The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1844-05-03
Henry Clay.
d" THE BARGAIN AND SALE"

THE BARGAIN AND SALE"
The 'Unholy Alliance and the Bar
gain and Sale between Henry Clay and
John Quincy Adams in 1925. is becom-
ing a subject Of discussion all over the
country as the friends Of Mr.. Clay, groan-
ing under the weight Of condemnation so
often passed upon him by the people,
now seek TO create the impression that
i! was an erroneous judgement not war
ranted by the facts; but until they can
alter the record Of history and make it ap.
pear tina, the facts are not facts, their de-
(ensive efforts on behalf Gf the Mill boy
of the Sashes' as they now call their oft
defeated candidate, are ldburs thrown
away. We find in "A western paper CO.
pies of two celebrated cards Of that day
which. we think will now be read with
not little interest in their connection
with the renowned bargain and sale. The
first is from Mr.. Clay himself, and was
ELECTED by letter published in the Col
lumbar Observer Of this civ, which an
nounced that coalition had been formed
whereby Adams was to be made president
and Clay secretary Of state. in defiance of
the will Of the people. The temper dis.
played by II. Clay shows how deeply
the announcement Of the truth had s,ung
him. 1t is bombaslic, furious and sui
phurous, with threats of blood and slaugh.
ter. Thus spoke the embryo secretary
of state, the treachery not being fully con-
summated:
"A CARD have seen without any
other emotion than that Of inellable con
tempt, the abuse which has been poured
out upon me by scurrlous paper, i>su
ed in this city, and by other kindred
prints ana pcrsone. in regard 10 the presl-
dental election. The editor Of one of
these prints, ushercd forth in Phlladel.
phia, called the Columbian Observer, for
which | do not subscribe. and which |
have not ordered. has had the impudence
to transmit, to me his vile paper the 2Slh
inst. In that number is inserted letter,
purporling to have been written from this
city on the 25th inst, by member of the
house of re representatives., belonging to the
Pennsylvania delegation. | believe it to
be forgery but, if it be genuine, pro-
nounce the member, who ever he may be,
base and Infamous columnlator, a das-
tard and liar =; and, if he dare unvell
himself and avow his name, will hold
him responsible, as | here ADM, myself
to be, to all the laws which govern
and regulate the conduct Of men of honor
II. CLAY.
january 3lst, 1925"
Mr.. Kremer's reply which, in its cool
ness, affords curious contrast to the
wrath exhibited TO the foregoing, was as
| follows
"ANoTHER CARD.-George Kemer, oI
the house of representatives, tenders his
respects to the Hon. II. Clay, and in.
forms him, that, by reference to the edi-
tor Of the Columbian Observer. he may
ascertain the name of the writer of letter
Of the 25lh ul,., which it seems has ail,or.
ded so much concern to ii. Clay In the
mean time, George Kremer holds himself
ready TO prove, to the satisfaction of I'm.
prejudiced minds, enough to satisfy them
of the accuracy of the statements contain
ed in the letter, TO the extent that they
concern the course and conduct Of II
Clay. Being a representative of the peo-
pie, he will not fear to 'cry aloud and
spare not where their rights and privi
| leges are at stake
| Whether it was owing to kremer'
skill as a riheman or to some other cause
we cannot say, but no challenge was
forthcoming from Mr.. Clay, who certain.
~ had no conscientious scruples on the
subject. as he afterwards took shot AT
John Randolph and so. after a fuss IN the
house. resulting in the ahor,ive appoint,
ment of committee to bring George Kre-
mer to account, this branch Of the affair
came to an end, the coalition carrying out
their purposes precisely as had been fore
told.
What was thought Of all this at the
time may be distinctly seen by the sub
joined extract from an address to the peo-
pie Of North Carolina, written by George
T.. Badger, in 1928, who WAS, il will be
remembered, Gen. llarrson's secretary
of the navy, and every inch wing,
us our coonIsh contemporaries would phrase
II.
"Mr. Clay, Of Kentucky, was one OF
the four candidates for President bu,
having the lowest number of electoral
votes, was excluded from the house. The
state from which he came had instructed
her members, in the event which then
i