Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-10-27

bother swho shall sink his stone deepest into
the head'' OF that political Goliah, the Ad-'
minis,ra,ion. The facts upon which the OPP
position rely in support OF their charge Of corr
ruption. are. that Mr. Clay and Mr.. Adams
were not friendly previous TO the election. that
Mr.. Clay voted for Mr. Adams, who afterwards
appointed hnn Secretary. of State-and upon
the facts this nation is called upon TO convict
two Of her most distinguished citizens oil cor
ruption
They would have us believe their principles to
be, that no two distinguished men who nave
ever differed, can become reconclled, without
corrupt motive: that when President appoints
10 office person who voted for him, 1t must be
understood 70 be a reward for his vote; and if
he APPOINTS person who voted against him, 1t
is the price ofapostacv, and In both cases COR
ruption in each party, shall wave, Tor the
present. the consideration of the fact, that Mr..
Claw and Mr. Jackson were irIeconc leably hos
tile 70 each other; that the former could never
have voted for the latter, without abandoning
the principles which he had tearlessly ayowed
and maintained in the fare OF the nation. Sui
fee il 10 say, that he woutDhaye rendered him
self at leas, as obnoxious 10 the charge OF COR
ruption, if he had 70 ed for Mr.. Jackson, as he
did in voting for Mr.. Adams. My present OBJ
ieci is to bring the leading members Of the OPP
position to the test of their own standard and
examine them by the principles they have as
sume6, and shall require only the aid of an adj
ditional proposition, which will, doubtless, be
conceded, namely-that he who offers, or is
willing to be corrupted, is just ss unfit to be
trusted, as If he had actually received the re-
ward of corruption.
tn, 1icti he6
once differed can become reconciled, without a
corrup. motive, may ask upon what prnci-
Piles have Messrs. Calhoun and Randolph be-
come reconciled 20 each other? These gentle
men, before the late election, were thorough
going personal and political enemies. No two
mer in the nation exhibited more rancorous hos
tility TO each other: they have become restored
to each others favor, without any other appa
rent cause than the election of Mr.. Adams to the
Presidency, and the appointment OF Mr.. Clay,
whom they both hate, if possible still more than
they hated each other. BY what magic power
has the Vice President secured to himself the
personal friendship and support Of Van Buren,,
and others, who heretofore pretended to be the
warm friends of William II. Crawford? All Of
us remember the foul calumnes which Mr.. Cal
houn, and his adherents, fabricated and pub
statesman, whom, by way ofreproach, they call
ed "the Radical Chief" Nor have we forgot
ten the accusations made against his friends iii
Congress, among whom Mr.. Van Buren,, and
others, now fthe Opposition, were represent
ed 10 the nation as base conspirators against
the most estimable rights, and dearest interests
of the people. Yet these men, thus revil-
ed and denounced, have not only forgiven
;,,n Lptb o, tod fl
banner Of their accuser, and made with him
common cause in attempting to destroy the
re equation Of others-To what cause shall we
attribute the sudden attachment of Col, Benton
for General Jackson, TO whom he had been
personally hostile for years? Between these
gentlemen the war had been carried on with
degree Of determined hostility, on both sides,
that forbid even the hope Of reconciliation
Both implacabe in their resentments, their feud
was deadly. The friends Of each arrayed them
selves against those Of the other, with the stead
fast implacablity Of hostile clans, and nothing,
it is believed prevented the loss OLIVES, but the
removal Of one Of the chiefs, Col B from Ten
nessee Hostiilies, however, did not al,ogeth-
err cease between the chiefs, with their opportu-
mites of meeting On the part Of Col. Benton,
al least, there was no abatement. He never wa
EtitUs THROUGHOUT tue lHN tStISdtlOH anu punt
discussion Of the conduct of the General in the
Seminole war, and continued to dcnounce him
for that conduct, among other things until af
Ter the electors were chosen, and the result Of
the Presidential election, SO far as it depended
on them, was known-when suddenly the hos
tile chiefs became reconciled, their wounds
healed and their mutual injuries forgotten or at
least forgiven.
The Presidential election, so far as it depend
ed on this state, was contested only between Mr.
Clay and Gen. Jackson, and Col Benton devot-
ed his time and talents to the support OF the
former, manifesling, on all occasions, his pre-
ference for Mr.. Clay, and his objections to Ge-
neral Jackson, in language and conduct by no
means equivoca! He prepared an address to
the people of thi: state, in which MIR. Clay was
represented as qualified, above all others, for the
Presidency, by his eminent talents, his undoubt-
ed patriotism, and incorruptible integrity. TO
this address he put his own sign manuel, and
by his interchangeable industry procured the sig
natures of many of the citizens OF this stately
his procurement ii was published * distributed
in all parts of the State. His personal exertions
were devoted TO the same cause. He was heard
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