Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1825-04-06


University (Lexiugton,) wrote to John ]. Crit
tenden, Esq. of Frankfort, and to Charles Ham
mond, Esq. Of Cincinnati, and TO Mr.. Senator
Johnson, of Louisiana, his determination to
support Mr.. Adams. in preference to General
Jackson, MIR. Crawford's health was lead
ing objection to him in Mr.. Clay's mind after
it was ascertained that he was returned.) Mr..
Clay then comments upon the "profession Of
unbounded admiration of me, which were
made to my friends in the greatest profus ion,
by some ofthe active friends of all the return
ed candidates. Every body professed TO re-
greet that was excluded. None were so re-
served as the friends of Mr.. Adams" none
more forward than those of General jackson
in professions: but Mr.. Clay feeling the res
possibility of his station, felt bound to deliber-
ate we'll in his new attitude as an elector, and
therefore acted with prudent reserve, and with
a view to delicacy and decorum. Meanwhile
his reserve supplied aliment for newspaper
critics, & threatening anonymous letters were
poured in on him.-A torrent of open abuse
soon ensued, and then followed Mr.. Kremer's
celebrated letter, to the Columbian Observer.
Here let MIR. Clay speak 70: himself, and we
will not conceal our pleasure at his magnanim-
ity in speaking of his passionate card.n Re-
flecting that the Observer letter, " alleged to
be written by member of the very House o.
yer which he was presiding, might have pro-
ceeded from one with whom he was daily ex-
changing friendly salutation,' he thought a
protentous crisis arrived, and issued his card,
of which he thus magnanimously speaks-"l
ought not TO have put in it the last paragraph,
because, although it does not necessarily imply
the resort to a personal combat, it admits OF
that construction nor will conceal that such
possible issue was within my contemplation.
| owe it to the community to say, that whatev-
err heretofore may have done, or by inevita-
BILE circumstances, might be forced to do, no
man in it holds in deeper adherence than
do, that pernic;ous practice. Condemned as
it must be by the judgment and philosophy, to
say nothing of religion, of every thinking man,
it is an affair of feeling, about which we can
not, although we should, reason. Its true cor
receive will be found when all shall unite. as
all ought to unite, in its unqualified proscrip-
tion.n
Mr., Clay then proceeds to MIR. Kremer's
reply to the card, from which it satisfactorily
appears that Mr.. Kremer was not the author
of tho publications over his name. Mr.. Clay
determined, on seeing this reply, TO lay the
matter befose the House for investigation. 1t
unequvocally appears that George Kremer
was the mere tool of more able men, and that
his whole attack on Mr.. Clay was malicious
and unfounded. Mr.. Clay next enters into an
able vindicaton of his vote for Mr.. Adams,
ard discusses the doctrine that the House
were bound to elect Gen. jackson merely be-
cause he had the largest number of electoral
votes,as assumed by some, with great frankness
and ability, and the conclusion of Mr.. Clay,
forces itself irresistibly on every dispassionate
mind, that the Constitution leaves such cases
entirely with the discretion of the House ;
which discretion he exercised. He then pro-
ceeds to delicate and respectful investiga-
ton of Gen. Jackson's qualifications for Presi-
dent, and, while he comedies that his military
''renown will endure as long as the means ex-
lst of preserving recollection of human trans
actions, he contends, in courteous terms that
he never has given any evidence of his being a
| STATESMAN. tie clearly shews that there j:
not the resemblance between Washington
and Jackson, which some have affected to dis
cover" Whether Mr.. Adams would, or would
not have been his choice, could he have been
| left to select from the whole mass of citizens
was not left (says Mr.. Clay to his decision
"Of Mr.. Adams, it is but truth and Justice
(says Mr.Clay) to say that he is highly gifted
profoundly learned, and long and greatly ex
perlenced IN public affairs, at home and a.
broad. Intimately conversan. with the rise
and progress OF every negotiation with foreign
powers, pending or concluded; personally &C
qualnted with the capacity and attainments o
most of the public men of this country, whom
1t would be proper TO employ in the public
service; extensively possessed of much Of tina
valuable kind Of information, which is to bt
acquired neither from books nor tradition, bu
which is the fruit of largely participating il
public affairs; discreet and sagacious, HI
would enter on the duties of the office will
great advantages. saw in his election the
establishment of no dangerous example.
saw in it, on the contrary, only conformity t.
the safe precedents which had been establish
ed in the instances of Mr.. Jefferson, Mr.. Mad
ison, and Mr.. Monroe, who had, respectively
filed the same Office from which he was to b,
translated"
Mr.. Clay next shews by letters and docu.
ments that the request of the General Assem-
bly, of Kentucky was contrary to public senti
ment in that State; and that his persona
standing with Mr.. Adams, in relation to tn
l
then notices Gen. Jackson's late letter t
Mr.. Samuel Swartwout, and concludes as fol
lows
Fellow-ctizens--I am sensible that gen
orally public officer had better abstain iror
any vindication of his conduct, and leave it
the candor and justice of his countrymen, I'm
der all its attending circumstances. Such ha
been the course which have heretofore pre-
scribed to myself. This is the first as hop
it may be the last occasion of my thus appear
ing before you. The separation which ha
ljust taken place between us, and the venom
if not the vigor, of the late onsets upon m
public conduct, will, | hope, be allowed i
this instance to form an adequate apology.
has been upwards of twenty years since | frs
entered the public service. Nearly three
fourths Of that time, with some intermissions
| represented the same district in Con
gress, with but little variation in its form
During that long period, you have beheld GU
country passing through scenes of peace an,
war, ofprosperity and adversely, and of part,
| divisions local and oaporal ofton orroon,, -