The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1829-04-09


Legislature, as the unrivalled speaker, and
at the same time most efficient leader of
debates in one of them; as an able and suc-
cessfui negotiator for your interests in war
and in peace, with foreign powers, ond as a
powerful candidate for the highest Of your
trusts. The Department ofSlate itself was
a station which. by its bestowal, could con-
fer neither profit nor honor upon him but
upon which he has shed unfading honor, by
the manner in which he has discharged its
duties. Prejudice and passion have charg.
ed himwith obtaining that Office by bargain
and corruption. Before you, my fellow
citizens, in The presence ofour country and
Of Heaven, pronounce that charge totally
nnfounded. This tribute Of justice is due
from me to him, and seize with pleasure
the opportunity afforded me by your letter
of discharging the obligation.
OF my motives in rendering to him the
Department Of State when did, let thai
nan who questions them come forward.
bEet him look around among the Statesmen
and Legislators Of that day. Let him then
select and name the man whom, by his pre-
eminent talents, by his splendid services,
by his ardent patriotism. by his all embrac
ing public spirit, by his frrvid eloquence IN
bebsfof the ghtsnnd Liberties ofmankind,
10y his long experience in the affairs OF the
Union, foreign and domestic, President
Of the United States. intent only upon the
honor and welfare ofhis country, ought to
have preferred TO Henry Clay. Let him
name the man, and then Judge you my iel
low citizens, of my motives.
Nor can | pass over this opportunity,
,(l,. al trth N ff M
licc and Of gratitude TO these othcremlnont
and vir'uous citizens who have been unit
led with me in the performance OF my pam
lul, but will not say thankess, laoors. i
took not one them from the circle though
| leave every one Of them among the dear
est of personal friends. Amidst all the
difficulties, discourngements, and troubles
which have attended my administration, IT
has been a never failing source OF consola-
ton 10 me- that its internal harmony has
been more perfect than that OF any other
administration which this country has ever
Witnessed. or the qualifications OF The Sc
cretary Of The Treasury, let his annual re-
ports upon the finances, be compared with
those Of all his predecessors let the pay
ment Of thirty three millions Of the public
debt, during tho four years Of his agency ;
let his indeiatigabc industry and assidnlty
in the discharge Of all the duties Of an Of
fee, burthened with them almost beyond
the ability Of human endurance; let the nr
baniiy Of his manners and the courtesy OF
his department, to the innunerable clalm-
ants upon the treasury who have approach
ed him in the successive years through
which, but for the intervention OF disease,
he has been absent from his Office not
single day. Let ,hese be the decisive tests.
Descended from parents Of whose chorac-
ter, both public and private, Pennsylvania
and New Jersey have equal reason to be
proud, well has he sustained and does sus.
tain the honor Of his name. His services
and his friendship to me-, have been inesti-
mable, and 10 parting from him confident
ly trust that mis- future services will not be
lost to the sa4e,sty OF his native state or
Of the Union.
In the Department of War alone, did a
change take place of the person at its head,
during the progress Of my administration.
II was at first conferred upon citizen OF
Virginia, long possessed Of the highest con
lidonce Of that great and honorable Com
monwealth; her governor, in the days OF
danger and ofinvason, during the late war,
her Senator at the time when invited him
to preside over that department. lie had
been warm supporter of one of my com
pettors nt the election; but his opposition TO
me had been that of liberal and honorable
mind. His fulflment of the duties Of th,
Department fully justified the confidence ;
had reposed in him; and he recently left !,
only for the most important of our missions
abroad, in which he is now ably and faith
fully maintaining the honor and interests OF
our country.
His successor was citizen ofNcw-Tork
also highly distinguished by the honors OF
his native state aud Of the Union; one o.
the members of that Congress which vindi
Gated the traduced honor and spirit OF the
nation, by the declaration of war. IN 1872 (;
one of the warriors whose gallant achieve
mcn's during the war, have been recorded
in the solemn legislative thanks of his coun
try; since entrusted with an arduous com
mission for the settlement Of her bounda-
res: and when invited by me 10 share in
the councils Of the Union, a member OF the
Legislature of New York. His services in
the Department of War have also been sat
isfac,ory and effective, and he leaves to his
successor an official reputation which II
will be praise enough TO him to MAINTAIN
un'mpared.
The Attorney General was alsoon adopt
ed citizen af Virginia, not less distinguish
Cd bv ibe classical elegance of his taste in
than by his profound learning in
the laws, and lis commanding e'oquence at
the Bar; the Biocsapher Of Patrick Henry;
rho pa;n,er of manners anu instructor Of
morals a, an early period ofhis li's;appolnt,
ed and commissioned by my 2redee cssor; l
deemed myself and the country fortunate
by his continuance in the same capacity
during my. term OF service. Educated anu
inclinlng TO n rigorous construction of the
extent of constitutional power, his profes-
sioual advice has been the more readily con-