The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-04-11
InR Tnr V1RGINIAN.
HENRY CLAY.

Clay Is charged with III Ell ctualing the
election oi John Quincy Adam, tpr one, |
cannot detect about thai transaction the
least swersins rom manly plopfIety.-
fhal cordial amlly never existed between
these gentlemen, Is likely enough. Ga
some public occasion, lrarricularly in a
congressional debate respecting the ad,an
taBes of the Flosda rcaly,) Mr.. Clay has
spoken quite sareastlcally OF the late scerc.
tary Of state. A partial controversy, too,
IS known 10 have commenced between
them, not long since, III relation To mere
incidents IN the series of negotiations Al
Ghent. No other collisions seem Ia have
rnlrd the public harmony of these two
lunetl0narlcs. Grant. hnWrvcr, the actual
existence oi all the hostility aud malice in
both public and prlsal" llte, which Mr.Glay
Is charged with towards Mr.. Adams, by
their mutual enemies. The former has
never lmp0snnd the personal integrity or
political virtue Of the latter. The srrrst
caamniator and tatter dare not whIsper
such 0agraut insinuaton. Wherefore, the
" wars aud rumors of wars" which are
, supposed to have alenMedth gentlemen
from each other, must &" vanish into tim
] li NV btlHp 0hDoldhllil 'I'fbrh W Nv
ascribcd 10 the stimulus Of principle either
moral or political. These differences, such
az they are, result purely from contraIicfy
Of temperament On the one hand, aud sarl.
aut notions of policy ON the other Fur
thermorr, no cabinet WAS ever formed of
statesmen entirely congenlal with each
other IN All the ramlhcatiuns of ethereal
d governmental doctrine. The anomaly
is too great Ia be looked lor---at least IN u
republic like ours, where preierment -
lpdiseriminate and not eugrosstd by "bld
of a frathcro II his 40 historic illustration
| from the prlmeval ayr of rhemistocles,
down 10 The familiar time oi BOlingbl Ole,
Fox and our own veneralcd Hamilton.
Mr.. CIay's course is rs plain in lis future
otdllnr as ii has heretofore been, with
reference to civic magnanimity. Let him
neither crouch to the head man nj the na.
ton, nor become stumbling block in his
way. Let hln view Nj. Adams - a pure
friend aud ZG,luus fellow laborer IN thu
cause of their common country Aud II
the pending controversy between them
cannot be honorably arrested, Mr.. Clay IA
bound by his characteristic independence, |
Ia redeem the pledge he has gwen, To pro
secute the same III the public Journals
Sdch discussion, embracing paltes 50
distinguished, would surely be graced with
moderation, and mpart ~ IN" community
very interesting views OF diplomacy pnd
natlooal law. It's noyelty would sprmg
from the inherent energy OF our free elastic
constitution, and its nnpledsantnrss bc
compensated by the memorable spectacle
Of a mere ministerial officer committing as
an equal in the public prints with the august
ruler OF the nation.
The public will accord mr. the privilege
OF closing this loose, though houest specu-
ation, with sketch of the splendid career
of their illuminated benelactor. Virginia
has the honor of lis birth kentucky boasts
M, citizenship the Union tlourlshes
under the genial, ,isifyng influence Of his
talents. lie himself tells with pathos, thai
to ancestry he was Indebted for nothing but
2" infancy, ignorance and indgence." ~
consequence, he started on the rnad To-
fame under pressure OF external Ills, nOl
tn be- shaken OIL, save by the energies of a
giant. Gflm poverty aad jealous arlstoc-
racy froWned alike upon the stride he was
rlaking from the chill embrace Of The one,
ana over the llmsy barriers OF lhc olhrr.--
soon did his native greatness tower 10 is
"snabrlght summit, and reflect more than
titled honor upon "A Pebran origin. The
trophies Of the former gather thick around
his brow every local honor is heapcd upon
INN without stint, by Kentucky, nnlll ne
ces,lt yltse pointed onl the theatre Oft
union To make up the entire grown Of his
distinction.
Here, then, was he transferred and quick
" raised to The chair oi the House Of Rep
resenlalisrs which he has ever graced, aud
whence he has now and then descended
only to sustain in debate the parliamentary
talent aud dignity belonging to him as The
presiding officer Of that body. We have
now traced Mr.. Clay To tn meridian of
consplcuity. Hrncelurth must he be view
ed IN the broad light of an orator, without
cotemparary risashp-of sttesmnn,
equal to his wisrst assoclates---and Of =
urgotiator, not Ear below the first distinction.
For the want ef space IA THIS volnmmons
essay, | shall SIMPLY view his oratorlcal
achievements, leaving what lie has wrong ii
in other public lines 10 the Judgment ot 4
liberal country. Of the efficient iuApeuct
exert"d by the orator, bnth in ofiialnIng
and perpelnatlng national freedom, not u
word need be ralu to lnose Mo have con
suited the nianltory annals oi The world
No despotlsm Was ever vt ctdshed--no
great revolution achieved ~ fsor Of fhe
rights OF man. without an AlIiauc" between
the orator aud hero. The former lousca
up The human mind, the latter nerves the
human ara, aud thus cooperate towards
ellectlns the r'ghtfuI ends Of government.
Even in the tranquil reign ii social order.
whilst the mere stat. sl+ah conducts the
snip, without impending slSns Of commo-
ton, from nItnout or within, The Cr'w MAY
BECOME languid, aud require the orator.
voice 10 Inspire them with manly sense o
duty. Th"re are three leading occaslon
+ 1, -,