Page:Andrew Erwin - Gen. Jackson's Negro Speculations (1828).djvu/11

 "During the last year, a charge of negro trading was preferred against Gen. Jackson in one of the Kentucky papers. This charge, the editors of the republican, in their usual temperate style pronounced an infamous falsehood. A few days subsequent to this denial, I was informed by a gentleman of this place of some circumstances which tended to establish the fact, and a short time after, whilst looking over some old bank books, which had been lying in the Nashville bank almost unnoticed for twelve or fifteen years, I laid my hands on one belonging to Gen. Jackson, in which his account with the bank had been made up and settled, and which had been left there before I went into the bank. I am not aware that it was left in bank under any other than ordinary circumstances, that is, for settlement, and after being written up was never called for. In the first page of this book was a memorandum of the character alluded to in the Republican, the tenor of which satisfied me of the fact, that the General was concerned with Coleman and Green in trading in negroes. This memorandum I did "exhibit" to five or six persons, amongst whom was a firm and decided friend of Gen. Jackson. The exhibition of this paper or memorandum was not made with any design of injuring Gen. Jackson in public estimation, or of producing any effect whatever on the approaching election; but for the purpose of showing to those few individuals. that the editors of the Republican, in their great zeal to serve their friend and patron, had been too hasty in their denial, and that there were some grounds at least for the charge. If I had intended, (as charged by the Republican) to have used this memorandum to the prejudice of the General, why did I show it to one of his particular friends? to one with whom he had freely conversed, a short time before, on the subject of this very charge against him of negro trading? Why did I not furnish it in reply to various letters which had been written me from other states, asking for information on this subject?"

Dr. Boyd McNairy, President of the bank, also made a statement in the same paper, in reply to the imputations of the Republican, that he had improperly exhibited Gen. Jackson's Bank book to public view. The following extract will shew the nature of Jackson's palliation or defence against this charge:

"You have been charged—but not by me, for I expressly disavow any agency in the matter—with having been engaged, in one or more instances, in NEGRO TRADING—with having employed your capital and credit in the purchase and sale of slaves, for the sake of pecuniary profit. Is this charge true, or is it not? If it be true, why do you not magnanimously and heroically admit it, and defend yourself upon the ground, that the habits prevalent in the country and the peculiar state of our society, in a community where slavery unfortunately exists, justified such speculations? But I have already said that you are responsible for the statements of fact contained in the article in the Republican of the 11th inst. and permit me to tell you, that it was indeed an evil hour for you, when you suffered it to be sent forth from your official press.