The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-04-06
MIR. CLAY'S DECLARATION OF WAR
AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATION.

MN tbhi - DECLAhAI lON OF w AN
AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATION.
On retiring from the Senate, Mr. Clay has
issued his declaration of war against the Presi-
dent and the Administration We are glad it
has come.
The Manifesto takes The shape of letter to
certain Wings IN North Carolina. This mode
of commencing hostiities is a matter which has
been arranged of course between the head of
the belligerant party, and the late retiring Secre
tary Of the Navy, with the aid, perhaps, of
friend or TWO from the same State in Congress.
We confess, with all sincerity and truth, that
we see this letter with pleasure. Knowing for
acertalnty that the President, and every person in
any way connected with his Administration,
and every member of Congress, evncng an
inclination TO give il decent and reason
able support had become already an object of
Mr.. Clay's lmplacable hate, we have desired no
thing more than to see the time when we might
pronounce this truth, without appearing to pro-
woke that hostility, of the real and actual exis
lence OF which we were well assured and of
which we have now manifest proofs. Mr.. Clay
now goes into opposition openly, avowedly,
with talents which no one denies, with feelings Of
personal ambition exasperated to the keenest de-
gree by many, and especially by recent disap-
polnments, and with objects resembling the
heights of the Andes or the Hmilaya noun
tans, clear and distinctly to the sight but utterly
and forever unatanabe.
BY all his talk Of retirement, and the solace
OF privacy, and the repose which age may re-
qulre from care and toll, Mr. Clay means no
more, than that he now resolves to transfer his
personal abors from one field to another and
leaving the duties of Member of Congress,
nowfull OF the most perplexing embarrassment
for man in his condition, in other hands, whose
conduct he may control, while he yet shall not
parake in their sponsibilites, he will carry on
the war, not only by means of letters, answers
TO invitations, dinner speeches &C., &C., &c,
but by completing as soon as possible, and to
the fullest extent possible, such efficient com
blnatlons among parsans, as shall be es-
teemed most likely to advance his own purposes,
by thwartng the Administration Of the Govern
ment, bringing il into disrepute, and keeping the
country in its present state Of distress, hiding,
meantime, the hand that's chiefly powerful in
this production of mischief
We shall soon see Developments not unlm-
portant, We shall see what portion of the Peo-
pie Of this country will be content to make no
efiectual efforts for its relief from its present en-
barassment and distress, preferring rather to
endure every possible public evil for three years
longer, if thereby any chance may be afforded Of
the qualification of Mr.. Clay's ambition.
In one most important aspect, Mr. Clays
Manifesto cannot but prove of the greatest ad-
vantage to the Administration 1t shows who
is the chief and biterest enemy of that Admin
lstration, and who is 10 lead the forces which
are to make war upon il. Ii places Mr.. Clay,
and his election to the Presidency in direct
full-faced opposition to all decent support of the
measures OF the Administration II clears the
course OF a thousand collateral questions, and
brings one broad issue, and one only before the
people; and that is, whether the country shall
be rehered, by giving fair support to the mea
sures recommended by the Administration, or
ruined, for the purpose of making Mr.. Clay
President three years hence
This issue we are prepared 10 try.