Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1827-09-12
CHE Constitutional gllbi1.
ROLITICAE.
Front Ike .Ndiionrl Intcl'igenrer.
NpnEN- M III

q,
government, the dignity of the country and the high
ct Interests of niivJu ais, involved in the appeal
now made to the People. Free Government can onl y
rest on virtue and Intelligence.
five are already rotten before are ripe--if the
most eminent and the most intelligent corrupt or
corruptibe-wLat will be- the purity of the PeopIe the
freedom OF elections, the value of institutions
or what hopes can be entertained that future
pertinent will be more successful What becomes of
the problem which have been trying to demonstrates
aud which has never been solved-''The capacity of
To govern bmself:o What are the hupes of free
dom 10 enslay ed man:
The question submitted is of the highest moment.
whether regard the nature of the charge the char
aCter Of the accused the big; tribunal TO which
the reference Is made.
The charge is most grave and solemn, and the in
teresis 1T involves reach far beyond the influence or
The men OF the present day. If true, il is reproach
upon man and all free government and if untrue
the charge itself shows the danger TO which public men
must be expoed the excuses parties and the fierce
of faction.
In such there is appeal but 10 the People
or the Sword; aud the accusers have elected their r
bunal In the one case, as punishment exceed
the offence, SD, on The other, should IT be marked
signal, and condign The question is submitted,
the prejIdices and passions of men, but TO their
and their Judgment; and what party the, may
support, what principles they may advocate, is
equally the duty OF all men, canddIy and honestly
without paruaity, and free from all bias, TO decide
ibis questions: and lei the public Judgment fall where
AZ may, the subject will be fully and freely examined
Accusation is challenged and proof deulaud
IN
the parties accused and 10 the public, required either
that the facts should have been made kaown and the
charge exhibited, that it shouid have remained IN
his bosom confidential deposiie of of his own
friends. reauired that ne should have assured him
self of the truth of the statement; but above ALL that if
should not have been circulated privately, TO poison
the public mind without atording the parties an op-
portunity OF meeting and ebuiting it,
It was due TO his high character his magnanmity
and noble bearing, in case in which he deeply
interested TO avoid private scandal, dark insuua ion
personal reproach.
He declines 10 be considered the accrser. but
he had filed certain information, which lie did not
intend 10 be thrown into the public journals bu, which
now constitutes the real ground of accusaon-what-
ever may have been his intentions. The information
rests upon Cen Jacksons recolec lions of a CONVEX
sation in Dec. 1924 than t,Yo years and eirht
ago months. II is, that MIR. Buchanan informed him
iii deliberate conversation, that he had been Inform
''ed by the friends of Mr.. Clay that the friends of Mr.
"Adams had made oyertures to them, saving if Mr.
CLAY and his friends would unite aid of the cleo
'tion of Mr. Adams, Mr.. Clay should be Secretary of
Estate; aud the friends of MIR. Adams :; ere urpn-
"a TO induce the friends Of Mr. CLAY 10 accee
''to their propositions that, lie elected President
"llr. Adams would be continued Secretary of State.
that the friends OF Mr.. Clay stated, the West did
mot wish to separate from the West, aud that If he
woud say, permit any of his confidential friends 10
'Say that, III case elected President Mr. Adj
ans should not be continued Secretary of State; that
shy complete union of Mr.. Clay and his friends
'hey would put end to the Presidential contest in
"nre hour" This declaration is qua Allied by two a.
Ternen's, 'that he lthe General has not said tha
1.-The proposal was made with the priyity and
ri Mr.. Clay;' snor that his friends in CONGRESS
':lude propositions to me-
1t will be perceived that the above relates ONLY 10
the friends of Mr.. Clay, and h,m individual Iv;
and there is nothing in the conyersa ton ofeher Ma
ley Buchanan that refers 10 any act or apency of his
personally, in this affair
Now, in regard to has (rsHds: They are spoken
at collectively aud as party-not friend: but il is
pretended that Mr.. CIays friends acted as BODY
dr as party, IN any meeting, associations or confer
ence or that they, in that character, ever acted in
!he PRESIDENTIAL election, devised or proposed
any plan by which that event TO be controlled ar
luluenced; nor IS it alleged that any Committee mr.
any portion of his friends, made any communication
TO the friends of General Jackson or to any other
~ All such union for such purpose is denied and
charge of that nature 10 implied in the Letter NJ
General jackson. II is relied 10 establish ihe
CRIME That single trend made propositions and or
no" many violent Prescriptions must this reSte Tt
WIZ nat corrupt proposition made; that il came
from Marley; that he the friend OF Mr. CLAY.
and then the inference is 10 follow that he was author
IIhd to make the negotiation. Bat nothing has been
exhibited 10 shew that either of these are truo. .Dd
they will be demonstrated to be pDtrne N,b;n,> L,.
ever been produced TO show, that even one friend
yer made any communication on the Subject-no even
jocose iDdiscreet expression or a con6deot y
conversation; nothing which can in the slightest man.
ner, attach 10 the character of any man in the reo
dPgree connected with Mr. Clay or his friends
1t has been heretofore sfewn that Gen. Jacksnr
has no other authority bnt Mr.. Buchanan: and Mr.
Buchanan has bmt what he derives from his o,yr
reflections and conversation, with his friend Mr.
Niarkley. But Mr.. Marley speaks of no conversation
oTlntercourse with Mr.. Clay any of his friends
II is entirely made up his avn thoughts and his
own suggestions. Thus, MIR. Markley s.adverted to
Tie Fumor" relative to the appointment of MIR. Adams
Secretary OF Siate-''sniJ calculated to iniure
INC General" ie obserUcd, Mr. Clays friends were
FaTmy attached 10 him.: that he Lo1rhI tior would
"ericavor 20 act in at Uie eecton;p that if
'hey did SO, they could elect MIR. Adams or General
''chsoh al Their pieasnre" but thai many of them
tn C,-, =,
me had predetermined TO prefer another to MIR. CLAY
for lie hfst Office N his gift &c &c Throughout the
whole ~ tins friendly conversation, no7 referred TO
"'eF 'aI's Oi almost ihree years. II seems that,
far from any information being derived frnrn Mr.
Clay or his friends it is made up altogether of The
H,opghis, yeasoninSs and Sug-cstons Of his own mind
upon the state OF parties, and what likely 10 nGu
eOce the votes Of The friends Of Mr.. Clay and Ifat
was the best mode OF turning that ulucnre 10 favor
Of General Jackson.
II was foresc"n that this would nut nothing r,orc