Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-03-31
MIR. CLAY'S ADDRESS.

To the People of the Congressional Dis
trict composed of the Counties Of Fay
cite, Woodford, and Clarke, in Ken
fucky. )
The relations Of your representative
and of your neighbour in which Ihave
so long stood, and in which have ex-
perienced so many strong proofs OF your
confidence, attachment and friendship,
having just been,the one terminated, and
the other suspended, avail myself OF
the occasion on taking, l hope tenn
porary, leave of you, to express my UNI
feigned gratitude for all your favours,
and to assure you that shall cherish
a fond and unceasing recollection of
them. The extraordinary circumstan-
ces in which, during the late session of
Congress, l have been placed, and the
unmeri,ed animadversions which l
have brought up on myself, for an hon
est and faithful discharge of my public
duty, form an additional motive for
this appeal to your candour and justice.
II, in the Office have just left, have
abused your confidence and betrayed
your interests, i cannot deserve your
support in that on the duties of which
have now entered. On the contrary,
should it appear that have been assail-
ed without just cause, and that mis-
guided zeal and interested passions
have singled me out as avictim, can
not doubt that shall continue to lind,
in the enlightened tribunal of the pub
lie, that cheering countenance and i'm
partial Judgment, without which apub-
lie servant cannot possibly discharge
with advantage the trust conhded to
him.
1t is known to you, that my name had
been presented, BY the respectable states
of Ohio, Kentucky, Louisiana and
Missouri, for the Office Of President, to
the consideration of the American pub
lie, and that it had attracted some at
tention in other quarters OF the Union
When, early in November last, took
my departure from the district to repair
to this city, the issue of the Presiden-
tial election before the people was un-
known. Events, however, had then
so far transpired as to render 1t highly
probable that there would be no cleo
ton by the people, and that should
be excluded from the House of Repre-
sentatives. 1t became, therefore, my
duty to consider, and to make up an O.
pinion on, the respective pretensions
Of the three gentlemen that might be
returned, and at that early period sta.
ted TO DR.. Drake, one of the Professors
in the Medical School Of TRANSATLANTIC
University, and to John ]. Crittenden
Esq. Of Frankfort, my determination
TO support Mr.. Adams in preference tc
Gen Jackson. / wrote to Charles
Hammond, Esq. of Cincinnatta, abou,
The same time, and mentioned certain
objections to the election Of Mr. Craw.
ford, (among which was that Of hi:
continued i'll health,) that appeared t1
me almost insuperable. During m,
Journey h;ther, and up to near Christ
mas, it remained uncertain whethe
MIR. Crawford or would be returned
TO the House of Representatives. VI
to near Christmas, all our information
made it highly probable that the vot
of Louisiana would be given to me
and that should consequently be re
turned, to the exclusion Of MIR Craw
ford. And, whilst that probability wa
strong, / communicated to Mr.. Senate
Johnston, from Louisiana, my resolu
ton not to allow my name, In conse
quence of the small number OF votes b
which it would be carried into tn
House, if 1 were returned, to constitut
an obstacle, for one moment, to an
lection in the House Of Represents
tives.
During the month of Dec .&the great
erpart OF Jan. strong professions OF hig
consideration, and Of unbounded admi
ration of me, were made to my friend
in the greatest profusion, by some of tn
active friends of all the returned candi
dates. Every body protested to regret
after was excluded from the House
that had not been returned to it.
emM5 10 be the favcurite Of every DO