The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1828-06-30
THOMAS BENTON.
Egiag, II Mareb l. ls2s.

Egpiag, y II. March 4. l62s.
The charee o. corruption aud intrigue IN The
iate presidential e@l,etiDn. hrst brought against
Mr. Clay hy a member II tbe House ri l,eptc-
sentatives, aud there abandoned by il author
having neen smce gwen 10 tie public, under The
sanction If General Jackson ; nsne. has Justly
excited the attention Of fle peoplc IN eseis pat
Of the country. 1ae naiare Of the chang e IL
SELF, MOI LIS Than tie liRh Standing Of ii' par
ties, tbDih the aceusel and accused has gwen
10 this controversy an impor anee winch Just-
fes every new attempt 10 th,oa llght upon the
sabiect. The late address Of All clay IL the
public. las brought 10 my recollection certain
circumstance which appear 10 me 10 basf sornc
hearing on inis suhieei, aud, winch, therefore,,
| shall proceed Ia state.
At tde time Of lie late prudential election, |
bad the bonoI OF a s"ai ia Inc hpuse Of ltrpfr-
scntalircs. aud my anhIrty to give effect 10 the
known wishes of my constituents ioi the election
Of Mr.. Adams, did MT sutifr me 10 neglect any
opportunity Of informing lnyseii, mlnntelv, OF
tnr progress Of eyents aud 81 tlclr causes. Win
the fl tends al the several candidates, particular
5 with those Of Nj. Adams. Nh Crawford and
Mr.. Clay. my intercourse was constant, Intimate
aud extensive. With many Of them, | coneeis
ed freely and frequently On the subject. aud b.
came safiy acquainted with thrIr different views
and ceilings IN relation 10 il, As well - the M
tlses by winch they appeared 10 be influenced,
and can safely declate, dat the result Of all
inquiries, IN respect Ia Mr.. Clay, IN particular,
vas IA conviction, 0ounded On lnuunerabie
facts and Indications Of opinion, occurring IN
de- my own obsel YaliOn) that, IN this difficult
aud delicate %iuuctufr, his conduct Wa distin-
gnisied 10y putty ofmptiss, by a deep SENSE Of
public duty, and great prudence aud discern
n1ent IN the course proper To be pursued. II was
seen from the tomHenrt meui nf the session,
that his opinion would have great influence N
the election, ADD the friends of Mr.. Adams uryer
suffered themselves 10 believe that Mf Clay him
SELF nm experienced statesman, bred from his
youth 10 The service of the country would throw
the decisive weight OF his powes ful influence IN
to the scale of a Military Chleitain, y before
whom all merits and all services, merely evil,
seemed 10 disappear. in hi high office ofSpeak,
er OF The House, he seemed anxious to preserve
his usual lnpariiality between the conflicting
parties aud though among ms intimate friends
his opinions were known. ne neither 6btrndcd
them upon the members generally, MOI, 50 Tar
As could observe, ID ne taxi any undue pains
10 conceal them.
With respect 10 his friends, (hy whom | mean
the members OF Congress lrom those states
| which had voted for hun fnr President } uappeH-
ed 10 me, that generally speaking lielf attach
meni was not TO Mr.. Clay as an individual mere-
Y. but as a public man. as Il statesman, whose
general views OF policy weic IN accordance with
their own aad, that, finding they could not
make him President, they looked round among
| the candidates ior the man " nose virws Of poi-
CIV nearest resembled those of Nlr. Clay -pafu
cularlv on the two great questions of internal
Improvement and Domestic Manufactures. This
was especially the CASE with The ONO Members