Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-07-06

~ We coulu look through a WINDOW into inc mum
| breast, and there discover the causes which led
changes Of opinion, they might be made wthou
hazard. But as tits impossible TO penetrate the hu
man heart, and disiinsuish between the sinister an
honest motives which prompt it, any public man tina
changes his opinion, once deliberately formed an
promu' gated, under other circumstances than thos
which have stated. draws around him distrus', i'm
pairs the public confidence, and lessons his espacii!
| TO serve his country.
will take this occasion now 10 say, that l an
and have long been satisfied that II would have beef
wiser and more polite in me TO have declined &c
ccp,ing tho Office OF Secretary OF State in 1928 NO
that my motives were not as pure and as patIoNc !"
ever carried any man into pubic oihee Not tina
the calumny which was applied TO the tact was no
gross and as unfounded as any that was ever pro
! p,g ted. Here somebody cried out that MIR Car
ter Beverly, who had been made the organ Of an
nouncing it, had recently borne testimony TO ~
being unfounded. MIR Clay said it was true that hi
had voluntarily borne such testimony. But, with
great esrnestness and emphasis, MIR Clay said,
want no tcs,imony--here, here, HERE, repeatedly
touching his heart, amidst Tremendous cheers, here
is the best ofall witnesses of my innocence No,
that valued friends and highly esteemed opponents,
did not unite in urging my acceptance Of the office.
Not that the administration of MIR Adams will not,
sincerely believe, acvan,ageouSiy compare with
that oil any OF his predecessors, IN economy. purity
prudence and wisdom. Not that MIR Adams was
himself wanting IN any Of those high Qualifications
and upright and patriotic intentions which were
suited to the office. or that extraordinary man, vi
and varied attalnments, whatever diversity OF
opinion may exist Us TO his recent course in the
House of Representatives, land candor obi ses me
to say that things in 1t whieh deeply
regret,) Il is with no less truth Than pleasure dc
clare that, during the whole period Of his admins
uation, annoyed, asSalej and assaulted as II was,
no man could have shown a more devoted attach
ment to the Union and oil its great interests; a
ardent desire faithfully TO discharge his whole
duty, brought to his aid more useful experience
and know edge than he did. never transacted bu,
snoss with any man, IN my life. with more case 81
tsiaction, and advantage than | did with thet most
aolc and ndefatisable gentleman, as President Of
the United States. And | will add that more hor
mony never prevailed IN any Cabinet Il an in his.
But my error IN accepting the Office, arose out Of
my undertaking the power Of deuaclion, and the
force OF ignorance, and abiding, with too
hdence IN the conscious integrity and uprghtness Of
my own motives. or that ignorance, had n re-
marka BILE ond laughOble example an occasion
which will relate was travelling in ls2s. through
believe It was, Spot:sylysnia county, in Virgins,
on my return 10 Washington, in company with some
young friends. Wehalied ut night at tavern kept
by an nged gentleman, who quickly perceived.
from the disorder and confusion which reisned, had
not the happiness 10 have wife. After hur-
RED and bad supper, the old gentleman sat down
by me, and without hearing my name, bu, under.
standing that i was from Kentucky, remarked that
he had four sons in that State, and that he was We
~ sorry they were divided in politics, two being
for Adams and two for Jackson; he wished thew were
all for Jackson. Why asked him. Because, he
said, that fellow Clay and Adams had cheated Jack
son out OF the Pres iency. Have YOU ever seen
any evidence my old friend, said I, ofiha1 No he
replied, none, and he wanted none. But
observed, looking him directly and steadily in the
face, suppose MIR Clay were 10 come here and ns-
sure you. upon his honor that is was a vile cllum.
ny, and not word oftrulh in IL, would you believe
himl No. replied the old gentleman promptly and
emphaicaIly. said 10 him, IN conclusion, will you
te good enough 10 show me TO bed and bid him
good night. The next morning, having in the in
tetval learnt my name, he came TO me full Of apo
loges, but at once put him at his ease by assuring
him that did not feel in The slightest degree hurt
or offended with him.
MIR President, have been accused OF ambition.
often accused OF ambition. believe, however, that
my accusers will be generally found 10 be poltica
opponents or the friends of aspiranis in whose way
was supposed 10 stand, and IL was thought there
fore, necessary to shove NE aside. defy my enc
mics TO point out any act or instance Of my life in
which have sought the attainment of office by dis.
honorable or unworthy means. Did display NOR
dlnae ambition, which, under the administration OF
Mr. Mad son, declined foreign mission OF the
first grade, and an Executive DEPARTMENT both of
which he kindly rendered to nle7 when under tbnt
oil his successor, Mr. Monroe, was frs, inIportuned
ms no ore knows betierIhan that STERLING Old pa,
Tfioi, Jonathan Roberts, now threatened os the pa
pers tell US, with expulsion from Office, which
was never hlltd with more honesty and uprightness
because he declines TO he n serviie instrument, 10
accept Secretaryship and was afterwards offered
a carte blanche OF oil the foreign missions7-At Nh.
epoch ri the election Of 1875. | believe no one
doubted at Washington, that il | had felt i. my
duty to vote Tor Gea. Jackson, he would have in
vited me to take charge of a Department. And
such undoubtedly Mr. Crawford would have done
Il he had bsen elected. When the Harrisburg Con-
venion assembled, the general expectation was that
The nomination would be given me. /. was given
to the lamenied Harrison. DID exhibit exttaor-
binary ambition when, cheerfuily acquiescng,
threw myself into the canvass and made every ex.
ertion IN my power TO insure it success? Was il
evidence of unchastened ambition IN me 10 resign,
us recently did my seat in the Senate-io resign
The Dictatorship, with VIII CHI my enemies had go
kindly invested me. and come home 10 the quiet
walks of private life D
But am ambitious because me Of my country
men have seen &, to sssoci,e my name with the
succession Of the Presidential Office. Do those who
prefer the charge know what have done or no don.
IN connection with that object. Have they given
themselves the trouble 10 enquire al all into any
agency of mine in respect TO it7 | telieve not
1t IS subject which approach with :" nc cell
the dignity nf ,L~ exalted station; but Of which
shalt. the same time, speak to you my friends
and neiehbofs, without reserve, and with the Ut
most caEdor.
have prompted none OF these movements among
the people, OF which we have seen accounts. AS far
as am concerned, they altogS her sponlaneors
and not only without concert with me, but most
generally without any sort Of previol, knowledge
profoundly gratefu-fOr these manifestations oi
confidence and attachment, | viii not conceal nor
deny. But ] have been, and mean TO remain, a
passive, II not Indifferent spectator. have reach
ed time Of life and seen enough OF high c!iical
stations TO enable me Justly 10 appreciate their value
their cares their responsibilities, their ceaseess du-
ties. That estimates Of their worth in personal
point Of view, would restrain me from seeking TO 4
any one, the highest Of Them IN scramble Of doubt
fol issue with political opponents much less with
political friends That should fee greatly honor.
ed by cal from mni0rity of the People Of this
country, to the highest Office within the g she'll
not deny; nor If my health were preserved, might
ieel At liberty 10 decline Summons au hOritatve
and commanding. But ] declare most solemn =,
that have not, mp to this moment, detCrmin ned
whetheri will consent 10 the use Of nv nome or not
as cand date for the Chief Mogistrncy. That is a
grave question, which should be decided by al at
tainablt lights, which think, is not necessary We.
10 he decided, and decision Of which reserve 10
myself as ir as con reserve ~ uni, the period or
riyes when II ought to be solved. That period hiss
NOT, as think, yet arrived. When it doe, un i'm
partial survey Of the whole ground should be iokon,
TIC state Of public opinion properly considered, and
ones personal condition, physical and intellectual
duly examined md weighed. In thus announcing
a cour5e OF conduct for myself t. IS hardly necessary
10 remark that u is part Of my purpose u con
denim, or express any opinion Whatever upon those
popular movements which have leen made, or ma Y
be contemplated in respect to the next election Of
President Of the United States.
ITO have served my co Inry, during a long Sc
RES Of years, with fsrvent ze'l and mistaken hdei-
ty IN seasons Of peace and war. hons and abroad
| IN the Legislative Halls and in an Executive Dc
avert the embarrassment and distress which now
| Overeprcad this tTnion. rnd ,rhen they cane n