Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-05-30

He succeeded i'm dissuading that gentleman from
offering the resolutions, but could not prevail upon
him to oppose them, refuse them his support. 10
other persons he held simildr language, and con-
veyed TO them the impression that his mind was not
made up, or that he would vote for Gen. Jackson
his course he pursued with those who, he had
reason to believe, were not willing, for the pur-
pose of enabling him TO secure place in the Ca
binet, to give up their desire for Western Presi-
dent, and their preference for Gen. Jackson. But
in all this double dealing, Mr.. Clay's object was
singe-it was to prevent the adoption OF any reso-
iutons of instruction by the Kentucky Legislature.
Having, ashe thought, taken etfectual measures
by his representations the leaders of each OF the
local parties; 10 prevent the expression OF any
preference by the Legislature OF his State, MIR.
Clay set out for Washington City. On his arrival,
he Immediately called on Major Thomas p. Moore,
n member of Congress from Kentucky; repre-
scented to him that the Kentucky delegation might
with perfect safety and propriety, vote for either
OF the three candidates, and expressed his desire
that his friends should remain uncommitted. To
Major X. =. Henry, deceased, he held similar
language. The impression conveyed by him to
these gentlemen, well as 10 MIR. Wickliffe, Ma
jor Carneal and others, before he left Kentucky,
was, that he himself stood wholly uncommitted,
and ready vote for either OF the three candi-
See .Appcndir, No. 2 s. Al That he was SO
understood, by at least one of the Kentucky dele
CATION, who voted with him, has been proved in
the Senate of Kentucky. fSee .appendir, No. L.,
JhT n cfduit StuteUtent.l Attcr ue stu vi Jun
uaLy, 1925, Gen. Metcafe informed one of his con-
stituents at Washington City. that tre," meaning
the Kentucky delegation, including Mr.. Clay,
GO stand uncon,miited.' He even gave the
son why, at so late period, Mr.. Clay and his
friends remained &c tticon,n,itted" 1t was to as
certain sc something about ho,o the cabinet is to
be filed" See APptndir No. 4, Mr.. John S.
HffS statement. In addition to this, we have
Mr. Clay own declaration to the Hon. John Floyd,
late in December, 1924, early in January, 1925,
darI aIn hn tra has nfir,rr hat md
Jackson. He said that, when he &c took up the
pretensons of Mr.. Adams and weighed them, and
laid them down, and then took up the preensons Of
General Jackson, and weighed them, and laid them
down by the side of those of Mr.. Adams, he was
never so much puzzled in all his life he was TO
decide between them" See .appendir. No. $,
Mr.. Fioyd's letter When it is considered that
Gen. Floyd decidedly preferred Gen. jackson as a
second choice to Mr.. Adams, we confidently ask If
Mr.. Clay could have possibly assumed an attitude
or expressed himself in language, more distinctly
indicating that he was in the market and ready to
support General Jackson, upon receiving assuran-
ces of promotion? His words seem TO have been
carefully selected to convey the idea of tremulous
equipoise ofjudgment, in which the slightest cir
cumstance would incline the balance one way or
the other. more artiul stroke, more profound
device of ambi-dexterous diplomacy, is not to
be found in the annals of political intrigue.
Here, then, we have a long series OF acts and de-
clarations of Mr.. Clay and his friends, all tending
TO the same point. The Washington Circular, i'll
May, 1924, advised Mr.. Ciay's friends to adhere
to him steadily for the purpose of returning him
TO the House OF Representatives, or in case they
should fail in that, TO enable him and those dspoS-
ed TO act with him to control the euent.' The
Ohio and Kentucky Circulars tended to the same
end. MIR. Clay intrigued to prevent the interior
ence OF the Legislature Of Kentucky He advised
his friends in Congress, to remain uncommtted.-
Excepting those who declared for General Jackson,
they did remain uncommitted. One of them said,
that their object in maintaining that attitude
ascertain hOl0 the cabinet lraS to be filed Ac-
corting to the object avowed early in 1924, Mr..
Clays friends had acquired the power by cOncen-
trGtion to control the event, and were determined
to use that power according to the manner in
which " the cabinet to be filed Mr.. Clay
stood in the midst of band OF iaconnittedt friends
with the Presidency in his hand, ready to bestow
it according to the dispositions which might he
manifested in relation to the cabinet
While Mr.. Clay was standing in this attitude,
another obligation was added to those OF honor and
principle already existing, which forbade his voting
for Mr.. Adams. 1t was the obligation of duty TO
the State Of Kentucky. He one OF the cousti-
tutiona organs designated TO speak her voice. 1t
was not Henry Clay and his associates who were
to vote for President it was the State OF Kentucky.
Henry Clay and his associates only empow
cred 10 give the vote OF their State; they had no
right to give their vote If they preferred one
man, and at the same time knew that their State
preferred another, ii was their duty TO vote the
preference OF their State. Suspecting thatherrep-
resentatives i'll Congress were inclined to disregard
her will, Kentucky, through her sovereign power
declared her choice, and left her delegation in
Congress no excuse for disobedience. The follow
ing resolutions passed through her Legislature by
vote almost unanimous, and were forwarded to each
Of her members in the House of Representatives,
before the election
&c Whereas it appears from the result of the cleo
tons in the several States, and the formation of the
electoral colleges for choosing a President of the
United States, that no person will receive major
ity OF the electoral votes, and that Henry Clay
who was the first choice of the people of Kentuc-
ky, has not received sufficient number Of votes
10 bring him before the House of Representatives
as enc OF the three highest from whom the choice
Of the President ofthe U. 5. is TO be made, There
fore,
'ResOlred, Sc, That the members Of the H. OF
Representatives, in the Congress of the U. 3 from
this State be requested TO vote for Gen. Andrew
Jackson President Of the l.. =.
'NesoiUed, as The opinion of this Legislatures
That Gen. Andrew Jackson is the second choice Of
the State of Kentucky, for the next President Of
the u. y; that a very large majority OF the peo-
pie OF this State, prefer Gen. jackson to Mr. A
dams, or MIR. Crawford; and that the members of
the IL. OF X, in the Congress of the T. s. will, by
complying with the request herein signified faith
fully and truly represent the feelings and wishes of
the good people OF Kentucky"
Thus was Mr.. CIay's obligation to vote against
MIR. Adams completed 1t was triple cord com
posed Of honor, principle, and duty-honor, in re-
htion to himself principle in relation 10 his own
declarations, and those Of his friends, especially in
Ohio; and duty, in relation 10 Kentucky. Yet was
this triple cord snspt asunder.
But, MIR. Clay seems to have thouoht il necessa-
ry TO produce some ground OF apolog for lis aban
dooment Of duty, before he proceeded to the fatal
act. There were not wanting certain politicians
in Kentucky, who were willing 10 be transferred
by him, 10 wbomsoever he pleased TO sell them if
m adj fol