Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-08-03
.Mr. Clay's Speech at Lexington.
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~A'. Guy , speech az Lexington.
We lose no time in laying MIR. Clay's defence
OF himself before our readers. In his letter the
public, from Wheeling, be says, 80 purposey
iorhear, at this time, 10 make several comments
which these documents authorze,' sc. And the
National Journal most exultngly remarked, az we
believe that The letter of MIR. Clay will disGppoint
General Jackson and his friends disappoint them,
we mean, IN the cdtInness of lis tone, and in the
dtShgtsd tOr6edTdJlee with which the writer con-
hnes himself to simple denial of the charges
winch 1t was the purpose of General Jacksons
letter to rescue from the contempt into which they
were falling, By the sanction of his name - Mr..
CIay's tOr6eora19ce, however, was soon exhaust
ed, and he has made his " comments" much at
length. VIII the legion of EiitoI's who conduct
ne Journal, (ailer consultation,) again commend
he . dignihed forbe.rance'' of The honorable Sc
creiary? Or, will they turn about, and Iaud his
intrepid holiness; his Iawyer-like argument, and
his y" Iignihed' idicple ana sarcasm? The occ,.
sion seemed 10 require the employ nient of all his
great and splendid powers. And he has brought
them TO bear on the subject in which must
convince the nation, II they had already uifi.
cient proofs of the fact, that the powers Of his
mind not inferior 10 the determined energy
with which he marches to the accomplishment of
desired object. MIR. Clay uses the remark that,
" all perpetrators Of crime endelVonr TO conceal
their guilt and 10 eluhe deiec,ion.'' We will
not deny the general truth of this remark; nor
will aver that Mr.. Clay, himself, presents
striking exemplifcation OF its application to
real life. Whilst dissent from his remark
that Gen. Jackson is his " accussT'' and yolun-
tsrily' his s. sub5ls prosecutor we are free
10 admit that AN issue Is fairly made up between
him and his opP0nen's-snd that he has a right to
put himself upon his country for an impartial tri-
al, according to facts aud circumstances as they
may have been, may be, hereafter disclosed we
would not condemn him upon the mere allegation
or his guilt by his oppOnents would w acquit
him in consequence of his bold, and. apparently,
fearless denial. He continues 10 hold Gen. Jackson
up as his public QccuSeT, and alleging that the
corrupt propositions made with his DTiUify
This is dsingenuous perversion of The language OF
Gen j. The Gens. al m st "a ousIy uses .rebt
language. He only gives the statement made to him
by distinguished member of Congress; expressed his
belief a, that time, from the circumstances that this
member came, directly, from Mr. CLAW. But Les,
he should be misia aiken in this supposiiiop he states
that il was his impression at the time; and his em
pha,ic answer proves the fact: Bat It in this
respect, he was mistaken, the person making the
communication could explain. In Gen Jackson =
letter to MIR. Beverley there is certainly nothing
to prove that General Jackson is he voluntary AMI
public accussr of Mr.. Clay. MIR. Clay is. himself
remarkable for his boldness in conversation a.
any other man in our country. Those who know.
him personally know this, and ii be should find
biz own free remarks at his own private table nut
into the prints unexpectedly, would he not under
the same circumstances, endorse their truth
Would he not exempt from blame the friend q ho
had communicated them to another, by whom they
had been UNEXPECTEDLY handed over 10 the Ptes.s
There il trait Ia MIR Gays character which has
won him more Of public esteem than bis lfa.kness:
his Openness; his bold indeI endence both in reIa-
ton to men and measures He ~ aware IL this
and il would seem, that, IN his Lexington Speech
I've is de ernned IT, bear upon tie staff that ha. -,
long supported him. II is bot Just 10 the ps,6e.
that the ifue Issue before the public should be fsIS
stated. Bat Mr. Clay has not, in our opieion.
stated 1t correctly No one, not even Mr.. Claw
himself, doubts but that the communication eys
made TO Gen. Jackson that he speaks Of Whether
Il wa authorized not, is the main question; in
The solution Of which, the Pubic will not rel, upon
sophiscsl arguments, Or bold denisls They Will de
mand the ie-iimODy Of others. Gen j. fas ssid i,
conversation, at HE own hospiiabls board, that
such communication was made to him Verv
Improperly his remarks 6od their way into the pub
lic phnis, and being called upon, he repeats them.
Before he does 80, however, be satisfies himself
nat MS guest wasnat so much 10 blame for making
them public, ~ The correspondent 10 whom they
were sent. Onder these circumstances, Nj. CLAY
would make the American people believe that
Ienstai jackson was his voluntary public accus-
sr II u sh'ud iurn out that no such com
municeI a. General Jackson spesks Of was
n'de 10 hIan, then he will stand disbonoured
and dsgfaced IN The opinion Of all But II the
communication WIS ac'uslly made 10 him. he gave
the most dignihed answer 70 IT, pure man
'tanding ~ he delicate stua1ou in Viii h he was
placed, could have rUrsued 10 o'hsg course HIS
answer was nervous; and appalling TO those Who
d''loss@ - 'sngef snd tuoa.a 10 a.s'tet e..