American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1825-02-04
HENRY CLAY.

1t is matter Of no surprise to US, to find that those
papers which have been all along inimlcal to the
Secretary OF State, have so soon opened their pat
,eries of foul asperson and menace against inns
dsting uished citizen, for the part which II IS under
stood he intends to take, when the House oil Repre-
sentatiyes shall be called upon to select President
fr,m the candidates who will be constituonally offer
ed 10 their choice. Mr.. Clay's position before the
nation is such, that his course is watched WIN :
scrutinlzing, Jealous, fearful eye and It would Of
impossible Ior him to avow preference on .h''
great question, that would not subject MIN 10 un8e
nerous suspiciops and to the censure and abuse
those whose hopes of future political advancement
mainly depend upon his present DESTRUCTION M
owed il to the high standing which he has so Ions
and so honourably maintained among his fellow Gil
zens to that manly and honest inlrepidlty OF pat
riotsm which has characterized his whole pollllca
career; not to remain silent, on question whch s.
deeply involves the interests, the honor, ana IN
happiness Of his country. Too frank and candio 10
concealment, too honest for hypocrisy, MT Clay
when asked BY friend or foe. to declare his senti
ments, has not hesated to do so, with the opennes
and freedom Of man OF honour. Ills sentiments
as avowed, have shown him to be the same lndepen
dent, liberal, and enlightened politician, VINO mas
often electrified US with his eloquence on the grea
questions OF national interest, and who has 50 oite
the government itself was opposed to him.
| That his decision on the present occasion hs
been independents is manifest from the TACT that tn
Legislature o! the STATE he epresents, under an as
sumed authority, however, which does not OF rlgf
belong to il, had instructed, or requested him, as IN
phrase is, to pursue different course 1t was ques
|t,on in which he felt that he must act, not as re
presen tatve OF Kentucky only, but as representa-
live OF The whole people OF the Republic and tha
il wa. his duty 10 suit the general welfare, rathe
than the wishes of few, and OF lew, too who ha
no constitutional right to -equire OF him to be gov
erned by the expression OF their wishes.
| That the course he ha. marked out for himself
a liberal one, is equally manifest. If he had PEI
j mitted himself to be inf by selfish conslde
ralons, by sectional feelings, or by local views {
4 policy these would have led him 10 adop, the sent
ments Of the Kentucky Legislature, and to have de
lclared his preference OF the Western candidate
But the most prominent feature OF Mr. Gay S pr
iitica life has been noble disregard OF consrqmeT
ces TO himself He has, in every thing, pursued Ia
broad policy which his Judgment dictated, as We
in The domestic as in the foreign concerns OF hi
country, as most conducive TO that country's wellar
at home, ard reputation abroad. " hat hi. Imms
dlate constituents might say or do, or what the put
llic at large might think OF his motives, has neye
Tor moment dwell upon his view, in considering
JQu6StiO0 Ol RuttUHut putty ouIH uidH 90 AZ
Clay. in fact, cannot be regarded as belonging I
any particular State, or section OF country he
the representative Of the Union; and the wh,i
Union only can have right to instruct or advis
him, subject in which the whole IS interested
/ MIR. Clay's decision is the result oil deliberate
1 full and enlightened view OF the high responsible
ties that belong to The place he fills in the eye oil t
world. He is called upon to select Chief Magi
trae, for this nation out of three persons, to whdr
1.-THE constitution confines his choice. One of thes
three, whatever may have been his merits-and v
are very far in thus mentioning him, from wishln
Ito be understood as detracting from them IN IN
smallest degree; on the contrary, we teel the mo-
friendly sympathy for his sufferngs, while we ente
tain the ERNEST conviction OF his honesty, polite
Virtue and patriotism has suffered severity undt
he dlspensations of Providence as at least, to rend
i, doubtful whether those who wish well TO him or
the country, ought to desire TO see him placed in
lsituation which requires the full exercise o unin
paired faculties. II, under such circumstances M
i Clay had declared himself in favour oil this cant
ldatc, would he have escaped the calumnies that a
now so maliciously propagated against him!
! His choice. them was limited to OF two :.
fsotdier and statesman. We willing to allo
to the former all the military merits which his war;
est admirers attribute to him. But Is ours ma
!, tary government: Has il ever been necessary
The President of the United States to enter the he
Of battle at the head Of his armies!
:. Mr.. Clay is himself statesman, and being
statesman, it was impossible he could hesitate m
ment in his choice. Besides Mr.. Clay had publ
lily, in the face OF he world, denounced this soldier
! a military despot, regardless alike of the sacr
barriers of law and humanity He owed it to
. own honour to sincerity, and consistency OF chara
ter, mt to be instrumental in raising man,
e whom he had thus openly spoken, to the high'
office in the republic. If he had fixed his choi
upon General Jackson with this heavy denunciati
unretracted, uncx planned, would he have been le
e suspected of bargaining....of barering his unit
at nshed reputation for the promise Of future exec
lie tive favour, than he is now But this char
( of dshonorable or selfish motives in Mr.. Clay,