Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-04-09

u
hundred votes. The public feeling of the Legislature,
as well as of the country, overwhelming in favor
of General Jackson after Mr. Clay; and when, in the
month OF December, an impression began TO prevail
that the vote OF Kentucky might be given MIR Adams,
Mr.. Henry Criltenden, brother TO present Sena
tor, introduced into The House Of Representatives, two
resolutions, one requesting representatives, III Con-
gress TO vote for General Jackson, and the other de-
claring that he the choice Of the people OF Ken
lucky. They were debated on the 3lst December,
1924, and IN that debate given for adopting
the resolutions, was, that Mr. Clay might not be made
Secretary of State TO the exclusion of General Jackson
for the Presidency.
Mr.. Benjamin Hardin, then prominent member Of
the House, and in favor Of the resolutions and now
candidate on the Clay electoral ticket, said, che
knec that many OF our members of Congress were in
cned to vote for Mr. Adams, and believed he would
get the vote oil Kentucky unless this House acted.
The resolution requesting the members OF Congress
from Kentucky to vote for Gen. Jackson, adopt
ed by vote of 60 to 81, and that declaring that he
was the choice of the people Of Kentucky, by vote
OF 73 to IL. They were adopted by the Senate also,
by large majority, though | am unable TO give the
precise vote, and sent 10 Washington. During the
succeeding month, it confidently asserted in rri-
vae conversations, that If Mr.. Adams elected, Mr.
Clay would be Secretary of State, placing hum IN
position which Mr. Clay afterwards called the line of
''sate precedents, and that ground numerous let
tiers were procured be written to our members Of
Congress- advising them 10 disregard the resolutions
of the Legislature. In the developments of 1927 and
1928, this traced directly to letter or let
ers written early in January, by Mr.. Clay himself to
some Of his friends in Kentucky, not, perhaps, using
the very ,oords, but certainly conveying the idea.
/ In 1893, the general excitement account Of the
vote of Mr.. Clay and his friends for Mr.. Adams,
great, and the charge of corrupt bargain between
Mr.. Adams and Mr.. Clay, was pointed, and openly
made, that the Senate Of Kentucky was induced TO
take up and investigate the subject; persons and pa
pers were sent for, &c.. and of the testimony given
before that body, the following is part. (See Ken
lucky Argus of that date for the whole Of the est
, mony)
"John S. Hit, of Bourbon. stated, among other
things, that Gen. Metcalfe told him in Washington
CITY, about the 9TH 9th Of January, 1895, that he
knew little than when he first arrived, than
witness that The friends Of Jackson would come TO
US and say we hear that you going to vote for
Mr. Adams; and the friends Of Adams would come TO
us aud say, we understand you going to for
Jackson and so of the friends of Crawford; that we
stand uncommitted, and we must anow something
about how the Cabinet is 10 be filed
Hon. John T. Johnson, brother of Col Richard NJ
Johnson and al that time member of Congress- stated
that che was Washington City in 1924, and al the
time Of the Presidential election in February, 1885,
After the election, he and his brother (Col Johnson)
|, in company with Gen. Metcalfr, who told them
he had letter from Kentucky, which stated that the
people would be dissatisfied with the result His bro
Their told the General, that this voting for Mr. Adams
would be uphill business in Kentucky. The &C.
neral replied Il fear zoe hare done too much for our
friend'" He asked, whether he did rot hear Mr.
White, Of the members of Congress who voted for
Mr. Adams, say, few days after the election. that he
considered, when voting for MIR. Adams that he was
voting for Mr.. Clay: This question was objected to,
and overrued IA 10 10
Mr. Mcmillan of the House Of Representatives stated,
in reply n,errogato- les that Mr. Francis Johnson
was Eat Tompk nsyille in Monroe county, after his
return home, subsequently to the Presidential cleo
& tom where, he asked, how he 10 vote for
Mr. Adams' Mr.. Johnson answered, that he voted
for Mr.. Adams to get Mr.. Clay made Secretary OF
Slate He made this declaration repeatedly in con-
/ versaon, and witness believed in public speech.
Fl He SAID, Mr.. Adams for President. and Mr.. Clay his
Fl Secretary, would conduce TO the interests of the
West than Gen. Jackson President with We know
not whom for his Secretary and that MIR Clay might
> perhaps succeed him..
"Johu Mason Jr., of Montgomery county, was called
and stated as follows: John Mason Of Montgomery
states that before David Trimble went to Congress
in 1924, September court, 1894, he was contendng
with witness, that Mr. Rowan ought not to be elected
Senator TO Congress, because he was an aPostate
Federalst, and that he would be surprised II witness
/ voted for him. Witness said that the Pres al
0 election coming on, and from the number oil
candidates, he expected that the election would come
before Congress, and said to Trimble suppose that
you vote for Adams, who is also aposate Fede-
ralis,
"Trimble replied, he knew Adams 10 be an apos-
tate Federast and that if he ever voted for HIM. wit
might call him Fedaralis as long as he lived
He also said, that Adams had agreed 10 give up the
navigation of the Mississippi river for whales and mack
erel and that he (Adams) had always been an enemy
10 the West When witness heard that Trinhls had
voted for Adams, he was surprised; and soon after his
return he had conversation with him about his vote,
in which he gave his reasons, that We ascertained
If Mr.. Adams made President, Mr. Clay would
be made Secretary Of State; and that II Gen Jack
son was made President, Mr. Clay would not be mad"
Secretary, and that it would be better for to have
Adams with Mr.. Clay Secretary than Gen Jackson,
without hun.
OF the mass of testimony other than that taken be-
fore the Senate, the following aiidavis specimens:
We the subscribers, certify on OATH that we were
seyeray present at the Lewis County Court, for Oc
tober, 1895, and heard David Trmbe make speech,
and he used the following language: when ice went
on last fall to the city of Washington we found Mr..
Crawford ont of The qnert'on; the contest was between
General Jackson and John Quincy Adams. we as
certained, tina, under circumstances would Gen.
Jackson appoint our friend Henry Clay Secretary of
State; we ascerlained that Mr. Adams would appoint
our friend Henry Clay Secretary of State. Knowing
this, then, fe,w-citzens, that Gen Jackson would
not and Mr.. Adams would, appoint our friend Henry
Clay Secretary Of State, # you expected me TO vote
for General Jackson you pec!ed me to do that which
could not and would not DO
Signed, ''Jacob Fsizz'e, Jesse HamTek,
II Henry Halbert, John Griffith,
Il David G. Heath, VIM Davis,
/ VIM Coffin, Hez. Griffith
Il Richard Pell, VIM. Hamblin,
i John Hendrick, David Toukoy"
(The above statement was sworn to before justices
Of the peace, was duly cer'ihed, ana was puoisneo
about that time in the papers of Kentucky)
The limits of an ordinary letter preclude the presen-
,aon Of further matter connected with the election of
> 1923.
You wish 10 know, secondly, what Mr. Clay
course on the Right of Instruction, previous to his DIS
regard of the wishes of the Legislature and People Of
KentuckyIn 1915.
Mr. Clay, some years before voted for the celebrated
Compensation Act which gave great offence to his
constituents. l. on this occasion, TO secure his
reelection he told his famous story of The failing rie,
and concluded by asking the people to "pck the flint
aud try again." He promised 10 change his vo;e &C.,
&c and was reelected. 10 the January after, Qel7D
he delivered speech, from which The following is an
lnteligencer, January, lSl7
emf Clay said he agreed perfectly in the sentiment
that instructions given by the people obligatory
. on the Representatives. This was principle conse-
Grated BY the Revolution, inseparrbe from all free
Government and which he, therefore, hoped never to
see departed from, in practice, under Whilst
then, he had sea! this floor, Mr. c. said, it
immateral ho,o he arrived at the will Of his consn
n.