The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-06-28
.FRANKyonr, JAN. 10, 1925.

my first wish in regard to THIS SUBJECT ana II is one
dictated both by personal paralites and conside-
rations of the public good) would be that JACK
SON should be President, and Clay his Secretary
of State, and I really do believe that the common
good is more concerned in Clay's being Secretary
ofState than it is in the question whether Jackson
or Adams should be President"
We append another extract, from this same letter,
to show the political morals of that time, as well
as the slavish devotion TO the interests Mr.. Clay
which was then inculcated upon the Kentucky
members.
"I voted Tor him, [Calhoun,l it is true, as Vice
President, but did it because thought he was
the ADLER man. If had thought Cay's interest
would have been advanced hairs breadth by
voting against Calhoun it would have been done "
This letter was published in the Kentucky pa
pers in 1928, and its authenticity has never been
denied. When it was written, Crittenden had
not vet learned that Jackson had refused to bargain
for the Presidency, and he therefore expressed his
honest preference for Jackson as President.
THE LINE OF "SAFE PRECEDENTS." y
But Mr.. Clay has indiscreetly given US evidence
upon this subject from his own pen.
In his letter to Judge Brook, he says, "There is
every reason to believe that we shall avoid the
dangerous precedent to which allude." That
"precedent" was the election of Andrew Jackson.
In his address to his constituents, of March 26,
1925, he says,
"In his [Andrew Jackson's] elevation to this
office, ] thought perceived fearful precedent;
and am mistaken in all the warnings of instructive
history if erred in my Judgment
But how did he regard the elevation of Mr. Ad-
ans? In the same address last quoted he says,
81 saw in his election, the establishment of no
dangerous example. / saw in il on the contrary,
only conformity to the safe precedents which had
been established in the instances of Mr.. Jefferson
Mr.. Madison and Mr.. Monroe, who had respective
ly filled the same office from which he was to be
| translated"
Connect with this declaration, the fact that Clay
became Adams Secretary of State, and what does
it mean' Simply This: that as Jefferson, Madison,
and Monroe were successfully elevated from the
office Of Secretary of State to that Of President,
and as John Quincy Adams was about to be, by
his vote, so he himself could likewise be elevated
to the same office, after the expiration of Adams
term. This it was, that made the election of Ad-
ans "a safe precedent," and that of Jackson
dangerous" and "fearfu'' one. Mr.. Adams
would appoint Mr. Clay his Secretary of State
General Jackson would not. If Jackson would
| haus acraad tn .rro;nt Clay his Secretary, Crit
tenden desired, his election, without doubt, sin
the twinkling of an eye," would have been con-
verted into one of the most beautiful and accepta-
BILE of "precedents.'
CLAY'S CONTRADICTIONS.
| In his address to his constituents, of March Goth,
1925, Mr.. Clay asserted that before he had left
/ Kentucky in the preceding fall, he had stated to
two individuals, the one DR.. Drake, and the 9TH
er John j. Crittenden, his determination to sup
port Mr.. Adams, in preference 10 General Jackson" !"
On the 18th ofJuIy, 1927, nearly two years and
half after the election, in aspeech made at pub
JIG dinner, at Lexington, Kentucky, Mr.. Clay de-
| clared-
alt has been established and can be further prov
ed that, before left this state the preceding fall,
communicated IN seunra e~-'i~."-- -F tho highest
respectability, my fixed determination not TO vote
for General Jackson.''-[See Mallory's edition of
Clay's Speeches, vol ], p 54O
In an address to the public, dated December,
1927, Mr.. Clay reerates this assertion, and dwells
upon it at great length He also makes witness
of John j. Crittenden, and gets him to testify. in
letter, dated September Sd, 1927, that he, [Clayl
previous to going to Washington in the fall of 1924,
had said to him that it was impossible for him to
vote for Jackson GIN ANY EVENT" 1t happens,
however, that this is the same John ]. Crittenden
who wrote to David White, on the 10Th Of Janua-
ry, 1925, that he desired that JACKSON SHOULD
BE PRESIDENT AND CLAY HIS SECRETARY OF
STATE" and this, too, in letter which manifest
81 al 4
But, unfortunately for Mr.. Clay, he has himself
furnished ample contradiction of the truth of these
statements. His own address of March 26th, 1925,
abounds with declarations for the purpose of show
ing that he made up his mind to his vote for Ad
ans, after he arrived at Washington. We will
them in Mallory's edition.
Sup to near Christmas" says Mr. Clay, "it re-
mained uncertain whether Mr.. Crawford or myself
would bereturned to the House of Representatives.
That matter having been determined against Mr..
Clay, he adds
81 found myself transformed from candidate be-
fore the people, into eector for the people. ]
deliberately examined the duties incident TO this
attitude, and weighed all the facts before me,
upon which myjudgme'a Das to be- formed or re-
viewed" .u
Mr.. Clay here speaks of examining the duties
incident to "neU attit,lde," and OF judgment
which '',oas to BE- ejoyn,ed" Will any candid man |
pretend that such language agrees with the story
that he had previously determined his vote! Again
he says:
"I'hs srst inquiry which II behooved me to make
was, as to the influence which ought to be exerted