Page:Andrew Erwin - Gen. Jackson's Negro Speculations (1828).djvu/17

 Jackson, I thought it probable he stood in the same situation as in the purchase of the cotton and tobacco, frem the circumstance, as I then believed, it was his credit that had enabled us to make the purchase. Capt. Coleman made the negociation, and I made the selection. The negroes were, at the time of the transaction, at Capt. Coleman's plantation, near this place, and I do not now recollect that he saw them before they descended the river. I am, respectfully.

It seems then from this statement, that a partnership was formed in the year 1810 between yourself, Joseph Coleman, and Horace Green. You were applied to, in the first place, it is true, to become a security, but you insisted on being placed in the light of a partner. A firm was therefore constituted under the style of "Coleman, Green, and Jackson;" and in the spring of 1811, a purchase was made by the firm with your assent, (for your printers admit that the contract with Epperson was signed by yourself, as well as by the other partners) for the purchase of negroes to the amount of ten thousand dollars. One third of that portion of the purchase money which was required in advance, Mr Green expressly tells us, was paid by him, and the other two thirds, he understood, were paid by Capt. Coleman and Gen. Jackson. Now, Sir, let us see what you yourself say, as to the payment of these two thirds.—The following is an exact copy of a memorandum, in your own hand writing, which, in connexion with the above statement of Mr. Green, leaves no room for the slightest doubt, as to the nature of this transaction.

"A. Jackson amount of proportion of cash for negroes bot. of Richard Epperson, $929 45. J. Coleman is to pay the note in Bank for interest on purchase of cotton from B. Smith, for $613 39, and the sum of $191, which he is to pay, and the sum of $125 for boat makes up his proportion. A. Jackson has paid for Keelboat $50. To Capt. Wetherall discount, this 20th Nov. 1811, on the bill remitted W. Jackson & Co. on James Jackson & Co. $14 51; and also $16 on note endorsed by J. H. Smith.—Note—provisions furnished cotton boat, 500 lbs. pork, and flower, and meal, in all $17 50."

The above is in your own hand writing—all in one paragraph, and could not have been written previous to the 20th of November, yet it correctly recites your payment to him of the 21st of May, and was my authority for saying it appeared, by your own hand writing, that your two proportions of the first payment were 1858 90; and for saying you wrote it six months after the date of the purchase of the negroes, and your first payment to Epperson. Now, Sir, I know nothing about the amount of your first payment (and never said I did) except from your own statement above quoted, and now from the additional statement of Horace Green. But it will not do for you to rely upon any private memorandum or agreement of your own, in contradiction of these statements, unless you candidly develop the whole matter, bring back all your books and papers which you have withdrawn from bank with so much tre-