Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1844-10-18
A STRONG MAN STRUGGLING IN A
MORASS,

Il really pains US, we must confess, to see even
political opponent in the awkward dilemma in
which Mr.. Clay's reckless ambition has placed him
in the present contest. 1t grieves US to sec him
so tar immeres in the quagmire of political trick
cry and deception, that every desperate plunge he
makes to extricate himself, only sinks him the dee
per. We have no doubt, but that his friends in
the South, whilst he was making his "pleasure
trip" last spring, in consultation, advised him that
the most political course he could adopt, would
be to go dead against Texas, and accordingly he
did so. Subsequent events prove how hard it is
even for the oldest and most sagacious stager in
political tactics to trim his sails so to catch the
popular breeze when conscience and patriotism
are lost sight Of
When Henry Clay wrote his Raleigh letter, he
left entirely out of view-he chose to forget-that
when that same Territory of Texas was coded a.
way to Spain by Jno. Q. Adams, as Secretary Of
State, pronounced the act unconstitutional-he
chose to forget that whilst Secretary Of State, I'M
under Mr.. Adams, he, Oh. Clay } in 1925 & 1927,
gave his unqualified acquiescence to the principle
now contended for by the Democratic party, by in
structing our Minister in Mexico, opurchase Tex
as from that country although Spain had not then
acknowledged the independence of our Southern
neghbors--he chose to forget that he then thought
it was most desirable acquisition-so much so
that he thought five millions of Dollars would be
we'll expended on its purchase. And why, reader
do you suppose did he, all at once, become SO obv
iOuE of all that he had done and said in relation to
this NATTER at antecedent periods in his political
life! The reason was, that he thought he would
secure for himself the support of the abotionists
whom he atteringly styles in that celebrated epis-
tie, ga respectable portion of the American people"
But this same Mr.. Clay has since seen that the
great masses of the American people have risen in
their might, and demanded the remuneration of
that beautiful country, which was once a portion
Of our rightfnl Territory.-He has seen that the
people of the South know perfectly well to whom
he alludes. when he speaks of ga respectable por-
ton Of the American people," He has seen that
the popular current il running dead against his
anti-Texas position, assumed in that letter; and
coon like, he has taken the "back track" He
has written ether letters since in which he endea-
vors to create the impression that NOW he's as
good Texas man as any going. But Henry Clay
has miserably miscalculated the intelligence and
good sense of the American people, when he thinks
he can gull and deceive them by such miserable
shifts as those resorted to in his Janusaced letters
on the Texas and Tariff questions. The people
Of this country can place no confidence in any
man, whose political summersets on such grave &
important questions as these, succeed one another
in such rapid succession, that they have hardly
time to witness and condemn one, before another,
follows in hot haste upon its heels But as Mr..
Clay says himself, in his letter to G. NJ Clay, his
situation is peculiarly delicate at this time, (des.
perate would have been more appropriate and
consequently, he may be driven into these miserar
bic shings and tricks, which, under other circum.
stances, he himself might repudiate. Contrast
with this tortuous course of the Federal candidate,
the plain, manly, straightforward manner in which
Jane X. Polk marched up to the Texas question,
the very first moment it was presented to him; and
also contrast the calmness and dignity with which
he has maintained his stand there, with the vacil
Iating and deceptive manner in which Henry Clay
has treated the question, during two or three
months past and then let any, man ask himself
which of these two men is best entitled to the suf-
hsges Of fes and enlightened people, and his an
sweT must be,.we think, jfhe does justice to the
- q '-.o.s-.;~S,,.n f..un- Y Dou.