Page:American Historical Review, Volume 12.djvu/811

Jackson and the Texas Rcvoluiion Soi any hostile movements wliatever on foot in Arkansas against Texas or Mexico " } Adams then conntered with the argument that, even if the letter was sent. Jackson's duplicity was proved by his addressing it to the secretary instead of to the governor of Arkansas who was really at his post and not absent in Kentucky as alleged.^ That is to say, there was an understanding between Jackson and Fulton to smother the whole thing. This charge on the part of Adams would seem, however, to have been gratuitous. He failed to make out a case. On the con- trary, the case for the defense became, before the affair was ended, fairly clear. For the original of the letter in question was event- ually found in Arkansas and sent to the State Department, where it was placed on file. Besides, the whole tone of the correspond- ence between Jackson and Fulton in search for the missing letter and between Jackson and Blair and 'an Buren relative to the episode has a straightforwardness that is convincing, and is w-ithout suspicion of collusion or connivance. Adams, on the other hand, whatever we may think of the way in which he obtained the letter and the use he made of it, had laid his motives open to serious criticism by making and reiterating his charges without seeking for the facts right at his hand and, apparently, by manoeuvering ^ Globe, August 29. 1838. Fulton, writing to Jackson, January 11, 1838, states that he recollects the letter as one of which Jackson may be justly proud, but, as he has neither the letter nor a copy of his reply with him, desires Jackson to send him copies of both that he may use them as occasion may seem to demand. Before receiving this letter from Fulton Jackson had written to Fulton and also to Forsyth, quoting an entry in his memorandum book (see note 2, page 802), and stating that the letter and Fulton's report would probably be found in the War Department. He therefore asked that the files of the War Department be searched, and that all letters, official or unofficial, confidential or otherwise, together with Fulton's replies, be communicated to the House of Representatives. (Jackson to Fulton, Jackson to Forsyth, January 23, 1838. Jackson MSS.) As nothing was found in the War Department, Fulton writes that when he returns to Arkansas he will obtain the letter. See Poinsett to Forsyth. February 8, 1838; Forsyth to Jackson, February 14, 1838; Fulton to Jackson, February 17, 1838; also Jackson to Forsyth, March 6, 1838, and Fulton to Jackson, April i, 1838. All these letters are among the Jackson MSS. See also Jackson to Van Buren, January 23, 1838; Van Buren MSS. ^National Intelligencer, August 27, 1838; Globe, August 28. 3 Fulton, finding that he would be unable to go to Arkansas during the summer, wrote to his father to search for the letter and copies of replies or reports on the investigation of Houston's alleged activities in Arkansas and to send them to Washington. The letter itself was found, but no replies from Fulton to Jackson, it seems, were ever discovered. See Fulton to Jackson, Jan- uary 26, 1839; David Fulton (father of Senator W. S. Fulton) to Jackson, Feb- ruary 18, 1839; Forsj'th to Jackson, March 14, 1S39; W. S. Fulton to Jackson, August 21, 1839. Jackson MSS.