Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-06-18
UNMASKlNG A CANDIDATE.


Onr OF the most amusing characters, among
the many OF that kind, which Nj. Dickens has
brought to our acquaintance, is the fellow who
went about with psalm book in his hand and
huge bandanna handkerchief applied 10 his eyes.
lie was cunning enough il We remember right
IL. 10 impose upon Samuel Weller, who took no
small pride i'll the sagacity with which liz was
able To defect the mGst accomplished rogueW.-
The peculiar sivle of swindling adopted by This
cheat, was to pass himself of for what he was
not and when discovered, face down his accusers
with an unbushing and imperative holiness.
Mr. Jenkins, for that we believe was his name,
is not the only distinguished man who has iound
IL c"r"l, , ac ~, -: in Il, 'n mc sp wiLs-"c
There were 10 doubt, many men ri The same &c
Mus for deception before him, a. there are cei-
,ainly some now who do not fell mach behind
him i'm kindred exhibitions of skill Indeed. this
sort of shift has become 50 common among all
sorts of rogucS. that We are a little surprised that
an old hand should be caught in the use OF ii.
When Mr.. Clay. for instance, the Wing candi-
date for the Presidency was charged some months
since with being gambler we were somewhat
asoni>hcd 10 find that the charge WAS roundly
and pcrcmptoriy dcniedon the part OF his friends.
The offence was one Of which lie had been known
10 be guilty and, perhaps considering the latitude
in which he lived, hardly worth SO formal charge
or 50 indignant denial But the gentlemen most
interested in the question thought nj 10 assert Mr.
Claws freedom from the impute, vice; and in No.
| of the "Jrmius Tracts there appeared the iol-
loving paragraph:
In 1919, when invited 10 game OF bragg, he
(Alr Claw replied Excuse me gentlemen, have
not PLAYED a game OF hazard for more than II
years, and take this opportunity TO warn you
all 10 avoid practice destructive OF good name,
and drawing after it evil consequences OF incalcu-
liable magnitude.
The evident object of the author is 10 excite the
belief that Mr.. Clay has not, since that time
PLAYED cards for money or gained. About The
time this tract was published, public declarations
were also made in one of the leading papers OF
this city friendly To Mr.. Clay, that he WIS re-
formed man in that particular, and had not gam
bled for many years.
1t seems that this paragraph has travelled as far
a>Lexinston Mr.. Clay home where ii has excited
no small degree Of wonder The Lexington Ga
Zctte OF the first of June contains communica.
ton from Gen. John McCaila, in which he refers
to the subject in these terms:
"Alr Claws whole history in this country IS so
mixed up with his habits at the card table that
conversation about him is almost invariably in
tcrlnngled with sporting anecdotes of his past
life ii any reformation has taken place, 1t must
have been long since the period fixed by the vera
cious author Of Junius. | assert, on The authors
u of gentlemen OF uEdoublcG Standing, that as
late "a the 18th Of July last, he gained AT cards. at
the place before mentioned, (near Lex:nson) for
money, which he won
III Nr. CLAY will dare TO deny the truth Of the
charge. as 10 this particular instance. which is
given merely Is one out OF many recent instances,
| will produce the proof. The witnesses shall be
named and they must testify or stand mute
There are enough who WILL although reluctant
w. state the facts.
Il cannot but admire the cool command OF coun-
IL
! sess when they attempt 10 deny charge 50 well
known and admitted in every circle in which Nh.
I Clay has moved from TINT of the British Ambas-
saGor AZ Washington, with whom am informed
! he has had many bard seto, down to his hard
! favored associates at watering places and on
steamboats,
MIR McCalla. who thus meets the denial under
his own name, the Gazette describes as one oi The
most estimablc and trustworthy citizens OF Ken
lucky. Ii SAYS
"Cf the character and high standing of Gene
raj nrcCalla. there would BE- no necessity OF
speakirc among his neshboTa; but. rs he may
no, BE-. so well known abroad, We will remark,
tint he was for twelve years L. ,. Marshal oi
his State has several times been upon The Demo
c-.tic Electoral Ticket in Kentucky, and Is how
an Elector for the State al large on our ticket;
and that he has long been, and is now, mernbes
! Of the PRESBYTERIAN Church OF good standing"
4 Mr.. Claws iIIcndS arc mus luIHished iH "P-
nortunity to sustain their attempts 10 exculpatc
their champion.
4, 10 the charge itself We should never have
though. Of referring 10 it. but for the extraordinary
by2ccrisy which it reveals. It is a doubtful
question. in our minds how tar the private habits
Of politician are 10 BE- made the topics OF public
controversy MOI is rendered less able TO dis
charge the duties of an office by the fact tina. NJ
sometimes plays at games Of hazard; al the same
time, it is not proper to elevate 10 places OF iniu-
ence. mea whose morals are likely 10 have cor
rup,ing effect upon the community. But u"
penn>vlvanian which has copied the letter OF Mr..
McCalla from the Lexington Gazette, argues ms
matter in so juliciouS manner, that We suDloih
its language:
1--WE have no fancy for personal Investigations
of this description necessary and proper uiouSn
thew be in regard 10 the character oil men VINO
present themselves to the country iol Us hisi =.
trusts and wholesome indeed as they are IN the
General effect. notwithstanding their Liability 10
abnse under the influence Of passion and excite
men, we would not therefore IN all likelihood,
have touched upon Mr.. Clay and games OF ma
zarln either directly or indirectly were II not tina;
= course of elcctioneering, al once hypocrhcat
and deceptive has been resorted 10, for the puL-
nose of misleading the public mind from which
NE fear Mr.. Clay himsefis not altogether exempt
ows,a his friends candidly to admit hls faults