Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-04-12

Honorable H. Clay"i-Nor does he use the expression
in nonicat sense. lie with saying, 81
plain man. little skilled in The tricks of official
legerdeulain; hut attentive observer however of
wha; is passing, connected with the present or future
interests of that country OF which my pride to be
native citizen.n
should have been charitable enough 10 believe him
''plain man." but for his own showng-'''The Hon H.
Clay" Tins looks remarkably plain Indeed! But he
is "e skilled in tho tricks OF political egcrdcmain
Nor is there any to doubt him. He is disposed
however to become So by asking modest question or
two-''Was it," he says, cor it not, SIR distinct
understanding between Mr.. Adams and yoursef-or if
you please to be technically northumberland has
technicdLs TO do with it?-why to be-sure he must be
awyer!! ]--sbetween the friends of MIR. Adais and
yonrsef-that in return TOR your support YOUR new,
coined friendship should he rewarded by the bestowne
on you the Office which you fill, Was il. sir the
knowledge of this understanding that caused the friends
of Mr.. A. to be less liberal in the batteries and atten-
tons which were ahnndantly slowereJ on YOUR
'poor head" by those of the other canddaesan Now
we should be disposed to Judge the individual that would
ask such questions, little skilled in common sense and
knowledge OF human nature, as he acknowledges
himself to be SIN the tricks of political egcrdemaiu -
The veries numskull in the naon-and that with
out being "a Citizen of the United States"---woud
most probably have adopted the very same method of
endeavoring to ascertain what he had ground for be-
hevlng, and knew nothing about. 1t is "A summary
mode OF acquiring infornation which is possessed.
And yet, he IS ungenerous enough, whoever hc be,
Wisp 10 impose bclei the world, that lie the
ionnain OF knowledge which he only anxious to ac-
qulre. He surely could be simple enough TO ex-
pect Mr. Clay to answer such questions.
But he is an attentive observer of what is passing,
connected with the present future interests that
country" &c am disposed to Judge of the tree bv its
fruit. And have been fortunate as To gather any
thing from his long and loored production that he
is tiorOughgoiug jackson man. draw this conclu-
SION from the following Pithy paragraph-'You have
furnished ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Mr. Cay-.f,r
preferring Mr.. Adams to Andrew jackson. You could
not reconcile to your impartial Judgment and disinte
ested patriotism, the support of military chcttan
Ihts would be dangerous precedent to establish
so, that, making the presidency hereditary by eecng
every secretary IF state to that high station"
Now, IT would he next 10 une enerous-t would be
downright nnkind-to find fault with "a Citizen' for
dong no more than make the sreor courteous Nj.
Clay for having dared To call Gen jackson "a militia
chieftan Had lie been content here to rest his u-
firing wing and equally vindcive pen, he might ha,
been excused But while his manifest prediction for
jackson Adams TO convince me that he is
mistaken in the good opinion bc entertains of himself
namely that he is attentive observer of what is pass
ing connected with the present or future interests o.
ms couniry;" the hugeness of his charges and the round
ness OF his assertions prove that all ne says be
viewed as the "baseless fabric of vsion.n The ad
vocatc and supporter of General jackson must excuse
me, therefore, for differing with him i'm opinion If in
deed 1t he his that the election OF Gen. Jackson would
have promoted the PreSent future Interests of his
country
!
this calm and dsiassonatc reasoner, little fartler:-
on have SAYS he, "conributed Your vote and niu-
enceyes, sir, your ilucnce"[w hat pity. that one
should snier his uwn oloquence to put him in rage
''io one, whose merits not here the subject
Yestgaton wio has rewarded you for this vote and
influence b, the first Office within his gift; and which
YOU modestiy anticipate according to 'Seirecedents
Is the stePpigstonc to that higher and iesira BILE
station which the beStoly ROW occuoies.n
Charge, 'bglI and mighty these one would scarce
expect hear uttered, without evidence to support
them. For this however, have look ed in vain. Not
one title has he produced 1t nothing than the
reiteraton of charges, which have continued to fall
from the little cloud of opposition, like flakes of snow
which the first ray of the beam dssolves into its
original water.
The writer thus winds up: In the conclusion of your
address you appeal to the justice OF Deity for the purity
Of your motives. Now, sir, ask you as in the pre-
scnce OF that Being, not Mr. Scott tie pcul5e,
from Nssou,i, 'ciosete" loiM Mr.. Cjav until aflcr
t,ceUe O'co' The night preceding the election in The
House of Representatives. And farther, sir, did yo,
not qia yOU chair pending that eicctiOn to confc,
toith certain member from .Ne,o YORK; 1rho hesiteu
TO the last trng COTE lohich Should decide that OF
his state2"
1t cannot be expected that any other person than Mr.
Clay or Mr.. Scott, should answer these enquiries
arm not the secret keeper of Mr. &. any more than
| am the "kccper of his conscience" But surely
no state of things could devolve the duty pro-
wing Negative, III a of bare enquiry
1t is maxim, which holds equally good IN ethics as
guilt be proven. And what evidence have we here
that Mr.. Scott was 'coseteds with Mr.. e. &C. Blu
suppose he in the of Mr.. c. to late hour stIe
night preceding the election the H. of Representa-
tves, what does that 'e? Has come this that
man cannot en- ~ the society of his friend for hou
without laying nnsef open to be suspected by every
gaping gossip that chooses to do so' Why, if s like
the succession to the presidency of every secretary
state, were to be worked into precedent there would
shortly be end to all intercourse among society
We should all be changed 10 hcrmts.
Suppose too, that Mr.. &. pending that cleo
ton to confer with certain member &c. there AM
thing criminal in that? Had he not a rght-nay wa
1T not his bounden duty, if he believed great calamity
would be averted from his country by it which al
had reason to appreheDd) ito exert his influence il
avoiding its eecs' Is itno in conformity with ever,
days practice, for politicians TO freely togeth
er, the proprety of the adoption of before
them? Granting, then, for argument sake, the truth
the latter enquiry what does ii avail Has "a Citiz
of the United Staes"-and am sorry to add, of Fair
; fax ely, Var-thereby established SIN of commis
sion on the part of Mr. Clay? Has he shown that b.
way of nducement Mr.. Clay offered him one penny
one pOund?a mission TO Nexico post-offce appoint
ment, thro' his influence with the Presidente-or tn