The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-09-07

OF Il in the Florida negotiation Yet be decided t"s'
he was the httest man among several eminent c'li'
Ms 10 preside al the head OF the Governmeni, ana
cave him his vote aud influence He received IN
eoaseq uence, the Office Of Secretary Of State lie
unsitlingy declared, as one Of his reasons for pre-
ferring Mr. Adams, thst he considered the offce oil
Secretary OF State 10 the line oil sale preeeoeh's
for the Presidency, thus exposing mou'e ~hich nc
nigh, have had for placing himself IN tha' 'ine he
is known to have used these words, IN reference 10
Mr. Adams and himself, give US patronage and We
Will make ourselves popular"
This is a summary statement OF the evidence upon
which the American People chose 10 render verdict
of condemnation against Mr.. Clay.
MIR. Clay contends that the charge Of bargain, IN
trigue and management, was not proved The proofs
were indeed, only crcumstantial; but the nature OF
| the alleged offence scarcely admiuedsbf any other
When men make corrupt bargains they do not have
the agreement drawn up and engrossed on parchment
by conveyancer, signed, sealed and delivered IN
the presence of witnesses, acknowledged before no
,ary or justice Of the peace, aud recorded IN the
clerks office of the county court 10 such transactions
among wise men word, wink, or nod sPeaks
volumes and in judging of such transactions, the
great tribunal of public opinion does not confuse and
perplex itself with wire-drawn arguments, touching
flaws in the Indictment technical bubbles, and trvI
al infornaes in testimony il it did, no man of or
binary shrewdness would ever be convicted of polit
| cal corruption
But is Mr.. Clay's present conduct such as to give
this charge The lie' We find him now openly aud
publicly, in his name and person, melting his
partsans by promise of the divisions Of the spoils
and attempting to justify i, by the wholly inadmiss-
BILE plea of retaliation He is the first Presidential
candidate whoever stopped so low, or was SO reck-
less of public opinion, to appeal openly to corrupt
and sordid motives whatever his secret intentions
| givingsout might be.
Let US now take another view of Mr. Cay's char
acter. Ii is with reluctance that do this but the
nature of his attack on MIR. Tyler amply justIfes it
even demands it, We have a right TO inquire
what kind Of man he is who holds up Mr. Tyler to
the youth of the country example Of all that is
impure and dishonorable.
More than sixteen years ago, popular opinion,
which seldom fails instinotivey to seize upon
the most striking characteristic Of public man, fix
ed upon Mr.. Clay the nickname of the "modern
Acibiades," from his r, resemblance to Of the
most pr, figate, well ablest, of the renowned
men Of ancient time. His besetting sin of gambling
was confessed by himself the floor Of Congress, in
order to take opportunity of elaring that he had
rncunced 1t. His bographers admit it, and attempt
to paliate it by saying that he often gave back his
winnings. Within few years he has been heard 10
boast in this city, sappng his pocket, of the number
Of her msJestys pictures British soversgns that he
mad "bagged' the night before.
His duelling propensities and exploits are well
known He was the first Cabinet. minister to chal-
enge Senator for words spoken in debate, and that
Sepator, too, so impaired and cnfeebled by obvious
n6rmities of .mind and body, that TO truly chival-
mind, he would have been an object of furbear-
ance.
His alterations, from steady habits in other re.
spects are nowhere well known as in the
metropolis. We barely allude to what is not fl,
for public comment. Suffice it to say, that every
parent in the land might dread to see raised to
the Presidency, man to whom his sous nigh,
point as an example in palliaton Of their vices, and
asa proof that man could become great DOW erful
and admired, in spite of immortality We never ye,
haSs had &. G hs%ly M aay g" '"%
We have SAID that these repeated and uncalled for
attacks by MIR. Clay on President Tyler, are both
malignant and unjust We think that they betr,y
also some cowardce--poltcal cowardicc, at least.
Mr.. Clay we'll knows that il there was treachery
in the Wing party, Mr. Tyler not the traitor he
could not be said to belong to the party. But
another indiv dual high Mr.. Clay himself in the
confidence of that party, thoroughly and as long
identified with its principles and views, is il there
was any breach of party faith the obvious marL
for his indignation. 1t is true that Mr. Webster, a,
FauueiI Hall, declared that he disapproved the We
toes; but he declared also, that the Bank was ar
I" obsolete idea" He hardly would have remained
in the Cabinet unless he approved the Pres den !.
course generally; and he certainly did not think will
Mr.. Clay, that the members of his party degraded
themselves by taking Office under the Admins ra ton
Why should Mr.. Clay be altogether silent with
respec, to Mr.. Webster, and seek to discharge hi,
whole venom on Mr.. Tyler Simply because Mr.
Webster has large and powerful body of friends il
that party upon which Mr.. Clay depends for the fru
ton Of his hopes, whom it would be dangerous TO,
him to ALLEVIATE or offend while Mr.. Tyler. whom
he styles "a President without party was suppos
ed to be almost entirely defenceess and unprotected
Commend US TO such magnanimty.
Kr We would particularly and especially refer III,
reader to the repubheaiions in this number of tb,
Madisonian.