The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-07-03
MR. CLAY'S RETIREMENT FROM THE SE-
NATE-His NORTH CAROLINA LETTER


the shades of private life with simple expression Of
gratitude for past confidence and regret for past
rors he would have left the scene Of his usefulness
with fame identified in great measure with that
Of his country. In speaking thus, we give expires.
sion to honest belief and our only regret that
making his last exit from the stage of public life,
he should have preferred the character of disap-
pointed partisan leader TO that Of digni6ed and hon
ored statesman. Such was, nevertheless, the case,
and il in making his choice MIR. Clay laid himself
open to just censure the fault his own, and he
must abide the consequences.
If, as Mr.. Clay said, we beheld the President of
the United States without party, and parties with
out President il to him, and to him alone that
the country indebted for state Of things with
out precedent 10 its annals, but We have seen, and
as all must see not without the richest and most
during good effects. Should turn out in the sequel,
that the present Chief Magistrate will find himself
sustained not by party, but by the universal conf
dence of grateful and happy country, the late Sc
nator from Kentucky and he alone, will have been,
hoicerer Internationally an instrument of comforting
greater blessing the American People than could
possibly have been procured in any other way. II,
by his we'll turned phrase in his North Carolina let
ter Mr. Clay meant to say that the President did not
depend party drill and the Vaccinations of schem-
ing politicians for the success Of his measures, he
was right but if, on the other hand, he used the
term party in its broad occupation, intended to
express The voluntary union Of the unbougM democracy
Of the land in support Of good measures he and his
friends must find that they have fallen into most IA
tai error. Did MIR. c. Aatter himself that however
his Bank movements during The special session may
have been served up with ostentaous professions of
zeal for the public welfare their real chara,er could
not be detected by the scru,inizng glance of the in
dependent yeomanry of the country Could he have
been so blinded BY gazing on the Presidency, that
dazzling object of his untirng and ever watchful
ambition, as to imagine that mcn of common sense,
not operated by the same deusve influence, either
could not would not detect the true nature of
movements that seemed, at least, to seek Veto,
means of estranging, at all events, portion of the
Wing party from the Executive in whom he thought
he saw a formidable rival for the next Presidential
ermi, Will any one believe that any other than sell
fish views could have induced him. in the face Of the
ssce Itsined opinions of Mr.. Tyler-opinons express
ed on all occasions, and in all. places, to offer
scheme which, as he was we'll aware imbodied all
the points on which that distinguished man had
tertained, and continued TO entertain, sentiments in
direct opposition TO his and those of his excu-
sive riendsi II not for to assign motives; but
to come at fair understanding of the matter, and
what might have been the case, ii is only
ny, think, to turn 10 the history Of the transac-
toD to be convinced that other than views con-
ncced with the succession 10 the Presidency could
ha ted mt IN he SafiS Iv
counted for in airy other way. What were the facts
in the case Congress made call on Mr.. Ewing,
then at the head Of the Treasury Department to fur
nish plan for fiscal agency. MIR. Ewing, himself
understood to be Bank man, ass sted, is presum-
ed, BY the other members Of the then Cabinet all Of
whom we're, as was believed, friendly to a Bank,
went 10 work and prepared project The project
prepared presented to the National Legislature
and almost without the formai,y OF consideration,
was laid upon the shelf whilst committee OF the
Senate, at the head Of which MIR. Clay, re-
ported bill containing all the essential character
stics Of "an od-fssbioned Bank" This bill was ur-
ged, notwithstanding the repeated requests on the
part of Mr. T. that the subject should not be agtat-
ed, until il was ascertained that ii must fail in the
body with which i, originated, and that consequently
pswu, which was looked upon as certain, should it
find its way to the President. Under these crcum.
stances, distinguished member Of the Wing party,
sciua'ed by the most patriotic motives offered such
a mobilization as he hoped would meet the approba-
ton Of the President. To this modification MIR
Clay, knowing that the bill reported by himself
must be rejected by the Senate, yielded tsrdy and
most unwilling conditioned consent, and was. con-
sequenily passed. Being adopted by the House Of
Representatives, the act only required The assent OF
the President to become law, and finally was de-
fcat,d by The exercise The VETO porer und<r eonse-
,niiom conviction thai Il unconstitutional A sec.
ond bill prepared, which, after being passed by
both Houses of Congress, me, the fate. In the
meanwhile every other bill involving principles adj
voca,sd by the Wing party, truly Republican,
meets with the ready assent Of the President, who
acted on the ground that in the absence of
constitutional objections be would sanction any law
called for by the People through their Representa-
tives, whasrer might be his indirdua opinions in The
premises Such believe TO be brief but faithful
outline OF the occur epces Of the extra session
Now we ask, in the first place, why II was that the
project Of the Secretary Of the Treasury, who had
been the staunch friend Of Bank, was so d,feren,
from the charters OF similar institution. previously
granted II could not be Of any peculiar
views Of Congress, for il known that majoritics
Of both branches Of that body were in favor Of can
old-fsshioned Bank and would sanction il wi,bou,
hesitation 1t was not on account Of any change OF
opinion on the part Of Mr. Ewing, or those who act,
ed with him in the Cabinet, as it was well known
that their views remained unstered; then why
could il be, unless account Of the peculiar view,
of the President 20 often and strongly expressed
With the irresistible inference thus created that the
Pr. s'dcnt would surely exercise his Veto power in
the event Of an odashioned Bank being proposed Mr.
Clay and his psruiinr friends framed bill in which