Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-05-27

", 1874, was TO break up the cabinet succession
ms address was signed by the Hon. Jos. Vance,
who voted with Mr.. Clay for the very cabinet
successor against whom its dcnunciation was cv-
identity directed, and was written, as we are au-
thorizcd TO state, by Charles Hammond, the subse-
9uent scurrilous rcviler Of Mrs. Jackson, and de-
; voted partisan Of Mr.. Adams administration The
following is an extract from the Address
| " AS tho period approached when it would be-
come necessary TO select successor TO President
Monroe, 1t was altogether proper that much re-
Election should be devoted TO the principles upon
which such election should be made The names
' OF at least three members of Mr.. Mosroe's cabi.
net were pretty distinctly presented to the public,
as candidates to succeed him. Rejecting men
could not butscc, that n struggle for the Presi-
dcncy between the principal Secretaries, was
iraught with much evil to the nation, inasmuch as
1t must distract the harmony Of her councils, il
not cndanger the integrity of her functionares and
ljeopardize her peace and her reputation. BESIDES
these mischicfso select of the Secretaries was
10 continue the same influence in Office, which vir-
tually wouldbe departure from the maxim, that
rotation in office was essential 10 the public. For
TO change the man and retain the influence would
nc 10 rcpose upon the shadow, and abandon the
substance.
''1hc considerations here briefly limited deter
mined many of the most refecting citizens Of the
country, 10 adopt the opinion that no member OF
the present executive cabinet, ought TO be select.
tcdto succeed Mr.. Monroe; and this determination
was formed without any disresrect to the talents or
characters o! the incu;nbents themeivcs. 1t rested
upon public principle and upon public duty, and
upon these alone In looking around for some per-
son out OF the cabinet, and unconnected with the
executive administration of the national govern
uient, large portion of the citizens of the West
naturally directed their attention to Henry Clayo
kentucky"
In relation TO the prospects before them, the adj
dress thus speaks
Under the strong persuasion that the public
eoou ana duc regard Tor the fair operation of the
lica ,NfgS -
that the next President should not he taken from
the present executive cabinet, it was determined
TO support Mr. Clay for that office, as the person.
combining at least as many qualifications, as any
ofher that could be named, with the same prospects
oil success. II was hoped, that those who had the
same general object in view. would have sacrifice
cd personal considerations, and united i'm cactinp
'fiat OBJECT IL was particularly hoped, that the
western country would have presented an undi-
vided phalanK upon this great public question ond
II as deeply regretted that another candidate should
De named and supported in the west with the same
object, and for the same purpose"
| Again, the same address says:
were Mr. Clay withdrawn, the result. as 70
the election by the electors would most probably
De me same; or IT it were not, scotld place In
the Presidential chair one Of the present cab
anct; an event which it was the first object of
.HeJ'7enas o. Mr.. Clay TO prevcnf; not in rcfe-
| renee TO the men, but the principle Mr.. Clay was
nominated in the persuasion, that all his fellow
| citizens, entertaining the same general views.
would unite in his support. Had this been the case
nad inns union taken place, his election, by the e.
iectors. would have been certain. /; is the clear
conviction OF his supporters that the object of non,
mating him, can only be attained by adherinr TO
| him; hat to abandon him, is to abandon that o6-
;cc, and under this conviction, they have adopted
ae resoeuonto adhere to him. as the dictate Of du=
| ty, and of patriotism
from these extracts it appears, that the first OBJ
!ect OF nominating and supporting Mr. Clay in O.
mo, was TO break the line of cabinet succession,
ana that 1t was the hope of efecting that object,
which induced them to adhere to him. How would
the gu individuals composing the meeting which
adopted this address, have startled had an anqel
spoke, and told them, that the very act they were
then performing, would not only enable Mr.. Clay
to defeat their object, but that he would certanIv
do it, and then round and tauntngIy tell them
he had bat followed =" safe precedenfp' Would
not his very friends have denounced him as....."A
TRAITOR: After denouncing the cabinet sue
cesslo8' am stimulating the whole of his
friends TO electoneer that ground we repeat that
MT Clay could never have voted for Mr. Adams,
II he had been in The least degree influenced by
principle.
mith Mr. Crawford, it has never been pretend
eo,that MI Ciays relations were other than friend
ly. During the latterpart of the canvass the idea
was certainly inculcated by Mr.. Clay and his lead
ing friends, that Mr. Crawford was their second
choice. The state of his health was as well known
70 them then, as after the electoral election Con-
sidering his relations with the two men, it could
not have been anticipated, that Mr. Clay would
prefer MIR. Adams to Mr.. Crawford Had he voted
for the latter, leaving his friends without influence
or control, to vote for whom they thought proper,
tho 1T would have been acting against the known
will OF the people of Kentucky, Mr.. Clay would !
at least have avoided some of the mputations which
have been indelibly fixed upon bis character, by |
his unnatural coalition with Mr. Adams
II was thought by Mr.. Clay's friends, and the |
public in general, that there was some degree OIL
personal hostility between him and Gen. Jackson. |
IL mas been extensively urged that the known ill !
VIII OF te General, and particularly the indignity
offered Mr.. Clay at Lebanon, in Kentucky made |
It impossible for Mr.. Clay to vote for him without
dishonor. MIR. Clays late address has totally de- |
stroyed this argument. Ii appears by his own |
showing. that he never cherished any personal en-
NIFTY towards Cen jackson, and that the only |
preach between them, which ever existed was en-. |
tireiy healed, as early 1923. The following is |
MS account oil the reconciliation Such was the
stase OF our relations at the commencement of the |
session OF Congress, in 1929, the interval having
passed without my seeing him. Soon after his ar, |
rival mere, 10 attend that session, collected from
certain indications, that he had resolved upon gen
erat amnesty, the hcncft OF which wrs TO be ex- |
tended to me. He became suddenly reconciled
WIN some individuals, between whom and himself |
mere had been long existing enmity. The great
or part OF the Tennessee delegation, (all believe
except Mr. Eaton and Gen. Cocke) called on me
together, early in the session. for the express mir
pose; as understood, of producing REORGANIZATION
between US. related, in substance all the above
circumstances, including the meeting at Lebanon
Dy way OF apology for his conduct at Lebanon.
some oil the gentlemen remarked that he did not
intend any dsrespect OF me, but that he was labor
ing under some indisposition. stated that the n
Pinions had expressed ia the H. of r. in regard IN
zen. Jacksons military transactions had been sin.
cereiy entertained, and were still held but that
oeing opinions in respect TO public acts they never
nau oeen supposed, by me, to form any Just occd-