Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-07-01
PcLITIOAL.
A SUPPLEME NT
TO rHE ADDRESS OF HENRY CEAy


TO ERE ADDRESS OF HENRY CEAy
TO THE PUBLIC,
Iphieh toas published IN December, 1927. Er-
noting further Evidence in rctu!diion Of the
charges against him, touching lie fast Presi-
Gentiat Election, made by General .4ndreto
Jse.son.-(CoNCLUDEp.)
Epping, ". III. March Is, 1929.
| Inc charge OF corruption and que in the
iate Presidential election, first brought against Mr..
Clay by meaber of the House of Representa-
nves, and there abandoned by its author, having
Deen since gwen TO the public, under the sanction
Oh zen. Jacksons name, has justly excited the at
tention OF the people in every part of the country.
ne nature Of the charge itself, not less than the
nign standing OF the parties, (both the accuseT and
the accuse4,) has given to this controversy ini
por:ance which justi6es every new attempt to
throw light upon the subject. The late address of
MIR. Clay to the public has brought to my reco-
lection certain circumstances, which appear to me
10 have some bearing this subject and which,
I therefore, shall proceed TO state.
! AT the time of the late Presidential election, /
had the honor OF seat in the House of Reppsen-
fatives; and my anxiety to give effect to The known
wishes OF my constituents for the election OF Mr..
Adams, did not suffer me TO neglect any opportun-
~ OF informing myself, minutely, Of the progress
OF events, and OF their causes. With the friends
OF the several candidates, particularly those of Mr.
Adams, Mr.. Crawford, and MIR. Clay, my inter-
course was constant, intimate, and extensive.
With many of them, conversed freely and fire.
quently on the subject; and became early ac-
quainted with their different views and feelings in
relation 10 it, well as the motives by which they
appeared to be influenced and can safely declare,
That the result OF all my inquiries iii respect Mr..
Clay, in particular, was a conviction, (ounded on
innuInerabie facts and indications Of opinion, oc-
curing under my own observatory that, in this
dlfnSut and delicate juncture, his conduct was
distinguished by purity Of motive, by a deep sense
| OF public duty, and great prudence and discern
| ment III the course proper TO be pursued. 1t was
seen, from the comm of the session, tina
| his opinion would have great influence in the cleo
! ton; and the friends OF Mr.. Adams suffered
themselves to believe that Mr.. Clay, himself an
experienced statesman, bred from his youth to the
civil service OF the country, would throw the dec-
sivc weight of his powerful influence into the scale
/ oil a Military Chieftain,'' before whom ali
merits and all services, merely civil, seemed to
disappear In his high office Of Speaker OF the
| House, he seemed anxious to preserve his usual
impartiaiity between the conflicting parties: and
though among his intimate friends his opinions
were known he neither obtruded them upon the
members generally, nor, far could observe
did he take any undue pains to conceal them.
Wthrespect TO his friends, (by whom mean
| ihe members OF Congress from those States which
had voted tor him for President.) it appeared to
me that, generally speaking, their attachment was
| not to Mr.. Clay an individual merely, but q
| public man--as statesman, whose general views
oh policy were in accordance with their own and
that, findidg they could not make aim President,
they looked round among the candidates for the
OF Mr.. Clay particularly on the two great gues-
tons of Internal Improvement and Domestic Man
gufactures. This was especially the case with the
fOhio members; and was expressly told by oil
t.hep, Gen. McArthur,) that, chiefly up0n these
grounds, they had come 10 the determination oil
voting for MIR. Adams, before they had ascertaned
what would be Dir. Clays course Oh thus occa-
isioD.
1t is not, however, much the object Of this
communication TO express my own opinion, either
r.. % he of
sriends as TO exhibit evidence in relation to certain
facts stated by him, his late address TO the pub
lie. In part OF this address, it is his object L
lshow that lie had, early and repeatedly, express
Jed his opinion that Gen jackson g,ldliiie,
sior the Presidency; and, consequently, that Ii,
could, in no event, he expected 10 vote Cor him
> | 10 the great mass OF evidence which he has there
adduced, it is in my power TO aud the following
| IL was my practice, while member Of Congress
TO note down, at the close Of each session. in Jour
nal which kept for that purpose, whatever oc.
icurrcd 10 me of an interesting nature, during tn
session that had just closed. The first session o
The Eighteenth Congress closed the 27th G
May, 1924. The following extract from this Jour
nal is under date Of" June, 1924 and was writ
| ten by me Immediately my return from Wash
iingron.
=, " spoke but twice, this session 10 Mr. Clay OF
this subject. The first was on the caucus agains
which he declared himself but professed to be 20
.verned, in this whole matter, entirely by hi
sriends' advice. The other conversation relate
TO Gen. Jackson. Ii was soon after PennsyIvani
declared for the General, and when he seemed
for the moment 10 carry all before linn. He SPOKE
with equal truth and feeling on this subject. H.
said it was truly discOudging TO the People s.
intoxicated and deluded, by little military glory
that man, totally unknown to the civil history o
the countrywide knew nothing of the Con~titu
ton, or laws Of the land-and who, in short had M
other recommendation than that which grew on
OF his fortunate campaign at New Orleans. SHOULD
be thought of for President Of the United States
K even preferred to all otlcTs;a time when som,
OF the abc~t men the country had ever produced
(he did not mean, he said include himself in th,
numbcr) men who bad grown grey IN the civil de
partments OF the Government, in Congress in iii
ploiatic missions, and in the Cabinet, were before
the public, candidates for that ofiice-was ",
said such symptom OF the diseased state OF publ,
sentiment, as must be equally alarming and dis
courasing, whether viewed by those who saw the
highest objects of laudabe ambition snatchcd from
them by military chief or by those caIiner obser.
Vers Oh passing events, who look wiil philosophical
Of prophetic eyes, the causes OG The peruanencs
or decay Of our free institutions"
\ The above extract contains but an impcIfs q
sketch Of Mr.. Clay's remarks TO me st That time
lie declared, with great energy, bis opinion, THAT
| whatever might be General Jackson's othei
merits, he had no pretensiOns 10 the character
OF a Statesman; and he painted, in lively colors
! the dangers TO which the country was exposed
from the sudden overflow Of military enthusiasm.
| by which he borne along. II was, he said al
erit omen, and one which iorebodeG nothing fsyo-
Iable TO the future destnies Of the republic
not only considered these opinions of Mr. CLAY ~
/ vyor hy 10 ba ed b,,f a.