Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-07-31

| members to the General Assembly, did not in
vest them with any power to regulate con.
troll the exercise of the discretion of the Ken
lucky delegation in the Congress of the United
States. : put it to the candour of every elector
present, if he intended to part with his own
right, or anticipated the exertion of any such
power by the Legislature, when he gave his vote
in August, 1924.
The only instruction which received from
a legitimate source, emanated from a respecta-
bic portion Of my immediate constituents; and
that directed me to exercise my own discretion
regardless of the will of the legislature. You
subsequently, ratified my vote by unequivocal
demonstrations repeatedly given of your afec-
tiouate attachment & yourunshaken confidence.
You ratified it two years ago by the election Of
my personal and political friend (Judge Clarke)
to succeed me in the House Of Representatives,
who had himself subscribed the only legitimate
instruction which I received. You ratify it by
the presence and The appreciation Of this vast
and respectable assemblage.
I rejoice again and again, that the contest
has at last assumed its present practical form.
Heretofore, malignant whispers and dark sur
misses have been clandes,inely circulated, or
openly or unblushingly uttered.by irresponsi-
BILE agents. They were borne upon the winds,
and Ike them were invisible and intangible.
No responsible man stood forward to sustain
them, with his acknowledged authority. They
have at last local habitation and name.
General Jackson has now thrown off the mask,
and comes confesedly forth from behind his
concealed batteries, publicly to accuse and con-
vict me. We stand confronted before the A
merican people. Pronouncing the charges as
again do, destitute of all foundation, and gross
aspersions, whether clandestinely or openly is
sued from the halls Of the capitol, the saloons
of the Hermitage, or by press, by pen, or by
tongue; and safely resting on my conscious integ
rity, demand the witness, and await the event
with fearless confidence.
The issue is fairly joined. The imputed of,
fence does not comprehend single friend, but
the collective body of my friends in Congress;
and it accuses them of offering, and me with
sanctioning corrupt propositions, derogating
from honor, and in violation of the most sacred
of duties. The. charge has been lnade after
two years elaboration. Gen. Jackson has vol
UNFAIRLY taken his position, and without provo
cation. In voting against him as President Of
the United States, gave him no just cause OF
offence. Exercised no more than my indispu-
table privilege, as, OH subsequent occasion,
Of which have never complained, he exercis-
ed his in voting against me as Secretary Of State.
Had voted for him, must have gone counter
to every fixed principle ofmy public life.I believ
ed him incompetent, and his election fraught
with danger. AT this early period of the Re-
public, keeping steady in view the dangers
which had overturned every other Free State,
| believed it TO be essentisl to the lasting pre-
servation Of our liberties, that man, devoid of
civil talents, and offering no Recommendation
but one founded on military service, should not
be selected to administer the Government. I
believe so yet; and shall consider the days of
thee commonwealth numbered when All opposite
principle is established. believed, and still
believe, that now, when our institutions are in
comparative infancy, is the time to establish
the great principle, that military qualification
alone is not sufficient title to the Presidency.
five start right, we may run long race Of
liberty, happiness, and glory. five stumble in
setting out. we shall fall as others have fallen
before us, and fall without even claim to the
regrets or sympathies of mankind.
have never done Gen. Jackson, knowingly,
any injustice. have taken pleasure, on every
proper occasion, to bestow on him merited
praise for the glorious issue Of the battle OF N
Orleans. No American citizen enjoyed higher
satisfaction that I did with the event ] heard
it for the first time on the Boulevards OF Paris;
and eagerly perused the details of the actions
with the anxious hope that should find that
the gallant militia Of my own state had avenged
on the banks of the Mississippi, the blood
which they had so freely split on the disastrous
field of Raisin. That hope was not then graft.
fed; and although I had the modification to
read the official ststement, that they had inglo-
riously fed, was nevertheless thankful for the
success of the arms of my country,sefe grateful
to him who had most contributed to the ever
memorable victory. This concession is not now
made for the purpose Of conciliatihg the favor
or mitigating the wrath OF Gen. Jackson. he
has erected an impossible barrier between us,
and would scorn to accept any favor al his
hands. thank my God that He has endowed
me with soul incapable of apprehensions
from he anger of any being but himself.
have, as your Representative, freely exam.
ined, s. in my deliberate judgment, justly con-
demned the conduct of Gen. Jackson in some
of our Indian wars. ! believed, and yet believe
him, to have trampled upon, the Constitution
of his country, and to have violated the princi-
pies of Notwithstanding those opin-
ions, l did not and could not vote for him.