The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-10-26

and which Mr. Clay Is not the kidd Of man 10
excite.
4 Mr. Clay's individual character and temper,
not less than his political opinions, have created
another formidable obstacle, hitherto always ia-
laI 10 his success with the People The People
Of this country acquire their knowledge Of pub
lie men not merely through the newspapers,
but through the representations Of those who
are styled leaders Of public opinion--members
Of Congress and Others. There are few oi
these, belonging 10 the " big party, with whom
Mr. Clay has ever come personally in contact,
whom he has not managed 10 ALLEVIATE or
offend by his Indispensable arrogance He does
moi hesitate moment in nfictng wounds on
the selfrespect, or vanity, Of others, which his
own vanity hatlers him may be healed at any
moment by an occasional display Of fascination
Of manner on his part, but which nevertheless
rankIe, however well they maybe dissembed.
His personal popularity is little or nothing and
hence the facility with which he has been SO
often 'swhistled down the wind" and made to
give place to others who had less exalted
opinion Of themselves, or more regard to the
feelings of others Always ardent, imPetuou@,
and ov,rbearing, every fresh public display
which he makes of himself shows that age, I'M
stead Of having taught him the mastery Of his
passions, has given them increased strength and
vehemence. 2i isioe ae
On his retiring from the Senate he professed
to take leave Of his fcllow-actors in public with
good feelings towards ala profession which
drew forth display of sincere feeling from
others--hands were grasped, aembraces given
and returned, and tears even were shed: but
scarcely were they dry when he sat down TO
pen letter, intended for publication, in which
he deliberately applied TO the Chief Magistrate
of the nation ths grossest aud most insulting
language language which none9.knew better
than himself was wholly undeserved. Never
before, at any period Of the most bitter party
excitement has any pubic man of eminence
so far forgotten himself, and the respect due
to the People, as to apply such language TO
the head Of the nation. Yet This was done
at moment when he professed 10 feel a
sort of holy calm and tranquility, good will to
all, and an earnest desire 10 renounce public
life, and all its tolls, proyocations, and aspertes.
IT, as party leader, he has no fiends-none
who can at all times approach him, or discourse
with him, with an assurance Of being received
and listened TO with the courtesy hich one
! gentleman and one freeman has right to ex-
i pect from another, we may be assured that as
President, he would tolerate none near him but
the verest slaves and sycophants. AS for the
humble and poorer classes of his felow-citzens,
| he has never been able to see in them any thing
but the materieL of operatives in manufaco-
res. He is the champion OF employers and
capitalists, of the old and the young arstocracy.
One who has 80 little control Of his passions
and impulses while out of power, and is yet so
eager 10 attain il, could hardly fail 10 prove a
despot il invested with il. He would, after all
that has passed, regard bis success as due
rather 10 his ON merits and perseverance than
10 the spontaneous good will Of the People. He
would look upon IL as a lecantation by the Peo-
pie of th,ir past errors, an humbllng of them
selves TO his superior judgment and political
wisdom What use he would make of party
victory, we may easily infer from the use which
he so recently attempted TO make Of it. In
giving vent to the pent up wrath Of sixteen
years he certainly would not spare enemies,
and wo TO any of his own party, high or low,
who had ever crossed his path. Admitting that
he would redeem his pledge Of a single term, he
would still have his successor 10 appoint-some
one TO carry out and perfect his plans, and
therefore high in his favor and confidence, and
all offices would be bestowed to that end.
Those who now may be specializing upon a
residuary interest in the " ig party and ar
ranging future movements upon the presump-
ton Of succeeding to Mr.. Clay's Presidential
mantle should first inquire of themselves
whether they have ever given him any cause
of dissatisfaction.
A man Of such embittered feelings, despotic
temper, and stupendous projec $, is hardly the
Chief Magistrate to be desired by people worn
out with party conflicts. To the nation at
large, he has nothing 10 offer but renewal Of
exploded schemes and obsolete IDEAS" aud OF
fierce exasperated party conflicts, such as have
already shaken the Union to its centre. TO
mere party men, he offers, publicly and shame
essly, division Of the spoils. He is the first
! Presidential candidate who ever so far debased
himself, as openly and in his own name and
person, to pledge himself to distribution
Of offices among his followers This he pre-
tends to justify by saying that it would be ''the
severcst rebuke of prescription" and he asks,
significantly, "who is to be justly reproached
with beginning prescription in this county 2"
1t must be obvious TO every man OF common
sense that this argument would justify reialia-
ton dd infnitum until wretchcd scramble
for Office became not only the necessary result,
but main objecr, Of every Presidential contest.
If revenge is good plea-apd the lapse Of time
is urged TO confirm and str ngthen feelings OF
vindictiveness instead Of allaying them-there
will never be prctext wanting for prescription,