Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-08-09

their refutation. Their truth was denied, and
their propagators were called upon for their
proofs-but no proofs have been offered.-Ws
are now asked to publish the same charges, thus
made, thus unsubstantiated, and thus denied
With every disposition to accommodate the
gentlemen making this request, (and among
those gentlemen we recognize one or two OF our
oldest friends) we must decline acceding to it.
To charge the President Of the U. States with
making a corrupt bargain with member OF con-
gress, for the vote and influence of that mem
Der, is, unless the charge should prove true,
highly HJelous Were we to make any such
publication, how should we, if called upon, set
about proving the truth of il? And if we should
be fined fer thus publishing what we could not
prove to be true, ho,c should zoe pay the fne?-
II has been said, to be sure, that there is "pre-
sumptive evidence" Of "bargain and sale" be-
tween the president and secretary OF state. How
so? 1T is surely within the recollection Of the
reader, that public and impartial examination
of his conduct, before committee Of the House
of Representatives, was sought by the latter
Why did not his accusers then bring forward
their testimony? There was the same evidence
then, that there is now; and the facts, if any
such existed, were fresh in The recollection of
therefore, those who origin ally sounded the
charge, shrunk from an investigation of it; is
it fair to keep up the hue and cry, as though
the disgraceful charge had been established and
proved? Let every man make a case Of this
kind his own-let him apply thereto the "gol-
den rule"-and we shall not fear the result II
men, in Office or out, are TO be charged with the
commission of high offences, and be deemed
guilty untilthey can prove themselves innocent,
what will our stale of society be? What will
become Of our boosted regard for equity and
Justice? Leaving Mr.. Clay out Of view alto
gether, from what part OF Mr.. Adams previous
conduct could reasonable suspicion be enter
tanned, that he would descend to the making *
TO the commation of corrupt bargain9 We
know of none.
" The presen. administration was not one OF
our choice. The President was, however, con-
s,itutonaly elected. His principal public acts
appear TO US, for SO far, TO have been such as
to promote the great and permanent interests
Of the nation. Is there any thing unreasonable,
then, in testing his administration by his mea-
sures?--If he has attained his elevated station by
corrupt bargaining, or by any kind Of bargain
ing, let it be established, and zoe shall be among
tie foremost to aid in hurling him from it,
"Judge Of the administration by its acts" was
the advice Of that great and good but much a
bused man, Mr.. CRAWFORD. This advice, COM
ing, as it did, from an opposing and unsuccess-
full candidate, ought to have its full effect
"Judse of the tree by its fruit, is also the adj
moniion of another distinguished candidate,
the patriotic JACKSON.
AS TO the presidential election--we cannot
vet say what candidate will receive our vote,
for the reason, that we know not who may be
candidates. and we know not whether the acts OF
the president may be such as to entite him to, a
re-clec,ion.-But il shall be our care 10 exclude
from our columns every species ofpersonal vitu
peration-to give correct information, SO far as
our knowledge may ex,end-and, instead OF ex
citing, to endeavour 10 moderate the public
feeling, to the end that peace and harmony may
be preserved, and thar reason and reflection
may prevail"