Mrs. Mason joins, me in best respects to Mrs. King, who, we are informed, is with you at Washington. I am, my dear Sir, as ever sincerely and faithfully yours, J. MASON. ing will-power, an abhorrence of debt, public and private, and during his presidency the debt of the United States was fully paid in 1835; disliked banks, and the love of hard money, justice and his country were ruling passions. Fought many duels, was chivalrous with women; retired after the presidency to the "Hermitage," consisting of about 1,000 acres, some twelve miles out from Nashville, Tenn., where he died. CHAPTER VI. Correspondence during the Years 1819 and 1820 - Letters to and from Mr. King, Mr. Gore, Mr. Webster, Dr. Appleton, and Judge Story, Mr. Mason a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives in 1820. Report and Resolutions upon certain Resolutions of the State of Virginia upon the Admission of Missouri, sent to the Governor of New Hampshire. CHRISTOPHER GORE TO JEREMIAH MASON. WALTHAM, January 20, 1819. MY DEAR SIR,-You will perceive by Governor Brooks' speech, or rather message, that he has been induced to join in hosannas to the present administration, and to express an entire confidence in our national rulers. This may be presumed to have arisen from a disposition to conciliate Mr. Monroe's friends to the claim of Massachusetts for the reimbursement of her expenses in the last war. Its efficacy I doubt. It is not easy to discern, if the Legislature respond to this sentiment as was intended how Massachusetts can have any other candidate for the Presidency at the next election, if power continues in the present hands. Mr. Adams seems to have taken the course in his essay on the Seminole war and the murder of Ambrister and Arbuthnot,-for I feel it to be this crime,-which his enemies would have pointed out to him as most calculated to promote their views. 1 - If Mercer does justice to the subject, and I am much inclined to hope and believe he will,-I think the noble Secretary will writhe 1 Arbuthnot and Ambrister were two British subjects, tried by court martial for aiding and abetting the Seminoles in their war with the United States in 1818. Arbuthnot was condemned to death, and Ambrister to be whipped and imprisoned; but General Jackson ordered them both to be executed. This affair, under the lashes which he has most indiscreetly and unnecessarily courted. Your faithful friend, C. GORE. JEREMIAH MASON TO CHRISTOPHER GORE. PORTSMOUTH, January 31, 1819. MY DEAR SIR,-I doubt whether Governor Brooks' lofty praise of Mr. Monroe will have much tendency to procure the allowance of your militia claim. The course adopted by the minority in your Senate will, in my opinion, have a much stronger tendency the other way. Had your Legislature humbled themselves before the Government of the United States by adopting the resolution proposed by General King, it might have had some effect. It must be a considerable object with the Government of the United States to have the question concerning the command of the militia amicably settled in its favor. And the quiet, humble submission of Massachusetts, the great State of this section and constant leader in all rebellions, would go far to settle it. As long as it shall be believed at Washington that you may be brought to this submission, your claim will not be admitted without it. Whether you would not by such course lose more in character than the money is worth, ought to be considered. I think the best way for the Federalists would have been, fairly to have met and discussed the subject in Congress, and if rejected, as it probably would have been, to have said no more about it. While the matter remains at it now does, the claim will be a standing bribe to the Federalists to degrade themselves, and if not effectual for that purpose, it will in the end bribe the good people of Massachusetts to elect rulers who can adopt the proposed resolution without feeling any degradation. I agree with you in opinion of the character of General Jackson's conduct, and am glad to see the subject taken up with so much spirit in the (211) House of Representatives of the United States. I hope the debate which caused much excitement both in England and America, illustrates General Jackson's iron will and reckless disregard of consequences, as well as the unbounded influence which he had acquired by his successful defense of New Orleans. Mr. Adams, to the regret of many of his friends, defended General Jack son's course. will terminate in a censure of Jackson. I really think it a national concern. The barbarous conduct of Jackson and his court-martial, and not less barbarous doctrine by which it is attempted to be justified, will, unless disclaimed, disgrace us in the opinion of the civilized world. My winter courts are just commencing, in which I expect to be shut up for the ensuing five weeks. I do not greatly dislike the labor of itself, but, unfortunately, the subjects of litigation in our courts are for the most part too trivial and unimportant to excite much interest. Mrs. Mason and Mary desire me to present to you and Mrs. Gore their kindest regards. I am sincerely and faithfully yours, JEREMIAH MASON TO RUFUS KING. J. MASON. PORTSMOUTH, January 31, 1819. MY DEAR SIR,-Last summer I neglected my duty by omitting to write to you. In the first part of the present session of Congress, I did write to you, and on both occasions I have met with a like reward in your silence. The discussion, still going on as I suppose in the House of Representatives, concerning General Jackson and his court martial, excites very considerable interest in this section of the country. I am of opinion that Mr. Adams has lost credit with his New England friends, by his bold attempt at a jusification. I think it unfortunate for him that he did not confine himself to the repelling of the complaint of Spain, where there seems to be much ground for recrimination at least, without attempting so broad and entire justification of the whole transaction in all respects. I see no ground on which the execution of Arbuthnot and Ambrister can be justified, nor much in the circumstances of the case to excuse the act, which must, in the common opinion of mankind, be held to have been cruel and barbarous. I presume there is no real apprehension that Congress will attempt to obtain a forfeiture of the charter of the (212) Bank of the United States. The stock may now be purchased several per cent, below par. I am told it is the opinion of some shrewd men in money calculations, that it will soon rise again above par. It would seem probable this will be the case, if the direction gets into better hands, unless the concerns of the Bank have been so badly managed as to occasion a great eventual loss. I know you cannot have troubled yourself to have formed any opinion on this subject as to money-making projects, yet you probably have an opinion of what will be the result. If so I shall be obliged to you for it. I have thought of investing a sum of money in the stock of the Bank. What is the probability of a change in the Board of Directors at the next election. With my best regards to Mrs. King, I am, as always, J. MASON. DANIEL WEBSTER TO JEREMIAH MASON. WASHINGTON, February 4, 1819. MY DEAR SIR, Since my arrival here, I have been all the time in court, and can therefore as yet say nothing more than I have seen and heard here. Most of the judges came here with opinions, drawn in the College cause. On the other side a second argument, as you know, was expected. Dr. Perkins had been a week at Baltimore, conferring with Mr. Pinkney. Mr. Pinkney came up on Monday. On Tuesday morning, he being in court, as soon as the judges had taken their seats, the Chief Justice said that in vacation the judges had formed opinions in the College cause. He then immediately began reading his opinion, and, of course, nothing was said of a second argument. Five of the judges concurred in the result, and I believe most or all of them will give their opinions to the reporter. Nothing has been said in court about the other causes. Mr. Pinkney says he means to argue one of them; but I think he will alter his mind. There is nothing left to argue on. (213) The Chief Justice's opinion was in his own peculiar way. He reasoned along from step to step; and, not referring to the cases, adopted the principles of them, and worked the whole into a close, connected, and very able argument. Some of the other judges, I am told, have drawn opinions with more reference to authorities. Judge Bell's case I expect to come on in two or three days. I am |