Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-01-30

and tribulation, has emerged a thorough Procla
m.tionist. We accuse not him or the rest, OF
deserving to Gen. Jackson; perhaps Gen: Jack
son has deserted to them; but surely the facts
Justify the intimation that Jackson has "absoro'
ed' the Clay party. AS long as they approve
the course Of the President. they are bound 10
support him, aud we cannet be mistaken III the
superstition, that the bulk of the Clay party do
approve, and have loudly proclaimed their aP'
prevail.
We meant no shade Of disrespect by the ex-
preston. 1t is not in the power OF the GENTLE
man, eloquent as he may be. to teach us any
thing now oi the late Clay party in Virginia, or
bv any possibility to exalt the estimation in which
we hold them. Their disinterestedness aud
constancy have been tested by years OF hopeless
conflict with an invincible party. They have 81
ven the highest evidence Of having acted from
pure patriotism, and honest conviction, anu 10
have indulged in harsh reflections" upon them,
would not only have been most unwarran,ed by
the history Of the last years, but most migrate
ful. We wish the Gentleman, before he prefer
red charge which casts the odium Of lngratituhe'
had examined more critically the evidence upon
which he POUNDS it, Even if the Clay party IS
I. absorbed" we do not see that 1t follows OF ne
cessi,y, that the .'Spoils" which Office can con-
fer. have been the inducement to obtain their
consent to the absorption. We certainly have
neither imputed, insinudted. nor dreamed any
such thing, and we respectfully suggest, that 1t
is neither compatible with justice tor the gentle
man to coin his facts as he proceeds, nor with
the personal friendship he processes, SO to color
the invention of his fancy as to ix upon US an
unc committed and unlnaglned offence.
When we set out we proposed to do nothing
more. than vindica,e ourselves against the charge
of having reflected injurously on the Clay party
and we know that every member OF that party.
unless the imaginative Gentleman from Berkeley
himself prove all exception, Will admi' 'he COM
plete success with which we have dune So
Other things he mputes, not less easiiy suscePti'
| BILE of refutatioD, and which should instantly
! meet it, il we acknowledged his jurisdiction over
us, and if It were not objectionable towards our
readers. when subjects involving the destInies oi
mankind demanded all the room we have, to
usurp any portion of il for personal concerns.
Suffice it to say, that what the gentleman calls
:. shifting Of convictions. is nothing more than
the adoption OF principles always entertained 10
new circumstances. II onr ''sympahy" for ).
Carolina is recent, We may at all events, triumph
IN Its sincerity and disinerestedness, since she
has too few friends to subject them TO the impu
tatiou Of designing motives. Nor do we admit
either The right Ut the gentleman 10 exercise his
prurent Imagination in fancying the motives
winch have swayed our course, or receive as
lust and merited, the homily he Is SO condesceHd
ING as to read US. uDon the unauthorized as.ump
ton that enmity to Gen. Jackson has dictated it.
In the acknowledgment that we have always
been friends Of State Rights. lie has himself made
| all the defence for US, which the case requires
| or that We desire.
That in the immnence and immensely OF the
crisis, all men. the wisest and most experienced
have felt great difficulty IN shaping their endea
vors to promote the great ends OF Peace, L6ert!
and Union, we well know, and SO We think, doe:
the gentleman from Berkely. How square hi'
present convictions with those experienced by
hun, five weeks ago? How many convet tons ha!
he "shifted'' within the term of "short' five
weeks? What agency has the popular voice from
beyond the Mountains, exercised IN revolution
izins his sentiments, Tor some of them and
uuickening his conclusions? Will the gentle
man deny that he has been most sadly perplexed
bv the high crisis 10 which we find ourselves, and
has only safely got through after painful ant
protracted travail? II then we should confess
that we too have been beset by difficulties, an'
have only seen our way as through glass dark
! ly; if moreover. in that course which we have
adapted to the existing extraordinary emergency,
something may have appeared seemingly to the
gentleman from Berkeley. incompatible with
former opinions. We should rather command his
sympathy than deserve his apprehension.