Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-08-14

ed IN the estimation of Quintan for their brep;t,
anu elegance lnnumerable examples might be found
OF the same awkward arrangement of words which
distinguishes the sentence under review.
sCRIBLERUs.
10 THE EDIroRs OF THE Wuc
Nlessts. Eunors:-W lille gancing casually over
the columns OF the Enquirer Of the 2lst instant INV
eye rested upon the 9th No. Of Retrospects. Pemi
nIscences &C. with the following long sounding can
ton: Henry Clay-the renowned Table Orator
ana would be President of popular whifTs." When
saw the name of that great and good man, who lad
htherto been the subject of such malicious and IN
RENTING persecution, Notwithstanding the ,,nou,
ed contempt with which the spenetck ebulltions of
.ie author, over whatever signature no NAV have
been pleased to assume have for the last three or
iour years, never failed to inspire me- yet wos
little curious to see what fasehoods had been
ehSendered In relation to Dir. Clay, or what new
system OF revivng old ones. lopg since refute5 had
been introduced by this redoubtable knight of thu,
quiz. therefore, gave the piece patient and at
tcntlve perusal.
In the very commencement, we find this sentence,
equally noted for it's attempted elerance of STYLE ami
total destitution of truth ''Mr. CLAW having decla
leu eNternatng war; against all his political oppo-
'ients, mas taken the field i'll bold defiance and nrmed
cap-a: PIE, with his quvcr filled with POISONED darts
Is recklessy and unremttingly hurting them apanst
tue PRACTICAL government, and at least thirds of
the American people," Now we would serionsI,,
ask for the evidence upon which the assertion i
founded! Is drawn from the many unsolicited ties.
timcnaIs OF respect, and undimnished confidence in
n. ivc6
from ms friends in various parts of our countrve
Surely the idea Is preposterous If we are not mr.
united to enjoy friendly intercourse with tbos,
Whoh we esteem, and present to them the tribute of
our respect, IN this land of freedom, without suh;ar
ting ourselves to the mpuaton of being jnipcaI IN
the government, then indeed, Our liberties exist hut
In name, and our institutions shed their brilliant ray,
over our political horizon only, thu we NAV d;scoy
more clearly, the abIect misery of our conjtior L.
1t presented by the fact, that Mr. c. has opcnlv and
eatieSSy: scanned some OF the measures of the PIE
sent aonihiStraon' and pointed out their ruinous
tendency! 1t cannot be- We are unwilling to he
eVe that we have fallen so low in our blind 3avo+;on
70 inc cause or the hero, as to suppose him aul,less
100 much elevated by wisdom and virtue, to be sub
Jcct to the errors of humanity-or even less lablo 10
mistake than his lllustrlous predecessors l. if NOT
then the privilege of every citizen of the u S "a
| watch over his lbertics' Is it not sacred dutv
which he ows to himself his c,eIntry--and his no.
tcrlty-tO pry with Il Lynx eyed scrutiny into H.
Official proceedings of those entrusted with the now
ers of Government Ifso, Mr.. c. has only exerci.
! sea sec! privilege common to sI-dischargcd duty
which ms country iinperiously demanded of him
y acted IN accordance with the examples of the great
from the commencement of our existence as nation
OF IS to be found in the candid and truey patriotc
declaration ot MIR. &. THAT he would uge of The
administration by its measures" If that declaration
furnish the evidence required it not unrcnerous m
suppose. that the writer well knowing the admits
ratlon cam OF be justified by its acts and that u,b
soevcr Judges by thcm, must condemn it. has very
naturally arrived at the conclusions that because NJ
clay mas promised thus to judge, he must therefore
at
conceive of any other probable grounds npon which
the assertion rest and we leave the writer ~
liberty to select whichever horn of the der,rno Io
pcases, either to acknowledge the baseness and sy
OF his statement the weakness and corrunt;on
OF the national executive The recent mpnifes-
tations OF public opinion in various parts of onr
country show the closing part of the sentence IN he
equally devoid of foundations and for the
OF the writer we Will venture the predictions hat Tho
American people, recovered from the stunor into
which the glare OF military splenGor has thrown then
"l IN less than three years, turn their anxious ewes
upon Henry Clay the only man untinv in l,;nSeIr
the hrmness, dignity and independence of character
necessary to restore the government to its formcr
purity. '"''
ne "ritef' after having ingenousIy endeavourcd
10 show that Mr. c. has thrown the gauntlet himself
and tauntinGy bid him defend himself manf,llv Ifrcn,
the loity tone employed enc would suppose indeed
mere was need Tor defence proceeds to state that
as early as 1922, MIR. G.. had inspired some other
besides himself, with the extraordinary notion thai
he would be President Of the United States nj snnne
day or other-That he became seized with the No.
lltlca hdgets-St. Vitus' dancc-or some ofler ;nr1
untary malady which exhibited itself j.; Gu
reIef as early as the Session of Congress- 189s
1874 by his electloncering for the Office of President
anu all inns is proven simply by the fact that Mr.
Clay advocated internal improvements and tho tor;f
Dlonstrous 1t Is the first time we have eyer knna.
eecIoneerng aspirarts to take bold and decided
ssand IN support OF one side of proposition ,,bcI
divided those, whose votes we're urcese.r, o. -:
success, especially where it was rot known IN ,Iri
SIDE the balance would preponderate History 80
son, and observation world teach us that nnder
such circumstances the fawning candidate would
pursue teTnnorizng course-and avoid , "2'
to either party by wrapping himself up in some t',nJ.
clons notion. Of the truth of which pronosor.
our own country at this time affords an ustriong
example, without the necessity of RECURRING, 9Th w.
the history OF other countries and past aces mr. ~
the abstract principles Of reason. II follows n
necessary consequence therefore, that MIR. =. has
not oeGn Snch character The bold ond manly bear
ing which has ever marked his course in ali tho ot
political questions of our country has sbovnefos
perfect demonstration, that n nobler sentiment fin,
INC desire OF popularity has animated his bosom
at an ardent love of country has ever fred his soul
and inspired that eloquence in support of the nern
nent interests Of the Republic Which charmed cys,