Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-07-30
pOLITECAl..

(Fr0E, tie Washington Itle1T0ia, nay, lo@o.)
REPLY
Bu the Jackson Correspondent Con'mihec If lie
District of Colambio, 20 lr CGuS last AdfrcsS
IcoSTlNarD
This was the altitude n which Mt Adams ard
MIR. CLAW stood towards each other at the ap-
proach OF the late Presidential Election. MIR
Clay, while maintaining lofty and dlsnteresied
exterior refusing even 10 tell the truth in rela-
ton to Mr.. Adams, lest he should subject his
motives TO suspicion, was privately endea'orins
10 vlllify. degrade, and destroy him. MIR.
Adams, understanding The character, and
watching the movements Of Mr. Clay, had de-
nounced him to the nation, IN conjunction win
his coadiu!or Russell, and set him at open de-
iiancc. Their hostility was as great as could
arise from eager rivalry, reciprocal injuries,
and mutual recrimination. Ii Mr.. Clay believed
Mr. Adams guilty OF the charges which nc cir
cula,ed against him, he must have considered
him one of the 5ascst Of mankind, unfit for
private trust. or publ station. Ii he did not
believe them, he mus, have looked on himself
"a slanderer and libeller, as destitute of truth,
as the means resorted TO were at war with all
that was open, manly, or honorable Whe
Their the charges were true or false-what must
MIR. Adams have thought Of Mr.. Clay How
could he take 10 his bosom one WHO he knew
had been plotting his ruin from 'thc seed time
of 1911, to th- harvest of 1892" pursuing his
object with maice and perseverance, which
seemed Unsuitable, except BY his entire destruc-
ton : Surely nothing could have been more
unnatural, ard less To be expected, than that
two men, thus situated should, without the re-
traction Of error, or the confession OF injury,
without explanation or apology, rush into each
Others arms, embark their mutual fortunes in
the same cause solicit commoa support, aud
seek q common fame
In addition to ,heae facts, which would seem
forever to have barred all uaicn between tw in
dividuas hal either of whom paid The least re-
gard 10 his own honor here was, in PRINCIPLE,
an jnsrprrabe barrier between Mr.. Adams and
Mr. Clay, had the latter been directed or re-
strained b. any SUCH consideration. Ore Of TIC
princpal objections made by Mr.. Clay, aud all
ms friends TO The election Of MIR. Adams. was
FOUNDED in the dangers which threatened orr
institutions, from perpeuation OF The Cabinet
succession IL was ma!n.aiaed by them, tLat
b, the un:fprm election Of the Secretary oil
State 10 the Office Of President, our Government
was a-similating 10 rnona'chy, II which each
chief Magistrate appoints his successor. This
argument was urged against Mr.. Adams ia
every possible shape, and deserveIi;, witA
en-. llerab'e effect
Earl, in 1922. series of numbers was pub
he'd in tie Arsus of Western America, at
Fransf,r; Ken,.icky, signed a Western Cit.
zen" we have good reason to believe tina,
these essays were from the Ten of Mr. Clay
hunsc,i. The opinions they co;'ain. and even
lhe express o;,,, almost pc feciy coincide with
thos advanced and promulgated by him IN
other situations. The FIRST OF these numbers
contains tic following declarations
"Tle National In;eili-crcer is not precisely
the cost fitting paper 10 issue this cdict COM
mandlng silence. II might, indeed. suit the
taste Of their official patrons aud employers
that as little a, possible should be published on
this subject. Thy may prefer that the pre-
scr bed line o. legitimacy according 10 which,
the heir apparent should be translated from he
Departm nj of State 10 The Paace-bc pre-
served unb-okcn and entire. But they ought TO
remember the practice of Rome by which the
Caesars themselves, 10 secure that tranquility,
which he Editors OF The latelligencer so much
desire provided beforehand for the imperial
stceession-has not yet been ergrafted on our
Constitution J."
The Kentucky Reporter edited by Mr.. Smith,
friend, connection, and devoted instrument OF
NJ. Clay, contained, both previous and subse-
quent 10 this period, many articles bitterly OPP
posed to the Secretary succession. We shall
content ourselves with making ono extract from
the nurnoer of tina, papcr, dated july 18th,
ISIS which is good specimen OF the IAN
guage, held down to tn very moment OF the cleo
ton by that paper, as well as all others devo.
ted to the elevation of Mr.. Clay. The Repor-
ter says:
"Nlr. Adams is designated by the President
and his presses as the heir apparent, the next
tho
pie was intr duced, there has been rapid de-
gener,cy in the Chief Magistrate, aud the pros
pect Of still greater degeneracy IS strong and
alarming. Admit tic people should acGniesce
in the Presidential appointment of MIR. Adams
10 that high ohica-who again will he choose
rs his Successor; Will it be Josiah Quincy,
II. G Otis, or Rufus King /? An arislocrat, at
least il not a traitor, will be orr portion
The chief object Of supporting Mr. Clay IN
Ohio, as avowed by his friends in their Address
of July, 1924, was 10 break up the Cabinet
succession This address was signed by The
Hon. Jos. Vance, then and now member OF
Congress, the same who voted with Mr.. Clay
for the very Cabinet successor" against whom
lis dcnunciation was evidently directed, and
was written. as we are authorized TO stale. by
Charles Hammond, the subs quent scurr'!ous
revier Of Mrs Jackson, and devoted partisan
of Mr. Adams Administration. The follow
ing is an extract from the Address
AS the period approached when 1t would be-
come necessary to select successor TO PresI-
dent Monroe it was altogether proper that
much reflection should be devoted 10 the prin
cpes upon which such an election should be
made. The names of at least three "mbers
of Mr. Monroe's Cabinet were pretty distinctly
presented TO the public as cand dates to sue
nat hIs
that s,rugyl, for the Presidency between The
principal Secretaries-was fraught with much
evil to the nation, inasniuch as it must distract
the harmony of her councils, not endanger
tho integrity Of her func ionares, and jcopar-
die her reace ard her reputation. Besides
these mischeis. to select one Of the Secretaries.
was 10 continue the same influence in office,
which virtually would be a departure from the
maxim. that rotation in Office was essential to
the public good. For, 10 changc the man. and re-
tain tho influence would be TO reposc upon the
shadow, and abandon the Substance.
"Thc consi erations here briefly hintcd, de-
.ermined many Of the most ref citing citizens
of the country to adopt thu opinion, that no
member Of tbs present Executive Cabinet
ought 10 be selected 10 succeed Mr. Monroe,
and this determination was formed without any
i,sresoec, 10 the lalents or characters Of the
,,cunb.n,s themselves. II rested upon public
p-mc,ple and upon ub'ic duty, and upon 'heso
alone. In looking around for some pers' out
of The Cabinet. and unconnectcd with the Eve
cniyc Administration Of the National Govern
mc,t, large portion Of the citizens OF the
West na,usali, directed their attention 10
Henri, Clay of Kentucky" a.
In relation 10 the prospects before ihem' 'he
Address thus speaks: a.
"Uader the strong persuasion that the public:
good, and due regard for Tie fair operation %