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wmmmmmm———g
tirement*, which is the more exuaurdiaaiy
cause I am satisfied that I have 'given no
i !st cause for it to any one.
f T. Copy of a fetter from Mr. Hamilton, rtla
ting to the deliberations of the cabinet on the
Seminole question
New-York, Febmarv 26th 1330.
Dear Sir . To avoid mistake as to what
?' tssed between us at the conversation I had
t honor toliold with you the evening before
J left Washington, 1 submit to yon the follow-
i g. as the import of that part which, it was
I ’t'lerstood, was not to be considered as confi
<] n ial.
la reply to my inquiry l( whet her at any
meeting of Mr Monroe's cabinet, the proprie*
t v of arresting General Jackson, for any thing
d me by him during the S-mmolc war, had
tmen at any time discussed 1 You answered
• such a measure was not thought ot—much
l.’ss discussed. The on’y point before the
cabinet was the answer to be given to the
Spanish Government ”
1 am thus particular, in endeavoring to as
certain from you whether my recollecton is
f iithful or not in regard to this part of our con
versation, because I wish to fulfil the object
of mv inquiry by confirming Major Lewis, a
confidential friend ot General Jackson’s at
Nashville, in the truth; not with a view to bis
making a publication on the subject at present,
fur to be prepared against an apprehended
attack, founded on events connected with that
campaign.
Mr. Calhoun to Mr. Hamilton.
Washington, March 2, 1828.
Dear Sir : I received three days since, your
1 Iter of the 25th of February, and have se.z-
d the first leisure moment to answer it
In the conversation, to which your letter al
hides, I supposed, as yon did not state the «>b
■ ’Ct, that your iuquiry. as to what has passed
>n.a particular point in the cabinet delilieratioi
i a the Seminole question, was to obtain infer
nation in order tomeet mere general rumour,
1 dsely put out to influence the result of the
t'residential election. My answer wan accord
; sgly predicated on such proposition, and wa-
x (tended to meet assertions unsupport d by tin
. uthority of any name in the same generto
manner without a name; and was intended t-
l e limited even with that view to the denia*
«'f what Wi?s fdsely slated to have occurred —
J now learn that your object is more specific
’ >11 k(:iI« tluit you d<’Siro I ho informntion * he
i -m-.e I wish to fulfil the object of mv ir quirv
by confirming Major L* wis a coi'fi lential lri**n
< i Gen Jackson at Na-hville, in the iru l»,noi
with the view of his making a publication m
f be subject at present, but to be prepared a
i;.*inst an apprehended attack founded on vents
connected with that campaign ” 1 have, undc>
thi* aspect of the subject, deliberately consul
t red how far I could, with propriety, speak o:
1 he proceedings of the cabincf at all, which has
resulted in the conviction that a duty of a ver\
Jogli and delicate character imposes on me si.
3 nee.
No relation can be more confidential that,
that between the President and members oi
t lie Cabinet as his constitutional advis rs.—
Charged as he is With the executive duties of
the Government, which were vested in a sin
j;le person, to give energy and promptitude
in execution, it is manifest that to divulge the
Cabinet deliberations bv any of its members
would introduce distrust and discord, and
thereby tend to defeat, in this important p »r
ticular, the objects of the Constitui ion. N<>r.
on a point so delicate can a member of th
Cabinet, in my opinion, be justified by rote,
ence to the importance of the object intended
to be effected by a disclosure of its proceed
ings. Deeply asanyinnnof correct feelings
must reprobate the foul attacks on Genera’
J.ickS'iio, and as important as every patriot
must consider the defence of his character a
gainst such attacks in this great political staig-
gle, involving, as l sincerely believe, th- * 1 liber
ties of the country, yet I cannot reconc le it t-
my sense of duty, even for such an object, l*
t |o an act, tending in any degree to weaken, bv
its example, the confidence which ought to ex
ist between the Chief Magistrate and his con
stnutionai advisors; and 1 am greatly mistake.
if Gen Jackson would not be the last man tf
assent to be so defended. It is, however, a *a
tisfactioc, in pursuing the course that du y itu
pels me to do, to reflect that the information
as lconceive, will never be needed f»r his de
fence. I cannot believe that an a tack -o in
founded will ever be made, not but he lias en
emies atrocious enough to resort to the most
diabolical falsehoods, in order to wound hi
repntation; but it ts nianilect that an attack ol
the kind supposed cannot be made with the
sbghtest prospect of success, without the coun
tenance of some one of (he members of Mr
Monroe's Cabinet at the time, and I cannot ad
mit the possibility that any one pan be so lost
to honor and du'.y as to be the age.nt or instru
ment in such an attack. But, if what seems to
roe impossible should prove otherwise, by there
being iooivl one base enough to lend himsell t
such a purpose, then would it become a ques
tion worthy of grave consideration on the part
of the other members to determine, whether,
under all the circumstances of the case, dutv
would not imposts any obligation in order to
counteract the injurious eff-ct of a false, a
partial statement ot the Cabinet proceedings
to demand of the then Chief M.gistrate a re
lease of the injunction of secrecy, or wheth r
the Chief .Magistrate himself would not be
hound to disclose what was necessary to th**
vindication cf the character of General Jack
son, assailed in the manner supposed. Should
such a case occur, though to me apparently im
possible, I may, with confidence, appeal to the
past to prove that I would not be wanting in
zeal to go as. far as duty would admit in defend
ing the character of General Jackson; and in
maintaining in hi? person, the great cause ot
liberty and the Constitution.
Entertaining these views, you will see that
I decline the introduction of my name, m any
shape, as connected with what passed in th
cabinet on the occasion to which you refer.-
What 1 stated in conversation was negative n.
its character, and intended, as above stated, t<
enable you to meet, by a general contradir
tion. without the introduction of my nanv
’v4ial J supposed existed only in the shape oi
rumor; and I must request you to consider it
as limited to that purpose only*
Mr. Hamitlon to Mr. Calhoun.
New York, March tO, 1®*®*
Dear Sir: I received your letter of the -d
instant. Your reasoning as to the continence
which ought to be observed in regard to oc
currences in the Cabinet, is so clear and con
elusive, as to command universal assent.
1 have written to M ij *r Lewis, to-day, that
your name is not to he used * o any manner in
connexion with the denial, should a publicat ion
he called for at any time, width I do not be
fieve will be ihe'casc.
The subject has acquired increasing interest
by a communication 1 received alter I wrote to
yen.
With very great resycct,
Y<uir obedient servant.
JAMES A HAMILTON.
To the Vice-President of the U. S.
' Washington.
Mr. Calhoun to Mr Hamilton.
Washington, 15th March 1828.
Dear Sir : On reflection it has appeared to
me desirable, on several accounts, that, if an
attack on General Jackson is meditated in the
maimer supposed, I should be put in possession
of the facts from which it is interred. My
knowledge of the facts, might enable me to
ascertain from what qnarter the blow nogh>
be expected, and to take measures to parry
it.
If you should concur in this view, and
should feel yourself at liberty to make a conn
munic.ition of what you know, it might prove
ultimately serviceable to the cause Whatever
you may communicate, will be received in
strict confidence.
With great respect ffr.c.
J C CALIIOUN.
James A. Hamilton, Esq
Mr Hamilton to Mr. Calhoun.
New York, March 20:n, 1823.
Dear Sir: In -reply to your I tter ol the
15th inst , I regret to say, that I atn not per
niiteil to di-close to you what 1 kuow of the
.natter to which it refer*.
Toe information l received w® not declared
•<> be coi fidentiai. nor wa« it from, its cliaractt i
necessarily a- d yet as it is communicated t«.
in- only berau-f 1 could be mstiu nenial in oh
a tiing the nouns of resistance, i feel Ilia<
•avmg doneso I ought to consider myself as no
»nger possessed ot the ini >rmat ion
I have great pleasure in as-urmg you that I
i.dieve the anticipation wa* groundless.
With great respect, y«*nr obedient servant
JAMES A HAMILTON.
The Vice President of the U. S
Washing! on
(Here follows M-. F jrsytb’s letter to Mr
Hamilton, dated Mdled^eville, Feb. 8 )
From the New York evening Post.
’lO J HE PUBLIC
Although it is rare that an individual of hum
de pretensions can atterupi to arrest pabbe at
•ention without seeming to arr »gatc to himself
undue importance yet the writer ef this vmd
dicat ion is placed, by the publication ot l hr
recent correspondence between the l’resid. n :
President and Vice President of the United
Stales, in such a situation as to dompel hint to
naz ird that imputation, rather than to submi
m silence to I tic grave charges which, il no*
directly made, are by mfeience insinuated a
» ainsth ,m.
Mr. Calhoun, in his address and letters, «tntc
ihat there was a “movement »gain*t him”
the origin of which went hack beyond ill
•late of .Ins correspondence" which “ had
•r its ohjt'C 1 his political destruction He r.
•erstoM' Crawford's tetter ••• December 1827
is the commencement ‘‘of taut chain of art
t'u f operations that has,” II sueuks of
ois movement as “ a political manoeuvre \ dc
icned to m ike iho President an instrument'
and the Vice President “ the victim ’, lit* re
♦ rs to * a base political intrig’u " ml tin
- 11,1 w—• Several indications fovirarved tne long
'ince that a blurs: was meditated against rue, I
iviit not -a' from the quirt<-r fi m ufi.ch flu
omes; bat in relation to this project more lhai.
wo vear* since I bad a - co 1 r--j.oiideuc.' with
•• l) -trict Attorney f r'h- S nthern Dictric:
fN w Y * k on the su hj c> of the pri»c edmg-
o ttie cabinet on the Seminole war, ivh.cn
bough it did not excite particular at‘eoln»i'
a' i he tim'*, has since in connection with other
circumstances served to my direct eye to what
was going on."
I nave thus brought to view’ in a distmc’
•,rm, such parts of those letters ami address
-s contain insinuations and charges of political
uiai ce ivres, plots, base intrigues, and as indi
cate directly or remotely their siipp sed con
trivers or instruments, in order that 1 may meet
all that can by just implication, or tin- mo-i
forced construcli n, refer to me. by declaring
most cxpltci’ that I neither know of. nor do 1
believe, in the existence of any such practice-;
nor have I, if they did ex»-t, participated in
»hem in any rospect whatever.
Mr. Calhoun considers himself deprive d >f
important, information by t*e blanks in Mr
Crawford’s latter, and assumes that it' they
were ti'lcd up they might, “ through their po
litical associations, point directly to the contri
vers of this scheme." As the writer of tins
vindication has no motive for concealment he
has no hesitation hi saying, that the * name
referred to in blank " if written at length
would he hut one name, and that his own —
Thus is removed at once all ground fur the -u-
melons Ihat seem to be so lightly indulge.)
and so freely expressed resulting from those
political associations which these potential
blanks are supposed to conceal The follow
mg narrative will shew the origin of my con
neetton with that lette’’, and mv correspon
dence with the Vice President, to which h<
has referred
On my voyage during the winter of 1827,
oid ’28 from Nashville to New Orleans, in
ompany with General Jackson and his -one
here was much conversation among the G.*
Aral’s friends, in which I particip ited, and
•articularly with Major L^wis m relation to
ne various charges against General Jackson
1 hich the’ Presidential canvass had originated
r renewed, particularly a- to the unfriend!*
course Mr, Crawford was supposed to have ta
ken towards the Goncrnl in relation to the Se
minole war. It being understood that I intend
ed on nay return to New York through Geor
gia to avail myself ot that opportunity to visit
Mr. Crawford, lewis desired me, or l
offered, to ascertain truly what occurred in Mr.
Monroe’s cabinet deliberations in relation to a
proposition supposed to have been made to
arrest General J-»c-kson for bis conduct in that
wa% and to inform him of the result, in order,
as I understood, that he might be prepared to
repel an attack on Gen J.ickson that was an
ticipated; connectedjwith that subject, hut a-
hove all, if possible, produce a perfect concili
ation bet ween these ^entlemco and their res
pective friends.
On my arrival at Sparta (Georgia,) where I
hoped to see Mr Crawford, I ascertained,
that he lived so far out of tho way that to go
to his house would delaj me in my journey
eight or t<% days, and tW it was probable
[ would not find him at hsme when I should
arrive there. I therefore pushed on to Sa
vannah, whence on the 23th January, 1828,
I wrote to Mr. Forsyth the letter referred to by
him, in his letter to Mr. Calhoun, dated May
31st, 1830 As 1 did not retain a copy of that
letter, I must speak of its contents from recol
lection. By it I informed him of my disap
pointment in not having been permitted by my
arrangements to visit Mr Crawford, the en
q iiry 1 wished to m ike of him as above stated,
and requested him when he should meet Mr.
Crawford, to shew him my letter, and commu
tnunicate the result to me at New York.
On my arrival at Washington, in February,
I resided during the day or two I remained
there, in the same house with the Vice Presi.
dent; and being anxious to obtain the informa
tion before referred to—(having, as I feared
lost the opportunity to do so irom Mr. Craw
ford)—after advising with a very honorable
and discreet friend, residing in the same house,
as to the propriety of doing so, I requested an
interview with Mr. Calhoun, which was grant
ed. (I may here be permitted say, that 1 nev
er saw or heard of the letter written by Mr.
Crawford to Mr. Batch, until it was published ;
and that 1 had not the slightest knowledge of
*ho course Mr Calhoun had consid r d it his
duty to pursue in the cabinet on the occa
-ion referred to. On the contrary the impres
sion I had received from the conversations with
i lie General’s friend* before alluded to, was,
that Mr. Calhoun was in favor of, and Mr
Crawlurd was adverse to, General Jackson.)—
When we met, i a-ked Mr. Calhoun ‘ whether
t any meeting or Mr. Monroe’s cabinet, the
. roprieiy of arresting General Jackson, for any
toiog done by imn during the Seminole war.
o.id been at any time discussed ?” Tv> which
he replied— 1 Never : surli a measurse was
not thought kif much less di*cussed. The
only point b lore the cabinet was the answer
that was to be 'given to ihe Spanish govern
ment ''
Our conversation was extended, and, on his
part embraced much that 1 have m ver felt
myself at liberty to disclose After he had
«one over the whole ground, in order to avoid
the possibility ol misiak 1 asked the V.ce Pre -
odent whether lie considered ins answer to my
question, idl'-rdmg me the inlormatiun to ob-
. <i.i wtiicn i nad sought the interview, confi
leiVai or not- ilc r*;plo<t m,«i it wa> not.
Wli j .n 1 reiircii from the Vice President’s
room, 1 sougm the gentleman wun whom 1
bad auvi-efl, auu Communicated to him with
-met re pleasure toe smtem.-nt which Mr. Cal
.niu .i bad uni de. 1 ihink 1 also menliom-d it
0 another gentleman, who was ot the same
house, and toe uexi iiiornitu, at an early hour.
1 le|( Washing:on lor No.* York, where I ar-
iived on tne 17 hot February. Oi the 19 li.
I wrote a leiier to jVlaj >r Lewi-, ol which the
t.mowing extract is an mat relates to the sub-
jeet
* I dns not ee Mr Crawford, as i intended
“to do, hecau-e as he was seventy miles out of
“ tny way; but the Vice Fr isiclrnl, who you
*’ know, was that mciho r oi the cabinet best
a* quainted with luc subject, told me Goiierai
“ J .cksoi ’s arrest was never thought of, much
' iess disc losed ”
1 <> in s letter 1 received a reply, dated the
19 h March 18»'8 <d winch the following ex
* iaci i* a<i lino icidf s to the subject.
i ri grel that VuU did not si e Mr Craw-
tord 1 was desirou- you shoulii see him,
* conv r>e vuh him on the suhj< ct oi ins
iormer m. uinlcrstanding with the G meral
1 nave every reason to believe that the in-
torma k ii given io you iiy Mr Calhoun is
“ corr « , n>r Mr M nroe assured me, ne-<rly
“ lime years ago, *uch was the tact. It :ol-
lows then mat Mi Crawlurd must hav been
*' v iely shiudcred oy those winiste’object it was
* o iau a flame tticir interest required should
noi be t xt'itg i.sited.
1 nave given these extracts in order to sus
tain my statements ot the origin of mv cuiinex-c
ion witn tin* transaction—not, how* ver, with
out feeling deep humiliation i doing -o And
yet in a cunfe-t where su>|<icion is submitted
or proof, and the conduct and motives of all,
no .ever ri mutely or accidentally connected
with tho transactlou, are subjected to its blight
ing influence, it is a huuniiatiou that cannot he
avoided.
Alter 1 had written to Jtfajnr L ;wis and had
related to others Mr Cal; o .n s v» ry fa k.ex
p>;Cit, and as 1 ieii, mod satisiactory answer '•>
mv inquiry ui-ving that it might be used by
“ Lewis hi N i-nvide, where at that time,
n m >si . .ich duy produced’a new charge against
Gen. Jackson, which was f lioweu by ins imme-
diaio v.ndicat.o , 1 tiiougbt proper to seek to
czi>ti<m wV/.ij r L wis in the accuracy of my
statement ol the conversation wi ll Mr. Cal
u un ivy a letter tr« in the latter, aud to that eml
wrote to him on i he 25 u Feb a letter of winch
.ne following . xtr,*ct conluuis the whole that
relates to Ihi* .*uUk4£t.
Nenr-Yanx, F- b 25, 18^8,
Dear *ir—To av:.|»i mist k> as u v. oat yusscii it’tween
us at lie cuiivcrsuti.fti 1 u ut Uie iionur to lioi.l iviio you
the evening before 1 left i .omiqUu, i submit to jou he
loiloivm^ asihe.inpjit of that part watch it was unuer-
sUnnl was not to be considered as confi Mitiai.
In reply to my loq >■;>, “VVbcihei at aoy meeting of
“ dr. Alaiiroe’s Cabinet the propriety of arresting General
‘Jackson, lor any thing done by in i* dm mg the Seminole
‘Wat, hau been al any time discussed?” You answered
‘Never—such a measure was noi in light of, much less
discussed; the only point bef -ro ihe cabinet was ihe an-
“swver that was to be given to the Soanisb Gove; omen!.’*
1 am thus particular in eii'ieavoiing to ascertain from
mu whether our recollection is faiio. d or not m regard
to tbe part of our conversation; because I wish to iuibl
the object of my inquiry, by conurmihg Major Lewis, a
confi lential friend of General Jackson, st Nashville, in
the truth, not with a view to his making a publication on
the subject at present, but to be prepared against an ap
prehended attack founded on events connected with that
campaign.
I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,
JAMES HAMILTON.
* [Here follows Mr- Forsyth’s letter to Mr. Hamilton,
dated Milledgeville. February 8, 1838.]
To ray letter of the 25tb of February, I received Mr.
Calhoun’s reply, dated March 31, of which I feel authoris
ed to publish such parts at least as are in r ply to my ap
plication. This right I conceive, result* from Mr. Cal
houn’s having referred to this correspondence in connec
tion with the “plots**-and their “contrivers,” without sta
ting what its character %vas, and thus rendering it neces
sary f>fne, in vindication of mrsrlf, to give it to the pub
lic. Tbe information I had received in replj to my inqoi
iy t was admitted to him not lobe confidentially disclosed
to me, and 1 had so treated it. He could not afterwards
clothe it with that character; nor can so much of his
communication as is in repljrto my request to be informed
whether 1 hid correctly repeated his answer or not, be
considered as confidential.
Washington, 2d March, 1828.
“Dear Sir—I received three days since, your letter of
the35‘.h Febru try, and h »v • seiz ’d on the first leisure mo
ment to answer it. In the converse!ion lo which jour let
ter alludes, I supposed, as you did not state tbe object, l
that your inquiry as lo what hsd passed on a particular |
point in tbe cabinet deliberation on the Seminole question, j
was to obtain information, in order to meet mere general
rumor, falsely put out, to infl lencathe result of the Presi
dential question. My answer was accordingly predicated
on such supposition, and was intended to meet assertions
unsupported by the authority of any name, in the same
general manner without name, and was intended to be
limited, even with that view, to the denial of what was
falsely stated to have occurred on the occasion.
“I now learn by your letter that your object is more
specific. You state that you desire to obtain tbe informa
tion, “because 1 wish to fulfil the object of my inquiries,
by confirming Major Lewis, a confidential friend of Gene
ral Jackson, at Nashville, in the truth, not *itb the view
of making a publication on the subject at present, but to
be prepared against an apprehended attack founded on
events connected with the campaign.” I huvr under this
aspect of the subject deliberately considered how far 1
could with propriety speak of tbe proceedings of the cabi
net at all, which has resulted in a conviction that a duty
of a very high and delicate character imposes on me si
lence.
“Entertaining these views, you will see that I decline
the introduction of my name in any shupe as connected
with what passed in th« cabinet on the occasion to which
you refer. vVhat I stated in conversation was negative
in character, and intended, as above stated, to enable yon
to meet by general contradiction, without the introduction
of my name, what I supposed exited only in the shape of
rumur; and I must request you to consider it as limited to
that purpose only ”
The residue of this letter, with tbe other parts of the
correspondence, are nzt considered as important to this
discussion. They will be published, however, if \1r. Cal
houn wishes it. The letter from *1r. Forsyth to me was
not seen by any person until the autumn of 18^9, when it
was read by Migor Lewi* at m? house.
The eircumstanees under which copies of Ihe letter
written by Mr- Crawford and *lr. Forsyth, were commu
nicated to the President, are so fully ami frequently stat
ed hi the correspondence, as to render it unnecessary for
me lo repeat them.
When the President, who bad, I presume, been inform
edofits import, expressed a wish to see Vr. Crawford’s
statement, I yielded to his request to communicate it to
him, first obtaining tbe consent of the writer to do so,
from the manifest propriety of tbe course he proposed to
pursue, and the more readily as an opportunity would thus
be afforded to Vlr Ca’houn to disprove a statement so
directly opposed to his own, or to explain bis version of
tbe same transaction.
I never saw »lr. Crawford’s letter to Mr. Forsyth, un
til after it was sent to the President and to Mr. Calhoun.
In lhi« effort to vindicate myself from groundless sus
picion, I have confined myself lo those topics which belong
to that vindication alone.
JAMES A. HAMILTON.
New York, Feb. 22, 1831.
From the New York Journal of Commerce.
Trial for Murder and Piracy - .—Thomas .1
Wausley, colored man, 25 : a nalivo of Dela
ware, steward of the bring Vineyard, and
Charles G.Lbs, 32, a native of Rhode Island,
were tried and found guilty of murder in tbe
United Slates’ Circuit Court.—the former on
Monday for the murder of William Thornby
captain of the brig—and the Ulter on Tues
day for the murder of William Roberts the
mile, on the high seas on the night of the 23d
November last The testimony given upon
the trial was so nearly the same with that pub
lished by us at the time of the arrest of the
prisoners, that it is unnecessary to repeat it ex
cept in a summary form
It appeared in evidence Ihat the bring Vino,
vard. William Tnornhy, master, sailed, from N.
Orb*an* for Philadelphia with a crew of eignl
persons, v-z. William Roberts, mate. Charles
Gibbs. J bn Brownrigg. Robert Doves, Iler.ry
At wel., A. Clinrcb, Thomas J Wansley, and
J is. Talbot, m<*st of whom were shipped at
that port. During the passage, on the 5th day
out, Wansley, the steward, informed the crew
that there was mon *y ou board, which led to a
combination to murder the captain and mate,
take possossion of the vessel, and divide the
money. The night of the 23d November was
fix d on for the perpetration of the deed —
That night, while Dawes was a* the helm
and Brownngg aloft, Wansley, who was cal
led by Dawes to trim the lamp, struck the
Captain with a pump brake on the hack ofthe
head, which levelled him and followed up the
blow with others until he was dead. Gibbs
an<! Wansley then took him hy the head and
feet and threw him overboard. The murder
of the mate was assigned lo Atwell and Church.
They stood by the companion way, waiting lor
him to come out of the cabin, and as he, hear
ing Ihe noise, was hastening up to ascertain
ihe cause,,they struck him over the head with
a club lie turn- d and ran below, followed by
Gibbs who being unable to fi >d him in the
dark, returned, took out the binnacle light, and
proceeded again in search of him. He found
him bleeding below dragged him on deck, and
held hi firmly, while At well and Church beat
him over the head Before he was dead, the
three seized and hove him overboard. He
did not sink immediately, hut swam after the
vessel, crying for help for three or tour min
utes They then took possession of the ves
sel and promising not lo injure Talbot, Brown-
rigg and Dawes, if they proved true to them,
proceeded to open the kegs and divide the
money. They found about $50,000 on board,
which was distributed .equally among fall.—
They then steered a north-easterly course, to
wards long Island, and when they had arrived
within 15 miles South of Southampton Light,
they scuttled the brig, set fire to her, and look
to the boats, G.hhs, Wansley, Dawes and
Brownrigg were in the long boat, and Talbot,
Church and Atwell, in the jolly-boat It blow-
i d very hard, and the jolly-boat was upset, and
her crew drowned. Those in the long boat,
in order to save themselves, found it necessary
to throw over half the money they had, & final
ly succeeded in reaching Pelican Island, whence
they crossed to Great Barn Island, buried the
money, aud went to tl|<? house of Mr. Samuel
Leonard. Soon after they reached Mr. Leon
ard's honse Brownrigg gave information res
pecting the murder and robbery, and the next
day, when they left the island, they were ar
rested at the house of Mr. Johnson, and com
mitted to Flatbusb ja«l
The evidence of the guilt of ihe prisoners
was full tnd conclusive. Their own confes
sion of the crime gratuitously made to Messrs.
Meritt and Stevenson, who had ihe custody of
them from Flat bush to this city, could have
left not the semblance of a doubt on the mind
of any person who beard the testimony of
those officers. And we learn from a person
who conveyed them to the Penitentiary on the
night of the conviction of Gibbs, that both
freely admitted that Brownrigg and Dawes bad
given a faithful relation of the circumstances,
except in some trifling particulars
There was nothing peculiar in their deport
ment during the trial. The iron vi«age of
G.hhs was occasionally darkened with transient
emo i >n, but he had evidently abandoned all
hope of escape, and sat the greater part of the
time With his hands between bis knee*, calmly
surveying tbe scene before him. Wansley was
more agitated, and trembled visibly when be
ro«e to hear the verdict of the Jury. We are
informed that Gibbs has declared his intention
of avoiding the ignominy of the gallows, if
possible, and it will therefore be well for those
who are entrusted with his custody, to take
such precaution* that he cannot add the crime
of *u»cide lo the already black catalogue of
hi* offmees. .
A motion in arrest of judgement wa9 made
to the Court yesterday morning, but it was o-
verruled and notice given that sentence would
he pronounced on Friday.
Sentence of death was pronounced on the
i o iers on Friday It i-» to he carried into
execution on the 221 of April.
lyXILLEDGEVILLE :
♦
THURSDAY, APRIL. 7, 1831.
I HE CWAVVFuttD PLOT.
We complete today Pie publication of the whole corres-
poodence grow mg out of machination* that have been scv«
era! year* on too*. Our first impressions have nut Leen
altered. On the conbary every neiv development serves
to convince us of what «ve have long believed, to-wit—
that there is a faction in the countiy, pretending to be
tbe friends of the President, who are willing at any mo
ment to sacrifice bun and ibe areat interests i>t the coun
try" to their insatiable cupidity and ambition.
But the friends of General Jackson have nothing to
fear from this combination. Let them nut s; fiV-.r them
selves to he distracted and divided. We li-el our.-elves
fully authorised in saying that Mr. Oamutn will iuit be
a candidate. From the.-e developments tin refine, tne
Clay party have no hing to hope, it we but remain trut to
ourselits.
li is due to ourselves however, and the position we
havealwayssustaiiiedingenir.il politics, to express our
vieivs upon iheu : timaU. objects of loose who have moved
the wires of faction hi tins disgraceful trnnsi.c'.i. n. Our
friends in Georgia know full well the ground which we oc
cupy. They buve long felt the galling tff ets of ibis very
inirig ie. but as the subject is daily becoming of more in
terest to the people of the other States, we will, in order
thatoor position may be umreclcnrly understood abroad,
state bri. fly the history of things here.
It is pretty generally known that there are tn-o pnrt’cs
in this Slate—the Troup, or disunion parly, and the Chirk,
or union parly. But we believe oi r Irtends in the other
Slates do not f illy understand the relative position of
tbo.. t«v.» s*t;»i». parties. We cannot go fully into all the
points of variance. Suifice it to say that ihe party ivhosu
interests are supported by this p iper, d.ffer in some es
sential constitutional principles from the Trwp party.
The Clark parly, while they are devoted to those consti
tutional principles ad located al the South, are opposed (o
those ultra doctrines which they b> lioveh-;vea direct ten
dency t<» the dtstneinberm nl of the Union. With Mr.
K ff-rs .n, they repudia'e lire disorganizing d jetnnes ef the
“hot-headed Georginn"—V\iih President Juckson, they
are opposed to appropriations f<r local objects of internal
improvement—with him, Urey believe the tariff unjust und
oppressive, but mt unconstrtui.or.al. With Madison,
Livingston -md Draj ton, they contemn tbe vile her sirs of
nuUific tlion and the monstrous fallacies of the “Carolina
doctrines.” They despise that kind of rbuduman uua
which is ever, under the guise of d< votion to State Kiglils,
seeking to waken the a flections of tbe people to their
government and to trample under foot the judicial tribu
nals of Ihe country. Tuey are the true St.ite Rights par
ty (net the modern thing so called) that believe in 'he
limit 'd sovereignty oi tne Slates and the limited sovereign-
ty of the General Government They are decidedly oppos
ed to every brunch of the “American System,” are the ad
vocates of ihe most untrammelled “free trade and sailor’s
rights”—believing that every department of industry
should bo left unshackled, as the opinions we rnnv embrace
in politics, letter;, and religion. In fine they are a sec
tion—a vigorous southern shoot—of that old republican
party, who will noi* calculate the value cf Ihe Union' 1 —anil
believe that there is something dear, r to the breast of all
true patriot*, than the “right to fight”
With these views, tbe Claik party entered warmly into
tbe support of Gen. Jackson, when his name wos first an
nounced as a candidate—Nay, one of their papers now
; published in a small village in the op-country, bearing the
j significant name of the ivlacd morgh Jacksonian, is said
j to have, been the very first to announce the name of lack-
j son for the Presidency. About that time a small faction,
sprang up, headed by William H. Crawford, which violent-
| opposed the President. In Georgia every exertion was
l tried to divert the whole State from his support. Eviry
! effort was made to keep the electionRif electors from the
1 hands of the people, bi cause they were the frienJs of
j Jackson. No epithet was loo harsh for the General and
his friends; »ud those who now pretend to be most warndy
(*tt kia interests, electioneered in public and in private
; Against candidates for the Georgia Legislature, on the ex-
press ground that they were Jackson men. For the honos
; of Georgia, however, we state ihat this conduct was cm-
fiucd to tbe leaders of the Crawford faction in the State.
| There always had been a clear majority of the honest yeo
manry of the Slate in his favor. When the irresistible
voice of the people could no longer be withstood—then,
and not till then, did they yield a reluctant support to the
cause of Jackson.
This britf sketch brings ns to the point we aim at.
VVhat was the case in Georgia, was the case throughout
the Republican ranks of the Union.—The moment the pu
ny ranks of the Radicals (puny in numbers, but not in
arts) gave way to the overwhelming voice of the republi
can party throughout the States - this little faction betook
themselves to intrigues—intrigues most foul. Individual
aggrandizement—the honors and emoluments of office,
being their end and aim—they were perfectly willing to
sac; iftce every thing to the accomplishment of these views.
What they had failed to eff-ct by numbers, they resolved to
effect by stratagem. The developments of this corres
pondence have not ebauged our opinions, but have given
us a clue to their “wajs and means.”
The plot runs back through several yeer3—and Mar
tin Van Bvren has been one of the “persons of the dra
ma” throughout. His broad and unequivocal disavowal
of any agency or interest in it. has not changed our opin
ion one whit. We do not believe a word of it. -Ilis “in
terest” is too palpable—and it requires ro Daniel to in
terpret the mystery—though his hand may not have been
seen inditing the plot. That hd has been front the be
ginning of the play, looking forward to the Presidency^,
we do not doubt. Had Mr. Crawford succeeded, and Van
Buren with him, he would have been in “the line ef safe
succession.” Both however failed. Mr. Crawford was
“laid on the shelf”—or rather seated on the bench at
home, very much to his own satisfaction, if be is lo be
credited. But his friend, Van Buren, might still look fsr-
ward to higher promotion. Here let it be remembered
that he was palmed upon the people of Georgia as their Vice
President bp the Crawford electors Never wa* the voice
ot a people more misrepresented—for Martin Van Buren
was unknown to three-fourths, at least, of our people.—
!
\