The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1827-10-18

worth win the most cxultfu civil uIgHily'
Gen. Jackson had not been victorious a
| New Orleans would nc have now been {
candidate for the Presidency? No. Hi
success in battle then is the principal in
ducement for his elevation. ! shall weeE
| for my country. when she so far forget'
the lessons of experience, the warnings o
her sages and the fate Of past republics, al
to prefer the renown Of the warrior TO thai
glory acquired by an exhibition ofthe most
useful talents. and by years Of unwearied
devotion to the general welfare.
| wish not 10 detract from the reputation
Of Gen. Jao kson. | would willingly allow
him all the honor due TO his military servi-
ces. Had he remained content with such
rewards, would never have written q
word offensive to his eye-I would never
have uttered one that should sound harsh
ly in his ear. The brilliancy of his renown
might still have restrained the tongue that
would have called in question the means by
which his purposes were accomplished. No
sense of duty would then have prompted
me to represent him as a man disposed to
throw himself into the government, with
out the capacity to benefit the people, or
to do honor to himself Even now in con-
sideration Of his high achievements, ]
would say to him, as Solon said to Pisistra-
tus, "werc it not for your ambition, you
arc the best Of the Athenaas."
To aid the cause of this military idol, his
partizans have resorted to the most dis.
graceful frauds Men have been induced
by prejudice, prepossesson and interest, to
circulate defamatory libels against the
President and Secretary Of State-Irish-
men have been invoked to vote for Andrew
Jackson, because he is the descendant of
Irishmen--and to crown the whole, Mar
tin Van Buren,, a king in intrigue but a
beggar in virtue, has allied himself with
Dewitt Clinton, public benefoctor but
great political sinner, TO effect the over.
throw of the existing administration. "The
devil give 'em good Of it," For ages, in
religion and politics, men have endeavored
by ridicule 10 bring their adversaries into
contempt and when truth furnished no
weapons for their use, have not scrupled to
invent and circulate the most malignant
calumnies. OF all the alsehoods, which in
pursuance of this Machiavellian policy the
opposition has long been fabricating, the
one on which they most rely, and seek most
anXious'y to sHbstantiate, is that accusing
Henry Clay of corrtption-and first in the
field to maintain the charge, appeared the
General. He succeeded in exciting the
suspicious Of many that the sccretaryshIp
had been played most ioully for, and the
public attention was eagerly directed t.
Mr.. Buchanan, as one who could confirm
or diSpel every doubt upon the subject
That gcntleman's letter, by its manlincss
and sine Gritty convinced all, who were open
TO conviction, that Mr.. Clay had neither
bargained nor intrigued for Office and the
supporters of Gen. Jackson, though they
pretended that this letter was all they wish
ed or expected, deemed it nevertheless es
sentlal to look about them for some strong
or proof that Mr.. Clay had sacrificed his
high character to unhallowed ambition. A
communication from major Eaton was Fl
nally announced which was to reveal the
whole of that nefarious transaction, thai
gave to Mr.. Adams the presidency against
the manifest will of the people, and secur.
cd to Henry Clay brilliant reward for hi
shameless dcrehction Of honorable prnci
pie. This famous production has at las
come forth, an utter abortion--dIsappon
ing those who were most sanguine ia It's
wonderful efficacy Wand giving TO the friends
of tho administration further assurance OF
the inefIicacy Of every attemptto procure
the testimony of one honorable man a.
gainst the integrity of our most illustrous
citizens. And what facts does this com
municatioD disclose. Major Eaton, who.
on mere suspicion, joined loudly in the cry
Of corruption against Mr.. Clay, acknow-
lodges the loan of money to the editors OF
the Columbian Observer, 10 sustain pa
per devoted TO the interests of Gen. Jack.
son, yet demands of the public to believe
that he, the friend, biographer, and par,i.
zan Of the General, could exercise no in
iuencc over the conductors Of that press
But who viii be persuaded that paper
sustained by his bounty, would not be de-
voted to the promotion Of his political pur-
poses :? The only important passage in
this letter is that which exhibits the move.
ments of Mr.. Buchanan. This gentleman
proposed to counteract suspected corrup-
tion by corruption; and although m,ior Ea.
ton replied that General jackson would re-.
iect such proposition, he commends the
conduct of Mr.. Buchanan, because he ar
IDENTITY desired the success ofGen. Jackson,
and because it was right to fight the cne-
my with their own weapons--thus declar-
ing that what he has since so severely re.
probated in others, was praiscworthy when
practised by friends. Here is proof OF
corruption, not among the adherents of Mr..
Clay, but among the supporters OF General
Jackson. With the suspicion that ever
testers in guilty minds, they attributed the
success of their adyersarics- to the same
unpriucipled measures which themselves
would have taken, had all things been
subservlent to their wishes The inferen-
cos drawn from Mr.. Clay's ncglec,ing to
avow his preference of the candidates, ex-
actly at the time when major Eaton wish.
ed such on avowal should be made, aud
! from his snpnosed cmhnrra ssmenf al meet.