The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-11-14
TROUBLE AMONG THE WINGS.

The comments on the following extrac, from
Mr.. Clay's speech, which we copy below are
taken from the Bardstown Gazette, a Wing
paper located in the neighborhood Of Ashland
We are decidedly of the opinion that ultraism
is umbIing TO pieces. The Wicklifies, and
Marshalls, and Popes, will certainly check
mate Mr.. Clay in Kentucky.
From the Bardsio,rn (Ky) Gazette
Here, said MIR. c. let me correct mistake which
seems to be abroad in quarters, resembling an old
story of many years standing. When voted for Mr.
Adams it was said that violated Instructions Not so
When Igave that votel represented the Lexington dis
trct, and it is well known fact that at no period
since that vote cast has the Lexington district re
versed it, in any manner. The counties which COM
pose il never gave majority for General Jackson
The Legislature had no power over members of Con-
gress Both are equally the servants of the people
elected by the people, and subject alone to their cor
recton. | was sustained by the people who elected
me- and TO them | dare appeal for my Justification
In regard TO the bankrupt bill, never instructed
The House passed the resolutions to that effect they
were sent to the Senate, amended, returned TO The
House, the amendment not concurred in, and the
matter fell between the two branches of the Legisa-
ture.--.Nr. Clay's Indianar oils speech.
We cannot understand this in any other way than
recognition of the accused doctrine of instruc-
ton, the most pernicious and dangerous fallacy of
the Jetersonian school of politics. There is curl-
Gus specimen of special pleading in this paragrapb
utterly unworthy of MIR. Clays high standing and
character. He says that when he voted for Mr. Ad-
ans he acted in accordance with the will of a maio-
rity Of his constituents in the Lexington district
Why, what on earth has the Lexington district to do
with the matter, even on Mr. Clay's principle of
obeying implicitly the will of the majority The con-
stuton provides that when the choice of President
devolves on the House. each State shall have but one
vote, and Mr. Clay, when he voted for Mr. Adams
acted for the State and not for his own district and
it is well known that Jackson had much larger vote
in Kentucky than Adams We have ever regarded
his vote on that occasion Of the nobes acts of
his public life and always thought that he placed it
upon the high ground of acting from his own indie
pendent convictions of public duty He says that
General Harrison was elected to do the will of the
people, by which he means of course the will of the
party majority who elected him, for nowadays peo-
pie is synonymous with the party which in the ever
lasting fluctuations of popular opinion happens to be
uppermost for the time being We will enter our
protest against all such destructive doctrines let them
from rhat source they may. No public Off
Ger ought to be elected to do the mere arbitrary will
of any body of men however numerous but to do his
duty according to his own honest convictions guided
of course by the lights which may be derived from
the judicial tribunals and the labors and writings of
the ii ustrious men who have gone before us whose
fame and influence have survived the rayages of
time
We have heretofore regarded Mr. CLAW as
eminently conservative, and we are sorry 10
find that we have been mistaken We cannot
but express our regret that any man of such high
standing and influence will stoop to nalter the vulgar
and short-sighted prejudices of the day, and give
countenance to doctrines which we regard as abso-
lutely subyersiye of all good government
The modern system Of pledges and instructions de-
sroys responsibility in public agents for rcspon-
sibiity necessarily implies discretion. But we have
no room for further remarks and will take occasion
in our next number to explain fully our views
upon these matters.