Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-09-10
From Tie .Madi@nian.l
MIR. CLAY.
[pY Mr. wEDsrEn-lS 1912.


From very early period of his political ca
rcer Mr. Clay seems to have fixed his eye on the
Presidential chair as the goal which he desired,
and expected ultimately to obtain. Some men
have been found sufficiently unpreiending and
patriotic as 10 rest satisfied with the good which
their talents and energies could effect in the stu
alton to which they may have been elevated ny
the spontaneous choice OF The people, without
raising their aspirations any highcr-othcrS have
thought not OF the Presidency until the gradual
progression Of promotion and widely dissemina-
mated popularity have almost placed it within
their grasp, when the expectation OF being ee-
waited 10 the highest office in the gift ofthe people
has been the suggestion Of circumstances, not the
creation of their selfish ambition. No, 50 Mr.
Clay.
When the wears he numbered were barely SUI
ficient 10 qualify him for seat in the Senate OF
the United States, and he could almost without
suspicion, pretend to the innocence OF novice in
political intrigue. he extended his vision through
The long vista of party turmoil and revolution be-
fore him, and inten,ly scanned the whole scene.
that he might discover in turn all the tortuoStieS
and difficulties ofihe path which led to the covet-
ed prize beyond. To attain it, every energy has
been nerved; every plan and every scheme has
been employed, ILL the age OF 10 has overtalcn
HMM vain.
He has figured among statesmen in origina-
ting and supporting measures deeply affecting the
interests of the country, whether for veal or for
wo-it was with the expectation OF the Presidcn-
cy.
Hc has figured among partizans and intrigued
among politicians-it was with the expectation
OF the Presidency
He has poured his fluent strains of delibera-
tive eloquence in the Capitol-it was with the
expectation OF the Presidency
uo b,c coaanhi6o1 At 1,pporc NIL ~, tho Sfnmn.
ii was with the expectation of the Presidency.
He has promulgated opinions and condemned
ihem-he has joined parties and fcrmlcn Mem-
he has supported friends and abandoncd itcn.--
il was all with expectation of the Presidency
amid crcry change Of political opinion in himself
AMID ere'yrero!ution Of porty-wdethcr he tras Re
prcsent0tire, Senator, Commissioner IN a forcisn
oonntry, or qn'tted has popular position 10 become
Secretary Of STATE, he nerer los, sight of the ono
great otjeet-Me Presidency. As soon as he
thought his arrangements made, his forces pre-
pared, and the plan Of campaign complete, he
entered the field, and he aros dcftated AGAIN DE-
rEATED in open warfare, he experienced, in 1899
the additional degradation and disappointment Of
being rejected byhis orn friends Vexed and har
raised BY reiteration of defeat where stands he
now9 Upheld BY his own desperation and the
recklessness of few desperate friends he affects
the modesty of retirement, while he promises in
directly renewal of the contest
Directly, he promises no such thing-but in the
morbid pecriMlncss n frustrated ambition, 1--WE
will not quote an old and familiar adage, heassails
personally, well as politically, one whose posi-
he envies, because he has, by long reyeres on
his own aspirations persuaded himself that he
should be there himself But where is he now? AT
every struggle he is sinking farther and farther
from the object he wishes TO grasp Are his
hopes Of the Presidency brghterl
His most sanguine friends cannot confidently
make the assertion
Has he met the punishment which usually at
tends a constant tissue ofntrigue The calcula-
tons of his cunning have deceived him. and he
is farther from the Presidency than ever.
Yes farther than ever. JIhcn he betrayed the