
but month; the second ground of his declina-
ton was that to accept office under Mr. Jefferson
would impugn the motive which had actuated
him in securing his election ] endeavored
wholly TO Danish partisan politics" said the
Secretary, in reference to his Western trip. 1T
was simply q visit to the educational centers
of the West At Kansas City / was
INTRODUCED TO the people III a hearty, cordial
way by Senator Plumb. and after the banquet