American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1825-04-05
FROM THE NATIONAL JOURNAL.
MR.. CL.aY'S ADDRESS.

NATIONAL JOURNAL.
MR.. CL.aY'S ADDRESS.
To the People of the Congressional District cont
posed Of the Counties Of Fayette, Woodford, and
Clarke, in Kentucky.
The relations of your Representative and Of your
neighbor, in which have so long stood, and in
which have experienced so many strong proofs of
your confidence, attachment, and friendship, having
Just been, the one terminated, and the other sus-
pended, avail myself of the occasion on taking,
hope temporary leave of you, to express my I'm
feigned gratitude for all your favors and to assure
you that shall cherish fond and unceasing recol-
lection Of them. The extraordinary circumstances
in which, during the late session OF Congress- have
been placed, and the unmerited animadversons
which have brought upon myself for an honest
and faithful discharge of my public duty from an
additional motive for this appeal TO your candor
and justice. If, in the Office which have just left
| have abused your confidence and betrayed your
interests, cannot deserve your support in that on
The duties of which have now entered On the
contrary should it appear that have been assailed
without Just cause, and that misguided zeal and in
terested passions have singled me out as victim,
cannot doubt that shall continue to find, in the en-
lightened tribunal of the public, that cheering coun.
tenance and impartial judgment, without which a
public servant cannot possibly discharge, With ad-
vantage, the trust confided to him.
1t is known to you, that my name had been pre-
scented, by the respectable states of Ohio Kentucky,
Louisiana, and Missouri, for the Office of President,
Ito the consideration of the American public, and
that it had attracted some attention in other quar-.
tiers of the Union. When, early in November last,
took my departure from the district to repair to
this city, the issue OF the Presidential election before
1.-The people was unknown. Events, however, had
then so far transpired to render it highly proba-
49,. he. hx fha nrta
and that should be excluded from the House OIL
REPRESENTATIVES. 1t became therefore, my duty to
consider, and to make up an opinion on, the respec'
tive pretenons OF the three gentlemen that might be
returned and, at that carly period, stated 10 Dr.
Drake, one of the Professors OF the Medical School
| of Pennsylvania University, and to John J.. Crltten'
den, ESQ of Frankfort. my determination to support
Mr.. Adams IN preference to Gen. Jackson. lwrots
| to Charles Hammond, Esq. OF Cincinnati, about the
same time, and mentioned certain objections to the
election of Mr.. Crawford, (among which was that O.
his continued i'll health,) that appeared to me al
most insuperable. During my journey hither, ane
up to near Christmas it remained uncertain wheth
cr Mr.. Crawford or | would be returned to the
House of Representatives. Up to near Christmas
all our information made it highly probable that the
vote of Louisiana would be given to me, and that
should consequently, be returned. to the exclusion
Of Mr.. Crawford. And, whilst that probability was
strong, communicated to Mr.. Senator Johnston
from Louisiana, my resolution not TO allow my name
in consequence of the small number OF votes by
which it would be carried into the House, it were
returned, to constitute an obstacle for one moment
to an election in the House of Representatives.
During the month of December, and the greater
part Of January strong professions OF high consIde
ration, and OF unbounded admiration of me, were
made to my friends, in the greatest profuslon, by
some of the active friends of all the returned candl
dates. Every body professed to regret, after wa
lcxcluded from the House, that had not been re
turned to it. seemed to be the favorite OF every
body Describing my situation to distant friend
I said to him, 81 am enjoying, whilst alive, th'
posthumous honors which are usually awarded to I'M
lyenerated dead" A person not acquainted with hu
Imam nature would have been surprised, in listening
Ito these praises that the object OF them had not beer
leleced by general accIamation. None made more
or warmer manifestations OF these sentiments oil es
Iteem and admiration than some OF the friends o
lCen. Jackson. none were so reserved as those
Mr.. Adams under an oppinion, (as have learn
since the electon,) which they early lmbibed, tina
1.-The Western vote would be only influenced by it,
lowu sense of public duty and that it its judgement
Ipointed to any other than Mir. Adams nothing
which they could do would secure it to him. These
professions and manifestations were taken by me io
what they were worth. ! knew that the snnoeam'
would quickly disappear, after my opinion should Ut
lascertained, and that they would be succeeded oy
storm although did not foresee exactly how
would burst upon my poor head. lound myscl
transformed from candidate before the people, init