Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-04-18
PoLxTIoAL.
SPEECH

, kentucky, on the hrst week in February
; tSzS, on the following resolution, offered by
5 Nj. Beatty:
: -This Legislature views with deep Concern,
ana feelings OF just indignation, the Efforts that
are now making throughout the United States,
70 blast the reputation of the distinguished men,
pers ct Congress from this State, who voted for
John y. Adams TO be President of the United
States. They have no hesitation in saying, that
Is their confirmed opinion, from great delibera-
non, and full examination OF all the facts and
evidence adduced, that the charges of bargain,
sale and corruption, in the election Of John O.
Adams, are utterly false and malicious; that they
are brought forward and endeavored to be sustain
ed, for party purposes, and TO elevate General
jackson TO the Office OF President Of the United
States.''
Mr. Speaker: No person can regret more than
myself the introduction of this subject TO the con-
sderafion of the Senate, or feel more reluctant to
examine or discuss il. After the resolution was
offered by the gentleman from Pulaski, CIR.
Beatty) voted for that of the gentleman from
Sreen, (Air. Allen,) more with view TO expose
Inc lmpropriety and absurdity OF this proceeding,
Khan from a disposition TO hear evidence at the
bar OF the Senate. few prominent facts, Of
public and general notoFiety, connected with the
Presidential election, satisfied my mind OF IFS true
character. wanted no new evidence 10 enlight-
en- me on the subject. Convinced that this inves
! tgaton was useless, and would be attended with
waste OF time and money, most earnestly re-
9uested, that by common consent, the whole
should be withdrawn, or laid on the table; and
IeSoiuiipH OF Inc gentleman from Green
AIien,) expunged from the journals. But this was
not done. The battle must be fought. We have
heard the evidence adduced; and that evidence,
with matters of general notoriety, with which all
are familiar, must form the basis OF this debate,
and the Judgment OF the public.
| This proceeding is the more strange, when il is
recollected that the General Assembly Of KY, in
the year 1924, in the name of the People, and pro-
lfesssing TO speak their will, requested our Repre-
sertatives TO vote for Gen jackson. Their Repre-
sentatives, with MIR. Clay at their head denied the
authority of the Legislature instruct interfere
with them. They asserted that they we're respon-
sibe Only to the people, and not TO heRepresenta
Yes OF the people. To that HIGH and mighty soye-
reign they appealed to justice, and there attempt
ed to yindicate their conduct They have failed
the sovereign has fEowned upon their conduct with
indigna'ion and the agents OF this sovereign claim
the right to reverse the decision of their masters.
] they are denounced malicious slanderers
| tor daring 10 question the purity and
TectnesSs OF their disobedieni servants. Such
eXtravagant arrogance has parallel IN the
history OF any free Government. viii thirty eight
members on this floor, because clothed with. lit
tie brief authority dare to denounce the people for
bold and free expression of their opinions? Forth
nately Tor us, our liberties are not dependent ON
little majority Of this Senate. There is, in this
country, high power, who viii look with scorn
end dgRation at the puny attempts made here to
-iis.aoS. do .oee ii do psopso s.spt-sss gen
uemen intend, by this resolutoD, to atiaint the
I people for having given a false verdict against
Messrs. Adams a:.d Clay, or rather against Mr.
Clay, for about Mr.. Ae=f-.--Sa concern is mani
tested. We have heard much of a wonderful
combination against Mr.. Clay. II is the first time
| l have heard in this country, the people called n
combination, because they complained of the con-
duct OF men in power. When they cease TO COM
hine and resist aggressions their rights and the
vital principles OF their Government, liberty will
be Of short duration. When the American Cole
MES united in resisting the tyrannic measures of
the British Ministry, they denounced as a
combination Of factious rebels against their lawful
sovereign. The people will not be dismayed by
the strong language of your resolution, but will
march on, and make solemn display OF their dis
appreciation of the last Presidential election. Ne
Yer since the revolution Of 1858, did British Mo-
march or his ministers, their party in Parlia-
ment, dare TO denouncc the people OF that country
rs liars and sIandererS, when the ministers and
their measures were declared to be wicked and OPP
pressive by the voice of the nation. Instead oil
Insulting the people with reproaches, Il King OF
England feels il his duty TO dismiss unpopular
ministers, in obedience to public opinion, and app
point those who have public confidence. Gentle
men are certainly not aware oil the character oi
the measure which they have obtruded upon us
or they have forgotten that the people of this
try are yet free, and have the right to inquire in
10, and censure the conduct OF public men, We
should be led 10 believe, from the language of the
resolution, that its authors and supporters were
ready to indicate the characters of all distinguish
ed men against unjust aspersioD, and more espe-
ciay that OF Mr. Adams, one Of those named IN
the resolution. But what was my asonishrnen
when offered an amendment declaring the char
ges against Mr.. Adams of hostility to the West
and of attempting in the negotiation at Client &c
sacrifice the rights end interests of the western
country, to be utterly false, to it rejected by
the vote Of this Senate! MIR. Adams now stand.
convicted by implication, at least by our decision
OF the charges made against him in the Western
prints. In the negotiation at Client lac acted the
part of an enlightened diplomatist, and faithful
and yigiant defender of the rights of his country
X Justice is due TO public men. For their error
they ought TO receive the chastiseInent of popular
censure, and when they DO well the reward O
public appreciation Unjust and indiscrirninat,
abuse OF public men, tends TO lessen the motives
= TO public virtue, and zeal for the public good Tn,
fate Of my proposition to acquit Mr. Adams Of III,
charges Of hostility TO the West and Of attctnptint
10 sacrifice Western interests made against hin
r before the last Presidential election, has demon
n stratcd TO me, and must TO every impartial mind
that no s0ciiude is felt for his public character
except far as II is associated with that Of Mr.
Clay; and all this report gnd resolutions about ii;
tsrna improvements, with which ii- bargain am
sale resolution is connected, is mere parade hay
ing no other object but to endorse the extravagan
! opinions Of Mr.. Clay, not of nv. Adams on tn.
y powers of Congress.
What, Mr.. Speaker, would emphatcally ask
has moved the great deep Of the American nation
in relation 10 the last Presidential election? SlIai
be told that nothing has happened to authoriz,
! discontenN We know that n0nentary excite
ments occasionally occur in particular places with
out much cause, and soon subsiie; but to suppos,
the great political ocean Of this extensive republic
be agitated, and seriously agitated, for three
years, without reason or Just ground is roproacl
upon the intelligence and character Of the m eri
can people, and would prove them incompetent {,
maintain their free institutions Sir, there mus
something rntfer, in Cfafc AZ I,,uru.,rL