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

advice which he gave to his friends as we have
already shown, before the election. Although
this silence immediately attracted the attention OF
it was fully understood Men were unwilling to
believe that treachery, SO base, was contemplated
by one who stood SO high in the Republican par
ty Subsequent events enlightened the public
mind and the question was asked, with whitening
power, 'Why did Mr.. Clay preserve SO strict a
silence 10 regard to his intentions to the Presi
dental election, if it was not that he was engaged
in that very intrigue, and bargain, and corruption
afterwards charged upon himp In his address to
his constituents, shortly after the election by the
House, he would have the public believe, that his
suppression his opinions was from his regard to
'delicacy and decorum:'-he who, before, had ev-
er been proud of the; frankness and perfect unre-
serve which was characteristic Of the men of the
west!-Vain excuse! His whole subsequent life
gives the lie to his pretence of delicacy and deco.
rum.' He, certainly, could not have desired time
to form his opinions as to the relative merits of the
two candidates. He had long known them, and it
would have been passing strange for him to have
mained undecided, upon question, on which the
very humblest man in the land had long since made
uphis mind.
THE INSTRUCTIONS OF CL.aY'S con-
STITUENTS.
Congress had been but few weeks in session,
when the delegation from Kentucky received in
structions from the Legislature Of their State,
which, it was supposed at the time, would render
their vote absolutely certain for General Jackson
Mr.. Clay had always professed the doctrine, that
the representative should obey the will of his
stituents. The following is an extract of a speech
made in Congress by Mr.. Clay, in January, 1917,
and published in the National Intellgencer of that
date:
sad Wh 4 Was hsn he had Ia ha R h ap N.Y.
of his constituents or what the euidenees of it,
it was sufficient that he should know it. In all
cases of ofexpedency; he held the doctrine of an OBJ
legation on his part to observe the instructions, ex
press or implied, of his constituents
The following were the resolusions which were
adopted by the Legislature of Kentucky:
.Resolued bythe Senate ami House of Represen-
tat,ves Of the Commonwealth Of Kentucky, That
the members of the House of Representatives in the
Congress of the United States from this State be re-
ouested to vote for Gen. Andrew Jackson as Pres
ident of the United States.
sResolved as the opinion OF this Legislature,
That Gen. Andrew Jackson is the second choice
Of the State Of Kentucky for the next President OF
the United States; that very large majority OF the
people of this State prefer Gen. Jackson to Mr..
Adams or Mr.. Crawford, and that the members OF
the House of Representatives in the Congress oil
Ntn
quest herein signfed, faithfully and truly repre-
sent the feelings and wishes of the good people of
Kentucky.-[See Nsles' Register, vol. 27, p. 32l.
These resolutions passed the Kentucky Legisla-
ture by vote of 81 out of ia members, some Of
the few who voted against them declaring that they
did so, not because they were in favor OF Mr.. Ad-
ans, but because they deemed the interference Of
the Legislature unnecessary. Thus, said an eo-
quent opponent Of the Adams dynasty, was Mr..
Clay's obligation to vote against Mr.. Adams CON-
pleted. 1t was triple cord, composed of honor,
principle and duty-honor in relation to himself
principle in relation to his own declarations, and
those of his friends, especially in Ohio and duty in
CORD SNAPPED AsUNDER.
AS an excuse for his disregard of the will of Ken
lucky, Mr.. Clay afterwards set up the pretenct
that his constituents were merely the voters ofh'
own Congressional district, and that he owed nc
allegiance to the mass of the people of the State
But this excuse is almost too frivolous to be wor
thy of notice, because in giving the vote of Ken
lucky in the election Of President by the House
he was, in fact, the Representative of the entire
State, mot of fraction of the State.
RU.MORS OF CLaY'S TREaCHER
Some rumors of Clay's bargain with Adams be-
gan to be circulated about month before the cleo
ton. A little while previous, tale had beer
started that Jackson had resolved that, in case he
should be chosen President, he would make Adam.
his Secretary of State. This was undoubtedly
done by Mr.. Clay's friends, for the purpose o
sounding Gen. jackson as to Mr.. Clay. Mr.
Buchanan, of Pa, called on Gen. Jackson, and in
terrogated him as to the truth of this tale. He re-
ceived from the General this characteristic an
swer:
THAT these were secrets he would keep to him
self-he would conceal them from the very hairs
of his head. That if he believed his right HAND
Of appointments to office, he would cut it off and
cast il into the fire. That if he should ever be
elected President it would be ,oithout solicitation
and toithout intrigue on his pat.'-[See Buchan
ans Letter, Miles Register, uoL 80, p. 4l6.
Several of Mr.. Clay's friends had not hesitatet
to proclaim that they meant to make use of the bal
ance ofpower to control the arrangements Of the
new administration, and when they were informed
of Jackson's determination not to bargain for the
Presidency, they doubtless turned their attention
exclusively to Adams. In him they CHANGED tc
find more congenial spirit
LETTER TO THE "COLUyMBLa.N OBJ
SERVER"
Towards the last of January, that, which mer
had at first deemed founded solely upon idle ru
rumors, too monstrous for belief began to heartht
sober aspect Of truth and certainty. On the 2sth O
January, the following startling letter, purporins
to have been written by member of Congress
was published in ''the Columbian Observer" a