Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-08-30
From, the National Iatelfgenccr of 8ugust 4th.
Nip A1,nIrEElE AND MIR CEAY.-No.

Fran. the National E,teLfgenccr of august 4fh
MIR. M'DUFFlE AND MIR. CLAY.-No. l.
1t is to be hoped that the time will never ar
rive when the election Of the Chief Executive
MAGISTRATE OF tie Union will cease to awaken
the deepest solicitude IN every citizen ne
preservation of our liberties, the maintenance
ofour laws. the continuance OF the pac nc re!a-
lions with Foreign Powers, the improvement
or our condition al home, and the gcne:a hap
piness Of the people, must, in great degree,
DEPEND upon the choice. lndced by this choice,
our capacity for seIf-government will be tested:
for the principles proiessed by the successful
candidate, aud sanctioned by the viii oil the
people. must be infused into every department
of the Government, and be gradually Impressed
upon our Institutions and our Laws
The intcres, which must always be telt
whenever a selection is to be made fr"m "a
more the candidates for this exalted station, Is
neither diminished by the distinguishing char
actarestics Of the eminent citizens, who are
now understood TO be the only cantidates, nor
BIZ the manner in which they have been sup
ported bv their friends and partizans. And,
although an impartial and dlsinterested observ
or may discover on both sides an iDt"m2e-
ran-s 81 isT guess sd misguided zeal which
ors.1 serves eR:y to - sken Sc cau.e in which
tley are employed, yet rs eaare g. dom with
Itch the political service snl moral f,Hcss
of the candidates are examusd by ianuI:sra-
BILE tongues and pens must hnai.g contribute TO
the yindication Of innocence and .le triumph
of truth.
tits true that the purest virtue has never
escaped, entirely, the shafts OF envy; and 1t is
rare to find sufficient magnanimity, among the
aspirants after political preferment, 10 yield
the full need Of praise to those who have been
more fortunate or more successful than them
selves But although exposed to the efforts OF
rancourous maignity, or disappointed ambi
ton, ii cannot be the interest OF the people 10
be deceived; and unless passion should FREEDOM
mate, thew. will always be able to distinguish
the genuine patriot from one who aims at pow
er for his own ACKNOWLEDGMENT; nor will they
fail to show their prefere nee for those, who. du
ring long series of public acts, have exhibit
ed Qualities calculated to gain the admiration
Of the wise and good
These reflections have naturally arisen from
the perusal Of the recent addresses OF Mr.
M'Duffe and MIR. Clay. The standing OF the
parties before the public; the value OF that
character which has been assalled by the one
and defended by the other; the importance OF
the interests incidentally injected, and the
acknowledged abili Of the parties, will ensure
from the public the most deliberate exanina-
ton of the charges and the defence. To this
examination, have endeavoured TO bring my
mind Invested alike of prejudice and passion.
To both of these gentlemen am unknown; to
both am indifFerent from neither would | re-
ceive a favor, to neither have owed ar obliga
ton. and did not possess an equal stake with
any other in the duration of our Union, and
love INV country as intensely as any of her sons;
the contentious of party would never be per !
mitted to disturb the perfect composure with
which have viewed the stormy elements a
round me.
The FIRST consideration with which l was
struck, upon-ihe perusal OF Mr.. M'Daffe's ad-
dress, was the extraordinary circumstance that
on such occasions, and At such time MIR
M'Dufie, member elect 70 the next Congress,