Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-02-19

Sta"Se Can only speak Win pe"IeCt Confidence
OF the impressions made on my mind from
reading the Winchester paragraph then for ,ba
first time seen by me. From the apparcn, ..
gerness with which he sought the interview
concluded that he labored under the impresson
that stood committed to the Administrator
& at the moment it also occurred 10 ME tina, Mr.
Clay by speaking publicly Of the letter soueh, Z,
create that impre ssion with the public, s. therebv
10 render all men opposed TO the Administrators
reserved and distant towards me, and thus NH.
mately 10 cause me to side with the Admins.
tralion. In this ascrplion am convinced
was mistaken, and hesitate not to retrac, tho
impu,ation. My better reflection advises m-
that his course was one entirely natural in it.
self, and which any one placed in his situation
would have been apt to have adopted. The
object then, with me in uttering any thing to
COL G. could only have been to remove from
his mind the impression of my commitment;
and the language | used was to this effect: 81
did write TO Mr. Clay about the time Of the
Presidential Election-The precise terms OF the
letter do not now remember, but Ihave a eouv
and WiA recur TO it-but, if Mr.. Clay thinks ,hs,
he binds me 10 the Administration by breaking
the seal Of private correspondence Cor By
making public the contents Of my letter, the
expressions are Of the same import,) or rha,I
can be driven from my principles, he deceiyes
himself. The GOODNESS Of my friends may re.
pei me from their intercourse, but nothing can
cause me TO abandon my principles" fur.
Their stated that il was true should have voted
Cor MIR. Adams, MIR. Crawford aside, bu, lha,
crealed no obligation TO sustain him afterwards
Ito which Col. Gooch, as well as iemem Der
pyt, ad. tnto ~.
same thing, but not so now"-or shat pre-.
ference for MIR. Adams al The time of his cleo
lion did not necessarily imply preference for
him now" repeat, could not vouch for he
precise form OF expression, but that the o5ja!
OF any remark used by me, was as above stated.
am positive, could have had no motive 10
speak Of it in any other manner, since the fact
that that letter had been written, had been made
known by me to many, and my opinions rea.
tive to Mr.. Clay's conduct had been diyulged in
instances without number.
IT. adverting 10 that letter, / shall content my.
self with stating its substance; but if Mr. Clay
shall see cause to CRAFTY the appe,i,es Of news
paper Editors, he is at liberty 10 publish it,
shall have no cause to comp ain Of it. tits then,
perfectly true, that wrote to MIR. Clay in the
spring Of Us. Its also true, that approved Of
his course growing out Of the Presidential elect
ion, s. concurred with him most emphatic ally in
the result of his vote. 1t is equally so, that
esteemed Mr.. Adams as decidedly better quail.
FED Tor the Presidency than Gen Jackson and
that would have voted for him after Mr. Craw-
ford's chance of success was over To this ef.
feet, wrote to Mr.. Clay in terms of perfect
frankncss Now, where is the commitment on
my part to the administration? Is it becauseI
preferred Mr.. Adams then that must support
him through all future time, no matter what
may be his course, Of policy? The Same obi.
cation exists W men, who contribute 10
elect any man 10y Office, to vote for him at
the expiration of his term; and this without re-
gard to his course while in Office The boosted
responsibility Of the public agent to his con-
stituents, becomes the dream Of a visionary, and
there would be nothing substantial in our form
of government. Instead ofthis-t would soon
grow into an adage. Once in office, always in
Office. The conclusion is ridiculous enough
Or is it because do MOI believe Henry Clay, a.
long with the western delegation who sided with
him, 10 haze been bought and sold, for which il
guilty, he and they deserved 10 be gibbel,ed
that am, therefore, bound 10 support an admin.
istration which may oppose all my convictions
CT proper policy? Must / veal dagger to
plunge IN the bosom Of every man, with whom
/ may differ in sentiment? When we snail
have attained crisis so full Of horror, il will
be matter Of little moment, who shall be "the
star Of the ascendant" Error mus, be oppo.
sed with different weapons in free country,
where men will think, and thinking, will differ
in opinion. The weapon there to be used. is
that ofreason and argument. 1t was that wea-
pom, which gained US the victory of '9s, 800
The fact is undeniable, that majority Of the
Electoral College Of Virginia, II Mr.. Craw-
ford had been removed by the hand of death,
would heve voted for Mr. Adams. 1 assert il
fenriessiy. The people Of Virginia, then, are
equally committed with myself.
shall make no public disclosure Of the course
I shall pursue in the Senate. If my recorded
votes in Congress from the years 'l6 to '22,
given on the very subjects, or the greater par,
of them, now forming the subjeels Of conlen.
tion-if uniform course through all time, as
well Of peace as of war-if my conduct in The
Legislative and Executive Departments of this
State. do not develope the principles which
will govern me, any avowal might now makes
might well be considered the result of the cir
cumsiances in which am placed, and as pro-
DItIatOry Offering 10 those u hn have seen so