The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1826-11-13
ron ritr .IHcINlAv.-No. ,

In considering TIE character OF the present
executive, and the manner IN which they came
into power. il becomes necessary TO besto" par
ticular notice on Mr.. Henry ClV Ills agenc,
not only in creating but in administering the
powers belonging TO il, gives him an undoubted
right To especial attention i will not. for a mo-
mrnt, disguise that was ON" ot those who, pre-
vlous 10 the late election, cutctt9thcd profound
admiration for Henry Clay--fir had many
and memorable Occasions, exhibited great tai
ents, great PATRIOTISM, aud an apparently ar
dent and sincere devotion to the rights Of man.
and the cause Of civil liberty. His name had
become endeared to the people aud he was re-
garded as the chosen champion Of freedom. But
now, times are changed. lie is considered the
apostate from his own principles, and thu tral-
tor to his consttuents-llls political honesty IS
suspected--his friends have deserted him aud
he has been treated with marks of popular o
dunn IN every way in which il could manifest IL
Self-Alany of those who would formerly have
! promoted him TO any office, are now his loudest
| denouncerS--and, what is equally wonderful,
| some OF those very men, who, when he was sup
posed to be hostile to Mr.. Adams, held him up
as dishonest and incompetent statesman, are
now his subseryient supporters. Is all TINS 10 be
attributed TO the caprice of popular favour =
| No. To what then II is to be attributed To his
| Abandonment of the cause and betrayal OF the
action of public opinion upon Mr. Clay, is there
not something 10 make him pause aud ponder
| on the political rcctmdc of his late conduci
Every sort OF artlfcc has been used to reconcile
the people to il. But let us sobcrly consider the
! question. There can notbe a higher political
misdemeanor than for n man TO violate his own
principles for the sake of office. II is "A species
OF crime that no people protesting TO be fepahlI,
| CanS, can forgive. There is something essentially
| degrading in it-No matter what may he Tie
past services ON the talents of n public man, they
cannot and ought not to shield him from the lg-
nomny which corruption inevitably draws after
1t. For II is corruption, after all. that Is The
great enemy OF free governments. The moment
a public man becomes corrupt IN ms political
! principles. his patriotism is absolutely gone
| II is annhatcd. lie may put on the gab OF
public spirit ana love OF country, but do not trust
! him II would be ust as wise to expect an ae-
quilted elon 10 acknowledge the obligations,
and assume the habits of honesty, AS corrupt
! politician TO have any real regard Tor the hohol
OF the happiness OF the country. Upon thus sub-
| Jet, however, an idea seems 10 be entertained
| that no charge of corruption should ever be
made, unless II can be proved by witnesses IN
court of Justice or, at any rate with all the eei-
! tanty OF mathematical demonstration. But
| more dangerous anti-republlcan sentiment can
not be ad, anced-lla,e not the people right 10
Sus Get their rulers. where their political sdifh-
ton and existence depend on then honesty
! Corruption is precisely one OF those offences
/ that unless the nature OF man could be changed,
never can be proved We may all know and
| feel and believe thai II exists, but we may all
! for the proofs OF II as loudly as Othello dld loi
| the evidences of Desdemonas fraty, but they
will come not.--What is corruption Is 1t a
thing that is tangible aud visible that IS sns-
| tl,ln al nToof Nn--It OnpTatpS with an IN
| tucncC that 10 human scrutiny, Is unseen and
| unfclt and walks abroad with step that Is ui-
! heard and unknown. --ralleyrand aud Castle
| rcagh two of the most hagitIously corrupt Pc
liticlans that disgraced any aye Oh country,
neither the eagle eve of Napoleon, nor the ae-
| tive vigilance of the British opposition could C.
vcr convict oft Such is corruption IN other
countlieS-and such it will be here.-N mist,
then. II is impossible TO convict Mr.. Clay oil any
omen or overt act Of COR Ipton, the cncumstdll-
tiaI evidence IS so strong against him. that he
must be condemned IN the judgment OF every
candid and unbiased person. There bar not
been single attempt TO vindicate him. that Is
NOT one unbroken tissue of sophistry from be-
oiuina TO end--nethcr his letter to hls conslltu-
cuts nor his Lewisburg speech, ingenious rs thty
were. have been able 10 convince Single per
son.
What are the grounds upon which his course
has been justified Let us consider them win
candour, but with the freedom that the hnpol-
lance of the subject unque,honably demands
10 cxnose the shallow subtcriuscs and paltry
articles by which the most portcntously daring
act of poltical turpitudc that has ever been per
peuated in this country, has been defended,
cannot be a difficult task. II has been assumed,
then. in the first place by the friends OF the Sc
crctarv that by being one of the original can
didatcs he had right TO give his own vote ana
to transfer the vote of the states that supported
him. after The election came INTO the House OF
Rcurescntatiycs, to which of the other candl-
date. he pleased. Is there any thing IN the ma
tIrc ofthe elective system to sustain sneu an
idral Does notthc very vote evenly Inc people
Of those States clearly shcw the absuialy OF
eucb a notion What is the fact Why did
not the popular vote oftwo States, and the le-
oislatiye vote OF .uother, as soon as 1t was as
contained il. favorite was out ofthe question, ule-
o,i,ocalIv indicate their second choieel And
va. il for NIr Clay 10 tell these people to 90 ny
his Indictment and not their own Here We are
mel by the stale and exploded sophsn, that
the wishes of the people are to have no hhu-
cuce on the representative, because the cohsl'-
tution has pi,rn him the right TO select from
three ; but why is il that the people are TO nave
influence on any question Because any oth'i
doctrine i. death not onl Y to the representative
but To the republican system-ahd Accordingly
il has been uniformly recognized by every one
: who pretended to be a repubiican-Mr' Gay
hmselfexplicitly and Internationally recosnz'
cd il ON one very important occasion. Ills Ian
guage was this " that the wishes OF the people
" should be obligatory ON him III his pubi'
f " character no matter how ascertained. lhele
are some who indeed admit that the will OF tho
people ought to operate in legislative matters
= but DENY them any weight in relation 10 the cleo
. ton ofthc president, atter it has passed oot !"
thcir own hands They seem to regard IT N Tx
ngbt of a forfeiture as punishment ON ih'
t pcoplc for having failcdtoniallea eholce-thrr'
r doe seem. however TO hc no reason r"r t<ci'