Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1825-04-19
From the National Journal.

In mathematics it is held TO be impos-
sIble 10 make omething out Of nothing.
But there are few warm partisan poll
'ioians VINO seem determined to build up
an Opposition, without a particle Of
materials. Their suppositious allegation
is, that Mr.. Clay Effected the election oil
Mr.. Adams from an interested motive
and the proof They adduce is, that he has
been appointed Secretary OF State. 1t is
10 be presumed that these jealous gen
tlemen will admit one truth, which is
this that Mr.. Clay and his friends
must have voted for somebody. This
being allowed, because II cannot be dis
putcd, let Us ste how the account would
have stood, had they voted Tor General
Jackson or Mr.. Crawford. Five Wes-
tern votes withheld from MIR. Adams
AID given to the General, would, with
the seven he actually received, have
made twelve, which would not have
elected him President. Where would
he have got the thirteenth New York,
had she not given her suffrage for Mr..
A dams, would, uneuesliouably, have
voted Tor Mr. Crawford crtalnly not
for General Jackson. Mary land could
not have been induced 10 vote Tor the
General; for, il is well understood, had
it been requisite, one or two more oil her
members would have voted for Mr..
Adams.-ThIs was founded on the con-
sheraton, that although General Jack
son got the majority oi The electors, MIR.
a das.s obtained majority OF Il C votes
OF The People Georgia, Moth. CARROLL
Ia, Nirs ina, and Delaware, were deter
mined to adhere, exclusively, to Nr.
Crawford. Had Mr.. Clay aud his friends
supported the last mentioned candidate,
that, too would have been unavailmg.
MIR. Clay, aud those who voted with him,
could have chosen neither Genera!
jackson nor Mi. Crawford and had he
and thsy not acted as lhey did, there
would have been no election Of Presi-
dent. Would that have satisfied the ma.
ion! Putting asde the circumstance,
that MIR. Clay had as much right TO ex-
excise his Judgment as any other repre-
sentative, it appears 10 be an absurdity
TO blame blm for not doing that which
lie could not do: namely, elect General
Jack son President. II id Mr. CLAW and
his friends united with the supporters OF
Mr.. Crawford, would the buge notes Of
cen=u,c have sounded less loudly and
Lively MOI The least. Tie Strain would
have ben even more sonoruus AUG " ar
Ike. Nj. Clay S motives are arrajened.
And who is IL tina, Judges OF them h.
nocents and Saints Estimate Their mo
tives by their own rule, and what will be
The conclusion? Why, that they rail
Ii ON lsappointmcnt; that they endea-
vor TO blow Hame.to CONSUME Mr.. Clay,
because his candidate was successful,
aud theirs was not. They court the Poo
PIE, lhey profess to love them, because
they wish 10 make use OF them for the
destruction OF Mr.. Clay's character. Had
FIR. Clay declined the offer Of the State
Departments, il would have been said
tina, he refused it from consc iousness
oil ,,:s own misconduct. Whether he
deserves the Pace, independently OF his
vote fer Mr. Adams, vii. be determined
by the ability with which he discharges
the duties of the Office. If he admin
s'ers the affairs Of the Department with
talent, II must be conceded that he need
ed no other recommendation than that
which his Intellectual capacity gave
hin; and the Western people who SO
anXiously sough, to make him President,
viii hardly condemn him or Nj. Adams
because, having failed in that, they see
HIM occupying the post near in honor
and Influence TO tina, Of the Presidency.
If the dissatisfied gentlemen choose TO
continue their piping for recruits, they
must opeu Their rendezvous with other
music than that which the, sound at pre-
sent.