Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1838-07-03

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Sin So @
You win recollect that no great while
since, / addressed 4 letter through
your Journal, calling upon the Democrat
to substantiate. certain assertions made
with regard to the opinions Of Mr.. Clay.
The efudite editor of that print has Ger.
tainly overlooked that communication,
In the cursory examination he may have
been pleased to bestow upon your co.
lums. The claim he lays to a character
of candor, would preclude the surmise,
that he has taken an affer.thought, and
would rather be rid of an investigation.
However studiously he may avoid a direct
alteration, point to point upon the merit
of the question, we are disposed to fol-
low up, and examine, step by step, the
facts from whence the inference is drawn,
that Mr.. Clay is AN Abolitionist. Them
ference is first pretended TO be drawn
from the alleged fact, that the abolition
States are found supporting men, who, in
their turn, are found in most matters of
political importance to vote with Mr..
Clay. Admit the fact, and what does it
provel Nothing more than the most I'm.
observing of us have long since known,
namely: that men who are diametricallv
and most fercely opposed to each other,
in moral and religious sentiment, may vet
act in concert when the expediency of po-
litical measures are proposed. Now /
appeal to any man Of candor and fairness.
whatever be his political prepossessions,
whether the mere fact that Mr.. Clay is
found voting in conjunction with aboli-
ton members upon the question of the
currency is sufficient ground upon which
to denounce him as participating, an toto,
of their sentiments? One moments re.
Election, it appears to me, would be suffi-
Gent to exonerate Mr.. Clay, and likewise
to suggest that ''the party" must be sore
| ly puzzled for serious objections when it
would resort to a subterfuge so ridicu-
lous for the purpose of suilying and i'm
plicating the character of an opponent.
Let us examine for one moment the
tendency of the argument. Mr.. Clay is
IN favor of the establishment of Ma
tional Bank; some of the Abolitionists
are in favor Of the establishment Of a
like institution, consequently, they vote in
conjunction. This proves that Mr.. Clay
is an abolitionist. 1t proves also, that you
and I, and every other bank man, how
ever religiously he may be determined up
on the perpetuation of his favorite institu.
tions, is needless abolitionist. We all
see that the Democratic party is compos-
ed Of an homogeneous comminglement of
Atheists, Deists, Baptists, Methodists anc
Presbyterians-etc. but, does any one
pretend to argue because they are con.
sistent Democrats, that all moral senti,
ment is abrogated, or more plainly would
it be construed that the Democrats were
contemners of God, despisers Of his Re
violation, or even that they were all pre-
destinarians, or the contrary? Every ont
sees that the argument is summary, thu
fact is inadmissible; yet, who does no
observe that Mr.. Clay is charged up
on the strength Of this lnadmisslble argu
ment. have, perhaps, noticed with 10,
much prolixity, the absurdity of the argu
, ment: but it is my object to notice tn
allegations against Mr.. Clay, preparation,
; to an examination of the position of Mr.
; Van Buren,. In future paper | propos
to examine the inference pretended to b.
drawn from the connection of Mr.. Cla,
wish the Colonization Society.
) In conclusion, it may not be irrelevan
to give a specimen Of the facility wit
which a Gouble-deaIing party can accom-
, noi o.e facts to Their purposes. Argue
! if you please, with democrat that Mr.
Clay is no abolitionist he will rejoin tina
New York with her abolition majority i
. decidedly in favor of Mr.. Clay; endeavo
if you please to convince the same man
. that regard for the interests of the coun
. try prompts Mr.. Clay TO propose the sub
iect of National Bank, he replies with
out hesitation that his intention is COZ
rupt-his view is ambitious-he desire
. by locating ii IN Neao York to buy one
: that influential State to his interest.
Yours, &c.
: AMERICANUS,