The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-09-13

creed lald down by his friends as the basis on
which he was supported.
PREPARES "To CONTROL THE EVENT"
From Gen. Jackson's popularity in the West
ern country, it became evident early in the year
1924, that he would carry off large portion of the
votes on which Mr. Clay had relied with great
confidence, rendering it doubtful whether he would
reach the House of Representatives as one of the
three highest candidates. In one of his Letters to
the Editor of the Western Argus, published in
1928. Mr.. Clay, under date Of February l6, 1923,
said:
"Judging from present appearances, the contest
will be between Mr. Adams and me-"
In another letter, dated March Is, 1924, he used
the following language, VIZ:
"New York continues to be contested State.
My decided opinion is that it will give its support
to Mr.. Adams or to me, perhaps divide it be-
tween US; in that case Mr.. Crawford cannot come
into the House. My friends are confident in the
belief that if enter the House as one of the three
highest, no matter with what associates, shall be
elected. If, contrary to all probability. Mr. Craw-
ford should obtain the vote OF New York, the con-
test for entry into the House, will probably be
between Jackson and me, In Maryland, Della
ware, and New Jersey, have reasons to count
upon some support. Without entering into fur
ther particulars, my opinion is, that my friends
have every motive for vigorous, animated and per-
severing exeron."
This shows that, instead of contest between
Mr. Adams and Mr.. Clay, for an election by the
electors, it had now become, in the estimation of
Mr.. Clay, struggle between him and Mr.. Craw-
ford or Gen. Jackson. for entry into the House. 49,
In May, 1924, two months after the date Of Mr.
Clays Letter to the Editor the Argus his friends
at Washington city Issued an Address, from which
the following is an extract, viz
"If, contrary to all probability, Mr. Clay should
not be returned to tine House, his friends, having
done their duty, will be able, 6y concentration, to
control the event. They will hold in their hands
the balance, They will determine between the op-
posing and conflicting interest and secure to the
country Republican Administration.
"Under all the views taken, it is determined to
recommend TO his friends to adhere to him steadily
and to await the issue now depending before the
people"
The authorship of this Address was ascribed to
Mr.. Clay himself. That it spoke his sentiments
cannot be doubted, when is recollected that he
was then in Washington, where it was issued, pre-
siding over the House ofRepresentatives as Speak
err. A design, "by concentration to control The
event." in the contingency of his not being return
ed to the House of Representatives, is here avow-
ed as the policy of Mr.. Clay's friends.
On the 18th ofJuly following, the friends of Mr.
Clay in OHIO issued an Address to prevent defec-
ton from his support in consequence of the grow
ing strength of Gen. Jackson, extracts from which
have already submitted.
In September, the Clay Committee in Kentucky
issued an Address, expressing the opinion that
there could be no election by the electors; that the
election must deyolve on the House OF Representa-
tves; and that no 81 ngle candidate could in that
body outnun,ber the vote of Mr. Clay They then
make the following declaration, viz:
'In fine, Mr.. Clay considers himself wholly in
the hands Of the peoples and we as his friends and
supporters, believing him worthy of our continued
exertions and that his prospects of success are still
unclouded and origiitcaing, avow our deermna-
ton, and we believe we speak the language oil all
his friends, to abide by preference to the last
If he should be returned to the House of Repre-
sentatives, we have little doubt of his final election
with the appreciation and applause of the majority
of the nation; but if any untoward circumstance
should prevent bis being one Of the three highest,
his friends in Congress, by throwing their weight
into the scale of the most REPUBLICAN AND Ma
TIoNAL candidate, will have il in their power to
defeat the ends Of political management, and see
that the Republic susains no injury"
The course indicated in the Washington, Ohio,
and Kentucky Addresses of 1924, was followed up
by Mr.. Clay in person. In October he met sevs
eral the Kentucky members of Congress in Frank
fort. One them, the Hon. T. p Moore, made
the following statement in Letter to Gen. John |
P. Van Ness, dated March 4, 1928, viz:
''In that month, Mr.. Clay, Mr.. Trimble, Mr..
C. A. Wickliffe, myself, and perhaps other men,
bers of the Kentucky delegation, casually met at
Frankfort during the session of the Court of APP
peas. There Mr. Clay, for the first time, expressed
to me apprehension that he should be excluded
from the House Of Representatives; and observed.
with seeming carelessness ofmanner, that it would
be best for us, in that case, to remain uncommt-
ted as to our second choice"
Another Of them, the Hon. C. A. Wickliffe,
now Postmaster General in letter to Gen. Van
Ness, dated March Ia, 1928, made the following
statement, viz:
"We entered pretty much at large upon the sub
ject My inquiries were more particularly direct
ed to his prospects of getting portion of the votes
oil the State of New York, having formed the opin-
ion that unless Mr. Clay could receive portion of
the votes of that State, he would not be returned
as one of The three highest candidates. Mr. Clay
replied that his friends in that State had it in
templa.inn lift were nractcahe to unite with the