The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-10-28


In view of the venomous assaults daily made upon
the political principles and qualities of the great
Western Statesman, it is most gratifying to his
friends find him disdaining to withhold due credit
even from that Administration by which those
saults have been too much countenanced and encou-
ragged In this conduct on the part of the distin-
guished Kentuckian, illustrated by the following
incident, we have an example worthy OF all praise
and honor.
In his late speech at Indianapolis Mr.. Clay aud-
ed to the settlement of the Northeastern Boundary
Question: and said:
General Jackson's Administration made various
efforts to settle the long-exisng difficulties with that
Power, but failed in every The King OF Hol
land was selected umpire but his award was
promptly rejected by the then existing Administra-
ton and the delicate matters involved were left in
condition which threatened to disturb the peace of
the two countries. The Wings, since they came in
to power, have am proud to say, honorably achiev
ed settlement of the questions at issue. ! take
great pleasure in awarding to the Prcsdent-who de-
serves so little commentator n other respecs-and
to the Secretary of State all the credit due them for
this negotiation"
The above is from the National Intelli-
gencer.
We like fair and open foe We respect a
bold and fearless antagonist, who denounces
loudly, and seems to feel strongly. There is
an honesty, and sincerity, and manliness in
such conduct, which commends itself to u.s.
We know that the man means what he says,
though he may be mistaken, and one knows
where TO have him.
But such people as the experienced heads"
of the National lntelligencer, one knows not
where to have. They are ''neither fish, nor
flesh, nor good red herring
They wish to appear candid, while they are
insidious-mld. while they most envenom-
ed-friendly, while they hate like jealous
women.
They can
damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer,
| And without sneerng, teach the rest to sheer;
| Willing to wound, and yet afraid to strike,
Just hint a fault, and hesitate dislike;
Alike reserved to blame, or to commend,
A timrous foe and suspicious friend"
The article which we have above quoted is
| a perfect epitome Of the National IntelIigencer.
They have never seen any attacks on the
Administration by Mr.. Clay or his friends -
Not they.
Mild, gentle, generous Mr.. Clay, never at
tacks any one; or, at least, they have never
|
made" by him on the Administration, and by
his friends on all connected with it--assaults
more venomous, more vile, and more inter
nal, period can furnish forth. Sian
| ders, lies, calumnies, accusations, all which,
these experienced heads" knew to be most
| foul and false, they had not one word of re-
proof against. Oh, no. They could look on in
silence and see men whom they knew to be
honest and patriotic, men whom they protested
to regard-friends of long standing too, all re-
ceiving together a torrent of the vest abuse
from Mr.. Clay and his friends. But the mo-
ment any thing like retaliation is commenced,
then, they hear with all their ears, and half in
sinuate themselves between the object of Just
anger and scorn, and those who will, if they
have not already done it, bestow upon that OBJ
ject his deserts.
The Editors of the Inteligencer wish to con
trast Mr. Clay's n,agnanimity with the inus
tice of those connected with the Administration
and they give u, the above extract from his
speech to show this contrast Let us look at it
In the first place, he gives the honor of max
ing the tr atty to the Wig party. Very just
this, and highly magnanimous
Then he glves-what?-Prais to the Admins
{ alton 'ltake great pleasure in awarding &c
the President, who deserves so little common
darion in other respects, and to the Secretary o.
State, all the credit due them for this negotia
ton" Generous man TO give the Admins
tration ''all the credit due it," The Admins
tration is much indebted. He disdains 10 with
hold "due credit" Credit and renown t
the Administration, or any of Its members, it il
not with Mr.. Clay to give or to withhold. Hi
favor or his frown is alike impotent He is nc
conqueror, whose smiles any one need court, o.
whose anger any one need fear. He is no Die