State journal & flag., 1846-10-09
The Bank ComiEEsissiOn.--AppO
nAent of Gov. Clay.

The Bank ConimissiOm---APpO
neuat of Gov. Clay.
We copy, below, IN compliance with the
request Of the author, an article from the
Huntsville Democrat, in reply to The str:c
lures of " Fellow Citizen" touching the ap.
pointment of Gov. Clay, as bank commits
sioner. Possessing, as it does, the impress
of editorial authority, this article is little
remarkable both for its tone, and temper.
1t charges lis with aiming "blows" at Gov.
Clay, and amending" them "wilh extracts
from the Montgomery Journal,--a wing
print" II the cautious denial, by the De.
mocrat, of the "inuendoes" OF "Fellow Cit-
zen" are of piece with this loose, and
unauthorized, charge it is not entitled to
any credence whatever. We have only re.
ferred to the appointment of Gov. Clay, SO
far as was necessary to introduce the SUBJ
stance of the articles of Fellow Citizen"
to the public On examining our files we
| find, that we have not noticed, editorialy in
in any way, the structures of the Journal
but have simply copied from the Watch
tower. an article in relation TO the guberna-
torial succession, which contains an extract
from the Journal, relative TO Gov. Clay's
appointment.
But we are told these blows" will recoil
on those who strike them "if they do not
bepare." Although we have not arraigned
Gov. Clay, as is charged, we are, neverhe.
less, very willing 10 bear all the response.
bility. that may attach to wha, we have thus
far said-or to what we may hereafter say.
should we deem il necessary, again, to recur
to this matter. 1t is not our wish, to incur,
without cause, the hostility of any man, or
set of men; but the Democrat mistakes
the character of the weapons it is using, if
it believes for moment, that fear of their
power-the power of all the parties it names,
and all their frends"-would, for mo.
meni, deter us from canvassing the sub.
ject of Gov. Clay's appointment, as freely,
and fully, as we would canvass any other
question of public interest.
The Democrat has, we conceive, un-
necessarily sought to identify Gov. Clay.
and "his friends" with this controversy.
The only questions, ultimately, at issue
are-lst. The right to make the appont-
ment: and, IDLY. the fitness, from locality,
of tho recipient of the office. No demo
cratic journal has made any charges agairs,
Gov. Clay and there is q degree of sen.
sitiveness evinced in this matter, by the
Democrat, which is calculated to do Gov.
, G. more harm than good. In addition to
this we do not see by what right Messrs.
Clay & Lyon, are identified with the political
fortunes of Gov. Martin. The 4" i'll. Judged
assaults" OF" Fellow Citizen, we are told,
are moi likely to conci;ate these gentlemen,
and their many friends" and bring them
to the support of Gov. Martins opponent.
This is certainly very cool! Pubi'c mat
tiers are not TO be discussed; the acts Of
public agents are not TO be canvassed i,
most important measure, connected with
our banks, to which the people look for
much good is not to be referred to the pro.
priety of the appointment of public agent
is not to be questioned-least Messrs. Lyon
d Clay, and " their friends" may be driven
to the support of Gov. Martin! This ar
gument is not in keeping with the usual
discrimination of the Democrat; nor is it in
keeping with the position it occupies to-
wards the democratic party. 1t is. evidently.
intended 10 bolster up the appointment of
Gov. Clay, by uniting in its behalf "he
friends" of all the gentlemen named. If
the appointment be defensabe on the
grounds, assumed by the Democrat -of
liability, integrity, and vigilant fidelity"
(Which we have, heretofore, admitted -and
also, on the ground Of local position (Which
We do not admit)-why resort TO so poor
subterfuge, TO justify it, as the personal
weight and influence of "a trio Of gentlemen
and "their friends"-whose detection is al.
most promised if the appointment is, in any
way, questioned. These arguments Of the
Democrat are calculated to do Gov. CLAW
injury, by making him party 10 an act,
the responsibility of which rests on other
shoulders; and by presuming 10 holding in
terrorum, over the democratic party, the de-
fection OF himself and "friends," if,he man.
ner of his nppointmen, is not quietly acqui-
esced in. The queries of "Fellow citzen''
imply, what is the general belief, that Gov.
Martin, without consultation with The com.
missioners promised Gov. Clay the appoints
ment. This opinion is strengthened by
these facts Gov. Clay departed from this
city tho day after the adjournment Of the
Legislature. The commissioners did not
meet in This city for two weeks there.
after. In the interval, it was ascer,ained
that Gov. Fitzpatrick would not accept the