Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-03-31

tant friend, l said to him. am en-
joying, whilst alive, the posthumous
honors which are usually awarded to
the venerated dead" A person not
acquainted with human nature would
have been surprised, in listening to
these praises, that the object Of them
had not been elected by general accla-
nation None made more or warmer
manifestations Of these sentiments of
esteem and admiration, than some of
the friends of General Jackson. None
were so reserved as those of Mr.. Adj
ans; under an opinion, as have learnt
since the election,) which they early
imbibed, that the western vote would
be only influenced by its own sense Of
public duty; and that if its judgment
pointed to any other than Mr.. Adams,
nothing which they could do would Sc
cure it to him. These professions and
manifestations were taken by me for
what they were worth. l knew that the
sunbeams would quickly disappear,
after my opinion should be ascertained,
and that they would be succeeded by
storm; although did not foresee ex-
actly how it would burst upon my poor
head. 1 found myself transformed
from candidate before the people, into
an elector for the people. deliber-
ately examined the duties incident to
this new attitude, and weighed all the
facts before me, upon which my judg-
ment was to be formed or reviewed.
If the eagerness of any of the heated
partisans of the respective candidates
suggested hardness in the declara-
tiou of my intention, l believe that the
new relation, in which was placed to
the subject, imposed on me an obliga-
ton to pay some respect to delicacy
and decorum.
Meanwhile that very reserve supplied
alliment to newspaper criticism. The
critics could not comprehend how
man standing as had stood towards
the other gentlemen, should be re-
strained, by a sense of propriety, from
instantly fighting under the banners OF
one of them, against the others. Let
tiers were issued, from the manufacto-
ry at Washington, to come back, after
performing long Journeys, for Wash
ington consumption. These letters
imputed to "Mr Clay and his friends
a mysterious air, protentous silence"
sc. sc. From dark and distant hints
the progress was easy to open and bit
ter denunciation. Anonymous letters,
full Of menace and abuse, were almost
daily poured in on me. Personal threats
were communicated TO me, through
friendly organs, land I was kindly appri-
sed of all the glories of village effigies
which awaited me. A systematic at
tack was simultaneously commenced
upon me from Boston TO Charleston,
with an object, present and future,
which it was impossible to mistake.
No man but myself could know the ma
ture, extent, and variety ofmeans which
were employed to awe and influence
me. bore them, / trust, as your repre-
sentative ought to have borne them,
am as became me. Then followed the
letter, afterwards adopted as his own
by Mr.. Kremer, to the Columbian O6-
server-With its character and con-
tents you are we'll acquainted. When l
saw that letter, alleged to be written by
a member of the very House over
which 1 was presiding, who was so
far designated as to be described as be-
longing to particular delegation, by
name, member with whom might be
daily exchanging, at least on my part
friendly salutations, and who was pos
sibly receiving from me, constantly
acts Of courtesy and kindness. l felt
that could no longer remain silent.
A crisis appeared TO me TO have arisen
in my public life. l issued my card.
l ought not to have put in it the last
paragraph, because, although 1t does
not necessarily imply the resort to a
personal combat, it admits Of that con-
struction; nor will l conceal that such
possible issue was within my con-
temptation. owe it to the communi-
ty to say, that whatever heretofore |
may have done, or, by inevitable Cir
cumstances, might be forced to do, no
man in it holds in deeper adherence
than / do, that pernicious practice.
Condemned as i. must be by the judg-
ment and philosophy, to say nothing
to the religion, of every thinking man,
it is an affair of feeling about which
we cannot, although we should, reason.
Its true corrective will be found when
all shall unite,s as all ought to unite,
in its unqualified prescription.
! A few days after the publication OF
my Card, Another Gard" under Mr..
Kremer's name, was published in the
Intelligeneer. The night before, as l
was voluntarily informed, Mr.. Eaton,
a senator from Tennessee, and the
Biographer Of Gen. Jackson (who
boarded in the end Of this city oppo-
site to that in which Mr.. sKremer took
] up his abode, a assistance Of about two