Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-09-07
LoWNDES, No. vi.
MR.. M,DUFFfE AND MIR. CLAY.
Tofhe Editors orthe National Lateihgencer.

been given of the proofs of corruption, brought
forward by Mr.. M'Duffie against Mt Clay, II
has appeared: ,,s,;xh,
nolitical difference between Mr. Adams ana MT.
CLAY, as an insuperable Objection to the support
which Mr. Clay afterwards gave 10 MT. ADAMS;
but that he had not the candor 10 DISCLOSE 'ne
determined hostility manifested oy zen jan
son to Mr.. Clay, anterior TO the eiec'ioh' ana
The impossibii,y that the one couia nave ever
united with the other.
@ That he has advanced doctri"e' Oh sns
subject Of i'm 2lied instructions, no' more ne"
than dangerous, in the expectation oi inFoi'-
ing Mr. Clay within its folds, and applying IL 10
the vote given for Mr.. Adams.
5. That he has alleged the existence OIL an
" established principle" which would ezciaoe
members of Congress from Executive appoint,
ment, or al least prevent the APPOINTMENT VI
those who voted for the incumbent-a princl-
pie receiving no sanction from reason oPposeu
by precedent, and which, if adopted, would com
pei the Executive either 10 forego The adVah'
tape of selecting individuals uniting puoilc con.
fdence with long experience and ascertained
talent: or 10 form his cabinet from those, exclu'
sively, who had voted against him, and were
arrayed in opposition to his administration: and
a. That, not content with exhibiting the
weakness of his cause, by relying on grounds,
thus untenab!e, and exciting the Suspicion vi
the sincerity, or purity Of motive, with which a
gentleman, distinguished for his acuieness, Ia
len, and !, earning, can engage IN The support oil
principles and opinions, which must appear
glariugIy absurd to the p'aines' understanding
he has resorled 10 the last alternative to which
passion, unsubdued by reason can misiead the
mind, and endeavored 10 subsiantlate his charg"
of inconsisfency by an erroneous exhibition Oh
the political principles OF Mr.. Clay, bearing on
lis front the c!earest evidence fits having been
intentionally erroneous.
Although unwilling 20 be diverted from IN"
subject urd-r consideration by INDUCING IN
reflections which arose when the comparison
was made between the avnwed principles OF
Mr.. Clay, and those asorihed TO him by MI
McDuffie, it was, nevertheless, my Intention,
| on suitable occasion, to advert to this dlscre-
pancy, and elucidate the motive in which Il
seems 20 have originated.
A cursorv examination Of Mr. MsDuffic' 5
spey CHI is Sufficient to show, that II has been
| composed with the utmost art, and polished
with his greatest care; that all that could be ur
| ped against Mr. Adams and Mr.. Clay has been
| adduced; that confident assertion has supplied
the place of fact: ingenious sophislry has been
used instead of argument; and the harshness OF
in,ec,i,e and the power OF language have been
cxer;ed to impart strength TO weakness, and
beauty 10 defcfml'y
'rhe ma cn,ude Of the effort will occasion no
| surprise, wncn we considerable object OF those
who may be considered principals in the drama,
! aud The particular part which Mr.. MDuthe has
consented 10 perform.
| From The Gist combination" oil those dis
cordaut materials, whose sole bonds OF union
a,e common ambition and common hate, it was
| obvious to all, as well as to themselves, that
their only hope Of success must arise from de-
stroving the reputation and. the prospects of
Mr. Cav, and thereby detaohirg from Mr.. Adj
ans the support of Kentucky and the West.
To this main object, there lore, their chiefs forts,
not to say The efforts Of their chief were direct
ed. To effect this, however, was no easy task.
The reputation Of Mr.. Cay had not been form
| ed by accident, nor was il of mushroom growth.
! |, was founded on life devoted TO the princi>
| Dies OF freedoms; an ability which could not be
| denied; an Integrity Which had never been i'm
neached: a frankness which seeks no disguise;
firmness Of purpose, the cnncomllant OF con-
sc ious reCtitude and an Independence in thought
aud action, which, disdaning all s,ratagem, in
situation, suspicion. or conceaiment-the IN
se2erable attendants Of little minds-relies for
support upon The general intelligence and Slr-
tue of the community, and pursueS, with undo
WAITING step, the path Of honor and olduty.
TO destroy reputation resting upon basis
so firm, and protected by the meriIorious SER
vices Of many years, would seem u be an un-
| dertaking too difficult TO be attempted, except
| BY those who, misIed by the glare of ambition,
! lad become desperate from disappointment.
Tho attempt, however, was resolved on: and
Mr. ie appears to have become one Of
a.. chosen insrruments by which the character
| Of Mr.. lay was to be assaled, and his name
cove red with reproach. Hence it is, that al
though privy to the ground!essness Of Kremer's
charges, he sought TO crush an enquiry demand
ed by Mr.. Clay, and which he knew would ter
inmate in his acquittal. Finding that he had
failed, he next endeavorrd to nveigle, or rath E.
err 10 insult the House, by proposing that they
should institute an inquiry into the er,stencs OF
hints,"" rumors," and "suspicions," as Sc
rous ground Of elimination, and thus, in some
measure, give 10 baseess insinuaiions, the sane
ton of their authority. Hence il is, that during
the last session, he stood foremost among those