The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-10-09
MR.. CLAY's LETTERS TO F. P. BLAIR.

MR.. CLAY'S LETTERS TO +. P. BLAIR.
These famous letters, written in 1885, about which
much have been said and written, and which MIR.
Leigh, in his address communicating them to the pub
lie through the Richmond Wing, says that Mr..
Clay has reluctantly consented TO the publication of
these letters, private and confidential they are, and
even playful and sporiirs in their character"
We are not among those who ever believed that
bargain was actually arranged between Mr. Clay and
Mr.. Adams, whereby the former should be rewarded
in the event of his causing the latter, by the votes he
controlled to be elevated 10 the Presidential chair.
We should have as soon believed that bargain had
been entered into between Mr.. Jefferson and Mr..
Adams before the latter became an informer against
MS old Federal associates, and denounce them
spring TO dissolve the Union. Nevertheless, Mr..
Adams, some time thereafter, received the appoint
ment, at the hands of Mr.. Jefferson of Minister to
Russia. The votes which Mr. Clay contr oiled elect
ed Mr. Adams to the Presidency Mr.. Adams APP
pointed Mr.. Clay his Secretary of State there
after
Now, let US see what Mr.. Clay himself says in the
letters to Mr. Blair. In his first letter he remarks
my position in relation to the friends of the three
turned candidates is singular enough and often to me
very amusing In the first place, they all believe that
my friends have the power of deciding the question
and, then, that have the power Of controlling my
friends" This was certainly an important position
the influence OF which Mr.. Clay appears to have
been fully aware of. Mr.. Clay proceeds to say
that acting upon this suppostion, in the same hour
am sometimes touched the shoulder by friend
and he then relates what the friends of each of the
three candidates urge in their behalf to induce him
to cast the votes he controls in their favor This
suppose, is the portiUe and playful character Of the
letters. The friends Of Mr.. Adams, as Mr.. Clay re-
lates il, assure him that MIR. A. has always had The
greatest respect for YOU and admiration for your
lenis-thre is station TO iohieh you NOT equaln
Ater stating his objections to General Jackson and
MIR. Crawford, Mr. Clay announces 10 Mr. Blair, in
his first letter. that he will Support Mr.. Adams y
and he adds any friends are generally so inclinedn
Then, after giving reasons which Influenced him to
come to this determination, Mr.. Clay says, my
friends entertain the beliJ that their kind cishes
io,oards NE uiH, in The end be more likely
to be accomplished by bestocing their poiss" In this
quotation is comprised the whole Of the let
tiers. From the assurances given Mr. Clay by the
friends Of Mr.. Adams, and the kind tcisho Of his
friends being likely to be accomplished by his
be,towiug their votes on Mr. Adams, what might not
Mr.. Clay be led to eIpect' And who doubt ac-
cordiug to Mr.. Cay's own statements, that he was
influenced by such expectations' And what, short
Of being placed in the line OF safe precedents" to
reach the Presidency, con 1t be supposed would have
satisfied his ambition in the position he then sacri-
feed The appointment he received from Mr..
Adams placed hin, according to his own admitting,
in that line.
1t is true that Mr. Clay says, after giving ueranee
to the expression of the kind ,cish Of his friends
that, 81 have, however, most earnestly cntreated
them to throw me out of their consideration,
in bringing heir judgments to final conclusion, and
to look to and be guided solely by the public good.
, Others have manifested equal disnterestedness and
patriotism. Richard the Third, Is will be recollect-
: ed, positively seemed 10 turn deaf ear for a time
to the applications Of the Mayor and Corporation oil
London TO assume the rens of the Government Of
the Kingdom, although he had previously through
the Offices Of his good cousin Of Buckingha in.
trigued to stimulate the people to demand 1t. Urgent
solicitation however, induced him TO wear the ho
nors, il they would buckle them on his back So
with John Quincy Adams. In his inaugural address,
he sanctmonousy declared to the People that, glad
! ly would he give the election back into their hands
had he the power. But who believed him Nc
4 one. As soon would Richard have resumed tn,
prayer book, as 10 have resigned the sceptre Anc
who will believe the disnierestedness Of Mr.. Clay
when he said TO his friends "to throw him out o
their consideration and be guided solely by the pub
lie good p
The decision made by Mr.. Clay irrtated the frend
Of the defeated candidates and he SAYS hi. second
letter. hereupon the oil has been turned to vae
gar" Mr.. Cay appears himself also to have beer
irraied and under that influence, 10 have appeared
10 h true character. The friend. Of one Of the can
ddste. he says, and the d,rif knows who else, fol
think IL he does not preside in their councils h