The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-02-18
MR. CLAY'S SUPPORT OF THE AID
MINISTRATION

MINISTRATION.
Mr.. Clay declared in the Senate that he and
his friends were disposed to support the admin
i,ration wherever they could. The declaration
/, patriotic and magnanmous. But whenever
The Representatives of the Union assume a
lofty tone Of virtue, our suspicious are aroused
andw cannot forbear from nquring into the mo-
tive which dictated it. and from endeavoring to
discover the object which it is intended to veil.
A man Of his selfshness and ambition does not
seek TO obtain reputation for disinterestedness
and moderation without the view Of gaining
something by it, His object now cannot easily
be Inexperienced. The country in state Of
Suffering, almost unprecedented, is anxious,y
waiting for measures of relief from the action
Of the Government. r. the present session
passes without any thing having been effected
Mr.. Clay prepares for that issue by endeavoring
d create, in advance, the impression that the
cnpability must rest wholly with the Admins
tration, which perversey and obstinately refus-
ed TO unite in opinion with him and his friends.
They merit no censure they were actuated by
no personal or partisan impulses they would
support the Administration as far as their con-
sciences would permit. If the labors Of the
session prove fruitless, and the interests Of the
country are left in the state of prostration to
which they are now reduced, without an efior,
having been made to raise them, the blame mus,
attach to the Administration and the Admins
tration only.
But if happily the result should be different
II, amid all the conflicts of opinion, the co-ordi-
nate branches Of the Government should sue
ceed in devsing measures which will have a
sautary tendency, Mr.. Clay will discover some
plea on which he can claim the Lions share Of
political capital will be obtained towards the
next Presidential election. Defeated again and
again, he is still undaunied-he returns to the
fight with new forces as soon as the old ones
are annihilated. He has already put various en-
gnes in operation towards effecting the one
grand object, and the magnanimous declaration
we have mentioned, we regard as small lever
Ia be worked in combination with instruments
Ut more power.
Unfortunately for himself, however, he can
not deceive any who choose TO regard his
acts as well as his language,-who will
not take his professions on trust, but scrutinize
how far they conform with his practice. His
acts, at the present session, have been few, but
these indicate, if any thing, that instead of be
lag disposed to support the Administration
Whenever he could, he is determined to oppos sc
aud thwart it at every step 1t appears that a
ntommendation by the Executive is sufficient
i1otve with him for opposition. Take, for ex.
'nplc, the nomination of Major Barker to the
ice Of First Comptroller to supply the va
clrcy occasioned by the appointment of Mr.
Forward 10 the head Of the Treasury Depart
nent. In this case there could be no reasons
lggested by any views connected with the in
rests of the nation TO induce the opposition
was the simple nomination of gentleman
whose fitness, we believe, is indisputable. Nc
INJURY could have been done to the country by