The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-05-09
C @ M M u MICA TION N.
A REVIEW OF LINN BOYDS LETTER.
No q

in the Columbia Observer. charging Mr.. Clay
with having made improper overtures to General
Jackson. This was published in Philadelphia,
and received at Washington on the 3lst, and de.
Kremer avowed himself the author on the I'd of
February. On the same day, Mr.. Clay chal-
1enges an investigation into his conduct, and Mr..
K. accepts the challenge, and promises to sustain
his accusation.
The committee appointed by the House ITSELF
with the common consent of both parties, called
upon Mr.. Kremer to execute his pledge, publicly
given III his seat as a member of the House Of
Representatives, and also previously given in the
public prints. In his card, Mr.. Kremer has been
made to say, that he held himself ready "to
prove to the satisfaction of unprejudiced minds
enough to satisfy them of the accuracy of the
statements which are contained in the letter adj
dressed to the Columbia Observer"
Now, after all Of this parade of proof, do you
not know that Mr.. Kremer refused to appear be-
fore the committee and sustain his allegations
You cannot have forgotten Mr.. Clay's address on
this occasion, and the fearless promptude and
open defiance" with which he met these reckless
and unfounded accusations. Yet this dignified,
able, and conclusive address, as it was generally
acknowledged to be, has had no efficacy in shield
ing him from this opprobrious charge
Mr.. Clay demands an nvestigation-demands
the production Of proof-before the committee.
Was there ever more ample and explicit avowal
of determination to confront an accuser? Can
any one contend ask for more! Would Mr..
Clay have acted thus, had he been conscious of
having violated his duty! If he knew that the
accusation were maintainable, would he not have
sought concealment when it was so easily prac-
tised! Undoubtedly he would. But he had
higher objects in view. He wished the impartial
historian in recording the annals of those times,
to state that his integrity stood pure and unsus-
pected. He knew full well, that if this elevated
virtue once received stain, no service, however
brilliant, could wipe it off. Integrity, like the
efmine, will die rather than receive spot or, to
consider her in the character of deity, she ex-
poets constant and unsupported sacrifice, and
shuts her temple forever against the votaries
who forsake it for moment. He felt conscious
ness OF his innocence, and just pride of his
character, which placed him far above the appre-
henslon of events. He was anxious to meet the
accusation. He knew that in this matter he had
depored himself conformable to his previously
declared opinions, and the firm and infexible
duty of patriot He knew, also, that he could
demonstrate before the committee his innocence
as to all matters alleged against him. And, acr-
monious the terms in which this accusa-
ton has been made, base and opprobrious as are
the epithets wherewth it has been thought pro-
per to assail his name and character, it must
have been matter of great felicitation to Mr..
Clay that Mr.. kremer had put forth this charge
into definite form, so susceptible of refutaton,
and for having thereby afforded him an opportu-
nifty of denying it in the most unequivocal terms,
and asserting his innocence in the face of the
House of Representatives of his country, and of
the world
AT this stage of the controversy, let us refer
to the editorial remarks of the Enquirer, in re-
ation to the investigation of Mr.. Clay's conduct
in the House of Representatives. suppose that
the evidence of Mr.. Richie will be received by
you conclusive proof, as regards Mr.. Clay's
innocence.
From The Richmond Enquirer Of February 10, 1926
"As to the other questions upon which we
publish this day such copious debates, we do not
hesitate to say that Mr. Clay has met the charge
as man ought to meet it. His fearless prompti-
tude and open defiance are the surest indications
of his innocence. This, combined with avowals
from almost all quarters of the House, and the
uniform information in the last letters from that
city, can leave no doubt of the result of the in
vestgation, nor does Mr.. Kremer shrink, but we
suspect he will seek to escape by sort of spe-
cial pleading, such as Mr.. McDufie has thrown
into his amendment. Be it as it may the inquiry
is begun, and it ought to be prosecuted with en-
ergy; the whole matter should be probed to the
bottom no loop hole ought to be left to hang
single doubt on, for in times like these the peo-
PIE VIII chpecI lIioH Representatives bob oHiy W
be chaste, but free from all suspicion. Mr.. Clay
is innocent Of this charge. We are fully prepared
TO see The committee acquit hum of this imputa-
ton of bartering his vote for Office"
One or two questions, suggested by the fore
going extract from his paper, we desire 10 ask Of
Mr. Richie. What has occurred since February,
1925, to change the belief then expressed by him
OF Mr.. Clays innocence Is it that Kremer and
his associates, did, under cloud raised by Nc
Duffie fly from the investigation, as the Enquirer
predicted, and that Mr.. Clay stood his ground 'as
man ought to- stand it Or is it that on every
subsequent opportunity, Mr.. Clay has renewed
the invitation to his enemies to come forward
with their charges? That he continued to meet
these charges, in his card of 3lst January, 1928;
in his address to his constituents, of Goth March,
1925 in his speech on the 30th August, 1926,
at Lewisburg on the 10th October, 1926, in
denial, authorized by himself of these charges as
stated in Duff Green's circular; in denial, also
authorized by himself, and dated Washington