Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-07-09
From the Lynchburg virginian.

From the Lynchburg NirgInan.
OLD SoREs.-It is sometimes difficult TO &c
count for the personal hostility manifested oy
one individual towards another, to whom ne
happens to be politically opposed we are
much deceived, however, If political rancour
is not both generated and fostered by personal
antipalhy, in nine cases out OF ten, where an
acquaintance and long intercourse had sutsls'-
ed between The parties: Words spoken IN the
heat of debate, conveying censure or sneer ,
and opposite opinions defended with warmth
approac hing almost o violence which would
be Coreo,ten and forgiven by generous minds,
ami themselves to be lea into similar errors by
he impe,uosi,y Of ler'ing,) are apt TO leave
br hind in the breasts 81 vain, conceltei and
maignan, men sting which never ceases 70
rankle and tester, until favorable op2or'uni'y
presents itself for retaliation. MIR. Clay mas
unfortunately raised up many enemies OF 'hi'
character. Disdaining concealmfn,, he has al
all times, and on all occasions, expressed his
own sentiments boldly and drcisi,ely, and he
ousntly, disgu ,,ed at the llmldi'y "l his opp",,
ncnts. who dreadtd to march one pace Out OF
the beaten track, he has ridicui,d their IDLE
fears. and made them vince under his cutting
sarcasms.
Among The individuals 10 whom This remark
Alexander Smythe of Virginia, ard Gen. Sam
uel Smith, now U. S. Senator flom Mary
and,-The laller gentleman is much more
obnoxious to cepsure, however, Tor the course
he has thought fit 20 pursue, with regard TO
the great question now pending before the
American people than The two former. The
Disric, represented in Congress by Gen A..
Smythe, and the county from Which Mr.. Hugh
Nelson is delegate TO the Virginia Legisa'
,ure are known 10 be against the Administers
ton; and those gentlemen, therefore, are only
cxcmplfying The beautiful ard uncrring test Of
fcpubhcnnisn lately 3roaohed by the Richmond
Enquirer, by always going with the majority.
Grn. Smith, of maryland. however, hs, no, on
" opposed the sentiments Of the very body by
which he was elcc'ed. bu, his election itself
was secured by a piIi'ul piece of dup'ici.y
Aware, as he was, that tie administration par
ty outuumbcred BY considerable majority,
their opponents in the Maryland Legislature,
while the election was pending Grn. smith
preserved a most profound silence as 10 his po-
lilical pr, ferences. Enquiries were made OF his
friends but while no positively satisfactory an,
sux.s r-vsv gwen, Sutn remarks were made as
were Gale ulaied 20 convey the impression that
The G neral would support the administration;
and he was consequently elected This pro-
duced wonderful efft cr--ro less than tina, Of
unloosng his tongue. The dumb spake-a and
his frs, words were violent analhema against
the administration! An honorable man would
not have permitted himself to be elected undrr
such circumstances; and /! he had been elected,
without connivance or intrigue on his part,
seeing that he should misrcpresen' his consul
tuenls. an homes, man would have resigned If
he had been ,eackable, he might have learnt an
liz, h.., lNxV ,tar m
the example Of John Q Adams in 1907.
But to reru'n from this DEPRESSION. These
three gentlemen are now taking revenge of
Mr.. Clay, sy lending their names to faction
as muItifarious and as Self destructive in its
composition, as il is base and malicious in pur-
pose, for the Slight estimation in which Mr.
Clay, of yorc, held their stock of political
Knowledge. II is certainly mos, noble re-
veuge, especially when we recollect how long
ii has been brewing.
The stand takn by Mr. Clay i'll favor Of the
recognition Of the Independence Of the South
American States, as early as 1918, will long be-
remembered, as charac teristic OF the daring OF
the man, and as e,incive ofthe deep interest
he has always felt and displayed whenever
ques, ions touching he liberties OF the human
race have been brought into discussion. VIII,
Their or not Nh. ely was in advance OF public
opinion, in the agitation Of This question, it is
mos, certain tina, he was far il advance Of the
views OF the tncn national executive and OF
Congress, aud his policy was, OF course, not
sane inhrd. Two Years afterwards, in 1920,
Mr.. CLAY renewed his efforts. and o,wilh stand
ing there had been no material change either
in the internal condition Of he South .Ameri>
can States or in the relations which we bore 10
them, they were crowned with success-a
most striking testimony to his forecast, and
enviable tribute 10 his wisdom. 1t was in the
course OF his speech on this subject, in the
House of Representatives, ia March, 1920, that
he shot those arrows which wounded so deeply
the pride OF Grn. Smy'he, and Nj. Nelson Of
Va. and Ten Smith of Md-wounds which
have doubtless bled ever since, and which will
never be- healed until they See Mr. Clay pros
traled, Vain hope! Mr. Clay possesses a
buoyancy and elas,icl of mind which no OPP
position Can aHecl-which no rsverscs can re-
press. Does the moon hred the dogs that bay
al her? No more does Mr.. Clay heed the
barking at his heels Of The faction tina, pursues