Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-08-26
BETTER I

Ell J..
TO J0h'' SeFSeGns, DhHnue! Eyre, Ldorrencc
Ae,ois, G. &. Biddis, and .IoS1ph =. Norris,
ESqa!Tes-oH!hOrs 0f an address adopted az
re administration totcn 1lteestng IF the Th
July.
GENrAE1sEN:-Yo on deem i, needless, YOU say ,
70 notice " the now exploded caumny oil cor
rGpt bargain, between Mr. Adams and Mr.. Clay:
Is possible, that You think the charge, which
you call calumny, exploded; but, we believe,
that, il you could have established any fact, imdi-
cative OF innocence, you would not have passed
the question over, with so much apparent pditier-
ence: so, the charge is not exploded, and the
best proof that it is not is the tact, that the subject
now occupies majority of the columns Of the
principal newspapers in the Onion.
In reference TO this charge, you speak Of " the
ruthless war; that has been prosecuted, as YOU
assert, against the reputation OF public men; but
you forget, that you were, at the instant,
waging ruthless war upon the reputation oil
aen. Jackson: What shall you pry into the recess
es oil his heart, in search OF motives, which he
abhors? Shall you denou1ce him as a person, WHO
il chosen President, would violate tire constitu-
ton, the law, and the rights Of his sountrymen
although sworn 10 sustain them all?-shail you
say and do all this and yet call it calumny to in
'esiisaie ;',e eonduct oi your own 1avOIites?
You mistake, gentlemen, altogether, the nature
OF Tree discussion you forget Tor what cid it as
that the founders OF the republic guaranteed the
| reedom oil -peech and OF ;he press We depre-
cate as anXiousy you do the gross abuse OF the
better inheritance than the gifts OF transiiory
fortune, it il not only right, but orr duty Il
investigate and expose those causes, which, if moi
removed, must produce the loss of that ihbe dnc =
| We have hesitation in ayowing our delibe
| rate conviction, that the influence OF Mr.. Clay
! procured the election OF Mr.. Adams--tbat MIR
Clay gave his influence to Mr.. Adams, with an
understanding, that he would be made Secretary
! oil Siate-and, that MIR. Adams did make him Sec
rotary OF State in consideration OF the influence
to tari,tc hfy ala.
AS 10 the question, whether those exchanges
were in their origin, nature, tendency, corrupt
IL was settled by MIR. Clay himself. in his letter "a
Judge Brooke, Jan. %, 1925, ne declared that he
mad consulted his conscience, and concluded 10
vote Tor MIR. Adams; that he would be assaed 70,
doing SO, but would listen to all accusations with
OH emotion: yet three days after, dhen accused o
meditating coalition, he pronounced the charge
infamous, and threatened to hold every man ac.
countabie 70 the " laws Of honor who should Ut
ter it.
Indeed, the anxious and elaborate pans taken.
or upwards OF three years, by MI. Clay aud ail his
menus, IN table oraloBs, pamphlets, aud ne wspa-
pers' 70 prove hin guilcss, show thcir OWE belief
ihat The people considered the transactions corrupt
ana That necessity existed for removing that i'm
preston.
We will no1 initiate youT example, gentlemen.
and assert, that SERIOUS charge - welt founded.
without giving our reasons for ouF convictions nor
II you shall not come TO The same conclusion viii
us, snail we censufe y0uior belief is not instte
Of choice but we will slate the grounds OF our be
lief, call UPON you to reply, and leave the decision
TO the people: any thug more than this yyo
unkind to you, any thing less would be unwortli,
Of ourselves.
ia discussing the question, whether Mr. CLAY.
gilt oil influence, and Mr. Adams gill Of Office were
reciprocal acts OF corFup, character, ir friends
those gentlemen usually begin By asking whether
IL Is hSeiy, ihat two such meu would act cOrrupiiy3
Upright men, undoubtedly, lcol . reluctance 10
OeheVe, That aiacuous c0dlidonw lof,ned. when
we hrst hear the accusation, we naturally ask our.
selves, Is II likely, that men, already 80 hi h in
pNOic i"Vor would isS b. los, Would they vol.
snlafily oct in such way, if detected, wouli
lead to the forfeiture Of puhie cOntidrnoe And q
u % The Investigation Of this question, hat prepares
The mind 70 receive ev...erce snl 70 p-.i,.s-,ece
ilrnr % c-.....