Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-03-22

ceesUIs, The President seeks IN acquire II by the
devotion of hls heart to his country, and the un-
ccasing application of all his faculties to her
vice. Adherng to the principles he has profess
ed, we believe me will not be mistaken in his re-
lance Oh the candid and liberal support of the
People.
In the first acts of his administration, the Pre-
sident has certainly added 10 his precepts the
force of his cxampe. he has himself made the
effort of nagnanimity-the sacrifice of preludi-
Ces, which he has recommended 10 ms fellow CT
tizens. With adue regard 10 theirttness for their
respective stations, has principal officers have
beenselected, it is evident, ratherwith reference
to the Cancellation of popular sentlrnent than TO
his personal predictions. In forming his Ca
hinet he has made experiment upon national
principles, without reference to party or persO-
nal considerations Whatever other ground of
opposition may be taken 10 the present administers
ton, it cannot be said that the President, has, in
his early appointments to Office, eitherproscribed
his opponents, rewarded his partzans.-
Amongst all the persons whom he has appointed
TO office, we discover the name of but one of his
personal friends, and that appointment is one
which is fully justified BY the character qualifi
cations, and experience, of the individual select
ed. There have been one or two appointments
TO office, not universally acceptable; but that
would have been the case with whomsoever else
the President might have selected-the dissa-
tisfaction having arisen out of preference for
other applicants, rather than from objections to
the persons appointed.
The appointment of Mr.. Clay to the Depart
nent Of State, we have seen-nav, we may say
We have felt-is exceedingly obnoxious to some
of the friends fthe unsuccessful Candidates for
the Presidency, because in the final resort, Mr..
4 fpI forM Mr. AL In ,lrin,r tba
Representatives the duty of making the final
choice of President, the Constitution supposes
that the Members will act Conscientiously, and
with due regard TO the solemn sanctions under
which they discharge that trust. We have seen
no evidence of Mr.. Clay's having done other
wise. in that election, than the Constitution au-
thorizet him to do. We certainly see no proof
of his having acted upon different motives in the
fact ofhis appointment TO, and acceptance of the
Office of Ser, tary of State. On the contrary
we see, in the openness of the procedure, on
both sides, whatever may be thought OF the po-
hey of this course. evidence Of conscious homes
ty of purpose. NE have discovered nothing to
contradict this in the hearsay statements of in
consequential or JoCular onversations, which
have been adduced 10 sustain charge TOR
which we believe there is not the slightest foun-
dation,) that Mr. Adams had successfully tam
Pered with the political integrity OF Mr.. CLAY.
We are not The confidants of Mr.. Clay, 3os-
stSsed Of his private opinions: but we did not for
anon mt doubt, pending the canvass, that, if the
contest should, in his mind, lie between Mr.
Adams and SIr. jackson, mis- vote would be gi-
ven to the fosmer. This impression was derived
solely from our observations OF his course in
Congress, and his public declarations.
We see in the vote Of the Senate, upon the
nomination OF Mr.. Clay, which has been refer
red to as Indicating doubt ofhis political inte-
gritty, no evidence of the deliberate opinion of
any portion of that body on this point. The Sen
ate is, always has been and ALWAYS will be
from its organization, very independent BODY
A portion of that body dislilzed Mr.. Clay, and
they voted against him. They may not have ap-
proved of his general politics, or of his particu-
lar preference OF Mr.. Adams. These obiec-
tions furnish, however, no impeachment of his
honesty. We recoect that when Mr. M23i-
son presented to the Senate has FIRST nomination
of Secretary OF Stata-a cIiZeD OF elevated
character and distinguished talents-so strong
was the opposition 10 him, that ne was advised
to, and did actually, withdraw the nomination,
the citizen thus nominated himself Joining in the
request and another citizen was nominated and
appointed in lieu OF him. His nomination Of Mi
nisters abroad were more than once rejected,
and often closely contested. Was il because
tn integrity Of that great man, or of the per
sons whom he nominated, was suspected I'm
question: BILE not; but for very different reasons
Nor has NIr. AS having called Mr. Clay, his
late opPon mt, to the Department of State, any
thing marvellous i'll it. Generous rivals respect
one another. Mr.. Madison called Mr. Monroe
to the same station, not long after the election
in which the latter was opposed to him, but no.
body saw, in that act, upon either side, any thing
but frank and noble magnanimity.
We shall here for the present rest our obser-
VI 4 81.
should have touched upon the matter at all, lad
we not perceived that one more of those prints
for whose conductors we have a haGilual res.
pcct have taken up impressions on this head so
different from ours, that it would have been
dislngenuous to remain longer silent 1t is quite
possible, that what ,se have said on the subject
will please no party. Not protesting. ourselves
to belong to either of the new parties winch ap-
pear TO be collecting round different centres
Preferring TO shape Our course by our own con-
victions, We shall De perfectly content if we OBJ
tain the appreciation Of our readers generally, to
whom our remarks are addressed.
We perceive no reason, in the conduct of the
new Administration thus far, to place this paper
in opposition to it; and we are not disposed 10
judge it by anv other criterion than lis
-. 49, rr.-E