The Georgia journal. (Milledgeville, Ga.) 1809-1847, March 03, 1831, Image 1

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Newspaper Page Text-c V. c. L IIV C.tMAK & U.\(>‘I/AM), ktate .Vr. static riil.vmtH. MILLKW.'KVII.I.E, TIJl.'USDAV, MAitt ll :{, INSl. VOM MB X!I.-—NO. 28. [KIIOM THE UNITED STATES TELE*.ItAI'll.] coHm:si»oxi)K\cE Between G**ner:il Andrew Jackson and John (’. Calhoun, President and Vice I’r •.udent of tli United States, on the subject of the course . the latter in the deliberations of the Cabinet t Mr. Monroe on the occurrences in the Semiuol war. to Tin: people op Tin; r. st.vtks. I come before you as my constituents, to give nn account of my conduct in an important politic al transaction, wbicli has been called in question, mid «o erroneously represented, that neither jus tice to myself nor respect for you will permit me uny longer to remain silent; I allude t ■ my course, in the deliberations of the Cabinet of Mr. Mon roe, on the S niinoie question. I know not how I •van place more fully before you ail the facts and a'ircunistunces of the case, than by putting; you in possession of the correspondence between (■ on- ♦•rul Jackson and myself, which will show the dif ference between the views that we have respective ly taken, and by what means, and through whose agency, this long goiie-by all’air has been revived. I have not taken this step, strictly defensive as it is, without mature deliberation, and a calm nml careful estimate of all the obligations under which 1 net. That there are strong reasons against it. I feci and 11 I t. h • thorough convirtioii that the ‘-acred obligation t< vindicate my character, impeached, as it lias been, in one of tiie most important incidents of my life, and to prove myself not unworthy of the high sta tion to which you have elevated me far outweigh all other Considerations. Should iny vindication have any political or personal bearing, I ran only anv that it will not be because 1 have either willed or desired it It is my intention simply to place my own conduct in its pro tier light, and not to as sault others. Nor ought I to hr lieid r> spoiinilde should any such consequence follow ; as 1 am free from all agency in resuscitating this old subject «*r bringing it to tli'* knowledge of the public. Pre vious to my arrival here, 1 had confined the knowl edge of the existence of tin* correspondence to a few confidential friends, who were politically at tached both to General Jackson and myself; not that I had any tiling to apprehend from its disclo sure, but because I was unwilling to inert ase the existing < xcifi me lit in tin pr • '■ Ktate of nnbtir nfT-ors lint when I arrived here, late in December, I found my caution Ind been of no avail, and tini ' became* a topic of free comment in most of the public journals. The accounts of the affair, as is usually the case on such occasions, were, for the most part, grossly distorted, and were, in many in stances, highly inpirious to my character. Still I deemed it my duty to take no fusty step being de termined to afford time for justice to be done me without appeal to you; and, if it should be, to re main silent, ns my only object w as the vindication of my conduct and character. Believing that fur ther delay would be useless, I can sop no adequate motive to postpone, any longer, the submission of all the facts of the case to your deliberate and fi nal decision. I am not ignorant of the trying position in which I am placed—standing mumstniiied, except by the force of truth ami justice; yet 1 cannot but look with confidence to your decision. The question presented for vour consideration is not that of a controversy of two individuals, between w*liom you are to decide; viewed in that light, it would b ar the aspect of a mere personal difference, involving no principle, and unworthy of your notice; hut re garded in a different light, as involving the charac ter of an officer, occupying by your suffrage a dis tinguished official station, wh so conduct in nn in teresting public transaction had been impeached, it assumes a far more important bearing, and pre sent* a question of deep import for your cou-idera- tion. The most sacreu of all political relations is that between the representative and the constitu ent When your suffrago places an individual in a high official station, a most solemn obligation is imposed on you and him, on the faithful discharge of which the' existence of our free and happy in stitutions manly depends ; on him, so to net a-* to morit your confidence, and on you, not to withdraw that confidence without just cause. It h under a profound regard for this mutual and sacred obliga tion that I submit the whole affair to your determi nation, conscious that in this, as well as every oth er public transaction oi my life, I have been actu ated by a solemn sense of duty to you, uninfluen ced bv fear, favor, or affection. I cannot but I »ok forward to your entire approbation. I owe it to myself to state, that 1 como before you under circumstances very painful to me, and a reluctance which nothing but a si ns * of duty to yon and myself could overcome. Among those circumstances, is the necessity of being instrumen tal in disclosing, in nnv degree, what I deem • i highly confidential ns the proceedings of the Cab* met, and for which I feel myself justified only by absolute necessity. Acting under this impression, —1 have not fell myself at liberty to go. even in self- defence, beyond strict necessity, and have, accor dingly, carefully avoided speaking oft n* e mrse o| my associates in the administration, and even of iny own, beyond what appeared to be indispensa ble. I have not put oven Mr. Crawford’s state- mont of his course in the Cabinet at issue, except only incidentally, ns hearing on his statement of mine. It is no concern of mine, except in this in cidental wnv, what representation he m i to give of his course, a< to this subject, no merlv, or whether his representation he c< reached me that some attempts were making at •Nashville to injure me, hut I treated them with si lent neglect, relying confidently tor protection on the friendly relation which had so long existed be tween (ieneral Jackson and myself, and the uni form and decided course which I had taken in his favor, in the political struggle then pending. My support of him rested on a principle that I beli* to be fundamental in our political system, and tin hope that his deep rooted popularity would afford the most effectual means <>f arre.iting tin* course of events, which I could not but foresee, if not ar rested, would bring the great interests of the coun try into a deep and dangerous conflict. JOHN (’. CALHOUN. No. 1. (npy of ft Idler from Hun. Wilson Dumukin, rn elostng rrfrrv I of a Idler from fiinrrulD. .Yew n't.i !n liim,r'iv-ring eopy of William II. ('raw- fort's letter to •ttfretl Hal. h, Esq. tf Xashville Tennessee, NVasiiinotox, 27th January, IHjO, Dear Sir: I herewith enclose you the copy of I s a letter rereived from my friend (ieneral Daniel I t Newnan, in whom I lia\e great confidence. I ul- ffjft; so give you an extract from my friend’s letter. The great confidence and friendship which 1 have long entertained, and still entertain, for Gen- ernl Jackson, ns well as yourself, induce mo to take the liberty of making this communication to von. st 11 am confident the beat interest of our common country requires, not only the harmonious and pat riotic union of the two first officers of the (Jov- emment, hut of every patriotic citizen of the whole country, to frown indignantly upon all intriguer*, managers, finlitiral juggins and selfish politieans,».f every description, who are dispose! to divide and id kno ronrjurr. I feel the more this communientir knowledge, you a ted upon this suhj himself, must set shallow efforts. 1 do not know one conspi but what has constantly, ze supported (ieneral Jucksoi Pennsylvania declared in hi time. How, then, can it b" at liberty ami authorized to make >n, because 1 know, of my own ml your friends are misrepresent •*cL However, (ieneral Jackson, t of these ictious friend of yours, aloiisly, and uniformly i, from the day that i favor to the present possible that (ieneral Jacks eritv of you r inspect the friendship, rfriends? No; he cannot does n<*t. 1 have quite too the General to believe such I i proper f >r you and him both lie machinations of the mis- otlier individual What the principle is that opinion ought to govern the House of Represent a- tivesin the case of n contested election, 1 leave »o lie inferred from my sulwcquent course. So completely did my opinion depend on whit I considered a sound principle in the abstract, that had the position of the two leading candidates l-.-fi.. r „ the House been rev* r- *»**d, it would not have influenced my course in the 1 least degree. An to the reasons by which Mr. Crawford endeav ors to sustain what he affirms lie personally knew, I deem them wholly unworthy of notice. CORRESPONDENCE Between (ieneral .hid n-w Jackson and John (\ Ca l- ho.in, P re si.Uni and / ice President of the Ini- ted States. Mat 1.1, I8:g). Sir: That frankness which, I trust, lias always characterised me through lift*, towards those with whom I have been in the habits of friendship, in duces me to lav before you the enclosed copy of n letter from William H. Crawford, IN j., which was pla ‘' d in mv hands nn yesterday. TI • submis v^u will perceive, is autlioriiscd by flit* wri- I’he statement,-and fids it presents lu-ing so nt from what 1 had heretofore understood to he correct, requires that it should he brought to vonr consideration. They are different from vour letter to Governor Rildi,of Alabama, of the l.'lth May, IS IH, where you stat** General Jackson is vested with full pow er to conduct the w ar in the manner he may judge best,” and different to \ from your letters to me at that time, which breathe throughout a spirit of approbation and friendship, and particularly the one in w hich yous iv. “ 1 have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your let ter, of the yOthultimo, and t» acquaint you with tin* entire approbation of tin* President of all tin measures you have adopted to terminate the rup ture with tin* Indians.” My object in making this communication is to announce to you the great surprize which is felt, and t > learn of you whether it he possible that the information gi\en is correct; whether it can he, under all the circumstances of which you mid I are both informed, that any at tempt seriously to affect me was moved and sustain ed by you in the cabinet council, when, as is known to you, I was hutexeriiting the wishes of the Gov ernment, and clothed with the authority to “con duct the war in the manner 1 might judge best. You can, if you please, take a Copy: the i enclosed you will please return to me. 1 am. sir. very resneefidly, Your humble servant, ANDREW J \* l\»UN The Hon. J. C. Calhoun. years, for political purposes, to injure my charac ter, are at length brought to light J. C. CALHOUN. the PnEsinr*T of the United States. Mr. Calhoun to (Sen.Jaek$on. W\snixoTox,yjfh May, 1830. Sin ; In answering your letter of the 13th mst., I wish to be distinctly understood, that however high my respect h fir vour personal character, and the exalted station which you occupy, I coil- nut recognise the right on your part to call in ques tion my conduct on tin* interesting occasion to which your letter refer*. I acted,on that occasion, in tin* discharge of a high orticivl duty, and under responsibility f > mv conscience mid mv only. In replying then to your letter, I do not place myself iu the attitude of apologising for the part I mav have acted or of palliating my conduct on the accusa tion of Mr. (Vawfi.r I. MvVours.*,! trust, reouire no apology, and if it did, I haw* too much self re ►|M*ct to make it t*» any one iu a case touching tin discharge of inv official conduct. I stand on ver different ground. I embrace the opportunity which your letter offers, not tor the purpose of ma king excuses, but its a suitable occasion to plan mv conduct in relation to an interest ing public trails action in its proper light; and I am gratified that Mr. (’rawford, though far from intending kindness, Ins afforded m In undertaking to phi er light, I deem it proper t far In in mv iiitenti* mg v.»ur ;. ' Where i opportunity, riduct in its prop- ii.se that it is very i to defend mine by impeucli- linvc differed, I ! N on are at liberty t j communication m teem, it servant. WILSON LUMPKIN. spect and No. ‘i. Er lr.tr! of a Idler from the Hm. Daniel X wns the Hon. Wilson fntmpkin, dated near Xashvillr, Tennessee, t*th January, I•, enclosing ropy oj a Idler rf Win. II. Cranford to . llfmt llalrh. “\V\ II. Ins done Mr. Calhoun a great deal r.r injury, ns well by his private machinations ns his extensive correspondence. In addition to the let ter which he wrote to Mr. Raich, n copy of which I now enclose you, (and which boa been seen by General Jackson,) he, a short time since, w rote a letter to G. W. Campbell, proposing that Tennes see should vote for a third person for the Vice- Presidency, and requested Mr. Campbell to show the letter to Gen. Jackson. “ I hope Mr. Calhoun will take the earliest op portunity of seeing Gen. Jackson ami putting all things straight; f *r I cannot believe for one mo ment the allegations of \V. 11. C.” No. :i Copy of a letter from William H. Crawford to , li fted llalrh, Esq. Woohlaw N, 11th December, Mr Dear Sir: By the last mail I had the pleas ure of receiving a letter from you. If I under stand your lett *r, you appear to think a public ex pression of niy opinion on the approaching elec tion to be proper. I cannot think a measure of this nature necessary or proper. In oilier words, it ap pears to mo highly improper, und could hardly fail to stamp tli f * charge of intolerable arrogance upon me in indelible characters. Butfewn.cn can ever expect to arrive at that height that would justify u >f tint kind, lives in the most absolute r no ambition to emerge Iron conciled to my situation, n exchange it with Mr. Ad: upon tin next Presidential known. When Mr. V individual ireinent, ami w ho has it. I am perfectly re- 1 would not w illingly is. Rut mv opinions lection are' generally *ii & Mr. Cambrel,-ng ast April, I uutlio vprop,- doubt that we differed honestly ; and hi claiming to act on honorable and patriotic motives myself, I cheerfully accord tin* same to you. I know not that I correctly understood your meaning, hut after a careful j»enisa!, I would infer from vour letter that vim had learned for flu* first time by Mr. Crawford’s letter that you and I placed different constructions on the orders under which you acted iu the Seminole war; and that you had been h*d to believe, previously, by mv letters to I yourself and Govenor Bibb, that I concurred with , you in thinking that your orders were intended to j authorize vour attack on tic Spanish posts in Flor ida. Cirfer those impression), you would seem to j to impute to me some degree of duplicity, or at j least concealment, which required on mv part ex planation. I liopo that inv conception of your j meaning is erroneous, but il it be not, and your I meaning he such as I suppose, I must be j»<*nniUed j to express mv surprise Ht the misapprehension, ! correct by the most decisive proof, draw n from the I public document*!,* and the correspondence be- en- tween Mr. Monroe nint yourscif, growing out *«l the decision of the cabinet on the Seminole affair, VVoonr.vwv ROth April 1830. which passed through my hands a, the time, and Ml Onrfiir: IVarl.-tt-r-VlIio Hiih .in r— oiv-1 which I non- have liw |K-niii«i.m to u«-,«w.-xpljui- fd l.v Suml.v’s imil, f.-.-thor with iN rnrlomir-. »toiy ol iny npnuon, a. wi-ll is Hh, und t!ic other I r-c : ollnrt liuvino rnnvoruRd with von at the turn- inciubor. of liHadnnnutration. lo.ave yon tlx Copy of .Mr. Crawford's letter to Mr. Fo closed in the aim re. and place, nnd upon the subject, in that c stated, but I have not a distinct rec*-Unction o what I s.aid to yon, but I am certain there is oni error in your statement of that conversation t' Mr. I recollect distinctly what passed ii the cabinet meeting, referred to in vour letter t Mr. . Mr. Calhoun’s proposition in the cabinet wn that General Jackson should hi* punished in nonir form, or reprrh»*nded in some firm, I am not posi tively certain which. As Mr. Calhoun did not trouble of turning to the file of vour correspon dence, I have enclosed extracts from the letters, which clearly prove that the decision oftlie cabinet on the point that your orders did not authorize the occupation of St. Marks and Pcnsncolo, w as early and fully made known to you,and that I, in partic ular, concurred in the decision. Mr Monroe’s letter of Uio l!»tli July, IS 18, the first oftlie series, and written immediately after the d< cision of tlio cabinet, and from which I have fir* copious extract, enters fully into thr o' 1 .> < ii mi »> ii. .1-* .»ir. » ii : »* 11» mu 1101 1 ^ . , , pro,,;,,., to urrost (ionontl Jnrlann, I fool conlKlont krn by t o, Kxj i-xtivo of the wbolit In Hint I ootilcl not |,avn mu.lo ,1,0 of that .ror.t in y°" r rr P'y of "to IHtll of Ail-u.t, IHMy.ut object mv relation to von of the circum,t.mco, which 1011,0 coistntrt'oiiwb'cl'tbou.l'om'.tnitio'.hn'lpl.- inn : 'iro.i in tho'enbinrt. I have n , rccolli rtioii rod on your ordorx, ntt 1 you your rcisoii., iit Additional remark*, • ofthe lh*fore I conelu l * ta *«= - I deem it proper to make a ft ns to the commencement and motive of thi ment against me. The origin goes far bark, beyond the dat present corresjKmdenee, nnd had tor it.s object, not the advantage of Genor .l Jackson, but my politic al destruction, with motives which I leave you to interpret. The enmity of Mr. Crawford to in<*, growing out of political controversies long since passed, afforded a ready and powerful instruinei.t nv which to ofH'rat**, and it was early directed n- gainst me, with the view of placing (ieneral Jack- son and myself in our pri • ut relations. With that motive, in the midst oftlie seven* political struggle which ended in elevating him to tin* Pres idential rlinir, and in which I took a part so early and decided in his favor, a corresp* udenee was o- pened nf Nashville, unknown to, and unsiis|K*cted bv me, in Deceniber, I8‘27, whicli roinmenced tliat chain of artful operations, that has terminated by involving GenrnU Jackson and mv^elf in the pres ent correspondence. A copy of the letter which opened tins operation has been placed in my pos session. It was written bv Mr. ( mwf»rd t » Al fred Raich, Esq. of Nashville, and is doted the 14th December, I--*;. That th • nature uni ob jects of the operations against me may be fully understood by you, I hereto annex the copy of Mr. Crawford's letter to Mr. Raich, nnd n copy of a !< t- I»*r from the Honorable Wilson Lumpkin, a repre sentative in Congr**--fr* an th** St -it > *>t Georgia, tome, dated the *j7th January, 1KJR, in which it was enclosed, with nn extract from the letter ofthe Honorable Daniel Newnan, member of Congress elect from the same State. I 6 ibmit them with- til M Cl»v put d< nbinet, as I have no recollectii of ev r having designedly mis-stated any transac tion in my life, and most sincerely believe I never did. My apology for having disclosed what pas sed in a cabinet meeting is this : In the summer after that meeting, nn extract of a letter from Washington was published in a Nashville paper, in which it was stated that I had proposed to arrest General Jackson, hut that he was triumphantly de fended by Mr. Calhoun nnd Mr. Adams. This letter I always believed was w ritten by Mr. Cal houn, or by bn directions. It had the desired ef fect. General Jackson became extremely inimi cal to me, and friendly to Mr. Calhoun. In sta ting the arguments of Mr. Adams to induce Mr. Monroe to support General Jackson's conduct throughout, adverting to Mr. Monroe's npparent admission, that if n young officer had acted so he might be safely punished, Mr. Adams said that if General Jackson had acted so, that if Iu* was a subaltern officer, shoaling was ton good for hiui. This, however, was said with n view of driving Mr. Monroe to nn unlimited support of what Gen eral Jackson had done, and not with an unfriendly view to the General. Indeed my own views on the subject had undergone a material change after the cabinet had been convened. Mr. Cal hr made some nllii: written to the President, who had forgotten that In had received such a letter, but said, if he had re ceived such an one, he could find it ; and went directly to his cabinet and brought the letter out. In it General Jackson approved of the determina tion of the Government to break up Amelia island 1 Gnlve/.town, nnd gave it also ns his opinion out to he taken by the United •ff, it might he n delicate matter to deride ; hut if the President * had only to give a hint to some >er of Congress, say Johnny Ray, it, nnd take the responsibility of I*’. I asked the President if the letter nswered. He replied no; fir that he t active j had no recollection of having received it. i then lly that sn, * that I had no doubt that General Jackson, in ions nn- taking Pensacola, believed he was doing what the He well knew that Executive wished. After that letter w as prodn- 1 for Adams without ced, unaswered, I should have opposed the inflic- , Calh 'im, wns to he I tion of punishment upon the General, who had *e could effect it. It I considered the silence of the President ns a tacit selection, why did he suf-l consent ; yet it w as after this letter was produced laseil up by Adams’s prill-J nnd read, that Mr. Calhoun made his proposition stipulation in favor of Jack-1 to the cabinet for punishing the General. You i? If you can ascertain that Calhoun will not may show this letter to Mr/Calhoun, if you please, benefit ted by Jackson's election, von will do j With the foregoing corrections of what passed iu u a benefit by communicating the information to the cabinet, vour account of it to Mr. is ■nitv tha opinions kno i will, as cert: I'he only fiiffi- ■object, is that, I that the Florida* inn will come State " ~ ' ill kno ■ ('alibi ight to k that, nt t I bia,tin* t.-rin“Militar more flippantly thai j funily friends of Mr. Calhoun in giving it currency, and I kn< 'I Mr. A dan writes to i I, if he does not, bv II. (’In of for the Executiv approved of it, I confidential men and he would do it on himsep’. I had be ced on your orders, nnd you assign y large, why you conceived that the orders und' which you acted authorize J ype rations in Flor ida. Mr. Monroe replied on the ‘JOth October, 1818, and, after expressing his regret flint yop had placed a construction on your orders different from w hat was intended, he invited you to open a cor respondence with f.ie, that vour conception of the meaning of your orders, null that of the adminis tration, might h«* placed, with the reasons on both sides, on the files of the War Department. Your letter ofthe loth of November, in answer, agrees to tin* correspondence as proposed, but declines commencing it, to which Mr. Monroe replied by n letter of the I st December, stating Ids reasons for suggesting the correspondence, and w hy lie thought tint it ought tocommence withyou. To these, I have added an extract from your letter ofthe 7th December, approving Mr. Monroe’s Message at the opening or Congress, whicli though not con stituting a partoftho correspondence from which 1 have extracted ho copiously, is intimately connect ed w ith the subject under consideration. Rut it was not by privat • corr .■spondonec, only, that the view which the Executive took of your or ders wns made known. In his message to till House of Representatives oftlie ‘doth March, I8|8, r 2 ,, Y "! | long before information of th** result of you* opi M 11 ation in Florida was received, Mr. Monroe stat that 44 orders had been given to the General in command not to out *r Florida, unle. pursuit of the enemy, and in that cum*, to respect the Spanish authority, wherever it may h * main- tairvMi; nnd In* will be instructed to withdraw Ir- forces from the province, and as soon us he has re duced tint tribe (the Seniiuoles) to order and se cured our fellow-citizens in that quarter, by satis factory arrangements against its unprovoked and • * •! it• - :ii film**." Illjliis annual at the opening of Congress iu Novembe sn;ne venr, the President, speaking of nnd subsequent to the tin e you had determined to occupy 1’ensacolo, face your letter of June dd, |8|8, to me, published with the Seminole docu ment,) could give you authority to occupy those post**. I know that, in quoting the letters, you could not intend such absurdity to authorize such nu inference; nnd I must therefore conclude that it was your intention by the extract to show tliat, at the tune of writing tlio letter, it was my opinion tliat the orders under which you did act, wore in tended to authorize the occupation of the Spanish posts. Nothing could Imre been more remote from mv intention iu writing the letter. It would have been in opposition to the view which I have always taken of vour orders, nnd in direct contra diction to the President’s message of th** doth March, 1818, communicated but i* few weeks be fore to the House of Representatives, (already re ferred to.) nnd which gives n directly opposite con struction to your orders. In fact, tm* letter, on its face, proves that it was not tlio intention of the Government to occupy the Spanish posts. Ry re ferring to it, you will see that 1 enclosed to tb> Governor n copy of inv orders to General Gaines, of the Pith December, 1^17, authorizing him to cross the Spanish line, and to attack the Indian* within the limits of Florida, unless they should tak* shelter under a Spanish post, in which event, h was directed to report immediately to the Depart ment, whicli order Govor »»r Ribb w as directed ti consider as his authority for earn ing the war into Florida, thus cl *arly establishing the fact that the order wns considered still in fire**, and not super seded by that to you, directing you to assume the oinmand in the Seminole war. Nor ran mv letter of the (ith of February he, by ny sound rule of construction, interpreted into an authority to occupy the Spanish posts, or as coun tenancing, on my part, such an interpretation of the orders previously given to you. Your letter! the 120th January, to wliieli mine is an answer, hears date nt Nashville, bufore you set out oil the Expedition, and consists of a narrative of the meas ures adopted by you, iu order to bring vour forces into tin* field, where they were directed to rendez- , the time intended for unrehing, the orders fir supplies given to contractors, u itli other details nf tie* same kind, without the slightest indication of vour intention to act against the Spnniih [K>sts, and the approbation of the President of the men * you had adopted could he intended to apply to those detailed in your letter. 1 do not think tliat Inttr.r of tl»* 1:1th instant presents the qne- tuui, whether the Executive or yourself piu> * »1 iu< on the orders under which you acted. But I must he permitted to aav, that the construction of the former is in strict conformity with my iuli-ulioii in draw ing up the orders; nnd that, if they he sus- ptible of n different construction, it was fur from bring my intention they should be. I did not tin ii suppose, nor have I ever, that it win in the pu/v.-r >f the President, under the constitution, to order he occupation of the posts of a nation with whom so were not ut war, (whatever might he the right of the General, under the law of nations, to attack enemy .loitered under the imsb* of a neutral power,) and had I been directed by the President issue such order, I should have been restrained from complying by the burner authority of the con stitution, which I had sworn to support. Nor will I discusstho question whether th** order to (»«*n*-r- al Gaines, inhibiting him from attacking tin* Spanish posts, (a copy of which w as sent to you,) was i:i fact, nud according to military usage, an order to and of course obligatory until rescinded.— Si ch certainly, was my opinion. I know tliat yours was different. You acted on your construc tion, believing it to ho right; nud. iu pursuing tin* course which I have d :*'*, * **Uj n nu equal right to act on the construction which I conceived to be correct, knowing it to conform to my intentions in issuing the orders. Rut in waiving now the ques tion of the true const ruction of the ordi rs, I wish it however to be understood, it is only because I not think it presented by your letter, and u t because I have now, or ever had, the least doubt of tli** correctness of the opinion which I enter tain. I have always been prepared to discuss it on illv t'-nns with you, as aprymrs by the extracts Mr. Monroe’s correspondence, and more r*- perso •d for hit influci lot friendly t* r hy» pa|»er to be pt r, without making so Make w it to wh your friend, ■t obedient servant, M M. II CRAM FORD A true i ting of Ge 1 exact copy, (noted i Newnan.) hat use you please of tills letter, and I correct. Indeed there is hut one inncctiary in it, you please. nnd one omission. What I have written uoyond them is a me**e amplification of what pas*«»d in the cabinet. I do not know that I ever hinted at the letter of the General to the Piesident; yet that letter had a most important boring upon the deliberations of the cabinet, nt least in mv mind, ami possibly in th** minds of Mr. Adai 1 President ; but neither expressed any opinion * Mr. Crawford's assertion that he knew personal!y the subject. It s**e»ns it had none upon the mi what In* hen-affirms, r»*nd«*rs it pr>‘jM*r to makfaffw n f Calhoun: for it made no c!nn«*e in his cr lark*. How hr could have had any personal | I am, dear sir, vour friend, And most, obedient servant. M M. II. CRAM'FORD, lion. Joiis Forsttii. \ true copy from the original in mv pessos*ii JOHN FORSYTH. May 12, 1830. of the enter ing Fieri* i ay . “ - ii a ith rb in Y, i »r (•• h r il Jackson to enter Moridn, in pursuit of the S- im- I nob's, care wns taken not to encroach on tlio rights of Sp un.” Again : “ In entering Florida to sup press this combination, no idea was entertained of hostility t » Spain,and,h.iwever justifiable the com- I nmnding (ieneral was, iu consequence oftlie mis conduct of the Spanish officers, in entering St. Mark’s ami Pensacola to terminate it, by proving to i t!ie savages, nnd their associates, that they could n*'.t he protected, even there, yet the nmicnbb* n*- lation between the I’nitiul States nnd Spain could not he altered by that act ab»ne. Hv ordering the j restitution oftliose posts, those relations were pre- | served. I'oa change of th**m the power ofthe F.x- [ ecutive is denned incompetent. It is vested in j Conge ha alone.** The view taken of this subject ! met your entire approbation, as appears from the extract ofyour letter, of7tl» December, 18|8, above referred to. I Aft r such full and decisive proof, as it seems to ftlie view of t he Executive, I had a right, as ;„;r.i2 1 ■i 1 *: • •• ...-m-tv.* i-,^. * to flirir port tIt** 1 thrir po to form I conceive, fir** duly of the mcrntivrs 1lius rt doubt 1 ml »•’)]« ctions, nnd. to tup- oft'-Ting fully rll of th** arguments m *tmt ,.f * 1:••<- Tim* tifTic to tnVa care not * opinion till tlie fuels nnd view* nrc folly .1. and every doubt and - bjeetion carefully weiofud. In this spirit I name n' * the meet : ng — The’qm-stions involved v. r rnmrrnns and UiijKir- tnnt. whether von had transcended your order*, if *0 wh .t c.mrs'e ought to he ndopted ; was tfi<» conduct of Spain and her officers in Florida ; whst vriN tlio state of our relations with Spain, and, throne'll her, with the other European powers—* : t tliat time, of »in**omi..«<o complication nnd difT.n.llj- Th-« quw*it.n» «»*“ p “7; fully rx „nin. d «nd wf.-rli.d. l -dl, .ypyal-lv «nd » rnnnmi. il : liyfnr. » du ll npliunn could he » iwly n.rncd ; nnd nevrrdid I we n deliberation m which every point wan mnt carefillv exanuned ..r « (.renter •nlicitude displayed tn arrive nt a correct rlecwiou — boon but n f«* onths ret ary of War. I was more i with the questions whether y< of the cabinet; and had the administration, as »^e* •e irnm dinielv connected had transcended your •as of tlminq Icrs, nrd liad r • I neither <;ii on that * exceeded your responsibility ; •stioned your patriotism nor your ing that where orders were trans cended, invevt ig-tion, ns a matter of course, ought to follow,'.™ due in justice to the -nrcrnnient nnd th* officer unless there be strong reasons to the contra- iy, I rame to the meet'-i-r under the impre -i'»n that the usual course onght to bo pmsu. d in this cas**, which I supported by presenting fullv and freely nil They w " ~ * cuts,; out of n rged r of the eultj*: of Spain and her * which honor nnd wards her, with which ritli the conduct , and the course of policy [ dictated to be pursued to- xi:i<. nf fbe members of the ore familiar than i > I-;-- ! whoso •. m mediately Alter delilw of alely weighing e the cabinet,enni 4 * f-'rm tli* ir final opinion, on a view of the whole ground, it was unanimously deter mined* as I under-*< •*!. in favor < f tli** course adnn- ted. and which was fullv mad* known to you by Mr. Monroe’s letter of the jl'th of July. IH--*. I gave it mv assent and support, ns i»e*iigtlint which, under all the circumstances, the public interest required to be adopted hall r * turn to the examination of the ve which Mr. Crawford Imsgii important deliberation of mv course in this ng with Ins “ apolo- <»k place in the eab- m Wn” In 1*1... r-.v.-*:-.-™ «e .Tiriri n letter fr *m Wnshioffto i Nashville * *ner, in which it w as rd) had prop*»r-i*d to nrrest JneVson Kill tbnt be was trimnnhaiitlv defended »d Adams. This lettt r, I ten by Mr. ('allmtin,or bv his di- e desired effect ; (ieneral Jacknr.n by Mr Calhoun ar believed, was writ ' became inimical to me, nnd friend I y t<» Mr. ( allnuin.” I am :mt a* nil surprised tJiat Mr. Cr.iwford should fee! (ImI he stands in need of nn apology for betray ing the deliberil'onsnf the cabinet. It i--. I believe, notonlv the fir-t instance in our country, but one of a verv few in*fm< •* to be found in nnv country, or anvnV .th 't on individmil h sf.-lt liimself absolved from *h-. Higli obligation which honor ami duty im- [•*,«- rn <)*m 'uated . s b- wns It is not, however, hiv int'-n'ion ♦(*comment *>n the ninrnlity of his d'- closure : tint more inunedintelv concerns himself; nnd I Ier ve If m n*-*' ‘urbed to estnblisli lii« own rules >f honor, and fid* btv, in onler to proceed to the ex- imins'.ion of n *;n*-sti oi in which I mu umre inline- Iu* truth of his spolo diatelv concerned— I warm in political e In tiic p ('rswti-rd nnd mi• fVolings of uu n entire changi harsh b Mr. Crawford, T I mn v b* lc*J of the po| country nn lowed, J fnir of Mr. Urns wIioki 1 hml. state of tliin friends wh** ’ the « fiposed to dll then,be i'Swftt). Mr what- - ' l'»vv 1-T. 5 The contest ended 1 elements of the ' tilings v Inch fnl- • ith many ofthe friend* I had b.M-ri r-eently op- nv *»f my friends,’ with * with 1 id the °* I ntributsd to remove towards him. nnve tlmt mid not speak n liar and it is a cause of pajn pesitiou in whicli he has self dsfi u* * , to • v any sequence bear on fiisrWnct* I speak in tiiis spirit, when bisap*/. *gy has an fi undntun no rerson for charging me wi tliat of betraying the p all bis mistortuns. I it* I ryiild av*»j*l it; that the extraordinary placed me, compels which must in its cou-» • rt, ns I ilt, that truth. 11a offers * diel'.onorablo an -dinga «*f the aal*- inet, and tint for th- purp e- of injuring *»na of iuv nss**niat*-s in the nilmimstration. The chargo rv.l, wh-.lly on Ii is mi.piri.Mi, l[> whicli I oppM* positive assert » knowb dg |eab>usy. Iu aesigni the letters, he forget between you and bin od effect ; tliat v*»ub that your hostility t and had a verydifi* not have anticip ite placed in your b s wholly unf >unde*l. I tier, *>re- nnexion with it; ra:.u tiie extract. Rut r. Adam > < I had then a tli administration, and were on the heat terms, <>u mv pert, of rivalry or motive that lie does for latmn which existed then lie snys it had the desir* friendly to me, and ex ile does not remember • him long preced I this (Htriod, rtainlv could letter would knowledge of what be st: stand < hir polit ■ *1 int W I. ■ »ut t ent The in<avorncr*t thn* commenced did not terminate with thiA letter. It was followed by other attacks from the same and other quartern Horne of which are indicated in thecnrr**>*pondei»ce now laid b.-fore you. It may be proper to state, tliat I remained igno rant and unsuspicious ofth**se secret movemenlana me, till the spring oflWP, *beo vxg'ie *im*>r •I for years nt t*» the fall of I -2!. and in fad none o! any kind -ifUr that, beyond the mere or dinary civilities of lile. My course in relation to the point was very different from what lie states name was withdrawn from the list of Presidential c iu- «lidntes. I assume*! a perfectly neutral position be tween Genera! Jackson and Mr Adams I Ivan de cidedly oppos. d t»* a congressional caucus . as both these gentlemen were also, and as I Imre very friend ly personal and political relations to both, i would have been very well satisfied with the election of j ford, w lurh I either. When they were both returned to the House . this instant, handed t*» mu linn m of K-preaeutatives, I found myself placed in -a n-*w j D.mobton, of which I have n iaiucd relation to them. I was electe*! Vice-President by J fortuity with your permission. the people, and a se„*« of propriety forbade my in- | As ^, n M , ny |,.b» ur c will p**nnit, you sliall rr terference in the election in th- House, yet 1 reive n communication from ino on the subicct t* 1 .j- V. I «hki>Hrefon. Inten in Line, I r long before I had the Iris* pf ss the expression of my indignation at the affair, j h< intim»ti-.n »r th-v.Mirv .if il,- [.roiiiinvnt mdividu.il »t tho *»*B« »«• I Cana* but rape-.* mv I . ... .,!*,.i \|r 1 ! ,imi u.'» wholly no- .ficatloii that til*' secrotand mystcriom atlcinpfs * sprewdi* from tlofm'-l.jW, w.ssssenrssl fmm . . . I , , , . iw _ *£ I from*- -A»|. .(--..ir. r, '^fswii Mf a»*set se.mes. Jsekwiais pend- it of « hat mgh» be his con's* 4 . *w that nf ar»r 1 which mta been ma*.n£ by lol/H »n.-arsielj'*Tu, tort n»« *»•**!» rse-p-ijr .Mr. Calhoun to ti. n. Jackson. WiSHixsTov, 13th May IrCW. Sir : Agreeably to your n*qu«*st, I herewith rt opjr of a letter signed William II. Craw ul under cover of yoar not** * rning by Mr. i copy, j that the administration, and myself in particular, were <>f the opinion that the orders under w Inch junction v-*u acted, did not authorise you tn occupy the S|kui- idi ports I ’it I now infer, from your letter,J to whicli thin is in an^wur, that such conclusion was erroneous, and that you were of the impression till you received Mr. (’rawford’s letter, that I concur red int .ie opp* »site construction, which y ou gave to your orders, tlmt they were intended to authorize you to occupy tin* posts. You r**!y f»r this im- pression, as I uud**rstand you, on certain general expressions m my letter to Governor Ihbb, of Ala bama, of the l ltli of M ny, |H|8, in which I stated that ** General Jacks«»ii is vested with full pow«*ra to conduct tli»i war in the manner he shall judge best,” and also in my letter of the Ikh F**bniarv, f I -1 hi answc r i » yours < f tin* 20th January of ihej ■ring a copy of a letter of Major IJ. Lee.I which I decline n correspondence that he had juest«’d on the subject of the* construction iff nr orders. Iu my letter to Major Leo, 1 stated that, “as you refer to tin* public documents only for the construction which the Executive gave t*> orders, I infer that on this subject von have not ln*l access to the General’s (JaclcsnnV) private papers; but if I be in nn error, nnd if tin* con struction which the administration gave to the or ders he not stated w ith, sufficient distinctness ii the then President's correspondence w ith him, I will cheerfully give, as one of the members of tin administration, my own views fully in relation t th* 1 orders, if it in* desired by General Jacks*»n but it is only with him and nt Ins desire, that unde existing circumstances, I should foci myself justi fied in corresponding on this or nnv other suhj* connected with his public conduct;” to which I added, in my letter to you, covering a ropy of th** letter from which the above is nn extract, “with you I cannot have tin* slightest objection to c rrr pond on this subject, if additional information i»- irable.” You expressed no desire fir further information, nnd I t*»< il fir granted that .Mr. M*m- correspond mco with you, and tin* public ■! *«•- imients, furnished you n lull and clear conception >f the construction which flu* Executive gave to ,«nir orders ; under which impression i remained till I received your letter of the 13th mst. me* ted with the subject of your orders, there rtnin expression* in your letter, which, though it a loss to understand, F cannot pass over in silence. After announcing your surprise at th*' <»nt*?nts of Mr. Craw ford’s letter, you nsk w h*- h**r the information be correct, “under nil *»t' the ircumstances, of which you ami I are both mf»r- ii» *1, that any ntternpt seriously to affect m** wns mov*‘«l and sustained by you lit calmu t conned. wh«*n, os is kimwii to you, I was executing tin* wish- •f the government." If by ipishes, which you *• underscored, it be meant that there was nnyHHH| intimation given by myself, diiectly, or indirectly, j desire of government that von should occupy j »,f tint ft-, o which «fir, or th** pr**c*»effin^ tie* Spanish posts, *.» fir from D* ing“inf »rnieil,” 1 j his. ..nv*Tsitioii,’t*"'U place, U» which Mr ltr|)ufC«'a had n*»t the slightest knowledge ofnny such intima- j letter r*-ht* s. nniNt have taken place On a rom- 11* m nor ever did I hear a whisper of any such betor»*. I pari «on*»f th - * *1 *t»*t. * . n will that it was im- But 1 cannot imagine that it is your int**uti«m t«»; i — tl»I«- t:* *» Mr ( r»-r«I coul-l have *«*«*n the ex- rnak** a distinction between the wishes and the pub- ' : . r ' r ' fr«»uiRie Nashville pi ; ., r . when h*» wssiu E«lg*»- the only d are oth« ipel hi uKies accompanying Idl 1,1. r«‘ formidably o assign some oUmr dings of the cabinet. . of tlie I Ith instant, ■i'V. firovcs thiit Mr Crawford roceedingsof the cabinet on his n* silintuer of 18|8, mi l dates ’ i letter, to i Mr McDuffie ,f which I encln ipeke Ireelv *'f d rill show' that h< the extract from the Nasliville piper, *»n which hs «ts his apileg/. The ffeliberition of ths cab inet took place betwen die 14 and g."»lli Jnlv, 1818. Onthe funner d »y, Mr Mon **• return* *1 t-» \\ ashing- ih«* lattt-r ;• g« ncral exposi tion of the views *»f tin* Government in relation to the op* rations in Florida appeared in the lutelligen- The fi tter ot Mr M- nrow to you of the lVHh , I -1 . fix*' • probably the day of the final *Iscm- »f »1»«- cabinet. Mr Crawford passed through the I Ith August, ns announced h dj*- *■"“• " n ' 1 h -' pqusntly fluff mking othec >ught to go' early foi some year, in which I acquainted you 44 with the entire approbation *if tbo President *>f all tin* rrma- e ir*‘s v*»ii had adopted to terminate tin* rupture wi»h th«* H* minole Indian?.’* I will not reo**>n tin* point, that a letter to Gov. Bihb, which was not ciHruiiunicatcd t<> von, which dat<* long oiler you hud occupied St. Marks, he orders *ff the government, as I find .... .. .... , your rorresfiotidencp w ith th«* President, > ,or his ffis.1. nor m any'of the nnhlie documents; but o„ U,e j ^1^%. wa ^ at MilledgcvilL - contrnr>', it is strongly rebutted by your relying for ; 1,^1, ot - \,, . , *. |-1-. a .!.< * at), r h ■ p-.> ff your justification Constantly and exclusviely on | thrm-ru'Au-o^ta, mi l n |,rtl.- aft.-r. tln r* •!• .•- your public orders. Taking, tlieil, tho u wishes of i r d a m i 4 **ni«-iit in tie (i.-.rrn J .urnal. a >.u **wl».* the g"vermn«*nt” t<» b*- but aimtlier expression for varied from that in d»* st E l .■•■field, but •.r.-ein its onlers, I must refer to tin* proof alreadv offer- with it iu most <>f the particular-* I cannot lay e»l, to show that tin* wishes *if th** government, in i hand on the .*rtn le, hut hav. relation to ti»«‘ Spanish |h..sLs, wen? not such assume them to be. Having I trust, s itisfactorily established that there has not Ih*»*n th«* leant disguise as to the construc tion of your orders, | will now proceed to state the part which I took in the deliberations of the cahinei Mv statement will be confined strictly t-> myself, a- I do not feel myself justified to speak of the cur- of the other members of the administration, and. in fa’* • *»nly of my own in self defence, under the extra ordinary cirruinstances connected with tb** corres pondence. And here | must prenrae, that the object of « ca! i net council is not to bring together opinions alreadi formed, but to form npinioos on the course wrfi.ch the government ought to pursue, after ftlll un*I m tur« deliberation. Meeting in this spirit, tii* «.l>jr* , t is a fre«- exchsug* *»f •rntimrnt. I donlts andobjec I fixed it n ban h ' p With so Stiiict rscotllMOO .. rememher i» Uiremnstaorwo rawfurd, and i* has not U> my • ar* fmelv presented and d..*s«s vxletice of imccuracy, either from rr, <>r some otli* r cause, in what re- , ! -?!•*. it would be on . tint Mr. Crawford’s state- , . rt i *re correct in w hat relates to nie eta HsflniitoH lth.it V" 1 ' ■boold 14 be punished in -• *i -uu.- fi rm . A In rnaks - luui'. as I Uppoao, bs odds, that .: I no! prop..-e to arrest Gen Jack et dwell on a sUUsiuut which, oa t'TVWMr »l ws Hsu tisurgs luUwss. i.wuvosevl

Georgia Historic Newspapers

The Georgia journal. (Milledgeville, Ga.) 1809-1847, March 03, 1831, Image 1