Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-06-20
From The Lynehburg Iirgfnian.
Mn. CLAY....N Mo. 2.

The first proposition which we are to demon
strate, is, that Mr.. Clay was bound to support
Mr.. Adams, even il, in case OF an election OF
President dsvolving upon the House'oi repre-
sen,atiyes. the right of instruction be admitted
10 have any binding authority on The Represen.
ta,iye. Under this head Of our subject, we
shall necessarily take in the Sd proposition al
so, which is similar TO the LIST, and ought 10
have followed it in the order OF arrangement.
Mr.. Claws constituents had never intlmated
the slightest disposition to direct his conduct
in relation to the ultimate decision OF the great
question. 1t was known, long before he lett
Lexington, for the Seat of Government, that the
Electoral Colleges had failed to effect an cleo
ton, and that the House Of Representatives
would have 10 perform the duty assigned to 1t,
in tina, event, by the Constituiion-itwask known
that Mr.. Clay had not been returned to the
House, and that the contest would necessarily
settle down between Mr.. Adams, Gen. Jackson,
and MIR. Crawford-it was known that Mr.
Claw and Gen Jackson had long been on terms
little short of open hostility towards each other
lit was known that as member OF the House
of Representative, in the performance OF what
he considered high and solemn duty, Mr.. Clay
had severely arraie'fed Gen Jackson's conduct
during the Seminole campaign-that he had
charged him with positive breach OF orders
in entering Florida-that he had accused him
ofviolatng the laws Of nations by forcibly wrest-
ing, from the possession Of Spain, in time of
profound peace, Fort St. Marks and Pensacola
that he charged him with transcending his
powers in ordering the execution OF Arbuthnot
and Ambrister, neither of whom had, m the O.
pinion Of some Of the ablest jurists, subjected
themselves to the highest penalty knowmto the
law, and one Of whom mad been made to pay it,,
Notwithstanding the contrary decision OF court
martial-we say, all these things were known
al Lexington BY Mr. Clay's constituents, before
he left home for Washington City; and yet but
TWO movements were made in his whole district,
in any the slightest degree, partaking oil the ma
ture Of Instructions. And what was the charac-
fer of these movements? Was NJ. Clay, IN
structed BY them to vote for Gen Jackson, as
would be supposed by a stranger 10 the iacts
who should peruse the newspapers opposed 70
the Secretary OF State? Did they manifest the
slightest partially for the Hero OF Orleans!-
Did they evince the least anxiety Tor his cleo
ton? This would assu-edly be supposed, we
repeat. by a stranger to the facts Of the case,
who should hear the charges brought forward
against MIR. Clay. But, so far from this beng
true. it is susceptible of the clearesi proof that
the neonle of Mr.. Claws district were anxious
that he should exercise his osn dis' retion on
the subject. Ii is true, the Legislature oil Ken
lucky. with that fondness for innovation on es-
,ablished and salutary principles which has dis
tinpuished.i, for number OF years past, and
which has been attended with such disastrous
effects, and such disgraceful scenes, assumed TO
itself the responsibility Of instructing the whole
Congressional Delegation Of that State; but
with what shadow OF right, we would ask! he
legislature of state has no more right TO IN
struct the Congressional Delegation OF that
state. than the Delegation, in its turn, has TO in
struct the Legislature. They are absolutely
and entirely independent Of each other-eected
by the same power, the people, in their original
capacity, and each responsible to the appoint
ing power, and to the appointing power alone,
for the manner in which it executes ITS cuties.
We saw, therefore, that the Legislature, in as
sumine this power, travelled out of the re-
cord"Nthey had nothing to do with the PIesi-
Denial election. nor with the conduct Of those
70 whom the Constitution had assigned the un-
nleasant task of its ultimate decision, in any o.
iher capacity than as indiridaal ci,izens, teel-
ing. with Mr.. Clay and his friends, no more
than common interest in its result, and pos
seSSlng no more tnan Soihihoh iiS"' wa" ~
kentucky Delegates, TO attempt TO procure snch
a decision as would accord with each ones
wishes. But, even if we admit, for the sake oil
argument, that this arrogant claim OF dictation
set up by the Kentucky Legislature-ta dieta-
ton. we believe, never before attempted TO be
exercised by one independent legislative body
over the conduct of part Of another, equally
;ndependent IN its functions and characier)-
still we think we shall not be guilty Of presumP-
,ion in asserting that the sentimen, Of that body
was not necessarily the sentiment Of the State.
There was no contest which indicated in whose
favor majority Of votes would have appeared, If
Mr. Claw had been Withdrawn from the contest,
and the tug of war had been confined to Messrs.
Adams. Crawford and Jackson. AS it was,
Mr.. Claw obtained such an overwhelming ma
iority over Gen. Jackson, as TO leave It matter
Of doubt and speculation whether the Generals
popularity in tina, State, faint as 1t appeared 10
be. was not rather relative than posiuve-'ne
,result of hostility to MIR. Clay, originating IN
the local politics Of the Sta,e, rather than an!
friendship for himself. The opinion that Gen.
Jackson was not the second choice OF hehtac.
XIV. derives confirmation from the iac'' 'na'