Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-10-11

In
lid him TO respect, although they did not
nnalifv him Tor the FIRST office in the country.
The intercourse between Mr. Clay aud Gen.
I.cl son had been res,ored-nol only had there
been courtesy, but hospitality. They were II
val candidates. The General was about TO pass
through his State, and near his residence, ano'
&c he invited him TO come there, 10 oHer MN
the public honors due TO his rank & services
il is in accordance with the generous and nooie
sentiments Of his whole lille.
When il was ascertained that Mr.. Clay was
NOT returned 10 the House, his situation 6eo anne
more delicate and critical. He became an E.
Iec,or, he was in the novel situation oil choos-
ing among his Own competitors; he ieit tins
duty 10 observe the greatest propflely OF GU"
duct. he determined to withhold the express
sion of his opinion, that he might a'oio tne i'"-
pu.a,ion Of influencing his friends, aud leave
them all perfectly free 20 decide tor themselves;
and this delicacy has been construed into doubt
| and indecision, and desire TO bargain io' VI
6ce Suppose MIR Clay had formed no opn-
inn and the two candidates stood equally be-
! fore him.
MI. Adams had the highes, qua'ihc ations.-
He had been always preferred by General Jack
son, and if he had bern IN the place OF Mi.
| Claw. would no doubt have made him Presl-
dent He was preferred by Mr. Crawford ana
his friends. and by Mr. Calhoun, (unill the
| woes of the North were secured.
sum-, use the will Of his constituents unknown.
mr. much iii ided, aud he had 10 act lor them
and the country, on his responsibility, ana on
hi, honor: which would ne choose! VIII draw
no odiou, parallel He has taken man OF
great requirement, labor, and experience, ana
of unexce plionable life, IN ale officer ana a
safe man-approved by Washington; employed
under e,ery Administration; filling the highest
grade Of Office, and carrying into our couheHs
a vast fund br knowledge, with extraordinary
,,rssp Of minG II there is any thing IN his Mr.
| Adam,'J principles or his public life, that der
o,aI,, r,om his character. did not il exist be-
fare. and should i, not have weighed as strong
Twin the mia,is Of General Jackson, and ali The
other candidates, when they preferred him, as
On Mr. Clay?
But how much more fair VIII Mr.. IlaV
cor,luc, appear, when 1t Is recolleo'rd 'hat MS
mind WAS made up from the beglnnlnS; that y
nryrr changed or dounted, ,hnt, in the midst 81
mcnacrs and intimidation, he learlrssIy dis
char red his duly; aud 'ha, his conduct and o.
nin,np has been highly approved, on se'era
bubble occasions, by his immediate cons'itu
ents
Certainly he selection Of Mr.. Adams is not
evidence ofitsrf Of corruption, IS tmight nave
b,ea If ne nd sci cted all inf:rior or unworth!
candidate THIN they mus impugn his mo
,ives aud adm. h. did right. but was not not IN IN
Hu.nced ~ -""l 7r 1her, nut su,ely III
4fif-pe1n Eai bGt ~ voting 70
, the worst man? II his mind was dec,svel
5 made up to pr FIR Mr.. A3ars, before be cam
10 Congress, then tn re i, NJ corruption; an,
suppose his friends had known or be ieytc
that it was the in,en ION of the PRECEDENT t.
m. Ike him Secretary IT State which Is ut,e'l
deuied--how oult he eSs pc f,om that diem
ma, but by uimias round and oiing againy
him e hon ne preferred!
This lmpGttiiOn OF motive goes to the fonn
datioR OF n virtue. aud will destroy i've lis
.incti>n between sod and IA scts, ana if ar
rict into public iie vii poison the fouatair
ofhon +. man may do wrong, and it nay
ne ascrihed his pe ,sion,, his pref d ces, OF
his defective J"dgmeat. II he com its a
crime, the iaw imput,s the wicked motive; bu
il he has done right, cow can YOU make that
crininal by metaphysical ANALYSIS Of tn, mo-
i've Of human acton? If you al, it the par
Is equal, ne { DICE difficult, and the S lee
ton doubtful br what stan ar viii YOU ties,
tac error OF hrs Judgmen,! This mputa ion
oFcriminal mott @ is founded in the Vi ious and
exploded syst; N of VI melville, who bel ngs
TO lat class OF ,olit cal mora'ists " ose tn,
~ q or BIS IN rally to uman Contrisar &C;
who consider the q n-rgl praise of virtue to
~ a n'e'e article Of political skill; and what
the WOO consents prais as virtle il he
i'dieid 'a to a mere i'm ositian on the part OF
the VIZ uous man Humad life, in short, &C
cor ing to ,hrn, is constant intercourse of
NJ risy with hypocrisy. This lie, ntio IS
system al morals Is founded o" paradox an
warrantabie because inconsi tent with every
fee ing OF rur h; art
feel it my luty," says an elegant writer,
t" warn y u agsi st adoption Of a system
IS 4 Sc lo III eA e!lence Of our moral nature,
not bcca1s' it is falls only-though it is un-
w6sh OF single moments philosophical
asS-nI -bNt s,lll more. I've ause The adopt II
- of II MIST poi, on the virtue. nd the haopi-
less sui mo e than he virtue, Of every Mad
that dmits l. here is arc " n action
= for which it is not possible t. invent some
u" Gritty motive "
II We carry thl, principle into life where
will 1t end: spply it to Gen. aykson- and
the most brilliant actions Of his life become