Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-06-20
TDe Constitutional g1sbio.
From lie LyachI,trg IIirginiun.
lR. CLAY,-No. ?.

mead OF "uf subject, Shall necessarily take in the RI
proposition also, which is similar TO the ST. and ourb ~
have followed it in the order of Arrangement
MIR C'ays constituents had never iumated the sg!es,
disposition Tn direct his conduct III relation Ultimate
decsloh al the great question: 1t known long before.
he LETT lexington for the Seat of Government thai The
Electoral Colleges had failed effect an election aud %
me f"nse of Representatives would to perform the
Huty assigned To IT, i'll that event. bv the Cunstitno
was Known that A;f. Clay had not been returned 10 the
fouse, aud tat the necessarily settle down
between Mr.. Adams, Gen. Jackson and Mr. i.rnvfrd,
was Known that Mr.. Clay and JACKSON had lcg been
on terms little short of open hostility towards each other
was known that member of the House of Rcpe,c-
'auVeS i" the performance of lie considered high
ana solemn duty Mr.. Clay had severely anasoed Gen
JackSons conduct during tie Seminole eawpaign-tlat he
aS charged Kim with positive breach orders in enter
S floUa-ihai he had accused him OF violating the laws
"i nations by lciby wrestling The possession of Sai
III Time OF profound Fort Ma Ks and Pensaco-
-''t he lad charged him with ending his powers
III ordering the execution Of Arbuthut and Alnbli nc
'her o whom had in the opniu so o. tina ables ia
Fsls subjected themselves the brstes, penalty Gmown
10 the law, aud o'W OF whom had made To pay it, not,
"I'S'"hdin TIE contrary decision of Court hlurtia
we say all these things known at Lexington, by Mr.
Gays constituents brne lie left home Washing ton
Cly; ANA yet but two made his whole
District, any the slightest parakin, of tine nature
o! instructions And what cha racter of these
movements: Was MIR. Clay instructed by them, 10 vote
Tor Cen jackson, would be supposed by stranger It,
M iac' VINO s'ou!u pefnSe tie newspapers opposed the
Secretary Of State? Did they micst the slightest pa
amy i"r The Her" of Oeans? Did they evnce least
anxiety Tor !s election This would assuredly supposed
we repeat by stranger, the facts case who should
hear ti charges brought forward against Mr Clay But
81 far from this being true, susceptible OF the caest
proof that the people of Mr. Clays district were anxious
thai he should exercise his discretion on the subject
II is true the Legislature of Kentucky, with that fonlness
Tor innovation established salutary PRINCIPLES which
mas Distinguished IT for number Of years past which
has beeu attended with such disastrous effects and such
aisgacelu scches, assumed e!fhe responsibility of in
sUucun2 Tie Whole Congressional delegation Of tate
but with what shadow right, would ask The sgs
ldiue of state has right instruct the Congres-
,ional delegation of that state Than the r,egat;o in m
II. thu icI-tr
and entirely independent oiherelected by the SAME
power the people, in their original capacity, and res
ponsIbe 10 the appointing power, to the appointing
power aone' or the manner IN which its duties
we say therefore, that the Legislatures assuming this
power travelled out Of tie recor".hey nothing To
do with the Presidential election, ill the conduct ot
SAINT task oil It's ultimate decision any other capaciiv
han as tAdiadUc ctZTns feeling, with Mr. Clay and -,
friends no more ihah common in its result aud
possessing n" mare than aconmon gh with the Kentucky
delegates to attempt to poCule decision as vclt
accord with each ones WISHES. BU, ii admit, for
tie sake of argument, that This arrogant claim Of
set by the Kentucky hgSature(a dictation we be-
ieve never before attempted 10 he exercised by indie
pendent legislative body, conduct of Part of uo-
Their equally independent i'll its functions and cha tactr)-
still, think shall not I've guilty pIesum ptiom in as
seftns that the sentiment OF hat body necessarily
the sentiment Of The State There no contest winch
Indicated in whose favor majority Of have
appeared, Mr.. Clay had been from the con
test, and the tug OF war had hcen confined Mes>rs
AidHs, Crawford and Jackson. As il was, Mr.. Clay OBJ
tanned such overwhelming minority over Gen jackson
to lfave it Of doubt pccu whether the
Generals popularity in that State faint appeared 10
ne. rather relative than pu,vs-tIc result of hos
iiy to Ms Clay originating IL the local politics of Tie
Stale, rather than any friendship for himself The opinion
iba Gen Jackson not the second choice of Keuuckv,
derives confirmation from the fact that of the very
meHhers Of the tytUciing legislatures who voted
resolutions in favor of Cen jackson, afterwards wrote to
members Of Congress disappearing their own recorded
vote (See Mr.. Guys hiIcT tohis CONSTITUENCIES
That the instructions Of Kentucky legislature were
regarded as an act 81 usu,Paton 10y the constituents of Mr.
Clay manifested BY their conduct fore nd ter
The election Before the eeciion MIR. Clay received the
following insirnct0ns signed by respectable uumtsr Of
mis- constituents:
eve the undersigned voters in the Congressional Dis
'trict having viewed the instructions request the e-
gislaufe 81 Kentucky subject of choosing Presi-
dert aud Vice President Of the United regret
'and tie said request instructions representative
"in Congrc> from this District, being without know
iedse for many known ourselves
"conuectcd uithso moncntOus occasions hereby Instruct
Our representative IN Congress to the sion
agreCaby to his Judgments and by the best lights he
may have the subject, th without the of
"icgi,latufe Of Kentucky"
We thnk FIRST proposition is completely substantial
cd NJ. Clay was 6o'md TO support Mr.. Adams. Why
Because instructed to vote for any can
ddae. under any contingency might happen; but
The contrary, expressly told "o agreeaGly TO his
own iudgmctt.' That judgment pointed to AIR. Adams
aud IL he had obcycd its dictates, he would have
worthy the denuuciaos which have been unSparingly
bcaPed upon his head.
Wehavc yet other pa cu1r refer to, which though
Of the positive character Of the preceding when
viewed COdtrIIV, no usigtlhtdD proof OF tie uth OF
our position {ffer MI Clay had taken his stand, and
corded his Mr.. Adams had been inauguracd
aud Mr.. Clay had accepted The Sccrcaryhp Of State his
cunjuct approved and defended by the very constituents
WHOSE voice said, bc hal mseprcscncd aud whose
interests, Ondly proclaimed he hal sacrificed TO his
ambition! Suarge! that Nr. Clays cou.s.iueus sho1li
have been oi such dull perception 10 have been
Of their wishes and interests such Cowardy
slaves conceal the and Iuclv the otc
Sill tIu-c- that their wishes should dis
ccucd with much readiness from afar, their
taken into tie keeping Of entire strangers Such RoS,au
justice and Christian generosity Of
tl1t tie act will orM bright page IN the annals OF the
United State When tire nist of prejudice shall have
tscu scattered by the rays Of TRUTH and the turbulence Of
flushed peace postsry will doubt do that
Justice the memories of Kemer aud bis aUeors, which
ttic;r contemporaries Upusy withhold from their abors.
But to be ssrousN Clay directly after he had accepted
Office Sccy Of state returned 10 his former residence.
lie his constituents and to explain and defend
bis conduct. lie did and hey satisfied o them Mr.
Clay was responsible and by them his conduct was appo-
veJ. What justice then, is therswhs truthin saying
shat ne disobeycd tec instructions either implied posi-