Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1827-08-18

'r3nd, At once, upou what authority is this PROPOSE
The General regarded the proposal as an infamous
one. Unqnestonably this was its chaIactet; and al
though he promised that hi, opinion of Mr. Bucha-
nan should nai he altered tina, engagement surely did
not extend to Blchanan's employers those te came
.5FoPt"-TbG natural course OF high-rninded man,
when nsul;cd by infamous proposals. TO demand from
whom comes, and, a, once 10 expose ana, II prac-
ticabie, punish the Gle nier. Gen jackson supposed
the proposition llr. Clay, and that suppose
ton inevitably Implied the opinion Of Mr.. Clay that
Gen. Jackson capable Of accepting 1t. ct Gen
Jackson content hear and re eC the proposition
TO retain hi, good opinion OF the agent, and make no
inquiry after the principals He assumes that Mr.
Clay is that principals d,! bsleye he came from
MIR Clay, although he used the terms MIR. CLAWS
friends" and avenses himself by speaking of it sat
hjS hOwSc GRd jrcSjic IN such terms convey
,hc impression received b. himself and when his
yersations exposed. defends himself by asserting
81 have not said, do say, that the proposal
made to me, with tie priv and consent of Mr..
Clay
Hal Gen jackson proceeded ., high minded men
usually do, when vaiuous proposal is made TO them
he would have said, MIR. BuchaGan you stated 10 me
that you were about to communicate to great in
ttigue hat going My promise TO hear it and
take no offence, was given without any ntnaton that
you would insult me by recommending to take part
in that intrigue. You can be better than YOUR en-
ployers. Who they Unless some responsible
person is named, | must look upon you as the mover
SIN tbs matter" No man is likely to propose
villalny than he who conceyes it, Name your employ
cts, or leave my presence.
Such, think, should have been the course of Gen.
Jackson. In addition this, he should have mrnedi-
atey informed Mr. Clay of the proposition and named
the proposcr. Whelhe, Mr. Clay authorised the promo,
siton not, the communication should have beeu made
Ia him. If when advised of it, he remained silent, that
silence would have affirmed his guilt, aud warranted
Gcn Jackson in exposing him. Ii he repealed the pros
position rs unauthorized by him, he would have been
placed in direct collision with MIR. Buchanan and Gen
J1cson would have demonstrated to tho world, by acts
of uneqnivocal correctness, his contempt and abhor
rtiOD. As thp
matter no" stands, giving up the of MIR. BuChan
IS of about the character with that ofa person
in whose possession stolen goods found, seeking
excuse himself by na'nng particnps cr,ninis, the
person from whom he received them. a resort very
co nInnn, and never successful.
Besides the of fact, ana the strange ideas oil
honorable conduct which have pointed ont in this ac-
dress II con aims singular doctrines upon the sub
lect OF guilt and innocence Though General Jack
stouy denies that lie has assumed the character
o! public accuser of Mr.. Clay, and although he admits
that in ms SuppoS;t;on" he may have done Mr. CLAY
Inlustice, yet he evidently considers Mr. Clay is
accused. and that it is incumbent upon him 10 ''acqu,
M"ScJN-"lf,o says the General she should be able
to sustain the avermens he has made. and qcq1t Ran
SeJ, OF any agency participation, in the matter
beg leave to assure him, that SO far from at6rdinr me
pam, 1t will give me pleasure" Waving all doubt
whether the General can be sincere in this declar alton
Is not curluus that lie should talk of acGuals where
there is no accusation but Supnoso,s and eoDin12D
Is II not more curious that Mr. Clay should be required
10 sustain h'S aUcrmen" OF innocence without charge
VI PROOF against lis doctrine, that
puts the party upon proof Of his Innocence and requires
OF him to 'Gcqi hinse"s not peculiar to Gen Jack
son Its as old persecution and oppression (which
1t is always the aVOiitc instrument. The General
and his friends have revived ii, happily adap pied "a
the eXigency OF their And the pernaci,y with
which they maintain it, shows their universal conyc-
ton that they can do nothing, ifh is given up.
one OF The peculiar agents of this doctrine that the
accused should "ncGNt nSer is that of prov ing ruiit
by "6.ltn and "hetrSnyn Ii was the whole basis of
the old krener charge and although the proposition
was secuted by every unprecedented man, the General
has again brought forward as all aux iary in the same
cause Mr.. McDutie moved, that the committee
should enquire "whether the friends of Mr. Clay had
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. evertures snih to haze 6een
mule by the friends of Mr. hdarna'n-swheher the
f'iends OF Mr.. Clay gave this information T,yha had
heen said the friends of Genera! Jackson and him,
'H'-"whether it was said and beiieced" &c Now
suppose these hnts says and LeliefS, all proven
what would they amount to- What would be the pro
haoie consequences OF admitting such proof, in u case
OF guilt or innocence Let Mr. McDufie himself be
heard upon these matters.
"Fhere are TO principles of our law more deeply
founded in wisdom than those which regulate the aams
SION of evidence; and will take this occasion TO refna
That next to such organization of the government
p will secure the effective responsibility of pocal
agents, civil liberty derives lis principal security from
the establishment and sacred Observance ed rules
81 inicia proceedings and judicial evidence ITO
Unsete and sUbverl these rules therefore, uner what
ever plausible pretcxt may be attempted is 20 DESTROY
fne only substantial security for every thing sacred in
re- and consequently to ntf'ct vital stab upon The
public hbsrty"- All history viii Justify the remark
That there occasions, which their rigid obser.
vance IS so highly Important when legislative DO
DIES or political commissions, exercise judicial pow ers
for the trial Of political offences. On such occasions
the strongest of human passions almost unavoidabTy IT,
surp the seat of Judgment and unless restrained by prc
established forms and pre- established rules of evidence
Tie most capricous freaks of despotsn and vengeance
are TerPe'raied in The sacred names flaw and Justice
These reflections full Of force and truth. They
apply directly and strongly TO tie before u.s. where
II vas attempted 70 snhycrt the whole BODY of the law
d evidence, and substitute for proof of facts proof Of
hp'ts, henrSq, and Jc's The reader will recollcct
they are employed by the very same MIR. NcDuHie who
proposed The resolution in question But the occasion
very diGcren! one The rcsolulion was moved
10 aid in the ProcsatioD of Mr. Clay; The doctrines
quoted were advanced in defence of MIR. Calhoun
They supply strong proof how very differently the same
ladIYI!Gal views The thing under different cir
@1n5'ances and in relation different persons. am
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