The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-06-28

city Mr.. Clay never dared to dispute Gov.
FLOYD testified that, in the month of January, 1925,
or in the latter part of the preceding month oil
cember, he called upon Mr.. Clay to ascertain his
determination as to the Presidential election, and
that Mr.. Clay then stated his position to him sin
nearly the following words"
.sWhen take up the pretensions of Mr.. Adams,
and weigh them and lay them down-then take up
the pretensions of General Jackson, weigh them,
and lay them down by the side of those OF Mr.
Adams-I never was as much puzzled IN all my
life, as | am TO decide between them"
1t is in view of facts like these, that we are fully
justified in adopting the strong declaration OF Mr.
McDuffie That the circumstances OF the extraor-
dinary coalition between Mr.. Adams and Mr.
Clay, furnish as strong evidence of an ABAN-
DONMENT OF POLITICAL PRINCIPLE on
the part of Mr.. Clay, and CORRUPT PoLlTI-
CAL BARGAIN between HIM and Mr.. Adams,
as is ordinarily required in courts OF justice, to
establish the guilt of those who are charged with
the highest crime known to the law.
Tell us not that Mr.. Adams and Mr. Clay have,
with solemn appeals to Heaven, asserted their
own innocence. The facts are too decisive-and
their own declarations, however solemn, can have
no more weight than the self-exculpatory declara-
tions Of him who stands arragned for his crimes, at
the bar of "a court of justice.
THE DUEL WITH JOHN RANDOLPH.
Finding that he was not able to stem the tide OF
public opinion, neither by his pen nor by his
tongue, Mr.. Clay resorted to the weapons OF which
he had first thought when, on the 3lst of January,
1925, he saw Mr.. Kremer's letter to the Columbi-
an Observer. That which he had failed to accom-
psh as a writer and an orator, he hoped TO accom-
plsh in his character as dueiis'. Accordingly, in
April, 1885, he singled out of the boldest OF his
opponents, John Randolph, of Virginia, aud chal-
lenged him to mortal combat. The provocatIon
and ground of the challenge, were the words we
have placed at the head of this address, which Mr..
Randolph had made use OF on the floor OF the Sen
ate, in describing the union between Mr.. Clay and
Mr.. Adams. Upon their meeting, at the second
fire, Mr.. Randolph not choosing to kill Mr. Clay,
fired in the air. and the parties separated Wheth-
er it was "aSafe precedent" for an American Sec
retary of State to challenge and fight member OF
Congress for words spoken in debate, is question
we leave our readers 10 determine. Mr., Clay 8
conscience which he always "interrogated
upon important occasions, undoubtedly told him,
that, aside from the risk which he run of getting
shot, the precedent was perfectly "safe."
HOW THE ISSUE WAS TRIED.
The matter in issue between Mr.. Clay and his
accusers, was tried, not by partisan committee as
I, hal fo haya but hv IN
bought people of the country. From the time of
the consummation Of the bargain up to the election
of 1925 it was the main question before the people
The hargainers were backed by all the patronage
Of the government, and they struggled as if for their
very lives. Coffin haud5ills, monumental inscrip-
lions, .'shuiIled militia documents" and every
species of slander, falsehood and foul abuse were
the aliment which the coalition administration
dealt out to the people. Every thing was resorted
tn urhirh could ~o--,.r.. ;".ia.:I-.o, saInrs.
Mr.. Clay himself became travelling electioneerer,
haranguer at political barbecues and dinners, and
used all the eloquence and all the ingenuity he
possessed, to persuade the people that he was in
nocent He even ventured, in public speech
made at Baltimore, in May, 1925, to invoke the
name of Deity in his behalf, and pray that the AL
mighty would send "WAR, PESTILENCE
AND FAMINE" upon the country, rather than
the election of that man whom, four years before,
he had defrauded of the Office to which the place
he held in the hearts of his countrymen had justly
entitled him. The following were Mr. Clay's
words, as reported in Niles Register, vol. "a,
page 1856:
'lwould humbly PROSTATE myself before HIM,
and impiore his mercy, to visit our favored land
with war, with pestilence, with famine, with any
scourge, other than military rule, or blind and
needless enthusiasm for mere military renown."
THE RESULT.
But all the efforts of the coalition were in van
The majority which the people gave to the brave
and noble-hearted Chiefofthe Hermitage, was over
Every one of the five States. whose
had followed the lead of Mr.. Clay,
voted against Clay and Adams. Even Kentucky
herself refused to ratiy the corrupt bargain of her
false Representative, and voted for Andrew Jack
son. Adams obtained but s3 out of 26l electoral
votes, and the whole nation hailed the elevation of
Jackson as ga precedent" which vindicated the
The government from the hands of those who had
made base traffic ofhonor, principle and duty, and
whose corrupt ambition had threatened the total
ruin of our free institutions. The verdict of the
country, in 1925. was repeated, with stiu more
emphasis, in 1892. Clay, himself, was then the
oe candidate fhs party, and, out of2S6 electoral
votes, he received barely 49,
SHALL THE VERDICT BE REVERSED.
1t is nearly twenty years since the commission of
he high offence for whichMr. Clay was thus con.
lemned; and he now has the efrontery to seek a
.euersal of that verdict which was pronounced up
IN his case while the fact was still recent, and all
Is circumstances were fresh within the memory |
fthe people. Ifit is reversed at all, it must be |
lone, not on the ground of newly discovered tes-
imony and established innocence, but on the same
'riDciple upon which condemned felon receives
pardon from the Executive. And what has Mr..
Ilay done to entitle him to his country's clemcn-