Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-04-11

= q
great secret from large majority of ecen his own
pGTiizans. Less than this could not be expected
from Il politician whose mind is naturally, and
from long eleetieneering practice, so well stored
with mental resources and political ambition, as
that OF Mr.. Clay
That he should be entirely Impartial in detail
ing an account of the mysterious transaction
which governed his course ana conduct and Sc
cret uterior motives at the last Presidential cleo
ton. the better informed part of the community
mot expect.
When a man has so long had his cye fred upon
so high pinnacle Of power and fame, as that Ofthe
PRESIDENCY of the United States, and who has so
zealously pursued Grtd course to gain that
summit, it would verify seem to involve a natural
consequence, that he should meet with many OBJ
stacles to his ambition, which must naturally tend
TO excite public investigation of the facts.
How far Mr.. Clay has, or did eatench himself
behind such policy, must be better known 10 his
o,Cn conscience" and that of only or two
theirs, than any evidence which has thus far been
adduced upon the subject.
can find nothing in his late book satisfactory
to the impartial part of the community, within my
know ledge.
His object appears to be still the same; to wit
that of final prostration of the character of Cen
eral jackson i'll the estimation of the American
people, as the only obstacle in the way of his ult-
mate attanmentof this Presidential summit OF pow
and fame.
How much better Mr. Clay is qualified to rule
the destinies of this country than General Jackson,
seems to me a question which the people should
decide instead OF hImSey.
When he tells US in his Pittsburgh dinner speech,
that Z" YOU (meaning the people of the u. States,
wished to commit the ship to gallant commanders:
thought that not his element and preferred
another who possessed, believed, more skill and
experience, and under whose command, thought
the ship, and the crew, and the cargo would be SAT-
err and happier" 1t speaks language to the A
merican people, which should not DC had OF misun-
derstood
"I preferred another, VINO possessed, believed,
more skill and experience" -under whose com
mand Mr.. Clay himself could become the branch
pilot of this national ship, which is the ground OF
his 'spreference," as will be seen in the sequel.
| would he the last man to detract from the cha
racter and UirtuOS public services oil the head men
of this nation: but one OF its citizens, can ne
yer sanction the ambition Of one, when it goes 50
Ear as aim at the premeditGed destruction of the
public character and services Of another, to open
the way for his O,on elevation upon the ruins Of
such men as jackson and Adams.
Did not MIR. Clay aid, sanction and abet, in the
efforts of his partisans during the last Presidential
canvass, ever since the Treaty of Client and the
battle OF New Orleans, to effect the downfall o!
both of those old public servants, before the Ameri-
can people?
Adams, until after he found that he himself would
not be returned to the IL. of Representatives, and
that the contest would fall between Gen. Jackson
and MIR. Adams?
DlQ ne al tnat tline possess me pOlltiCal CONN
dence and good feelings of either of those two
prominent candidates, sufficiently toSecaUe the APP
pointment 10 the Office of Secretary of State, with
out some effort and contingency to- sfsesre such
appointment, passport TO his Subsequent views.
IT is well known that feelings OF political hostiIi
~ and GOODNESS did erist between AIR. Adams and
MIR. Clay, prior to the meeting of Congress in
1824-and how reconciliation was effected be-
tween the time OF the interviews and conversations
of Mr. CLAW with Professor Drake and Mr. Crit
tcndeE in Kentucky, (Which it appears was to be
held in reserve in case of accilenD and his coming
ont al Washington in favor OF MIR. Adams and the
Interior objects of Mr. &. towards the right of "ree
suffrage of the peoole of these u. States, and the
future government of this country, is the grand
question and secret which yet, after all the SupeT
fetal Developments, remains to be known.
Here lies the the grand secret; and however
closely it seems 10 have been shrOuded in ysteTy,
yet the subsequent course and circumsantial evil
dence on the part of Mr.. Clay and Mr.. Adams
| seems to have involved them in labyrith OF sus-
picon, from which nothing bat The facts, in re-
gard to the manner by which that reconciliation
was effected, will be satisfactory TO the more
enlightened and impartial part of the community.
1t is unerring doctrine of nature, that Z" there
can be no effect without cause"
We have seen the effect OF the sudden recon
citation above alluded to, and it involves so deep
ly the public Justice of the United States to-
wards the great men Of the country, and prece
dent unparalleled in the history of our govern
nent that tits due 10 the people to know the Utmost
recesses of the cause which produced it.
IL, therefore, premature pledge, understand
ing, or consent was given by Mr.. Adams, which
was TO accede to reconciliation, and The appoint
ment OF Mr.. Clay 10 the Office of Secretary Of
State, in accordance with his wishes and that of
his friends; it is not to be expected that Mr.. Clay
would have been indiscreet as to make this
grand object Of his political soul openly known
TO any of the members of Congress fro m the
Western States; because they were not in the
keeping of the implicit confidence of Mr.. Adams,
so ndspensabiy necessary Il effect reconciliation,
based upon uterior objects of this kind.
Hence, have been waiting, and diligently
reading all the noted publications that have APP
pearcd upon the subject since the charge OF bar
gain and corruption" was made before Congress
by the Hon. George Kremer, to some deve-
Opponents by the Eastern and Northern members
Of Congress, in regard to clearing Mr.. Clay and
Mr.. Adams of this national suspicion of preBIG-
ture understanding, that the contingency 10y
which Mr.. a. was made President, was not
matter Of principle, but matter Of political IN
tcrest and ambition, at the expense Of the rights
of 90 free suffrage" and the public reputation OF
Cen Jackson.
But nothing have yet seen from any Of those
eastern members, who were most likely to have
been in the highest confidence Of Mr. A.1ms; and
those who must have effected the secret reconclia
ton between him and Mr.. Clay, Of which those
t0eStoTn members and parisans Of Mr. Clay were
always, as they still arc, able 10 say, That they
were personality unapprised oil any premature
plodgc, the basis Of this sudden reconciliation
at a moment when the highest interest Of the coun
try, and the future internal peace Of the Republic
were at stake.
A. therefore, such pledge was made as ha
been charged, and, as has been the cause Of ex
citing 80 much political cOmmotion throughout To,
United States, II is not 20 be expected that more
than one or two Of Tie Eastern members able e