350

REPORTS AND PUBLIC LETTERS.

A supposed friend of Gen. Jackson, has recently attempted togive a new exposition of the causes which led to this controversy;but his labor seems to have had no effect on the public convic-tions. Instinctive perception, coupled with the now well ascertainedfacts of history, has firmly settled the public opinion in regard tothe whole subject. It would, therefore be unnecessary, even if it werestrictly proper, to incorporate in a collection of his Works, matterwhjch he thought proper to suppress. That duty belongs rather to thebiographer than the editor. and the entire correspondence in relationto the subject, together with such notes and comments as may serve toexplain the motives and objects of the chief actors in this shameful con-spiracy, will be laid before the public in the Memoirs of Mr. Calhoun.Only that portion of the correspondence which he thought proper topublish in his defence, will appear in his works. The reply to Mr.Eaton, being directly connected with the controversy is subjoined, asserving to show who were the subaltern agents originally employed inthe transaction. Other names may appear hereafter.— Editor.]

To the People of the United States :—

I come before you as my constituents to give an accountof my conduct in an important political transaction, whichhas been called in question, and so erroneously represented,that neither justice to myself nor respect for you will permitme any longer to remain silent. I allude to my course, inthe deliberations of the cabinet of Mr. Monroe, on theSeminole question. I know not how I can place more fullybefore you all the facts and circumstances of the case, thanby putting you in possession of the correspondence betweenGeneral Jackson and myself, which will show the differencebetween the views that we have respectively taken, and bywhat means, and through whose agency, this long gone-byaffair has been revived.

I have not taken this step, strictly defensive as it is,without mature deliberation, and a calm and careful estimateof all the obligations under which I act. That there arestrong reasons against it, I feel and acknowledge ; but I alsofeel the most thorough conviction that the sacred obligation