The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-06-23
CLAY CLUBS.

CLAY CLUBS.
The farce of getting up "Clay Clubs" we
perceive, is still the order of the day in varlou
quarters of the country. "We Will not be again
cheated !o excam the interested partisans who
are active in getting up these associations ana
to guard against the dangers that might arse 10
their favorite from the spontaneous action OF tne
People, through Convention called and consul
tuted in accordance with the feelings and WISH
es of the great mass of the voters, select corps
minute men"-aIe to be formed, wherever a
''Corporaps guard" thus willing to work for the
benefit of the leaders, can be found, to act, at
moments warning, in furlherance of the laud-
able purpose of forestalling public opinion, and
by active concert of action, to pack all primary
conventions likely to have anything to do with
the nomination of Presidential candidate, for
whom the support of the great Wing party may
be asked. 1t is by cohorts such as these-men
banded together, and acting by word OF com
mand-that THE PEOPLE are to be "headed" and
prevented from again 'cheatng" their man, by
preferring another before him
But what laughable commentary, is this
forming of partisan clubs and cliques, upon the
boasful assertion of the interested few, that the
People, to a man almost, have their eyes turned
upon 'sHarry of the West" as the only person
fit to bear rule in the land, and are painting for
an opportunity to give substantial evidence,
through the ballot-box, of the intensity of their
love and confidence If such be the case, why
the necessity of these clubs, to keep alive the
admiration of the People? TO ever and anon ga
Their their love, as it were, into the Clay cruel
Bile, and give it an extra-heating, lest it should,
unfortunately, be again too cold and inanimate
Why the necessity of having, at every four cor
ners, knot of sentnes to watch the movements
of the political waters, and take due care that
the poor simple People, who are all of one way
of thnking-who see but one object darkening
the political horizon, are not again 'cheated''
By themselves out of the man of their choice
The veil is too fimsy to cover the deception
| The fraud is too gross to be hid by such scan
ty covering of chaff! The cheat is to be played
off upon the eople, and not upon the man. The
primary meetings of the voters are to be packed
public opinion is 10 be fore-stalled-the wishes
and hopes of the great mass of the People arr
to be checkmated, if such thing be possible
by organised corps of partisan prize-fghters.-
| And when the game is played out-when TIT
trick is consum nated-when the fraud is per
| fected-lo! the People are to be told that suct
| is their spontaneous action And an effort will
be made to cajole them into a confirmation O
the pretty piece of management thus cunnlngly
devised
But who so blind as to be caught il trap Sc
stupidity set and bated? The project goes
slipshod from the beg inning. If evidence OF
this is needed, glance at the various notices
calling these meetings, will afford it. In dis
tricts numbering hundreds Of voters, but score
or two of names are appended to these notices
and of these, who can tell how many are real
or how many fictitious how II any are placed
there voluntarily, or how many by threats OF
artful persuasion2 And, In most in ances
the ma es to the call far outnumber the person:
in attendance at the formation of the "Cubs.
But the object is accomplished. A grand flour
ish is sounded A "Clay Club" has been form
ed And ''the faithful" in all directions, take
up and prolong the shout
Well ''and what of it?" A partisan clut
has been established-but are the People con
ynced? Sob its all farce