Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1844-05-30

III UuNSAhhS w uiut lctteI, i SIdlt COuttutl
myself with stating its substance, but if Mr..
Clay shall see cause TO crafty the appe,ites
of newspaper editors, he is q, libeSty topublish
it. shall have no cause to complain of 1t.
II is, then, perfectly true that wrote to AFR.
Clay in the spring of 1926. It is also true,
that approved OF his course growing out of
the Presidential election. and concurrcd with
him most emphatically i'm The result of his
vote. 1t is equally so, that esteemed MIR.
Adams as decidedly better qualified for the
Presidency than Gen. Jackson, and that !
would have voted for him after Mr.. Craw-
ford's chance of success was over. To this
effect, wrote to Mr.. Clay in terms of perfect
frankness. ORR il be-
cause do not believe Henryo Clay, along
with the Western delegation who sided with
him, TO haze been bought and sold, for which,
if guilty, he and they deserved to be gibbeted,
tina, am therefore, bound to support an Ad-
minisiration which may oppose all my con-
yiciicns of proper policy 70
Now, he asked his colleague, as a candid
and fair man, whilst he was permitting garbled
statements of the testimony taken in the
Kentucky Legislature in the investigation Of
this foul charge of bargain and sale, why it
was that he had suppressed the testimony of
Jepihah Dudley, one of his own political
friends '-And why he had suppressed va
rious dispositions that had been elected in
vindica,ion of the character of this man
Here was testimony, and testimony of his
colleagues own particular friends, which it
would make him blush to read, and then to
read his own remarks on the subject.
Now MIR. W. had done with The testimony
ofh1r. Clay's political enemies, and he thought
tina, any set of men, that any tribunal, would
be compelled, from this evidence, to pro-
nounce him innocent of this foul charge.
He would now read the testimony of some
distinguished gentlemen, who alone could
speak, because they had been part and parcel
one or two of them-of the transaction
itself; and he would submit their testimony,
making all due allowance for men speaking
OF affairs in which they themselves had been
par,icipators lie would first read short
extract from distinguished foreigner, whose
testimony could not be questioned by any
man on this floor-who had no interest un-
der heaven, either in vndicating or in con-
demning this man. He would read from the
statement of General Lafayette:
"My remembrance concuts with your own
on this point that in the latter erd of De-
cember, either before or after my visit TO An
napolis, you being out of the Presidential
candidature, and after having expressed my
my above mentioned motives of forbearance,
J, by way of confidential exception, allowed
myself to put simple, unqualified question
| respecting your eleclioneering guess and your
intended vote. Your answer was, that in
vour opinion the actual state of health of Mr.
| Crawford lad Amiicd the contest TO choice
6ef'ceen Mr.. adams and Gen. Jackson; that a
claim founded on military achievements did
not meet your preference, AND THAT YOU HAD
CONCLUDED TO VOTE FOR Mr.. ADAMS.
lie must now call the testimony of the dis
| tnguished gentleman from Massachusetts,
(hlr. Adams.) who had been part and parcel
III the transaction, and to whose testimony
| the presen. generation and posterity would
give that weight it was entitledto. lie would
first read from his letter to the New Jersey
committee after he had retired from the Pres
idential chair:
Upon him (Mr. Clay) the foulest ISLANDERS
have been showered. Long known and appre-
ciated as SUCCESSFULLY member of both Houses
| OF your National Legislature, the unrivalled
Speaker, and at the time most efficient
leader of debates in one of them an able and
successful negotiator for your interests, in war
and in peace, with foreign Powers, and as
powerful candidate for the highest of your trusts
--lhe Department Of State itself was station
which, by its bestowal, could confer neither pro-
ut nor honor upon him, but upon which he has
shed uniading honor by the manner in which he
discharged its duties. Prejudice and passion
have charged him with obtaining that office by
bargain and corruption. Bt(ore you, feiio,O CHI
gems, an tie presence IF our country and If Heaven,
PRONOUNCE THAT CHARGE TOTALLY UNFoUNDED.
lhis tribute OF justice is due from to him, !
and seize with pleasure the opportunity afford |
ed me by your letter Of discharging the obliga- |
,ion.''
This distinguished patriot and statesman,
confined Mr.. w. on more recent occasion, |
not having sough, the opportunity himself,
but having been called on during his Western
tour by committee, responded in this Ian
guage to this same charge
81 thank you, sir, for the opportunity you have
given Inc OF speaking of the great statesman who |
was associated with me in the administration of
'he General government at my earnest 'socita- |
tlon-who belongs not TO kentucky alone, but 10 |
the whole Union; and is not only an honor TO
this State and this Nation, but to mankind. The |
charges to which you refer, have, after my term
OF service had expired, and it proper for me TO
speak, denied before the whole country ; and |
here rc'terote and re-c6rm that denial; and as |
expect shortly to appear before my God, to an
swer Tor the conduct Of my whole life, ahouH
those charges hare found their ,cdy to tile Throne Of
Eternal Justice, l WILL, IN THE PRESENCE OF
OMNiPoTENcE, PRONOUNCE THEM FALSE"
Was that the language asked Mr.. W. Of
man declaring Galsehood and untruth Did it
appear that a declaration of this character if
false, would be made by man soemnly APP
pealng to that God in whose presence he
was conscious he was soon to appear, either
for appreciation or for condemnation? What
man is there IN this country so base as now
to repeat this foul, this malicious, this brand
ed libel
Mr.. w. was further proceeding. when his