Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1828-05-10
THE PLEDGE-

he utmost that has been alleged, ,ciih any
SembldAce Of truth is--that one or two members
OF Congress, Federalists, who decidedly preferred
Mr. Adams to, Gen. Jackson, on the broadcast
grounds, '0shed to knoo betor" theu defntrely re-
sof0ed to Oote for him, ,ohether if made President,
nc ''ould pursue the policy of ertluding Ecderalists
iron, office, and they accordingly asked for nfor-
nation on the subject from Mr.. Webster. or some
other friend Of Mr.. Adams, supposed to be ac-
qlainted with his sentiments --"To this applica-
ton the gentleman addressed gave a written an
swer Dhach had the appreciation or reyiSi0n of Mr.
Adams &e--Tnas far Mr.. Walsh. Strip the
above statement of the diplomatic circumlocution
In which it is envelopcd, and what does it not es-
tabllsh on the subject of the celebrated pledge to
the Federallsts 1t seems that these gentlemen
who asked for information and who preferred NJ.
Adams to Gen. jackson on the broadcast grounds,
wished to know, before they defniticcly resolved
70 cote t0r ham, whether, if made President he
would pursue the policy of excluding Federasts
from office. Did they make the enquiry of MIR.
Webster, who to have been Mr. Adams
rather coniessor on this occasion, from mere
idie curiosity! And was it intended that his an
swer, or rather the answer of Mr. Webster. the
go-between OF the parties, which had The approba-
| t,on and rtoiSion Of Mr.. Adams should have no
ehect upon their course? Why has not Mr. Walsh
VINO no doubt possesses the means of satisfying the
pubic curiosity on this subject given us the words
OF this letter, thus revised and opprored! Prefer
ing MIR Adams to Cen jackson, as we are inform
ed they did, on the broadcast grounds, we are Civ
en- to infer that this preference was not sufficient
TO decide their vote; or, to use the delicate peri
Phraeis OF MIR, Walsh, before they defnitiUeiy re-
Soloed to oote for him, they must 60 in search of
some narrower ground on which to rest their
choice They wished to awaken his former pre-
objections and win him back to his first love- Mr.
Adams, no doubt, readily seized the occasion of
renounclng his convenient conversion to republic
an principles, which had always set very awkward
| ~ upon him, and the pledge was given. Can any
| one suppose that thus given, it was expected to
have no influence on the votes of those federal
gentlemen, who, altho' they preferred Mr.. Adams
| TO Ten Jackson on the brOaoest grounds, REQUIRED
oil HIM this pledge before they defnitirely resolved
| to uote for him
| he common sense Of every man in the COM
Inunry will enable him to answer this question
ms was the condition. the Consideration. as
old Irapbois would say demanded by the FEEDER
aiists and accorded by Mr.. Adams On which their
vote Tor him was founded. Is there any thing
more wanting to remove all doubt from the mind
| on this branch Of the Bargain? Here the evidence
| IS clear, direct, unequvoca-it is furnished by
| themselves. On the other, which we NAV call the
Western branch the evidence tho'I circumstantial
| is, II possible, yet stronger and both united
stamp the parties with indelible corruption They
| pay but poor compliment to the virtue and sense
o.. the people OF this country in prcsumnr as no
doubt they did, that they either were so 'incfTa.
by stupid as not to detect this stupendous fraud
upon their rights and liberties, or base enough to
acquesce in it Deeply versed, as Mr.. Clay is
said TO be, III the knowledge of men, he surely has
not drawn the principles Of his science from a
sufficiently wide survey of his subject, or his ex
Perience has been so'dccPly tnged by the particu.
iari habits o his life as to dispose him to afx too
low an estimate on the sense and virtue of man
KIND. Or has he, tempted by the greatness Of
the stake for which he ventnred, as gamesters
sometimes aie, disdain'd discreet regard to the
calcuIation.o the chances and thrown himseICup-
on his fortune. In either case we are persuaded
he will find himself fatally deceived. The POLLS
in October next. will speak to himself and his
compeer i'll voice which will be heard from