To John Jay from Egbert Benson, 19 May 1807
From Egbert Benson
[New York—19th. May 1807]
Dr: Sir,
I never meant to repeat from You a Sentiment so unfit as that whatever might be the Pretensions, or Worth, or Competency, of the Individual, or whatever Changes might take place in the Community, still his being nominated by the Party, known as the Clintonian, would itself be decisive with You to forbear voting for him— On the contrary I took it for granted that what You did say had reference only to the particular Election then in View, and I find that, however generally or loosely I may have expressed myself, I have uniformly been so understood, and likewise that the Paragraph in Mr: Coleman’s Paper,1 notwithstanding the Phraseology of it, has been received in the same restricted Sense— At the same time if You think an Explanation necessary and will transmit it to Me, it shall be published—2 Sincerely Yours
Egbt. Benson
ALS, NNC (EJ: 07510). For JJ’s reply, see his letter to Benson of 2 June, below.
1. William Coleman’s New-York Evening Post of 27 Apr., and New-York Herald of 29 Apr. 1807.
2. Coleman had earlier included a piece in his newspapers discussing JJ’s supposed statement that he would not politically support a Clintonian candidate. When JJ pointed out that this conversation was removed from its proper context, Coleman inserted a clarification of the episode. Coleman’s explanation included the first sentence of this letter in his published explanation that appeared in New-York Evening Post of 24 June, and New-York Herald of 27 June 1807. See also JJ to Egbert Benson, 12 May 1807, note 7, above.
For more on this affair, see JJ to Egbert Benson, 2 June 1807; William Coleman to JJ, 6 June; and JJ to Coleman, 18 June 1807, all below.