Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-07-07
81 6cDesu ossU .SWDtu.


Us ihe Enquirer oil yesterday, "cOnfeSScS to have
some doubts of the authenticity of the passage Of
the letter of Mr.. Jefferson, complimenting the abilities
OF AIR, Clay, lately published at the North, and re-
published in this paper. Had that letter spoken of
Jackson, instead of Clay, our contemporary would have
seen what it certainly shows the strongest internal
evidence of its authenticity; as it is, he tries TO neu-
tralize it by. a doubt. He appeals to the testimony of
Col. Randolph, that this favorable opinion of Mr.. JEFF
ferson was subsequently changed, VIII n he knows
perfectly we'll, that where his passions and p~rejudices
were concerned, Col. R.. though an honorable man,
was incapable of seeing things as they We're.
That paper has several times lately, allu.!sd in its
accustomed style of insinuation, to Mr.. Clays letters
to Francis P. Blair of Frankfort, which it affects to
consider as containing conclusive evidence of the
'Bargain." We say affects, because we cannot sup
pose the Editor to be ignorant of the contents of
those letters, or knowing them, really to estimate
them as proofs. Ifhe has not seen copies, he has at
least, had it in his power to do so, as Mr.. Clay invited
u private inspection of them by all who wished it; de-
Ginning to publish them, because he did not choose 10
be coerced into it by his enemies, deeming the prece-
dent destructive of the safety and sanctity Of private
correspondence, and because he had in a confidential
correspondence, spoken with a freedom ofindividuals,
which he did not and could not, with delicacy, wish
to make public. But why did not Kendall publish
them? For a most excellent reason--for a reason
which induced John Pope to pronounce his not pub
fishing them, a master stroke of policy. Ifthev were
published, the false description which Kendall had
given of their contents, would be obvious to al. It
would then be seen, that they proved no Bargain"
and as they constituted the last hope of establish hing
that famous lie, that the 'Bargain' must immediate
ly descend where it has since gone, einto the common
receptacle of stale and loathed %calumnies" believed
in no longer except by q few dupes and blockheads,
though still used for political effect by unprincipled
party politicians. If on the other hand, the letters
were not published, Kendall, the vile, could make
what use ofthem he pleased-he could refer to them
continually, as his Richmond ally is now doine~-he
could affect to consider them as containing conclusive
proof of the "bargain"-he could, as he did, turn
MIR. Clay's honorable scruples in declining to publish
against himself. and pretend to consider his declining
as resulting from his fears. Again. lfthey remain
ed unpublished, the public imagination was at liberty
to put what constructions upon them it pleased. and
all know what an exaggerating propensity the public
imagination has. These were the very sufficient
reasons, which governed Mr. Amos Kendall in decli.
ming to avail himself of Dir. Clay's permission to do
as he pleased with the correspondence. These were
the excellent reasonr, which in Mr. Pope's opinion.
made his declining to publish, "a master strok. of no.
Icy
We have seen that correspondence; thousands have
seen it. and it no more proves The bargain, or any bar
gain, than it proves that MIR. Richie did not DISPLAY
lis usual foresight, when he said the Hero's election
would be a Course" No candid man who has ever
seen it, can possibly think that there is in it, the small
lest imaginable degree Of proof of corruption. Tho,
Mr. Clay should for years, submit to the misconstruc-
ton ond abuse caused bythat correspondence when
by publishing it, he could clear himself and put the
slanderers to instant shame. is a proof, and the stron-
gest proof, OF his magoanimous constancy. Ffe will
not be logged by such ours as Kendall, into setting
q precedent, which places the confidential oorrespon
dence of political men, at the mercy of The wors. ant
most designing. He will not, even to rescue his fame
from those vuitures OF rePutation, who have been gor
ging themselves for . years, at his expense, wound thu
delicacy OF certain friends, sportively alluded TO il
that correspondence. We honor him for his Jetermi
nation, and the frmness with which he has adhered
'oit. Let his slanderers proceed-let them, as is ma.
tural to the tribe, continue sheir efforts to bring Hen
ry Clay, whose towering greatness is offensive tc
their self love, down to their own level. 1t is theii
nature, and we need not expect the courage and ge.
nerosity ofthe lion, from the pole cat, whose mode o
warfare is to c%ontaminatc his foe, and render him a:
offensive as himself.
BTh Hagerstown Torch Light expresses its sa
tistactIon at learning upon assured authority. that in
tho late Irregular demonstrations of public feeling TO
wards Ar Senator Bib at Msysville, burning an,
burying him in efisy,) the whole proceeding wa
conducted by Jackson men.
II CABINET.
~ Mr.. IDgham was TO leave the City on Monday
for the North. Mr. Berricn went Northward on Sa
turday. Phe President is gone, not to return unit
the last of September. The Postmaster General ant
Secretary of War, are refreshing in the North Til,
Secretary of State. says the Baltimore Patriot, is get
ting restless at the aspect Of things in New York