The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-05-12

NCliAt II lFft5itHiHz ny ihh Hfisfs 'Aai"
no mrfi. 81 this account. Ny colleagues
required 10 prompting from me to resist
such "a demand They could not bat see
that eish u procedure would expose The
sieirgation TO derision and contempt One
member from the state had written letter
offensive To the Sprakrr, who determines
~ make the whole delegation answerable
/ for with vindlcliye threat of person
al respensibility--nnless the author dur
unpsa htBtSelE" BY the same rule, il the
/ Penns, wanna Delegation had not been
! designated, he might have extended the
menace To both Houses Of Congress. Such
discipline might do well for the govern
mcnl nf eonvicfs, but il could not be folera
| rated when attempted to be exercised over
the representatives of the people of the
United States Pennsy wanna had Offend
ed Mr.. Clay by her tnnited vote for the
hero of New Orleans. Her position IN
the Union, and her stoady character, gave
her greet power, which Mr.. Clay knew,
from experiment, was not easy to be con
,rnlled for his purposes therefore, whether
he regarded the past or the future, there
were motives for man Of his feelings and
political habits 10 desire the pro,tration Of
that power. Had he succeeded in the at
F IN
a, he wished and expected, il would no
doubt have contributed TO this object. !
will mol insult your virtue and intelligence
by claiming any favor for myself in resist
ing the scheme Of Mr.. Clay, thus tn de-
grade my native state. have only done
my duty. Had done otherwise, | should
deserve your exeeration. Mr.. kremer ne
yer asked my advice as 10 ayowing myself
H.. al ,,t.I.. hia mind hnliarn aaxy
him, and did not attempt TO conceal, for n
moment, that he was the author of the let
ter, ayowing thai he had written several
Others of the same import to persons, all OF
whom he could not rec"llect.
As Mr.. Clay and his friends had extern
ded the menace to the whole delegation,
should have felt some decacy in urging
Mr.. Kremrr To- an avowal. | had indeed
little opportunity OF advising him, for do
not rrcollect to have seen him during the day
preceding the publication of bis card. He
WAS absent Fl ON the house, | am confident,
for we'll remember that enquiries were made
respecting him and it was sand that he Vas
very expert in shooting with rifle, and
had gone to try new one, which he had
purchased the day before. On the follow
ing morning, Mr. krem,r's card was ssu-
sen in Mr.. Clay's public life = As soon as
he had read it, he took his resolution and
determined to make his appeal to the house
This new mo cment was ,idently change
of position; he had therefore been fooled
in his first and second hope.
The subject was suddenly brought be
fore the house, when 1t became the duty
of every member To consider the principles
81 III,
as 10 make 1t safe precedent for the future.
After ordering Mr. Clay's appeal to he pla
ccd on the journals, the motion to cum
nit was postponed until the next day but
il is proper To remark here that before Mr
Clay made his appeal he was seen actively
engaged in endeaVoring 10 drill members
into his plans. The house, of all places in
the world was the Theatre most favorable
for his operations IN such case. II WAS
there his power WAS most felt there he
had dispensed his patronage for many
years; there his prospective influence
would be soonest appreciated ; he knew
how To draw every cord and touch every
wire. Great rs this power WAS, he was I'm
willing to rely upon it alone. He advert
ed to the political organization of the
house. His own friends were about TWEEN
y
for they had determined to risk their fate
with him ON more trying point Mr.. A
dams friends were about sixty two
These he was also sure of, for he still held
the balance in his hands A single vote
of any one of five states would have pros
trated their high hopes. Mr.. Craw ford's
force WAS about fifty four. liza part of these
could be secured, he was sure of success
he there directed his whole skill to make a
diversion among them, in which he SO far
succeeded as 10 venture upon his new reso
lItnn.
Such we're the arrangements on his part
for an eventual discussion aud contest, and
could not be blind to what was seen by
every one else. Expecting the commit
ment To prevail, and having heard that Mr..
| Clay's friends had been caucussing for a
committee to be ballotted for by the house,
with Il view to have Justice done to Mr..
! Krcmer ] waited on Il friend and colleague
of Mr. Clay. | proposed to him that the
colleague, of both should agree upon a
committee, 10 be composed of the most
| dispassionate aud unpreI JUDGED members
IN the house 10 have II understood a
! m0ng the members generally that such an
arrangement existed, and II they thought
! ~ oper IL vote for such "A committee, ii
would tend to promote justice aud avoid
excitement. Mr.. Cl4y's colleague refused
TO entertain my proposition, aud when |
offered TO make Another, h. refused to
hear a. Upon mentioning this fact to ii
gentleman well acquainted with Mr., Clay,
he observed that Mr.. Clay will never lose
the game by negle Getting to make the most
of his trumps.' My own opinion as to
the improperly and uncoustiulonaIity of
the procedure, so far as Mt Krcmcr was
intended TO be implicated, was previously
fully made up, and made the proposal
as well for the purpose of testing the truth
of the rumor of the cancussing, as for So
curing justice to a colleague under the anti