Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-08-20

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lie, rs uow see wha, part the prcSrn; Secre'a-
~ of State acted in this election, ami no" II 'i,
sisted with his position, hs duty, fim Ms az Nv ~
political principle In the li,>' l'acr, 'nVn,
say. in round terms, hat Nil o!"y 'iia'e ',ic ~
>iSnt, in opposition 10 Tie WIN q ue.n.so
lorlly OF the People Of The STATE ne representa- t
and of the whole Union; aad ASST. ~, ' ,,,a
view of illustrating a principle in the explanation
of il. When This House is spoken OF as COY
rumble body gentlemen seemed toinkc II loi grant
cd that the whole BODY must be corrupted oclole
any evil purpose can be evns;'mnn''cu ~ Ioiiup,
tion. On the contrary. j; mast frequently hafpth
that d single member. owing 10 las influence o'cl
others. viii have 1t in Iii, power TO deciee uEe
election. even when the confess Is mol Il ciose one
IN such a case The corruption OF that Sihsie
member decides not only his own Vo'e, Du' d!
those which he can control by ms influence;
Now, ] have the greatest tt>fect 'ot .nO>, S."'.
men, who were the persona ana Poi!,,c'i
OF Mr.. Clay, in the late election OF rfe>icch1-
Next 10 nv persona, friends, there are no mem
bers whom estimate more highly. Yet. have
no doubl-and il is no di>parasemcnt 10 them 10
say So-ihat there were many oil item "ho had
so much confidence in Mr.. Clay, that his course
on the Presidential election would determine
theirs. They had supported him for the Presiden-
cy. and having become thus united by The tie cl
thei: common a,tachmcn, 10 him, II was natural
That they Should desire 10 act III concert; ana IL
was equally natural. that he shout. have great m
1nence in giving direction TO Their common move
mcnts | have the most thorough conFlc'ioH,
that nc had that influence, and that he was ihis
the very hinge upon which the election turned
So that, however impure his own motives may
have been he had the power OF exercising con
lrolln. influence over heads oiihe utmost *ound-
ness snd heats Of the utmos; parity.
What then, lei Us inquire, were lhose motives
of his, upon which so much depended To
ascertain them. We must look At his position and
his principles. He represented Il Stale where
an Overwhelming majority of the people were in
favor III General Jackson, and opposed 10 Mr.
Adams. and where the obligation Of The lepie-
sentative 10 conform 10 the will Of his con>tiiu-
ccls is regarded IS Il fundamental article %; the
true political creed. He had always himself re-
coanized that Obligation, and in discussing the
repeal OF the celebrated compensation lax, had
avowed il in tlcSe decided and unqualified
terms: whilst. then. he had 4 seat on this floor.
said Mr.. Clay" il wGs im'nate!ial how h. ar
rived n the will OF his constituents or wh:t were
the evidences ot;-it was sufficient that he >ho..d
know il, IN aNcaS.Soi crpedienev. he held the doc
,rine OF the obligation on his part. II observe The
instructions. cgy,css 81 ,mpljec. OF his con>tu-
cnts" Yet in direct opposition to the will Of hi
constituents, Of his State and III the United
States. ami in ike opposition 10 his constitutional
duty as a representative, according 10 his OWN
principles. he threw the whole weight Of his in
ilucnce in favor Of 4 candidate whom he had
habi:ually pro.eSSetl 10 despse a. Il man. and de-
test as politician, and the only one OF his com
pcli,ors whom he mad denounced as unworthy OF
The high trust to which he aspi!ed. Il is hut loo
obvious. then. that Mr.. Clay sacrificed his poll
teal animoSitic> and his political prncipleS-hiS
duty 10 him>cl. and his duty 10 his country, al
the unhallowcd shrine OF ambition-yc> Sir.
ambition. corrup,ing ambition. that sin by which
the "AngclS teli' Am asked for the proof p
| answer, that il circUms,an,ial evidence be moi
rejected as inadms>bc, it's full ana satisfactory.
Hear il, lie gives the vote OF his State in oppo-
son 10 his own cples--agains; the will OF
the people of that St:,c-and thereby makes the
prcsidcnt--and then has the .ror.!ess. shameless
audacitv TO set public opinion at defiance, By in
SANITY and openly receiving. as the rewaT! Of
his ireacherv, 70 the people and 10 his own prin-
cpes tic hi@he>t Office that President can con
fer upon him. Can anv thing he more plain J
IL is the common case. Sir Of sale in market
Overt and none aal 4 man Of tn most conSu'n-
mate boldness ana eiifontery could hold mp his
head in society after such a transaction Sir,
have hui little claim 10 set myself upas stand
ard of political morality. hu, socninr declare
thar there j no extreme Of political niaItyidon
that would no. su!iec, rather than accept Of the
Office ci Secretary of STATE, or any other Office
u President for whom had voted under such
circumstances. Every sentiment Of de.icacy. and
ever principle OF honor, concur in It's condem-
nation |; canuo; be justified OF excused. II is
bel @, M ne, end dangerous precedent.
There caGu0; lie conceived a ease OF political
prostitution 20 gross TIA, this will pot operate as
sanction for il. AEd Whist. Let ne ask were the
circumstances which PRECEDED, accompanied, :ud
clara cie.izod This cNchlngc ii aOuj "ttcS-,his
extraordinary coalition between Nj. Adams ant
MI Clav7 Bu very shoc' TING before they
were arrared in direct political hostility, is NJ
compromising antagonists. who. having pub.
l;clv exchanged defiances scc.nal almost 10 glare
and >cowi at each DINER IL tie streets as they
passed And vet, without even a plausible pre-
text 10 cover their "urcn ami manifest frailiy,
"wi,hin a monta-a liclc mnnlh'-"Oh. most
wicked speed t. post with such dcyicrity, TO nc
re,ricio,s honds-'1hcg wafricd - Mr. Chair
man, pronounce il 10 b. no lawful wcdl0cG-
the spirit Of The Constitution and TIC voice OF
the nation. uncquivocally expressed, CONQUERED 10
forbid the banns
at is not orr. carnoi come 10, gooi.'
Tell me not Of the niamy OF Lord Norths
celebrated coalition with Mr.. Fox There, 10 he
sure. was the same combination Of adversary
elements in The political compound; bat The spirit
oi the Constitution was not violated, nor the voice
Of the nation condemned and defeated
Mr.. Chairman as feel exhausted, both ny b.
div effort and bodily indisposilon. Shall detain
the committee with but 4 very few additional re-
marks. The gentleman from Massachusetts,
(Mr Eyerelt) has been pleased TO say, that, if he
entertained the opinions have expressed of the
o,,r,n,h;ii,v nj (,npprpsS no. vpull mt proclaim
them here; but would take a Responding leave OF
a rccrean, Republic, ana seek refuge in the arms
Of some iraternal despo'ism Highly as | res
pect the gentleman, must he excused from pur
suing the course he has suggested. ] am very
differently constituted, perhaps from what he is
Ny nature pro;npis me not utlv from difficulties
bu, to meet and il possible conquer them. Ny
maxim is never 10 despair oi The Republic. -
Il is true. sir do moi hike the signs ot the times
believe that something is rotten in tie State OF
Denmark" But il corruption has in>inuatci IL
self into our political system. it is the duty of
every Patriot to stand his ground, ant cndeavor
to ex,crmnatc il and the cau>c OF il. As il is GER
tain that this contest between Liberty and Power
in lis worst form, must have occurred al some
time under our present political organization |
regard it as fortunate circumstance, that il has
taken place at this early period Of the Republic
wien the vouthtu, vigor Of Is Constitution can slls
tain the remedy and throw o'iihc disease Twenty
wears from this time, the disease would probably
have been incurdble. ami the contest hopeless
Now, have the most thorough confidence Of III
imaie success: for though, 10 use the language Of
the gentleman from Massachusetts, the battle
NAV he Tough, and lost. hcrcat,his tine and whcn
| see the whole organized power oi the Admins
tration arrayei against a proposition that can on
~ pass by two-thirtS OF our votes What else ca n
| cxpcct?-yet will no, adop, Tho desperate re-
sort OF flying to The Emperor Of Russia, or the
Grand Sultan Of Turkey, 10 unaosom my grietS
and di>appoin'nents. No, Sir will appeal
to that great tribunal by watch, thank
God. our proceedings on this subject are
10 be reviewed. will proclaim 10 the Pco-
Pile that their liberties are i'll danger, and
must inevitably be lost in the .rosse>t corrup-
ton, il this House be not divested OF il haaual
agency in the choice Of the President And
here soemnly devote myscltio this grea, reform,
pledsing myscl.beiore this House and this nation,
that will never iaiermt or relay my excrtioEs,