The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-04-30
MIR. CLAY AND THE PRESIDENCY.


MIR. CLAY AND THE PRESIDENCY.
From very early period ofhs political career,
Mr.. Clay seems to have fixed his eye on the Presi-
Dental chair, as the goal which he desired, and
expected ultimately to attain Some men have
been found sufficiently unpretending and patri
otto as to rest satisfied with the good which
their talents and energies could effect in the sit
uaton TO which they may have been elevated by
the spontaneous choice Of the People, without
raising their aspirations any higher-others
have thought not of the Presidency until the
gradual progression OF promotion and widely
disseminated popularity, have almost placed II
within their grasp-when the expectation of
being elevated to the highest office in the gift
Of the People has been the suggestion of cir,
cumstances, not the creation Of their selfish
ambition. Not so Mr.. Clay. When vet the
years he numbered were barely sufficient to
qualify him for seat in the Senate of the Uni
cion, pretend to the innocence of a novice in
political intrigue, he extended his vision through
the long vista Of party turmoil and revolution
before him, and intently scanned the whole
scene, that he might discover in turn all the
toruosites and difficulties of the path which
led to the coveted prize beyond. To attain it,
every faculty, every energy has been nerved,
every plan and every scheme has been employ
ed-in vain. He has figured among statesmen
in originating and supporting measures deeply
affecting the interests Of the country, whether
for veal or for woe-it was with expectation of
the Presidency He has figured among parti-
sans and intrigued among politicians Sit was with
expectation of the Presidency. He has poured his
fluent strains OF deliberatve eloquence in the Ca
pitol-it was with expectation Of the Presidency.
He speechifed al dinners and on the stump-it
was with expectation of the Presidency. He
has promulgated opinions and condemned them,
he has joined parties and forsaken them, he has
supported friends and abandoned them-it was
all with expectation Of the Presidency. Amid
every change of political opinion in himself
amid every revolution OF party-whether he
was Representative, Senator, Commissioner in
a foreign country-or quilted his popular posi-
ton to become Secretary of State, he never
lOSt Slgnt Vi the one Sftdt opJecl-tHe 1 resi-
dency AS soon as he thought his arrange
ments made, his forces prepared, and the plan
of campaign complete, he entered the field
and he was defeated. Again defeated in open
warfare, he experienced of late the additional
degradation and disappointment of being reject
ed by his own friends. Vexed and harassed by
reiteration of defeat, where stands he now =?
Upheld by his own desperation and the reckless
ness of few desperate friends, he affects the
modesty Of retirement, while he promises indi-
! rectly renewal of the contest. Directly, he
peevshness of frustrated ambition, eve will not
quote an old and familiar adage, he assas per-
sonally, as well as politically, one whose posi-
ton he envies, because he has by long reveries
on his own aspirations persuaded himself that
he should be there himself But where is he
now I? AT every struggle he is shrinking far
Their and farther from the object he wishes
to grasp. Are his hopes of the Presidency
brighter? His most sanguine friends cannot
confidently make the assertion. He has met
the punishment which usually attends con
slant tissue of intrigue. The calculations of
his cunning have deceived him, and he is far
ther frory the Presidency than ever.
| ~ The Madisonan recommends that all office
holders, who are not the creatures of Mr. Ty-
Ter, be dismissed from Office Very well-a pretty
good idea. But where will he find enough to fill the
vacancies; There cannot be found enough, we