Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-07-19

"a ai hoHitotC mum s"S
a manner, which indicates, that they, too, dislike to
trust this question again to the decision OF their own
party, and that they mean to force MI. Clay upon that
party, at all hazards, even in disregard OF their hitherto
sacred maxim, of San available candidate. Well, he
it SO! We shall, at least, get rid, in this instance, OF
the Juggling process of selecting a candidate, by log
rolling, for the Presidential office. Rather than sane.
ton the practice of assembling the partzans OF dliter-
ent individuals, to determine, by bargain ana intrigue,
which one of them shall be the candidate, we should
greatly prefer, that two or three OF those partlzans
should meet at once, and decide the question, even by
drawing struws. Our opponents. or q good many OF
them, at least, seem TO have become SICK OF the Tor.
mer professor are, in the present instance, AFRAID oil
tit matters not which-and we presume we shall now
hear nothing more about "availaDle candidates The
motto, no less sacred, Of "The Union OF the Wings, for
the sake of the Union, is als'1 we suppose, 10 be ou'
ried in oblivion-and Mr.. Clay is 10 be the candidate,
available or not, and whether party union or distrac.
ton be the result. The esiless %partizans OF this am.
bilious man will submit no longer to control or delay,
and seem 10 have resolved, NEEDLESS ofthe voice OF rea-
son, or of the dictates Of prudence, TO make one more
desperate effort for his SUCCESS. But II Is not our pre-
sent purpose 10 canvass the conduct OF cur opponents
in this matter, nor does it become us TO suggest their
policy in regard 10 it. Tn only exception we mean to
take to their course is, u lat they should. al TINS early
period, agitate the coup try with this question OF the
Presidential Election, ;IIready admitted by all to be so
engrossing, as, under s.ny circumstances, TO influence
the consideration OF ey cry other Po!sticai question, ana
during the canvass, tt. override and control all others.
" Hi nv cchiCs Piit Vi putti@oh ~" az ss
for the calm consider alton ofihe great public interests:
or do they expect TO harrass the people INTO the election
OF Henry Clay, as t he only terms on when they shaii,
while he lives, Ell Joy an interval from e!ectioneerIng
for the just admin slration Of their Government We
know these inquI res will be addressed IN VAIN 10 blind
ed zeal and ma ambition. The question IS forced
upon US, and ma usi be considered. MIR. Clay is the
candidate, if we mistake him not, personally, in the
field. 1t is with him, therefore, that we propose to deal,
at present.
Not conten',, it would seem, 10 trust the canvass,
thus early an'l improperly pressed upon the people, to
the sole mar ,agement of his frieEds, MIR. Clay has
awaited Hmm elf of an opportunity, Afforded by q large
gathering o { his old constituents, osteHs!bly designed
10 welcome him home, 10 address to the meeting, and
publish 10 the people of the United States, q speech,
the most { Extraordinary in our view, that ever vas de-
livered. If it was designed merely to acknowledge
the cong fatulaions, and reel procate the kind feelings
Of his OF j constituents and ~neighbors, it is certainly
most m serably adapted to its object. fiji was hot de.
signed us an electioneering address TO the people of the
Union then it bellies every inference to be drawn from
lis ma nner and character, and is wholly Iunaccountable
and ! ininteligible. II may be thought by some, that
MIR. Clay, in the course OF it, attempts to disclaim any
such design, and seems even TO condemn the too hasty
acti on of his partizans on this subject. If this be so,
the disclaimer is an Intellectual ettort-the condemna-
ito n al! mere seeming. Here is what he says about II,
AZ ID we copy his words, that we may not be suspected
O /: doing him, at least, intentional injustice
81 have prompted none Of those movements among
| the people Of which we have seen accounts. AS far AZ
' ] am cOnCcrUeu, tHey III ulioSelSl SPohboheooe, ao
not only without concert with me, but most generally
without any sort Of previous knowledg e on my part
That | am thankful and gratefui-profoundly grateful
for those manifestations ofconfdence and attachment,
will not conceal nor deny. But ! have been' ana
mean TO remain a passive, if not indife rent spectator.
have reached q time of life, and seen enough of high
official stations, to enable me justly 40 appreciate their
value, their cares, their responsibilities, and their cease,
less duties. That estimate Of their worth, in q personal
point of view, would restrain me from seeking 10 NIL
-, ona tho hiphest of them. in a scramble OF doubtful
> issue with political opponents, much less with political
friends. That | should feel greatly honored BY a call
from a majority Of the people Of this country TO the
highest Office within their gift, shall not deny; nor,
# INV health were preserved, might ] feel myself at
! liberty TO decline a summons 50 authoritative and COM
handing. But, declare, most so!emnly, that ! nave
not, up to this moment, determined whether ! wili con-
sent 10 the use Of my EaHe or not, as q candidate LOT
the Chief Magistracy. That's a grave question, which
should be decided by all ettainaUle lights, which, !
, think, is not necessary yet to he decided, and a decision
Of which / reserve 10 myself, as far asi can reserve H.
until the period arrives when it ought 10 be coiiec.-
That period has not, as | think, yet arrived. When II
does, an impartial survey of the whole ground shoaid
7 be taken, the state of public opinion properly consider
, ed, and ones personal condition, phyr'eoi end 'ntehec-
r tual, duly examined and weighed. In thus announcing
a course of conduct for myself, it is hardly necessary
$ TO remark, that it is no part of my purpose TO condemn,
T or express any opinion whatever upon those popular
movements which have been made, or may be con'eni,
plated, in respect TO the next election OF a President OF
the U. States.
vet determined whether he oW consent 10 The use OF
: his name or not, as Il candidate Tor the CiIief Magistra'
i CIV: vet he has Just expressed the opinion, or at least
intimated it rcry strongly, that he would not ieei nm
self nj libe rty to decline q summons from q majority OF
the Pcoule TO fill The Office. Now It 10 obvious, That u
he should refuse the use of his name by the People as
E n candidate ecen for the office, he could not receive a
| summons TO fill il: unless he imagines that the reople
, may force the offer of it upon him, will he or Mill he;
T and if he reserves the right OF deciding in the last re-
2 sort whether he will be a candidate or not, II is very
u nearly, If not quite, %tantamount 10 the liberty oil de-
I, clining the ofice-yet he thinks he has not the liberty
i To decline. while he reserves the right TO decide. IL ~
still more difficult to conceive, how he is to remain a
n passire, if not an Indifferent spectator OF tins election
eering scene, if at some time during it he means to de-
eide the grave question whether he will be a candidate
at all or not, and that too upon q survey oil the whoie
i, ground and a consideration Of the state OF public OPT
!, Hnion and of his own condition, physical and intellectual.
( He does not think the time has yet arrived for HIM TO
e decide this grave question and he Goes not mean 10
eynress any opinion whatever about the popular move
menls in regard to it. Then, why noc, on this oeea-
, s;on. saw one word about il; Was it only TO declare
: tina, he does not think the office worth n scramble oil
doubtful issue with political opponents, m"eA less WIN
i, political friends? And why make this declaration
:, we confess we are at some loss 10 understand all this
;. klr. CLAY had Just said that he approached this subject
!, with all The delicacy that belongs to it-and certainly
he has approached il in such a questionable shape that
IL is difficult TO make out the exact character IN WHICH
he comes; and he touches it so delicately, as 10 render
il etiIl more difficult TO define the outline OF his draw.
!. ing, or to distinguish the colors he gives to 1t. IT a.
# appears 60 Us 10 amount 10 this-he has not yet ecler
mined 10 be or not 10 be q candidate-he reserves the
. right to determine that hereafter-he will not be a can,
:, didate in a scramble of doubtful issue with politica
: friends; so that his partizans must save him from tina
predcament-Nor will he run, if he is not sound in
r. mind and body, and that he will see to. lie expresses
no opinion, and certainly does not condemn the popular
movements on the subject-they are all right, and are
perhaps the bes, means Of avoiding the scramble which
he breads, by si!encing the competing claims OF his po'
NJ liticul friends by what shall sound like pop.nis, ciamor
And this seems TO be exactly the policy Of Mr.. Clay
partizans. Whether he has dictated thsl policy or not
: he appears to concur in it; and his object probably was
e 10 intimate. that concurrence. But whatever he means
why express that meaning then and there' Why np
uroach the subject at all: Could not all these efforts
to be extremely delicate and excessively modest have
!. heen avoided by lust being silent about il? Would mo-