Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1825-04-05

three of his friends were discouraged,
and went over to the coalition ticket; oy
which means, Clay was excluded from
the House OF Representatives. All this
was fair and honorable--no wicked COM
bination or bargaining ust what the
constitution contemplated.
As soon as the news from Louisiana
reached the metropolis OF the nation, 1t
was perceived that Adams, Crawford,
and Jackson, were the lucky three j.; and
tina, Clay was excluded from the House
OF Representatives And 1t was now
that the friends of the three began to Gu
logise Clay--hc was the second choice
oil each party. And the friends OF Jack
son and Crawford were equally forward
in suggesting TO the friends OF Clay the
course to be pursued by the latter, in or
der to promote the cause OF their iavor-
lie, in future. Help US now, said the
friends OF Jackson, and Clay is sure OF
success hereafter. Some of them, more
intolerant than others, mingled threats
with persuasion. If Clay goes for
Adams, said they, he is blasted forever.
The friends OF Crawford made 10 threats;
but persuasion, like honey, fell from
their lips. If any enc OF the parties, as
a party, was more modest than The rest,
in the use of language which might be
interpreted as holding out an induce
ment or lure to the friends OF Clay TO
come over to their side OF the question,
it was certainly the party in favor OF
| Adams. Az Of them alike INDUCED in
the humorous conversations and chit
chat, with the friends Of Clay, about Of
fees, the Presidency hereafter, &c. &c.
And it is from these Jocose and innocent
conversations among Intimate friends
and acquaintance, added 10 knowledge
of the fact, that there were many indivi-
duals who were determined, il possible,
to have the benefit OF Clay's services 10
the Administration OF the government,
that the uncandid have drawn forth their
contemplate charges against him, and
his friends, about bargaining, SC.
What else could be expected than that
the most distinguished and enlightened
republicans would look to Clay as the fit
and proper person TO be at the head of
the Stats Department? His eminent
qualifications for the office, and the high
estimation in which he was known to be
held in foreign countries, with whom we
have intercourse, especially in the Re-
pubics of Mexico and South America,
where they ieel under obligations OF
gratitude to this man for their own in
dependence, and look upon him as the
mos, distinguished apostle OF human Ii
berry, of the age in which he lives-were
circumstances pointing to him as natu-
rally as the needle trembles to the pole,
as, the very man to i'll that Office. That
Ito was 50 spoken Of, end ~i,hoo. dis
guise, may readily be admitted. And if
censure is to fall on any party for bold
ing such conversations, II must tall alike
upon all; for all are equally guilty. Blu,
no such thing as guilt or crminalily was
attached 10 such conversations, whether
humorously or earnestly held, until Clay
and his friends had given indications,
not to be misunderstood, OF the course
they intended TO pursue. 1t was then,
and not till then, that we heard OF combi-
nations, bargaining, and corruption. II
Clay and his friends deserve any censuve,
it is for having taken ns,ice OF the raw
ings Of the disattointed.
But lie, the impartial reader look over
the preceding, rapidly drawn narrative,
and follow the writer down to the end of
it, and he will say to Clay and his
friends" Well done, thou good and
faithful servants" The ignorant and
the base may rail on-the wise and the
yirtuous will applaud. The duty to be
discharged by Clay and his friends, after
his exclusion from the House Of Repre-
sentatiyes, was duty, the solemnty and
importance of which but seldom de-
wolves upon The Representatives of free
men To discharge that duty with f.
deity, amid the factious elements of par
ty,s such as had been thrown together in
the House of Representatives, required
more than ordinary 6rmness-to dis
charge that duty without giving offence
to some of the Incorporate and violent
Of the disappointed partisans was impos-
sible. AS patriots and statesmen, how
ever. they determined upon a discharge
of that duty, uninfuenced by any other
considerations than such as pointed to
their coun,ry's good.
After exploring the whole ground as
well as they could, even such of them as
had been accustomed to think Of Mr..
Crawford as second choice, concluded
that he was hors de combat, and that any
attempt to elect him, would not only be