Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-07-04

for moment supposed, Mr.. Clay would give
his support to Gen. Jackson. For, a'thougn
Gen. Jackson was citizen Of the West, and
therefore brought to his aid the influence Of To-
cal considerations: although he had fougnt the
battles of his country with success, and was
brought forward backed by the imposing claims
of services rendered, and the .alluring entice-
men,s of military renown: although the efforts
made by the "Iiehmond Enquirer" and the Rich
mond politicians, in which they were powerful
" seconded by Henry Clay, to bring the Gene
raj to punishment, for his conduct during the
Seminole campaign, had failed, and the nero
having triumphed over his civil as wen as MS
military foes, seemed placed above future oreao
Of reproach; yet. in all these CIRCUMSTANCES
either of them calculated, when viewed ao,
stractedly, to invite Mr.. Clay's friendship oind
his judgment, or subdue any thing like person
al animosity, there were counteracling 'nhu-
ences, when properly reflected on, which inevi-
taby tended to excite his personal feelings a.
gainst the genera If Gen. Jackson was clti-
zen Of the West, and if therefore, 1t was heed
lessly inferred that local prejudices would ope-
rate on Mr.. Clay's feelings in his favor, the e.
vent has shown conclusively the erroneousness
of such an inference, and the history OF certain
matters remotely connected with the event %ui
also show the act which led 10 1t, was dictated oy
every feeling which influences honorable men 10
action.-Gen Jackson had long before shown
that he had fully discarded all such narrow and
biggoted feelings himself, and on red the shield
Of his example in defence Of his western rival
In the letter of advice offered by Gen. Jackson
TO Mr. Monroe, when the latter gentleman was
elected to the Presidency, and was engaged IN
the formation Of his cabinet, he expressly Oh.
jec,ed to the appointment of Gov. Shelby, OF
Kentucky, 10 the Department Of War, although
he was republican, soldier Of the revolution,
and again soldier Of the war Of 1912; alleging
that he was incompetent to the performance OF
its duties. Gen. Shelby and MIR. Clay were
friends, not of "a day, but Of long standing. 1t
was useless to say, therefore, that even this cir
cums,ance had no slight effect upon Mr.. IS.
personal feelings, and that these feelings were
not Of kind calculated 10 favor the General.
The militia of Kentucky, too, against which
State General Jackson seems never to have en-
tertained any very kindly feelings, came in for
share of his censure-7Aey, according to the
Generals official report of the battle OF New
Orleans, were the authors of the only dark spot
which clouded the brightness of the glorious
9Th Of January They were charged with hav-
ing ignominiously retreaed before an inferior
force, without scarcely making an effort 10 de-
fend their position. This charge, though long
since demonstrated to be in a great measure
unfounded, is yet unretracted; and shortly after
the war, it had nearly resulted in a duel between
Gen. Jackson and Gen. Adair of Kentucky
Here again was a circumstance calculated to
lessen Gen. Jackson's hold on the local feelings
of MIR. Clay: for Mr. c. might haye thought,
with Mr.. Trimble, that, if he had given his sup
port to Gun. Jackson with this taunting re-
proach of his constituents, yet unatoned TOR
and uncontradicted, he might have met with
contumelious rept oach hes on his return home,
as representative alike insensibe 10 his own
honor and to the character of his immediate
fellow-citizens. Gen. Jackson conduct, there
fore, if we regard its personality towards Gen.
Shelby, the intimate and long-standing friend
of Mr. Clay, and the idol of the valorous peo-
ple who had conferred on him various Offices,
many Of them Of most important character,
was certainly such as 10 render him unpopular
with the Kentucky people and representatives, in
spite of his local pretensons. Noless was his con-
duct, in relation to the Kentucky militia. When
the people of that State referred TO his military
splendor, and were reminded Of the halo OF glo-
nv which surrounded his name, in connection
with the mighty victory of the 9th January,
they were also reminded Of their own disgrace,
and the calumny which would meet TIE eyes Of
their children, when they were reposing in the
tomb This chilling reflection weakened it it
did not destroy his claims, and shaded II 1t did
no, eclipse his renown. They were bound, by
self-respect, not TO advance the claims and fur
Their the pretensions of an individual who offer
ed an insult to the military character OF their
State, and had not yet attempted to wipe Oft
the stigma. 1t is absurd to say that this cir
cumstance had been forgotten, or that 1t was
too contemplate in itself to excite the hostility
of mind SO enlarged as that of MIR. Clay, how
ever it might have operated on Col Trimble
Although it would not have been deemed ofsut-
6cient importance, standing as solitary OBJ
lection, TO defeat Gen. Jackson's election; and
although Mr.. Clay might have smiled at it, &
pointed for is refutation to the many bloody
fields which had sealed the reputation OF Ken
tuckians for mistaken valor, rather than to have
exhibited any thing like offence, and to have
entered into formal vindication OF the charac-
ter Of his fellow citizens, yet; when taken in
conjunction with other portions OF the Gener-
ais conduct, it showed an evident desire to
depreciate the character Of the people of Ken
lucky, from some of the highest 10 her lowest
citizens, and necessarily produced Cores
,orJant CeeI;,,. of recruitment in that State a.