Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1825-06-14
From the National Journal.
HENRY CLAY.

Vldeu, nave thrown on MT. Clay the most
condemnatory censure TOR the par, he
acted in the late election of the Chief
Magistrate OF the nation. The ground
on which the deepest and bitterest de-
nunciations are poured forth against him
is, that by his influence as we'll as his
vote be supported Mr.. Adams instead OF
General Jackson.
But that he could not, in the case re-
Eerred TO, have acted otherwise than as
he did, without doing violence to his
conscience as a man, and injury 10 his
reputation as consistent politician and
an enlightened statesman, is evinced, or
we are mistaken, by the following consi-
derations
In native talents, moral rectitude. love
OF country, energy OF character, and
capacity Tor business, we will suppose
MIR. Adams and Gen. Jackson to be
equal. Nor is it probable that the SUP
Aosition differs widely from the fact.
But in their education, mental attain
ments, general habits, and state Of pre-
paration for civil Offices, they are atoge-
Their dissimilar.
intellectually cultivated under distin
guished masters from his earliest boy
hood, wei! versed in the science of COM
merce and finance, profound civilian
and juris. by an extent oil study and
depth of research which but few men
have equaIled and none perhaps surpas-
sed, unremittingly practised for nearly
thirty years in diplomacy and delibera-
ton both at home and abroad, and neces
sarily led, by the high trust reposed in
him for the last eight years, to contem-
Late in all their varieties and relations.
the interests of his country both external
and internal, the former is peculiarly
suited to the tolls and implicated affairs
of the Cabinet. A more enlightened,
disciplined, and practical statesman and
politician, is perhaps no where 10 be
found in America or Europe.
But in relation to the latter, the case
is, in all respects, exceedingly different.
But very moderately educated in his
youth, formed and disciplined for louder
and more tumultuous scenes, to be real
ly great he must be engaged In action.
The stiffness of the closet can never
provc acceptable to him-lhe Cabinet
can never become congepisl 10 him, as
home. Translated TO that theatre, his
reputation would dnindle and perhaps
perish, like the stately oak transpan'ed
when full grown to an unsuitable soil.
Although, in civil life, he has filled with
usefulness sundry stations OF high honor
1. th,, ~ I'M 10 nj his % nj
talion, by which he rises above MS tel
low citizens, has been derived from the
brilliancy Of his achievements in the
field. Napoleon, perhaps, excepted, II
is doubtful whether The nineteenth cen
tury has exhibited an individual superior
to General Jackson, in the attributes
and qualities OF great captain.
To this respect, he is justly the pride
end boast of this country; and fanhtui
history will do him Justice. But he can
not be pronounced an able civilian,
great iurist, an experienced financer, or
a distinguished statesman. Yet these
are the quaific atoms, which, much more
than fitness TO command armies, should
unite in the person Of the Chief Magls-
trate of the nation. In the individual
who occupies that exalted station, ia
lent for war is neither requisite nor use
FIJI. To pronounce it innocent is the
entire commentator to which 1t IS en-
titled. With transcendent talent, OF
whatever description, is usually assocl'
aled a corresponding taste. And al
though the power to wage war is moi
confded to the President OF the Union,
it is idle to allege that that exalted func,
sionary may not attain TO great influence
in directing the councils of the nation
and 10 giving tone and tendency TO pub
lie feeling. Withou, declaring war, he
may be the cause ofit
Seeing, then, fitness, to command
armies and to serve as President OF the
United States, is not the same; and see
ing, in a particular manner, that the
high functions OF the latter Office require
ndispensably the qualifications OF thu
great statesman, the profound Jurlst and
civilian, and the accomplished diploma
list, where and what are the real apti
tudes presented BY Gen. jackson tor thai
exalted station Take from him the bril-
fancy of his military rcnown, and viii
all his integrity and moral WORTH and al
the excellcncy Of his social virtues, lans