The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-09-20

Mr.. Adams had denounced Mr. Clay as engaged
in long-continued intrigue to destroy him, pur-
suing his object by covert and dshonorable means.
Mr.. Claystood publicly pledged to expose Mr..
Adams errors, both of fact and opinion, and Mr..
Adams had hurled at him an indignant defiance.
Mr. Clay's personal relations with Gen. Jackson
were those of friendly intercourse.
OfGen. Jackson's devotion to the interests of
the West there could be no shadow of doubt
He had received more electoral votes than any
other candidate.
He had received large plurality of the popular
votes.
He was the only candidate, except Mr. Clay,
who had received any votes in Kentucky.
| He was, without question, the second choice Of
vast majority of the American People.
Mr. Adams was, and Gen. Jackson was not, a
member Of the Cabinet.
Mr.. Clay and his colleagues were requested by
an overwhelming majority of the Kentucky Legis-
lature to vote for Gen. Jackson as the undoubted
second choice of the people of that State.
| Nevertheless, Mr.. Clay voted for Mr.. Adams,
and gave him the vote of Kentucky.
| ne CdTTltu WIFI iiitIl tHc NOtto VI OmO, WucIC
Mr.. Adams received but 1920 popular votes out
of so 900, of Illinois, where he received but ,542
out OF 4, 700, and of Missouri, where he received
but 3ll votes out OF 2,700.
Under these circumstances, 1t was but natural
that the people Of the entire West, and particularly
Of Kentucky, should have been shocked and as
founded learning that the vote Of that State had
been cast Tor MIR. Adams and especially, as it was
followed by that other remarkable circumstance of
the offer by Mr.. Adams and the acceptance by Mr..
Clay of the Office of Secretary of State They felt
mortified and indignant at the manner in which
their feelings and their will had been trampled un-
der foot and their dearest interests betrayed into
the hands of him whom they had been taught to
regard as their worst enemy; and they awaited the
return of their Representatives to call them to a
strict account.
THE MOTIVE.
A few days prior to the election, rumors of
attempt of the friends OF Mr. Adams to buy the
Presidency, by offering the Office of Secretary of
State to Mr. Clay, were rife at Washington
These rumors were brought before the public by
Letter from Washington to the Editor of the Co.
lumbian Observer, newspaper then printed in
Philadelphia. That Letter was as follows, viz:
"WAsHINGToN, Jan. rs, 1925.
"Dev Sir: take up my pen to inform you of
one of the most disgracefu transactions that ever
covered with infamy the Republican ranks. Would
you believe that men protesting Democracy could
be found base enough to lay the at the root of
tIo oofT VT =, IL, "a "a,
less true. To give you full history of this trans
action would far exceed the limits Of letter. l
shall, therefore, at once proceed to give you brief
account of such bargain as can only be equalled
by the famous Burr conspiracy of 1901. For some
time past the friends of Clay have limited that they
pay best Ouertures toere said to hau. been made
by the friends Of .adams to the friends Of Clay,
offering him the appointment of Secretary of State
for his aid to elect adams. And the friends of
Clay gave this information to the friends of Jack
son, and hinted, that if the friends of Jackson
would offer the same price they would close with
them. But none ofthe friends of Jackson would
descend to such barter and sale. 1t was not be-
lievedby any OF the friends of Jackson that this
contract would be ratified by the members from
the States who voted for Mr.. Clay. was of opin-
ion, when | first heard of this transaction, that
men protesting any honorable principle could not,
and would not, be transferred, like the planter does
his negroes, or the farmer his team aud horses.
No alarm was excited; we believed the Republic
was safe. The nation having delivered Jackson
into the hands of Congress, backed by large ma
jority of their votes, there was, on my mind, no
doubt that Congress would respond to the will of
the nation by electing the individual they had de-
clared to be their choice. Contrary to this eIpee-
tation, II Is noto dsc1tained to certainty, that
Henry Clay has transferred his interest to John
Quincy adams. As consideration of this aban-
donment Of duty to his constituents, il is sald and
believed, should this unhappy coalition, prevail,
Clay is to be appointed Secretary Of Stote. I
have no fears on my mind; am clearly of opinion
we shall defeat every combination. The force of
public opinion must prevail, or there is an end to
LIBERTY"
TO this Letter Mr.. Clay responded as follows:
8f ga CARD.
81 have seen, without any other emotion than
that Of ineffable contempt, the abuse which has
been poured out upon me by scurrilous paper
printed in this city, and by other kindred prints and
persons, in regard to the Presidential election.
The Editor of OF those prints ushered forth in
Philadelphia, called the Columbian Observer, for
which do not subscribe, and which have not or
dered, has had the impudence to transmit to me his
vile paper Of the 2sth INST In that number 10 in.
serted letter, purporting to have been written in
this city. on the 25th instant, bya member of the
House Of Representatives belonging to the Penn |
sylvania delegation. / believe it to be forgery;
butif be genuine, pronounce the member. who
ever he may be. base and infamous calumniator-
a bastard and lia,; and If he dare unvei himself