Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-02-04
From The National Journal Of IAN. 81.
MIR t'I AV

WIN NLAN.
1t is matter of no surprise to Ms IN 6rd ,b
those papers which have been ali along ini,ui,.
to the Secretary o! State, have SO soon opeped
their batteries of foul asperslon and meme,
against tins distinguished citizen. for the mart
winch he intends To take, when the Uouse nj
Representatives shall DE called upon TO select =
PRESIDENT from the candidates who will be con
Sutuuonaiiy offered To their choice Mr. Claw,
position before the nation is such, that his course
"a ""o"cu WIN d scTut'nIHiug- jealous, fearfl,
eye; and 1t would bc Impossi,l, for hrn to av,,,
preference on this great question that ,youId
mol SUBJECT HIM 10 urgencruus suspi;,ion, and
abuse o. those whose hopes of future advance
i,'cit manly depend upon his present dete-nina-
tioii' lie owed 1t 10 the high standing wii,;
he has so long and so honourably Maintained
among his fellow citizens; to that man., ard
honest intrePIdity of patriotism which has cha
ractcrlzed his whole political career: NOT 70 re-.
mann silent, on question W inch SO deeoi, do
VoNes the interests, the honor, and the Lan,i
ness oi MS country Too frank and cauJit fr
cnhcealinent' too honest for hvpocrjsy. nj,
lay, when asked by friend or zoe. to 6ecIara
MS sentiments, has not hcSitated 10 do So. will
t4e orenncss and freedom Of a man of honour
'llS sentiments, as ayowei, have shown him to
be the same independent. liberal. and enI,ob,
ened politician, VINO has 50 often cectr;l;, 4
us WITH ms eloqucnce on the great questions Of
hatlonai interest, and who ha. SD o!jeD cariieG
WIN hl'n me voice OF the people, even when
'he goVefnmentIt"if was opposed 10 hi,n.
ha' ms decision on the present occasion Ina.
oeIn "laSpen@ent, IS manifest from the fact thai
tne LIZ, fS'"t"Fe OF the state tie represents uu-
deran assumed authority, however. which d,n,
not OF right belong to 1t, bad instructed 81. -,
y"$'e" MN aS The phrase goes, to pursue .
f.terent course. II was a question in ,yhicb H..
eit that he must act, not as a rcprc,rntat;ve of
Nentuc!<y only, but as a representative of tho
"hnle people OF the Republic; and that if was
MS duty to consult the general welfare, rather
hah the WISHES OF few, aud OF few. tno
VINO mad no consttu IonaI right to REQUIRE of him
70 be governed by the expression of their
wishes. '''''
That the course he has marked out for hin,
self IS Gje,ut one, Is equally manifest. If mo |
rad permitted himself 10 be- influenced by self !
sh considerations, by sectional feelings or h, !
ocal views OF policy, these would have led him
o adopt the sentiments of the Kentucky ,eris-
l'ure and 10 have declared his preference Of
he western candidate. But the most promi |
rent feature OF hr Ciay', political life has been
noble disregard of consequences 10 himself |
tie has III every thing, pursued lhe broad polio,
'mch ms judgment dictated, as well in the d1- /
nestle as 10 the foreign concerns of his ..o,,,
ry, as most conducive 10 that Country, welfare
It home, and reputation abroad Jyh.t b; /
immediate constituents might say or do. OF what
he public at large might mink Of his mytiv,.s /
las never for Il moment d.yeit upon his view in
onsideung question ofu H,onH policy. SpcL
man as Nh Clay. IN fact, ctunot be regard Il
5 belonging To- any particular State. Or section
4 country: he Is thc representative Of the
MON aud the whole UHon ouly can have =
lght to instruct or advise him, on subject in
'blcb the whole is Interested
Mr. lays decision is the reeuG IF delibe.
'te full. aud enlightened view Of the i,i.,h r..
possibilities tiat belong, to tbc place he fll, IN
nc eye OF the world. tie is called upon Ia ,e-
ct a Chief Magistrate. for this nation. ont oil
rec persons 70 whom the Constitution confines
IS choice. OHe Of these three whai:.cr r,.,,
ave been his rncrt~--and we are very far. in
Ius mentioning him, from wishing b under
GOD as 'c' ACTING from h.m iu The smallest
gree; on to- contrary. Wc feel the m ST
Iendiy sympathy for lis sGleriurs, wInlc .
lteriMn he .lrmCst 1victiOa Of his ho.es
'llticai virtue. and patriotism has .ufe ,e.l
Yercy uTier thc dIsgcus3tions Of 70, H.ucc &
/, at least, tO render it doubtful whether th9se
no wish we'll 20 bim or the country. ought fo
sire to see hiro placed in a ifua ion wbicn re- ,
'lres the full exercise OF unimpaIred faculties.
under such circumstances, Mr. Clay had de-