Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-06-13
VIRGINIA. TUESDAY, JUNE - 1soe

MIN 'or the Presidency, aud hayins become Inn.
In4eu oy the tie OF their common attachment to
"'iN' &" was natural they should desire 10 act in
and 1t was equally natural he should have
s'ea' influence i'll giving direction TO their con,non
~ I'n1"'s' have the most thorough conviction
. ~ '~u "ia' i"iinence and that he thus the
very hinSe upon which the election turned So
mar, however impure his own motives. NAV b,v.
oeeh' he had the power of exercising a contro,inr
'hHUehce over heads OF the utmost Durtv What
men let us inquire those motives of his upon
"H'cn so much depended? To ascertain them. we
must look at his position and his PRINCIPLES. lie
eWeseh'eu a State where an Overwhelming major
J u 'he people were III favor OF General Jackson
ana opposed to Mr.. Adams, and where the obIiaa
ton OF the Representative TO conform IN ,b,. Gil
OF ms constituents, is regarded as fundamentals
Heie OF .'he true political creed He had ALWAYS.
ni'ise!l' recognized that obligation; and in dscuss-
ing the repeal OF the celebrated compensation law
mad avowed in these decided an unqualified terms
Mist, then, he had seat Oh this floor ~ said
VAT. SIay, was irnmaterial how he arrived AZ the
VIII! OF MS constituents, or what were the evidences
Oh lit was sufficient he should know il in all
cases oil expediency he held the doctrine OF the OBJ
hgauon on his part, TO observe the instructions,
express or Implied, OF his Constituents Vet in
ui ecl opposition 10 the will of his constituents
OIL MS o!ate, and OF the United States. and in like
opposi"oh 10 MS constitutional duty a represent
ave "ec"iuinS To his own principles, he threw
the wide weight of his influence in favor nj n can
uuate whom he had habliually protested 20 despise
as man, and dctest as politician, and the only
one oil MS competitors whom he had denounced as
unworthy OF the high trust to which he aspred -
II IS ont two obvious then, that Mr. CLAY sacrifc-
Gu MS poAtcai anmosies and his political princi-
pies his duty to himself and his duty to his country
"' tue uhhsIiowed shrine OF ambition Yes sir
H,'hoition-corrupiing ambition that sin by which
ZIG Angels ieli Am asked for proof? | an
swer that II cIrcumstantial evidence be not rejected
as inadmissihle, it is full and satisfactory Hear
H. lie gives the vote OF his state in opposition to
MS own prlncpes-aganst the will of the people
% 'hst State and thereby makes the President; and
'e'i mas The irontiess, Shameless audacity TO set
PUBIC opinion at defiance, by instantly and openly
receiving, as the reward of his treachery to the peo
PIE anu 10 his own principles the hghes, Office tha,
the fres:d INT can confer upon him Can any THING
be more plain It is the common case sir OF sale
IN market overt. and none but man of the most
consuinmate boidness and efrontery could hold up
MS heau !" society after such transaction Sir
nave oul HtIle Claim to set myself up as stand
ard OF political morality; but I solemuIy declare
a' 'nere Is no extreme OF political martyrtom that
would not suffer, rather than accept of the Office
.. secretary OF State, or any other Office of a Pres
ident Tor whom had voted under such crcuInstan
ceS. Every sentiment OF delcacy, and every prin-
cipie oil honor, concur in its condemnation. II
cannot be Justhed or excused. 1t is bad as an ac,
ana dangerous as precedent. There cannot be
conceived case ofpotical prostitution 30 gross
'nat uhls VIII not operate a sanction for H. A nd
what, let me ask, the circumstances which
preceded, accompanied and characterized, this ex
eH@nSe OF GOOD Hhces--;his exit aordnary coalition
between mir. Adams and Mr.. Clay?-But 4 very
short time before, they were srra7ed in direct Dojt
icai hostility, as uncompromsing antagonists who,
having publicly exchanged detiances seemed alos,
70 glare and scowl at each other in the streets as
'hey passed. And yet, without even plausible
preteXt to cover their " open and manifest, fail
", - within month"; little month - &C o. most
wicked speed, to post with such dexterity.p IN
mere;ricious bonds they married." Mr. Chair,
man pronounce 1t to be no lawful wedlock; the
9P" OF the constitution and the voice of the nation
uhequlvocally expressed, conquered to &" forbid
The banns''
II not nor it cannot come 10, roolp
Tell me not Of the infamy of Lord Norih's celelra.
ied coalition with MIR. Fox. There, to be sure,
there was the same combination of adversary ele
inehts IN the political compounds; but the spirit of
the constitution was not violated, nor the voice
OF the nation condemned and defeated.
MI Chairinan,a feel quite exhaust ed. both bv
oouiiy e"ort and bodily indisposition, shall detain
''e committee with but very few additional re-
marks The gentleman from Massachusetts mir
fverei) has been pleased to say, that if he enter
tanned the opinions have expressed of the corrpp-
tIOiity OF Congress, he would not proclaim them
neIe,ou' would take despondios leave OF recre-
ant hepuoHc, and seek refuge in the arms of some
paiernai despo,Ism. Highly as re,pect the oen-
ieman, must be excused rom pursuing the course
ne mas suggested. am very differently constju-
tea, perhaps rom what he is Ny nature prompts
me not to iy from difficulties, but to meet, and. #
possible, to conquer them. My maxim is never to
" despair OF the Republic" 1t is true, sir. do
NOT IKE The signs of the times; believe thai
something IS rotten In the State OF Denmark. -
bu', u corruption has insinuated itself into our no.
II'icai system, it is the duty of every patriot to
stand his ground, and endeavor to exteTminaie il
ana me cause OF x. As il is certain that this con-
test between Liberty and Power, in lis worst
form, must have occurred at some time. under our
present political organization. regard it as for
tunate circumstance that it has taken place at this
early period Of the Republic, when The youthful
Vgor oil IT'S Constitution can sustain The remedy and
throw oil the disease. Twenty years from his time
the disease would probably have been ncurable
and the contest hopeless Now, have the most
thorough confidence Of ultimate success for
though, to use the language Of the gentleman from
dassachusetls, the battle may be fought and lost
here at this time; and when see the whole oraapiz
ed power of the administration arrayed against
proposition that can only pass by Two thirds OF our
votes what else can / eXpect2 vet will not adont
The desperate resort Of flying to the Emperor Of
Russia, or the Grand Sultan of Turkey, 10 unboson
Ely grieis and disappontments No, sir, | will
! appeal to that great tribunal, By which, | thank
Cod our proceedings on this subject aye to be re-
viewed, will proclaim 10 the People that their IL
Dsries are IN danger, and must be inevitably los, in
the grossest corruption if this house be not avesied
OF IT'S haOIinal agency IN the choice Of the Presi-
dent. And here solemnly devote myself 10 this
great reform, pledging myself before this House,