Literary cadet, and Saturday evening bulletin. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1826-1827, 1826-04-22

dom Of his p~olicy.-Under his auspices the willis
Of the west, heretofore of but little value to the
country, have been Invested Of their gloom, and re-
gions, which never before resounded with the stroke
Of the Ratchet, or were favoured with the smiles of
civilization and christian population, are now deco
rated with towns, villages and hamlet,, and there,
where a few years since, scarce else was heard than
the yells of the savage, and the benowings Of the
bufaloe, industry has made her abiding place, and
the rude roaring Of there riverssnd yesty lakes
are drowned ia the hum and hustle Of agriculture
and mechanism. In New England, especially, is to
be seen the successful operation Of the policy intro
duced and established by this enlightened and emf
nent politician (; and her thousand Manufactures,
which a few years ago, were abandoned by their pro-
~rrietors, as worse than valueless, and suffered to SUBJ
NIT to all the ravages of time and decay, now in
the Gatherings Of their machinery, and productive
ness Of their stock, bear ample testimony that the
wisdom Of this good Statesman, rescued millions
from ruin, and gave employment to thousands,
who but for the success Of the American policy
might have been reduced to all the ills Of poverty
and want. ~-
But if we attempt to upbuiM the character Of
Henry Clay, we undertake that which is
needless, for he already possesses the affections and
confidence of the rejecting and sober minded part
Of the communicate all whose friendship is worth
maintaining, or whose good opinions are sought for.
In the eyes of the nation, he stands first among her
wisest and best citizens, and if he sometimes err
they will look first at his motives and invaluable
attributes, and with an i~ndulgent feeling, overlook
and forget his errors.
II is with no other feelings than those Of pain,
that we allude to the late affair between the Seore-
tary Of State and John Randolph of Roanoke, and
although we would be among the last to advocate
the duelist, and the first to hold him up as a guilty
offender, still there is in this affair, something to be
pleaded in mitigation of ib sinful ness. Pursued
for the last eighteen months, by those whose fortunes
and whose standing gave them a high place in the
eyes of the nation, with all their malignity, and re-
ceiving at their hands the contents of their poisoned
chalices, and b~eholding them daily heaping upon
his head the most infamous falsehoods and scandal
it is not surprizing, if in an unguarded moment, he
suffered himself to be drawn into a personal CON-
by Mr.. Clay he would have avoided it if he could,
and had his antagonist made the explanation which
he, as a gentleman was bound to give and which he
afterwards did male, the affair would not have
taken place, and Mr.. Clay would not have thus
exposed his life and reputation to the caprice of his
enemies.
We repeat we are not about to apologize for the
duelist bat however sincerely and severely we.
may d~eprecate the practice of d~uelling, it is in val o.
that we attempt to say that there are not sircur d.
stances that will Mitigate the snormity Of the Of
fence; and if there ever was a time when the Iseo-
pie were called upon to extend their indulgence to
a man, unintentionslly drawn into a duel, that. mo-
ment is at hand, and that indulgence is by Necessity
of the case, loudly called for. We cannet bat fiat.
ter ourselves that the affair properly considered
will be overlooked by his friends and it SHOULD be
remembered by those Of them who reside, in New
England, that a difference Of customs and education,
always give rise TO difference Of opinions, and that
situated as Mr.. Clay was, the unbendin's custom of
the section Of the country where he resides, de-
manded the course he adopted. As tc his antogo-
mist, We have but little to say Of him.-a as a man OF
the most brilliant talents, we certaily entertain for
a proper regard, but when it is r-ecollected that
he has for the last twenty years, been a living pest
to every administration the violent opposer of ev-
cry thing, not exactly Calculatei to advance his
own views Of personal agsrandizeS nent, and suffer-
ed no opportunity to escape him, whereby he might
be enabled to traduce and Willy the fairest reputa.
tons, and cut off the hopes of his country, we can.
not too seriously lament that y Ir. Clay should in
any event, think himself called upon to descend to
his level.
There were connected with this affair, some aiders
and abettors of a kindred stamp, whose secret
springs and designs, are not perhaps exactly under.
stood, but which must sooner or later be developed,
and consisn them to the 10 fanny they merit.
"Ohio, recollect the soss Of Rhode-I and Con-
nocticut first broke ground. upon the banks of Marietta
qucnt advocate that ever graced the Courts Of Rhode
Island. "-Peorces' speech on Mr.. McDu6ies Rssolu-
toas.
This paragraph FssS, to most of the constituents
Of Mr.. PEAReE, loeen completely enigmatical, SO
faras it 10 connected with "tha most eloquent advo-