Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1825-04-14
Mr.. CIay's Address.
From the National Journal.

G51d Clarke. "a Kenfueky.
The relations uf your representative and of
syaur neighbour in which l have so long stood.
andin which | have experienced so many strong
proofs OF your confidence, attachment and
s~riesdship. having just been, the one termina.
ted, and the other suspended, | avail! myself of
the occasion on taking. / hope a temporary,
leave of you, to express my unfeigued gratitude
for all your @fayors, aud to assure YOU that I
shall cherish a fond and unceasiag recollections
OF them. The extraordinary circumstance in
which, during the late session Of Congress.
have been placed, and the unmerited animal.
versions which ! have brought upon m, self for
an honests and fsithful discharge OF nv p,'bLc
duty, form I'M additional motive for this snnesl
10 your candour and justice. Ie in the Office
which | just lett, ] have abused your confidence
ard betrayed your interests, l cannot deserve
your support IN that on the duties of which ]
have entered. On the contrary. should il an
pear tina; misguided zeal ard interested ms.
'sions have single d me out as a victim. I canro,
doub, that | shall continue to find, in the en-.
lightened tribunal of the public, that cheering
countenance aud impartial judgment. without
which spubi'c servant cannot possibly discharge
with advantage the trust confided 10 him.
tbs known to you, that my name had been
presented, by the respectable states of Ohio.
uhA fIlS3DUlt. lot tlf OIL
fee OF President, to the consideration of the
American public, and that it had attracted some
attention IN other quarters of the Union. When
early in November last, | took my departure
arom the district to repair to this city, the jsstIe
OF the Presid entail election before the people
was unknown. Events, however, had then so
far transpired as to render il highly probable
that there would be no election BY the people,
and that | should be excluded from the House
OF Representatives II became, therefore nv
duty to consider, and make up an opinion. on
the respective pretensions of the three gentle
men that might be returned, and at thai early
period i stated to DIR. Drake, one of the Pro.
fessors in the Medical School of Transatlantic
University, and to Jehn ]. Grittendon, OF Frank.
fort, ny determination TO support Mr. Adams,
in preference to Gen, Jackson ] wrote to
Charles hammond Esq. of Cincinnati about
the same time and mentioned certain objections
to the election OF Mr., Crawford, (among which
was that OF bis continued i'll heaith) that ap.
peared to me almost insuperabie. During my
Journey hither, and upto near Christmas. It re.
manned uncertain whether Mr. Crawford or
would he returned to the house efRepresenta-
t'es. UP to near Christmas, all cur informa.
ton made 1t highly probable that tue vote of
LOUISIANA would be given TO me. and that I
should consequently be returned to the exciu.
80 Va - 80 sAtt1. All AlHf TD6A
biiity was strong, | communicated TO Mr.. Se-
nstor johnson from Louisiana, nv resolution
not to allow my name, in consequence of the
small number Of votes by which il would be
carried into the House, II | were returned. to
constitute on obstacle, for one moment, to en-
election IN the house OF Representatives
During the month OF December, and the grea-
ter part OF January, strong professions Of high
consideration, and unbounded admiration of
me, were made TO my friends, in the greatest
profusion, by SONS of the active friends of all
abe retwtned candidates Every body profes.
sed TO regret, after | was excluded from the
House, that had not been returned TO it.
seemed to have been the fyorite OF every body.
Describing my situation to a distant friend. I
said TO nm; am enjoying whilst alive, the
p~osthumous honors which are usually awarded
TO The venerated dead" A person not acquain.
ted with human nature would have been sur.
Prised, in listening to those praises that the
OBJECT OF them bad NOT hesn elected by gener.
al None made more or warmer
manifestation OF these sentiments of esteem
and admiration than some of the friends of Gen.
eral Jackson. None were so reserved as those
OF Mr.. Adams; nnder an opinion, las | have
learnt since the e~lection,) which they early
imoided, that the western vote would be only
Influenced by its own sense Of public duty; and
thst II ITS judgement pointed to any other than
nir. ADAMS, nothing which they could do
would secure it to him. These professions and
manifestations were taken by me for what they
were worth l knew the sunbeam would
quickly disappear, after my opinion should
be ascertsined. and that they would be sue,
ceeded by a stormi although I did not foresee
exactly how it would burst upon my poor
bead. Hound myself transformed from a can
didite before the people into an eiector for
the peopte, | deliberately examined the duties
incident 10 this new attitude, & weighed all
the facts before me, upon which.my Judgment
was to be formed or reviewed, If the eager.
ness ct any of the heated parlisans of the res
feciive candidates suggested a tardiness in the
declaration of nv inten' ION, I believed that the
new relation, in which, was placed TO the sub.
Ject. imposed on me an ubts alton 10 pay some
respect to dehcacy aud decorum.
Meanwhi.e Chat very reserve supplied ali.
ment to newspaper criticism, The critics
Gould NOT comprehend how man, Standing as |
had stood toward the other gentlemen. should
be restrained, by a sense o. propriety. from
instantly lighting under the banner OF one of
them against the other-Letters were issued
troGl The ma1utactory at Washington, to come
b9ek, alter performing long journeys, for
washington consumption. These letters i'm.
inted 10 MIR. Clay and bis friends a mystcFi-
'nS AIR. a patentoas silence" &c. From dark
sqd distant hints the progress was easy 10 open
ana bitter deiuucialion, Aulnymous letters,
~" ~ menace and abusc. were almost daily
poured IN on me. persarll threats were com
i"'hHA'ed 70 me. through friendly organs. and
VS. kindly appraised of all the glories OF vii
''Sr tihS'es which awaited me. a systematic
"''ck was smut ,BeOusly commenced upon
we 'r'm u 'ston to Charleston. with al object,
present anil ssnr, .l..l. - -. saonae..kl5 Q -