Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-09-05
From The Philadelphia Sentinel;
THE COALITION.
TO TIE PEOPLE.
y 4 TIE 4 Il OFLE.
l.EITER IX

10 |0n's SrSodnf, Manuel Eyre, Laurence
Letois, e. e.. Biddic, and Joseph r. Norris
Csquires-duthorS Of an address adopted OF
the administration torn meeting Of the tn
JWy.
*ou know, gentlemen. that, in the defensive
speech, delivered by MIR. Clay, on the 18th JULY
1927, at Mobiles Inn, near Lexington, he said
NO one has contended, that the proofs should be
exclusively those Of cye-wiinesses, testify.
" ing from the senses. positively and directly
to the iact-political, like all other Offences
" may be established by circul,istantial as we'll
" as positive evidence: but, do contend that
SOME evidence, be it what it may, ought to
&c be exhibited
Undoubtedly the doctrine and the sentiment.
thus expressed, are correct: and, unless evidence
OF some kind exists, Mr.. Adams and Mr.. Clay have
peen treated as cruelty as Gen. jackson has been
whether the evidence, that does exist is sufficient
70 produce conviction, is a question which every
lust man will determine for himself: il is enough
ior'us, sentinels appointed by our fellow citizens
that the evidence is sufficient for our own convc-
tIon' and Jushes our calling upon them, as we do
TO arouse and right themselves
We have endeayored to make others think as
we do, by the cirCumstantial evidence which Mr.
clay says rs sufficient: and, proceed with fur
ther proof, par. of ii OF character which may be
called spechc:-
ten as ME- Clay has spoken, and much as he has
written, to cxculpate himself he has never pre-
tended, that he supported Mr.. Adams, on account
OF any confidence in his principles or respect for
would certainly have presented it, on the contrary
heseems to have studously avoided every thing of
that kind; and TO have desired the world TO suppose
that he had chosen the least of two evils: Thus
when at Mobiles Inn, he could not evade this deli
cafe point. he saii
That had some objections to Mr.. Adams, |
:" am ready freely 10 admit but these did not
=" weigh feather, in comparison with the
greater and insurmountable objections long
g and deliberately entertained gainst his com
"petitor."
This admits all we ask for our argument that
MIR. Clay did not vote for MIR. Adams ON account of
any merits his part, but the least obnoxious of
Two obnoxious persons.
But, before we draw conclusions from this posi-
lion. let us see, whether what Mr. Clay thus said
~ July 1877, was true,
Gen. Floyd, long distinguished member Of Con-
gross from Virginia, and in 1924 a friend OF Mr.
Crawford as President, whilst at W asling ton, in
april last, addressed on the 4th of that month,
letter to Gen. Van Ness, of that city, which was
soon after published by the latter it contained this
s,atement-tiiat i'll the month OF January, 1925
or late in December, 1924, whilst the election OF
President was before the House OF Representa-
ttyes, he called Mr.. Clay to ascertain his deter
mIation as to Mr.. Crawford-that Mr.. Clay said
1t would not do to elect Mr.. Crawford as his health
was bad.
-'Iie,' Mr.. Clay, Says Gen Floyd "then went
6 on TO state, III the course Of that converse.
g ton land think in these words-W hen |
9" Mr. ClAy) take up the pretensions OF Mr..
- Adams, and weigh them, and lay them down
then take up the protensions OF General
g jackson, weigh them, ana lay them down
g ny the side of those Of Mr.. A., | never was
IS so much puzzled in all my life, as am 70
' decide between them"
That Mr. Clay made this declaration about one
Short month before the election took place, was
thus publicly avowed by General Floyd, in April
1923, at Washington city; Mr.. Clay was Oh the
spot and has never ventured either to deny or ey-
pllin then ii is true, that Mr. Clay one month be-
lore the election, absolutely, and with the preci.
sion OF o yender OF diamonds, weighed the preter.
sions Of Mr.. Adams and Cen. jackson, and found
them so exactly balanced, that he could not say
which WIS the hcaviest--Yet in July, 1927 he
said at Mobiles Inn, that The scale Of Mr.. Adams
did not contain a feather, in comparison with the
enormous weight in Cen. JacksOn's he said i'm
Jan. 1926, that he never before so puzzled as
he was then, between Mr.. Adams and Gen. j.
get in July, 1927, he said that his objections to
81 IN. Jackson had, long prior 10 Tire election been
deliberately entertained!
You know, gentlemen, that the contradictory
stories even OF an ignorant aud fendless prisoner
are often accepted by juries, emphatic indicate
ons OF guilt we pray you, therefore, to reconcile
81 you can the contradicling statements Of IN acute
lawyer and Influential man, Mr.. Clay.
Our position, observe, is, that Mr.. Clay has ne.
Ter pretended, that he voted for MIR Adams, on
any other account, than that he the least obnox
IOns oil two obnoxious persons. In this view Of the
matter, what position would man, with pure in
tenlions, have taken! 1t was said at tie time Of
The election, at Washington, and we think truly,
that the vote Of New YORK had been long doubt
iul-that Gen. Van RansseiJefs was the casiing
vote OF that state--that he had 10 choose, ss Mr..
Clay had, between two obnoxious pcrsons--that
iie voted under the exercise Of powerful infuon-
ces, concentrated TO that endthat he merely vot-
Cd. and even then wept How was it with Mr.
Clsy->od he stand proudly aIooH did he drop in
% One ballot box ticket wet with his tesrs1 did
hs throw himself upon The dignity Of bis station Of
speaker, and calmly await tlic RESULT did lie re-
solve TO retain his post Of honor, and fasify the
predictions, which in his " card he pronounced
:. infamous" did he refuse Office under man, in
whose favor he could not utter one woTd-againsi