Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-04-30

endeavorlng to Grill members lhto hi'
nlans, The house, of all the places In
the world, was the theatre most favor
able for his operations in such case.
1t was there his power was most felt;
there he had dispensed his patronage
for many years; there his prospective
influence would be soonest appreciated;
he knew how to draw every cord, and
touch every wire. Great as this power
was. he was unwilling to rely upon it
alone.
He adverted to the political organ
ization of the house. His own friends
were about twenty-five in number.
These he was sure of, for they had de-
termined to risk their fate with him on
more trying point. MIR. Adams's
friends were about sixty-two. These
he was also sure Of, for he still held
the balance in his hands, A single
vote of any one of FIVE states would
have prostrated their high hopes. Mr..
Crawford's force was about fifty-four.
If part Of these could be secured, he
" as sure of success; he therefore d.
rected his whole skill to make di-
version among them, in which he SO
far succeeded as to venture upon his
new resolution.
Such were the arrangements on his
part for an eventual discussion and con-
lest. and / could not be blind to what
was seen by every one else. Expect
ing the commitment to prevail, and
having heard tina, Mr.. Clay's friends
had been caucussing for committee
to be ballotted for by the house, with a
view to have justice done to Mr.. Kre-
mer, waited on friend and colleague
of Mr.. Clay. ! proposed to him that
the colleagues of both should agree
upon a committee, to be composed of
the most dispassionate and unpreju-
diced members of the house; to have
it understood among the members ge-
nerally, that such an arrangement ex-
listed, and if they thought proper to
vote for such committee, it would
tend to promote justice and avoid ex-
element. Mr.. Clay's colleague refus-
ed to entertain my proposition, and
when I offered to make another, he
refused to hear 1t. Upon mentioning
this fact to a gentleman well acquaint-
ed with Mr.. Clay, he observed that
'Mr. Clay will never loose the game by
neglecting to make the most OF his
.trumps.' My own opinion as to the
improperly and unconstitutionality OF
the procedure, so far as Mr.. Kremer
was intended to be implicated, was pre-
viously fully made up, and | made the
proposal as well for the purpose OF
testing the truth of the rumor OF the
caucussing, as for securing justice to a
colleague under the anticipated deci-
sion of the house.
With the distinguished gentleman
who. opened the debate against the APP
pointment of the committee Mr.. Ar
cher Of Virginia l never exchanged a
word on the subject, nor was there any
concert that ] am aware OF either be-
fore or during the discussions. The
course which the discussion took was,
however, evidently unexpected to Mr..
Clay, and excited the greatest uneasi-
ness. Soon after it commenced, seve-
raj Of his friends were seen most &C
lively engaged in endeavoring to extort
from R1r. Kremer some apology for
his letter. They pursued him and be-
set him upon every resting place thro'
the inner and outer Hobbies Of the house.
Their movements attracted the notice
of every one within view. MIR. Kre-
mer was flattered and soothed by Ill
the arts that could be brought to bear
upon him to offer some explanation,
the condition of which was TO be
stoppage Of all further proceedings.
Mr.. Kremer's situation was almost as
enviable as that of MIR. Clay, when en-
joying his 'posthumous honors,' He
10 several members in my
hearing, that most surprising change
had taken place. q have suddenly
become,' said he, 'the cleverest fellow
in the world: no people treat me with
so much civility and kindness as Mr..
Clay's best friends: my letter, they
now say, contains nothing against Mr..
Clay, and all they want of me is, that
| would say that did not mean more
than my letter imports.
These opportunities were not confin-
ed to Mr.. Kremer, but more than one
of his colleagues were solicited to use
their influence with him. His uniform
declaration in answer to these artful en-
treaties was, 'that the letter must
explain ITSELF that he could support all
he had said, and would retract nothing
He sometimes added, tina: the only d.
rect charge against Mr.. Clay was, that
he had transferred to Mr.. Adams and
when it was urged upon him that the
letter contained no charge Of corrup-
ton against MIR. Clay, as was frequent
ly done, it is not improbable that he
may have assented; from which, MIR.
Brent, Mr.. Little and Mr.. Diggs OBJ
tanned the foundation of their state
mont The corroboration of three wit