The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-08-14
Communications.
AMOS KENDALL.
/" The Hon. HENRY MEIos.
/" April A, 1922
FOR THE MADIsoNIAN.

FOR THE MApsoNIAN.
| AMOS KENDALL.
The Administration presses, from the beginning TO
the end of the land, pretend to think Amos most
prosecuted and slandcred politician and boldly
that nothing specific has been alleged against his fair
fame while, with blindness which resolves not to
Sec they oil avoid stumbling defence of the
many accusations which have been directed against
him. That he is exceedingly willy and cunning, those
opposed to him must think, admit and that he is as
unprinciped an agitator as he is managing politician
can, think, be shown.
have wondered, considering the sudden manner Of
his emergence before the American People, that more
attention has not been bestowed upon his early charac
ter and doings, by the press. i always understood
that he migrated from New Hampshire to Kentucky
when young, poor and friendess and (ike other ad-
yenturers appealed to those of known hospitality his
wants were soon known and relieved by that distin-
| guished American, Henry Clay. He employed him
as private tutor and finding him to possess some of
those capabilities now generally accorded to him, Mr.
Clay patronizcd him, and assisted him in the procure
ment Of press That press, and its tone, character
morals and political consistency, fix and deter
mine the principles of its editor 1t may be pertinent
remark that press located Frankfort the
of Government for the State of Kentucky, and that
Mr.. Kendall its editor stranger in the land, with
opposition known and of favorable character,
was nevertheless elected public printer Can
any fail to in this, the support of Mr. Clay )
friends, who doubtless invoked through his sup
port Of Mr. Clay in part and, perhaps, partly through
Mr. Clays friendly interposition. This gave him
place, scope and means. How did he use them Let
the Legislative History Of that state show The war
ending in 1915, from its peris, trials hardships and
catastrophies, had rendered the public appetite high
toned and excitable Mr. Kendall availing himself
of this, gave his paper that caste. Gov. Madison's
death soon after his election in the fall of the year
1916, and the consequent constitutional accession of
Lieut.. Governor Gabriel Slaughter to the Executive
Chair Of the State, furnished him scope Gov Slaugh-
ter appointed John Pope recently Governor of Ar
kansas Territory by appointment of Gen Jackson)-
Secretary Of State MIR Pope was at the time politi-
caly obnoxious in Kentucky, and Mr. Kendall sez-
ing this circumstance, welded it to render the admit
nstraton of Gov. Slaughter unpopular; finding him
self succeed fully well he dared hope it was
cessary to give his attack effect TO propose remedy
for the evil This he did in the face and teeth of the
Constitution of the State, by proposing election
Of Governor while it is too plain to admit of doubt
that by that Constitution Lieut.. Governor Slaughter
was in for the residue of the unexpred term for which
Governor Madison had been elected. Here, Mr..
Kendall undoubtedly ieaped the constitutional barrier
and principle rM I'M for party purposes and for
capediency. But the Legislature did not pass law
u authorize that election and time transpirng,
rendered unnecessary further TO agitate the ques-
ton The party, like fire without fuel was then in
danger of extngushment for want of its proper ali
men md anda ~.
on the whirlwnd must live in storms, conceived an
other hobby.
The People of Kentucky, who during the interval
between the expiration of the old United States Bank
charter and the incorporation of the new one-(be-
cause of the unsoundncss and instability of the cur
rency, altogether local bank er)-had learned
habits of extravaganza, and greatly embarrassed
with debts when the Bank of the United State
essayed to effect general return to specie payments
Mr. Kendall adroity cspoused the debtor interests
He did not then receive salary of SIG 900 per annuml
Sufficiently magnfed the Indebtedness of the People
whettcd their apprehensons of total ruin, and pro-
posed measure OF relief: that measure was the Com
monwcalths Bank of Kentucky!! That institu-
ton was authorized and did actually issue to be loan
cd to debtors S3 600 in notes with not dollar in
available funds with which to redeem them The
faith OF Kentucky was pledged for their ultimate
demption, and upon that faith they issued in
direct violation of the 10th sec, art. Constitution Of
the United States, which provides among other things
-" No State shall emit bills of credit" The Con-
stituton Of the u s. leas, in this matter, obviously
rioidted, and principle orer-icaped-bm IL ,ras err
pedient To give stronger sanction to this uncon-
stutona proceeding it provided by law, that all
in IL nft hair
claims on the Treasury in those notes that all
and public dues should be received in those notes
and that if any citizen held Judgment in any of the
Courts in the State, and would not endorse on his
execution agreement take the notes Of the Com
monwcalth Bank, replevn for twelve months should
be extended to the defendant in ex, which again. by
subsequent legislation, was extended from year to
year, as TO harrass creditors in numberless insan-
ccs into compliance by taking those deprecated
notes, because they ruinousy delayed in collect
ing the constitutional currency of gold or silver
Noic all these statutory provisions ,eere mani esiiy
unconstitutional and unjust but Mr.. Kendall and
ms party regarded them erpedient and projected
and enforced them. Mr.. Clay known to oppose
all those doctrines unconstitutional; but as he was
engaged in National and not in State politics his OPT
Mons not interfercd with and he still receive,
the support Of Kendall and many Of his party II
time however, the patience Of the people began 10 b.
exhausted and these questions were presented bcfor
the judges for decision and of course were sen, NJ
to the court of appeals, important questions fire.
qucnty That court decided some of these law
unconstitutional awakened the apprebensions o
Mr.. Kendall and his party for them all.-Thc cour
was then attacked through the Western Argus (Mr
KS, ness,) most violently and viruently, 50 as Z