Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-08-07

u.
canvass was conducted by Mr. Clay and his friends
speak wha, know from unquestionable au-
.noIi.y 10 De The iact--upon grounds of exclusive
hostility to Mr.. Adams General Jackson had
such hold upon the affections and confidence of
The People OF Kentucky, that the friend. OF Mr.
clay, to induce the people 10 vote for him, used
this argument: They said none of the candidates
could be elected by the People, and that the elec
ton would, OF course, devolve upon The House Of
Representatives; that before the House of Repre-
seniaiives General Jackson had no chance of SUE
c.ss, and that The only way, therefore, TO defeat
the election of John Quincy Adams, and 10 secure
" esteTn President, was vote for Mr. Clay ::
for thst, If he obtained votes sufficient to carry
him into the House of Representative "a one OF
The three highest Candidates such was his in uence
there, that he would be elected.
Against Mr.. Adams, it was urged by Mr. Clay
ana hts friends that he enemy TO the interests
OF the Wes', ~ indicated by various acts oG his
political life; that he an apostate federal
lst, the reason given by AIR. Clay for refusing 10
serve with him, in a subordinate station in the Ca
binet of Mr. Monroe; and ,ha, il was important.
on the score of principle 10 break the Cabinet sue
session, which, in the course of time, would ena .
Die me President, ss matter of course. TO nomi-
nate his successor. Thus you perceive that the
canvass was conducted by Mr.. Clay, before the
fcePie oil Kentucky y, upon pIinciDie in direct ex.
elusive opposition Mr.. Adams. What folluyy-
! Ell! The electioa devolved upon the House of
Representatives, and Mr.. Clay was not one of the
Three highest candidates. Il then became the
duty of Mr.. Clay and his Western friends to
choose between General Jack on and Mr.. Adams,
In the mean time the Legislature of Kentucky
/ influenced, perhaps, by misgivings as TO the
couse OF Mr.. Clay, passed a resolution, by an al
mos, unanimous vote, declaring that, next TO Mr.
Clay General Jackson the choice of the Pen
PIE OF kentucky, and requesting their Representa-
i've IN Congress 10 vote for hun a md II is re
markable fact, that the very few members of the
Kentucky Legislature who opposed the resolution
rested their opposition principally upon the erou al
tina; II was so notorious that the People OF Ken
lucky preferred General jackson 10 Mr.. Adams
that the Representatives of that State in Congress
must know u, without the resolution of the Leg!s.
laiure.
Yet Mr.. Clay and majority OF the Represen-
tatives n Congress from Kentucky, not only vot-
ed agains, General Jackson, but in favor of John
quincy Adams, the very man asains; whom, in the
canvass before the People, they had directed
their principle opposition upon the grounds of nigh
pohucal principle, viz: l. The importance of
having Western President. 2. The necessity
ct breaking the order OF Cabinet succession a
That Mr.. Adams was apostate federali-t. Ard
q: That ne was hostile 10 the interests cf the
" est. Now, not one OF these objections spptied
TO General Jackson. On the con,rsry, he posse.s
e! The very qualifications that would enti,le him 20
me vote OF those who honestly urged these OBJ
Jectlons TO Mr.. Adams. He was Western man,
devoted TO the Western interests. He was pri
Z a mi
lster' And he was an underwriting Republican
There is another fact necessary To a full d.vel.
oPment OF Mr.. Clay's conduct in this transaction
Turing an Important debate in Congress in the
year lSl7, MIR. Clay avowsd his politic.i nrinci.
pies IN these Words" care not how ascerrnin
me VIII OF my constituents, nor what are the evil
dences OF II II is sufficient for me that know H.
Whue have a seat this floor, shall always
hoid myself bound by the will of nv consiii,;en,s
whether eSpTess or implied" Thus we II nd
Mr. Clay, IN 1917, by singular fatality; pto.
houhclns sentence OF condemnation upon his con-
euc' In 1898 Il is impossible for him 10 escape
i'oin MS own judgment, so broad s conn rehensiye
are lis terms. They seem prOvidentiaIIy designed
10 rreet the very case OF political delinquency am
now discussing.
How, ask, can Mr. Clay justify himself for
Yo''"S "saihs, Heheral Jackson, in opposition 70
those principles to which he had soIemnIy sworn
aHegegiance before the whole American Pro-
pie! Through - hat avenue by what subterfupe
can he escape from the Condemnation that awaits
him?
His advocates have attempted 10 evade the true
question, by denying the right Of the members 81
the Legislature OF Kentucky TO ms ruct the Mem
bers OF Congress from that Stale This il ,bei,
usual ariiice Of mis-stating the question No ,csn
OF sense ever coniended that The resolution of the
Kentucky Legislature was binding, ~ an iusiruc
ton, upon the members OF Congress The friends
OF Gen. Jackson only contend that his resoI,,ior
4 ef-f a. ~
OF iis Passage, furnishes positive clear and neon
trover,ible evidence of what was the viii of the
People OF Kentucky the subjsct OF that resolution
~ Is impossible Tor any man but scenic "a doub,
mat an overwhelming majority OF the Pearte OF
Kentucky preferred General jackson IN NJ,
Adams, and tina, 1t was their will that their Rerrs
sentatives 10 Congress should vote for Gens,sl
Jackson. VIII Mr.. Clay attempt 90 excuse bir,.
seiI by saying that the People had moi siven h;rr
formal iastUctions' He has barrel himself from
ihai plea, by saying, explicitly. that he cares moi
no" ne aseertains The viii Of his constituents. or
what were the evidences OF it, he islt himself b,,oJ
to obey it,tChefher expressed or ;01yJ,e,J
NOW, boldly ask. u there vas ever snch "a,
grant Abandonment OF priDc pie: AMI SUCH tissus
OF Hc0nsistencies, Involved IN any one poljt,csl
act5 az there u ~ the vote Of Henry Cav fr gcbo
Qwncy Adams! lie vote. FIR me man whom he
h"a denounced upon four several grounds OF po'ii-
csI principle. lie yote- as 0iast The man ,vhnn he
knew 10 be The choice OF his constituents. aud In,
"n"m ne was, upon his own svowed prinririss
u"ue' the most constitutional obi cations 60 woe
- 'Hers can be more Shameless and pronigate
sOano0nnent OF principle, more fisors,t az, %,
political hescbery and usur patton. an sts ios.
10 conceive ". To bring out he fill ex.spt OF
we Outrage committed upon The tights Of the p-o-
PIE ny ibis coalition between Mr. Adams add ,lr
Gay, Will barely advert to TIE fact that tb, pen
I pc OF Missouri were as decidedly opposed IN N,
adams, and IN iavOf oil General Iacksor s. ,b,.a
OF kentucky No candid and honest nm h..
ever TO my knowledge, pretended To agov ,,,.
IsC'' mere We see the votes Of three Sts,ss Ma
YAM Louisiana, and illinois given IN AZ, Al
"'s ~ ""e'' opposition 10 tiis vote OF the pe,,.c
80 ,N' Vo'es OF two ststes, Kentucky and Nfis.
's"ins' 'hs khown and gndoub Ell vii of ths
reopie OF those Stale. Gin 80, n,ii,., -,
OhiO, Tor tho ten J..t.,,. .....-,