Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-10-20
From the Constitutional " hig.

one c,de Of honour, by whidh pagans ana chris
tians alike profess 10 be governed. There can
be no Misunderstanding the precepts oil inns
code.-no mistake as TO the orthodox interpret
alton OF doubtful maxims, or obscure dogmas'
all is plain, Ineligible, universal IN lis app.e@
ton. Modes,y forms as essential part OF inc
character Of man Of honour, as its kindred al,
tribute humility does that OF chris,ian; ana
he who truly deserves TO be ranked with either,
would no more think Of proclaiming from the
bouse.top his own superior merits, than he
would rob his friends Golfers, or covet his neigh
boris WIFE
How will the conduct Of Gen. Jackson bear
The test Of examination by such Standard
lie has not only publicly and repeatedly vaunt-
ed. that he ough, to have been President Of the
United States, but has asserted that his claims
TO this high dignity were OF nature so irresls-
,ible as 10 admit of no denial, except in the cor
rupfion of his competitors. He has said thai ne
was cheated Of his rights-his right 10 be Presi-
dsnf of The United Stafcsi-by corrupt arrange
men, and bargain between two ofthe mos, dis
,ineuished individuals OF his country. Would
a man of honour--would conscientious chris
,ian-have made these vain glorious boasts, e .
ven had the most unequivocal proofs OF the cor
ruption charged been within his power! Did
Gen. ia, kson verify believe in the transcendan-
meet the purity Of motive which could induce
Mr.. Claw 10 prefer another TO him? Let us look
at the public acts Of the two men for an answer
Let US read the speech Of Mr. Clay on the con-
due, of the Seminole War. Let US cast an eye
over the official repor, of the victory a, New
Orleans made by General Jackson 10 the Gov
ernment. If anv man, after reading these Two
documents, can seriously think that patriot,
avowing the principles by which the public lite
OF Mr.. Clay had been governed, and repre-
sentative Of Kentucky, could have voted for the
commander of our forces on the two occasions
referred to, as Chief Magistrate Of this RePub-
lie, then shall ] be willing 10 admit that Mr..
Clay had ais price and that Mr.. Adams purehas-
ed his vote and influence in the election.
But, eye4kupposing that no insuperahle OBJ
lection existed on the part OF MIR. Clay to ehe
chieIiain who had conducted the Seminole War,
and who had insulted he citizens OF ihe-Staie
which he represented, still it would be an effort
of more than human charity TO believe, that Ge
neral Jackson could have been either SO igno-
rant OF his own standing in the House Of Repre-
septatives, or so i'll informed as to he extent
of Mr.. CLAWS influence over its Members, as Sc
riously 10 entertain the idea that he could, un-
der any circumstances, have been elected Presl-
dent. If he did not know, before the vote was
actually taken IN the House, what lumber OF
the States intended TO support him, he could
not have shut out the knowledge after the bal
lots had been announced. and Of course long
before the opportunity was afforded him OF a.
musing his company at the Hermitage with
the tale of Mr. .Clay's "in,rigue- and manage
meut,'-,hat seVsn States only had voted for
him; and that, consequently, If the whole OF thr
S,s,es which had supported Mr.. Clay IN the
first instance, had been so far under his control
xvi,h IN
transfer of their votes TO another, the fotahfy
which he nigh, thus have acquired. would have
fallen short Of the number necessary TO elect
him. Whatever General Jackson may have
thought or the influence of Mr. Clay, or howev
er he may have been deceived as TO the extent
Of his own popularity with the assembled States,
before The experiment was made, II is impossible,
unless his stupidity be even more egregious
than his vanity, that he could have believed af
feyuards, that the defeat Of his pretensions was,
in any way, ascrbable to MIR. Clay.
have said, 10 former number, and pledge
myself to produce the most upluestionable evil
dence of the fact, should il be denied-that one
Of The States at least, much as its delegation ad
mire aud esteem Mr.. Clay, would have spurned
al any proposition from him to- vote for Gene
raj Jackson. The pretended belief Of the lat.
ter, therefore, that he would have been Pres-
dent, if Mr.. Clay had pursued different course,
is rs absurd as it is arrogant-unless, indeed,
by some new rule of arithmetic, he can demon
sirste that fen is the majority of t,oenty four.
But il may be, that Gen. Jackson looked to
no further effect from the vote and influence Of
Mr. CLAW in his favor, than TO prevent an cleo
ton on the first ballot; and that he counted up
on some fortuisous occasion to their united |
strength upon a second ballot. Let US see upon
what grounds he could build even this remote |
hope Of gratifying his ambition.
In the first place, there would have been no
expectation that any one of the SIT
New England States, attached as they were to
Mr. Adams both from natural and political con- |
siderations, would have changed the vote which
they gave on the FIRST ballot. On the contrary,
it was well undersiood, that this formidable
phalanx would continue in unbroken numbers
10 vote for The Eastern Candidate, while hope
remained that their perse verance would be re-
wsrded. Had all the world abandoned him,