The Madisonian., 1840-02-15
VIM. II. HARRISON.
From he Richmond Wing
TO HENRY CLAY, Esq -Lenn XIL

Sir--Mhen more than twelve months ago took
the liberty 10 prefix your name 10 some writings. ln-
tended not less for the public eye than your own mghi
have seemed, 10 those who knew me mol, 10 manifest
an Interested esgeness offer incense ai Ihe shrine OF
rising greatness BY you, air dad not fear 10 be %
misunderstood for you could not ia 10 perceive ihat
though my language courteous, and sometimes
complimentary, yel my atode and tone were no. those
Of a hsiierer.
There were others who censured what seemed 10
them The presumption and arrogance of psmeiess
wIter who undertook read you lectures on The very
subject which had been the Study and business oil your
life OF this too, was sure you would scq1n me -
The charges indeed answered aud refaled each other
No could be guilty Of e'her. to whom any Que 10
his senses could mpute the other
Al present. / have not the double security
against misspprebension. The expectations OF your
advancement 10 the PfesidoDcy uuder which ! then
wrote, has proved delusye Though not driven from
the stage ef public fife like Judge Whte' and Mr..
Leigh, with much OF disgrace u is m he pcloer
of The riie 10 ifct you quietly laid the shell by
yourown party. Al this moment, no one could expect
10 approach you with the iow views OF the syco.
pkant On the contrary, singe word Of eensure. The
gen,lest language Of friendly reprooi would
kind and uninsny ynot, indeed, TO you, for you feel
that your dismissal Is most glorious victory, at ouce
yourself and your enemies bu, to those who
greatness where there Is power 10 reward seTyi
~, time could seem opporune for recalling psst
differences, and for wreakng npop you the boarded
malice Of years spent 10 iruess opposition 10 your
brilliant and snccessisl Ihe feelings Of that
time forgotten and al tbs hour the very PRIDE
Of seifJustifcation affords pleasure IN recalling
the OF The many harsh things then said. Bot
even then, sir impossible 10 blame without prals-
ing. and there is why should withhold
any of applause which the sympathy Of com-
mon suffering IN common cause may prompt me to
bestow.
But have not taken up my pen TO praise you !
again address yoD because there other TO whom
fka.a ha EuNA
been al any time regarded hopeful sspmants the
highest office the gill Of the people, there
naming In he councils oi the nation TO whom can go
properly look the leader Of that small remnant Of
prosecuted though triumphant church, which,
heartily and 10 good faith. believes, sffrps and main
tans The soreragny Of he States Of tis Conftderacy
! am aware that The party ~ power pro-
fesses 10 be, par ercelleace, the State Rights party
But at the head Of it. see the author Of the Pgoclama
ton and Force Bl-and know that, dow to the very
scuions Of the faction, there nothing odlous
any tangible aud practical idea Of State Sovereignty.
ain aware, too that Mr.. Calhoun. the Conph9us Of
Modification, who claims 10 be Tie High Priest Of Slate
Rights, proesses to have received The recsnta,Ion OF
Mr. Van Burens errors, and 10 have bsptised him INTO
the faith, while other dlgnitsres Of the church
sisted al the ceremony his god fathers, and pledged
their soneaty chisahy such thing, tIt mat
tiers not which, for the sincerity OF his repentance and
conversion Mr. Calhoun must forgive me for not &C.
ccpng Mr. Van Buren al bis hands true OF the
church. He should remember that be 10 himself new
convert, admitted under circumstances very isyoa-
BILE belief VI the dslnteTe sickness and sincerity OF
hls convictions IL was but the other day be acknow-
ledged that he had reached the highest elevation 10
which he has everyet attained before be became sensI
bs Of his own il only IN The dgni.ed lei
OF the Vice Presidency that he allowed himself so
much time from the pursuits OF ambition 10 study the
character Of the Government he had been long
administering un then, ne had been groping 10 dark
Then suddenly light broke IN npon his
mnd and he then discovered, for the FIRST time, that
this Uniou made up OF Sovereign States, and was
not great consolidated empire, he had been all
along considering ard treatngt One would have
thought that this discovery Of error he consequences
o which bad been so fatal, would have overwhelmed
Mr.. Calhoun wnh abaslng sense OF his own lnsut-
Cheney Not So With him, repentance and contriilon
are The mos, dehghiiu feelings the world and he
so happy when be fods out thai he has done
something very wrong At this moment, understand,
The convction that for nearly ten years. he had perse
cuted that worthy gentleman, Mr. Van Buren. with the
most unusiisbe rancor has filed his soul with Joy
speaksbe, and culs his lip IN perpetual smile This
fortunate constitution OF mind IN this world Of snnres
and temptations The stings Of conscience afford only
pleasant Utilization 10 such man, and he sleeps sounder
for having his pillow stuffed with ,horns What happy
desthbed HE has prepared for himself, If he but
carry this temper with bim to The grave
Ii seems, indeed by his own account, that Mr. CAL
houn aud his fTiends those hard, unconstitutional
times, when he and they contrivng Banks aud
Tariffs and Internal Improvements, and other such
abomnaons, (asin my poor judgmen, they really were)
were drunk with power. He was. tha, time, con-
slant vsier at the White House. and there il that
he took his draughts Of that Intoxicating beye-
rsge that turned hls BRAIN So at least 1t seems-or
soon as Gen Jackson shut the door his face, aud he
found himself put upon such short commons and thin
poatlons the sharers OF the spols leave the
rty, then il that his sober thoughts him
Well, SIR. seems he has again found bis way back
TO that same Circean stye, where men turned TO
beasts and where beasts admitted to the prerogaye
oi men, trained 10 walk erect. and encouraged
grasp with both their filthy pa,cs, the hands Of gentle
men. Mr.. Calhoun is again IN his cups and. what.
regard he due the maxim IN rino peritas" he
has sdmonished US, that does not apply 10 him. aud
that we must not mind what he saws, when he drunk
Pity that such oracle OF political wisdom should be
thus losi TO US, when wanted most Bot
too severely blame him These things do alice, all
men alike, and there whom the exciting
draught renders supreney happy, that is hard
ccnsure them. Poor Burns was one OF this sort and
when we hear him, IN the gce Of his heart sing out
"Lccze me on thee, John Bsrleyeorn," who but feels
tempted TO JOIN the chorus We almost envy the
madnan, who mistakes bis truckle bed Tor throne Of
state, and his wisp OF for golden II the
beggsrs rags appear 10 him royal robe, who, but the
President Of Temperance Society, would have him
sobeed to sense OF cold, aud hunger and nakedness,
The name Of this gentleman demands passing
notice. II there be truth IN the sdage, Memo fciT
ante morien, then is he to be envIed than any
man earth His political life Than hall his
existence add he has rendered II UP, and rendered up
his account Of hs deeds, and received while he yet
lives that Judgment which his enemies concur,
and which, therefore, posteri,y must raiiiy Hevcs 10
read his eptsph sn1 its language is that OF praise
lie lives hear the voice of smentaton at his unme
ly fate rising from all the land. lie hears himself
moprhcd a father by his children. He walks among
Us, though his dIsembodled spirit had returned to
earth; and aside with awe, and look upon him,
thing not Of this world Men gaze upon him. as
he passes, and the question which he r. is asked.
because be is distributor OF honors and cmolumens
hni hecansc be has secnrcd 10 hnsell an hnnnr hrh