Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-06-07

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aEerieSbf ESSAYS aScribed, know not how just
y, toMr CiayS own pen, appeared i'll the Frank
foDArgus, advocating his pretensionS In his
kMtroductory number the writer held the following
- language, viz:
"The National In,elligencer is not, precisely,
the most fitting paper 10 issue this cdct COM
manding silence. II might, indeed, suit The taste
OF their official patrons and employers that as ut
lie as possible should be published on this subject
They may prefer, that the prescribed line oil leg-
timaoy according 10 which the heir apparent
should be translated from the Department OF State
10 the Palace, be preserved unbroken and entire.
But thew ought 10 remember the practice OF Rome,
BY which the Caesars themselves, TO secure thai,
tranquility which the Editors of the lntelligencer
S0much desire, provided beforehand for the impe-
Ial succession, has not yet been engraited on our
IConstitution
In July 1924, the friends OF Mr. Clay in Ohio,
published an Address signed BY the Hon. Joseph
. Vance, as chairman, in which they set forth the
grounds on which they supported, and intended 10
a6bge TO him. Their first object in bringing
h1Worward, as stated by themselves was as tol-
xEkS, viz:
~ The considerations here briefly limited, deter
mined MANY Of the most rejecting citizens OF the
- country TO adopt the opinion, that no member OF
the present Executive Cabinet ought 10 be selected
10 succeed Mr. Monroe; and this determination
was formed without any disrespect 10 the talents
or character of the incumbcnts themselves. IL
rested upon public principle and upon public du-
", and upon these alone In looking around for
some person out OF the Cabinet, and unconnected
with the executive administration of the National
Government large portion OF the citizens OF the
West naturally directed their attention TO Henry
Clay ot Kentucky
Were Mr. Clay withdrawn, the result, as 10
the election by The electors would most probably
be the same; or il ii were not, II lrond ft0ce an
no lJ1jT nm oDp at
an event which ii was the INST ojcct IF tic tricndS
Of lr C2aH 10 prercat !; not in reference 10 the
men, but the principle Mr. Clay was nominated
in the persuasion that all his telow-citizens,
pertaining the same general views, would unite in
his support. Had this been the case; had this
union taken place, his election by the electors
would have been certain. Ii iS the clear convic-
ton OF his supporters that he object Of nominating
him can only be attained by adherins 10 him; that,
10 abandon him, is 10 abandon that O5cct; and I'M
der this conviction, they have adopted The resolu-
lion 10 adhere TO him, as The dictate OF duty and
OF patriotism"
Ii NAV be affirmed. without hesitation, that
among Mr. Clay's friends generally, principal
object in supporting him, il not, as in ONO, The
very FIRST was 10 put an end TO The Cabinet sue
cession To,hat principle Mr.. Clay was pledged
as far as any candidate could be, in his implied
ii mol express, assent 10 the political creed laid
down by his friends as the basis on which he was
supported.
PREPARES $40 CONTROL TIE EVENT
From Gen. Jackson's popularity in the West
ern country il became evident carly in the year
1924 that he would carry OFT 4 large portion OF
the votes on which Mr. Clay had relied with great
confidence rendering ii doubtful whether he would
reach the House of Representatives as one OF The
three highest candidates In one ot his letters 10
The Editor OF the Western Argus published III
1923 Mr. CLAY, under date OF February IL, 1928,
said
Judging from present appearances, the contest
will lie between Mr. Adams and me-
In another letter, dated March is, 1921, he used
The following language, viz:
New York continues TO be contested State
Nv decided opinion is, that ii will give lis support
10 Mr.. Adams or 10 me, or perhaps DIVIDE IL pc-
tween us; in that case, Mr.. Crawford cannot
come into the House Ny friends are confident
in the belief that il | enter the House as one OF
The three highest no matter with what associates,
shall he elected. IT. contrary 10 all probability,
Mr. Crawford should obtain the vote OF New
York tue contest for an entry into The House will
probably be between Jackson and me. In Mary
land. Delaware and New Jersey, have reasons
10 coun, upon some support. Without entering
into further particulars, my oiinion Is, that my
friends have every motive Tor vigorous, animated,
and perSerering eXertlon.
This shows that, instead OF contest between
Mr. Adams and Mr.. Clay, for an election by the
electors, il had now become in the estimation ol
Mr. CLAY, struggle between him and Mr. Craw-
ford or General Jackson for entry into tie House.
Ia MAY, 1924 two months after the date OF Mr..
Claws letter 10 the Editor Of the Argus his friends
al Washington city issued an Address from
which the following is an extract. viz:
If contrary 10 all probability, Mr. Clay should
no, be returned 10 The House, his friends, having
done their duty, will Re able by ocatcnh@t;"", 10
coatyol The creRt. They will hold in their hands
the balance. They will determine between The
opposing and conflicting interests and secure 10
the country a Republican Administration.
Under all the views taken, il is determined 10
recommend 10 his friends 10 adhere 10 him steadi-
~ and 10 await the issue now depending before
The people
The authorship OF this Address was ascribcd |
10 Mr.. Clay himself That it spoke his Senti- |
ment, cannot be doubted, when it is recollcc,ed |
that he was then in Washington where it was
issued, presiding over the House Of Representa-
lives as Speaker A design, "by concentration 10
csn,rR he crcM" in the contingency OF his moi
being returned 10 the House of Representative,
is here avowed as the policy Of Mr. Cay's friends.
On the 18th of July following, the friends oil
Mr. Clay in Ohio issued an Address 10 prevent
detection from his support, in consequence OF the
growing strength OF Gen Jackson extracts from
which have already submitted
In September the Clay Committee in Kentucky
issued an Address, expressing The opinlon. that
,herc could be no election bv The electors that the
election must devolve ON the House oil Represen-
tatiyes; and that no single candidate cuud IN that
bo1y outnumber the vote OF Mr.. Clay. lhey
then make the following declaration, VIZ:
In fine. Mr.. Clay considers himself wholly IN
the hands Of the people, aud We as his friends
and supporters, believing him worthy oil our con-
tinued exertions and that his prospects OF success
are still unclou,ed and Frightening, avow our de-
termination, and we believe We speak The Ian
euaae Of all his friends TO abide by our prefer
.nce 10 the last II he should BE- returned 10 The
House of Representatives, we have little doubt OF
his final election, with the appreciation and APP
plause of the majority of the nation; but il any
in,oward circumstance should prevent his being
one OF the three highest his friends III Congress,
by throwing their weight into the scale OF the
most Republican ami National candidate VIII have
il in their power 10 defeat the ends OF political ma
napemcn and see that the Republic suStalns no
INJURY" -
The course indicated in the Washington, Ohio,
and Kentucky Addresses of 1921, was followed
up By Mr.. Clay in person In October, he met
several Of the kentucky members OF Congress IN
Frankfort. One of them, the Hon. L. z. Moore,
made the following statement in letter to Gen
John p. Van Ness, dated March y iosS W.:
In that month Mr.. Clay, Mr.. Trlmbe, MIR.
C.. A. Wickhfc, myself, and perhaps other MEM
hers of the kentucky delegation, casually met at
Frankfort during the session Of the Court of Ap-
neals There MIR Clay, for the first Time OK
Dressed 10 me an apprehension that he should he
excluded from the House OF Representatives; and
observed, with seeming carelessness OF manner
tina, it would be best for as, in that case, 10 re-
main uncommittei as TO our second choice -,
haothcl of them, the Hon e. a. MlcN,he'
now Pos,a,aster e:.neral in letter 10 Gen van
Ness dated March II, 1893, made the following
statement, viz:
1--WE en,crea pretty much at large upon the
subject. My inquiries were more particularly
directed 10 his prospects of getting PORTION OF the
votes of the State of New York. having formed
the opinion that unless Mr.. Clay could receive 4