Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-01-07
APPENDIX TO Mr.. CLAY'S ADDRESS
TcoycfudeG.1
WasHIxeroN, Nov. II, 1897.

lau,n to the Presidential election during the
session OF 1915.
met you, for the first time on your return to
Washington in December 1924, on the Satur-
day or Sunday evening previous 10 the meet
ing af Con greSs, and Al mat ume We had long
and free conversation on the approaching eiec>
,ion. said To vou il was still uno ertaiD whe
thrr YOU or Mr. Crawford would be retnrned &c
the House of Repre- sentatires but, from the IN
formation had, believed that you would re-
celye me vote OF louisiana, and'be returned as
the third candidate.
I expressed 10 you some solicitude about
the election, and the hope that we should pass
quietly through il: I said that apprehend-
ed pro,rac,ed Struggle; that while three
candidates remained before the House, IL
would BE difficult for either 10 obtain MAORI
". That the excite :nent which the contest ma
turaiiy produced would daily increase, that the
parties would become obstinate, that the peo-
. pie might 5e tissa SIZED. aud that some agia>
ton nigh, be produced. That for the char aeter,
as x,ll as the Il anQuiliy Of the country, 1t was
desirable that we should pass through ii safely.
.-Yn replied, hat you would not permit the
country 10 b. disturbed day on your account
tina, YOU would not allow your name 10 inter-
ftre with The prompt der ision Of he question
BY de House / said. ii becomes Necessary
the country has right 10 expect, and will e1-
peer tina, OF you.
You lnror,ns M YOU had seen Mr.Crswfort,
tina, YOU had been shocked with his appearance,
tha, nos " this anding ali you had heard, you
had no IDEA of his aCtu,l condition. Aud, at
tCr expressing the sympathy which his ml'i T.
tunes excited. YOU said he was incapable If per-
forming the duties OF The Executive, and II was
out Of the question 10 think OF making him
President.
REMARKED 20 you, that in all probability,
the conest would be finally reduces TO Mr.. Ad'
-and. comparative merit aud qua>
hhcations, and a long discussion ensued; YOU
drew q parallel between them, in q Kramer
thought very just and respe ctfuI to both You
coneluded by Expressing a preference for Mr..
Adams, which turned p incpally on his talents
and experience in civil afairs I alluded to
Your critical position between the two parties,
end the great personal responsibility under
which yna would act You said it was true,
but II could not be avoided, 1t was duty im>
posed by your situation, that you would NEE, it
as any other public duty.
..insim 1, d to you, that in the present stage,
II would BE- imprsper To make known our st n
uments, that there were strong motives for your
not ;akieg an active part in he contest lsug
e. ,'ed the relotion in which you stood to the
HeNse, TO the parties, and to the country, ano
your 'opirion, that all parties would louk TO
yosr course with interest, and that you would
&C, under great responsibility I thonehr there
was 20 necessity f'r Increasing the diff uty of
your situation, by taking 4 part in the election,
ard that il would be better 10 let il take its
course. ] left you under the impre ssion that
you coaeurred in these views
saw you again on hs return Of tie votes
from. louisiana, by which it WAS ascrrtained
that you we're excluded from the tIouse | hen
iook the libeIry Of rrpta,ing to you all that !.
had before said in regard 10 thr course you
ought 10 pursue urged the consideration Of
your being the presiding, officer Of the House,
where. new questions might arise during the
election, and such other ttctIons as occurred
20 me. You said you were aware of the dam
ger, as we'll as the 'dclicacy Of your POSITION,
and that you would .cave your friends peifec,-
ly at liberty to exer isc their own judgments.
i wall add that no instance came within nay
knowledge in which you de,isted from this
course. NV opinion was, and sti is. that you
behaved with the greatest property, in The ST.
;uatinn in which you were placed.
conversed with yoo In a walk to the Capt.
IDOL on the instructions Of the Legislature of
Ken,ucky. You still expressed your determi-
nation 10 vote for Mr.. Adams. You said h
Legislature haS no right to direct you in the
discharge Of your duty; that you had received
no instructions 10 vo,e for Gen. Jackson from
your district, that he iustruc tons and let
tiers you I'D recei, &, directed you 10 pay no
ATTENTION to the lie gisa,ise Instructions, but to
act UPON your own judgment and 10 do The
best for the country. You said you were not
only free TO choose, but you were under great
personal responsibility. That you would &C.
quit yourself in the discharge of this duty, by
making the best choice under all circumstances.
That YOU believed Mr. Adams was the ablest
and safest man, snd you would act under that
conviction.
called on you on the morning Of The publi-
cation II your card. You said that ] would
nowses that The delieacy you had observed