The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-06-30

wastwenty four es0h State, according to tho oenst
tion, being entitled to ono vote in tho House, Tor
President. The preferences Of members were un-
derstOod to be ss follows. by States, via-For
Adams, 2; jackson, Z; Crawford, a; Clay, 4-no-
oessary to choice, IL. 1t was, therefore, in tho
power of Mr. Clay and his rends to give tho election
Ieived that the friends Of Mr. Crawford generally,
Mt that time preferred Adams to Jackson; and il
MI. Clay and his followers had given their votes to
jackson, the election Of Adams would still have been
probable, through the support Of the Crawford meD
and thus the coalition would have been Of aoother
character from that which triumphcd and in ocase-
quence doubtless, was the cause Of the ruin Of Mr.
Clay 'sfature prospects for the Pre- sidcncy.
The friends Of Con. jackson were, however,. oon-
dent in the belief Of Mr. Clays power to settle tho
question Of the election in favor OF their candidate
Efforts were accordingly made to induce him TO de-
clare for Jacks0n but when his determination bs-
came known understood he was assailod with
anonymous letters and threats Of various kinds At
last the ccl.bned charge of bargain and corruption
was made in = jet,er published in tho Cot.Mbiaa
ObsorG, OF Philadelphia, aui dated Washington,
January Is, 1875 This letter afterwards
avowed by George kremer, member Of tho House
from Pennsylvania. The charge was, that
lures had been made by the Clay mon to the friends
Of jackson and refuse d. but that it then ascer-
taned that Henry Clay had transferred his interest
to John Quincy Adams. AS u consideration for
this abas6onment of duty to his constituents, it is
said and tIlievod, (adds the lettor) should this
nOiy COALITION prevail Clay Is 10 DO 500
retsry Of State" This allegation Mr. Clay los.
no time in denying. in a card published in
tho National inteuigeaco, in which he pro-
nounces the author Of the letter "a base and infa-
nous caumniator. and called upon him. whoever
he might be, TO come out boldly aud avow his name,
adding that he would then hold hm responsible
to AL the laws which govern and requisite men Of
honor
tho letter, Mr. Clay appealed to the House, aud do
manded investigation. A committee was ap-
pointed consisting entirely OF the opponents of Mr..
Clays election 10 the Presidency; but in oonso-
qutnce OF Mr.. klemers declining TO appear before
them, the matter suffered to drop. But this
charge Of bargain and corruption kept up against
Mr.. Clay, IN various ways tor years afterwards and
was the main cause of alternating tho feelings Of
large portion of the people Of the United states,
which otherwise might have boon drawn towards
him.
Mr. Adams was elected President by the Hoase Of
Re eprese tatiyes in February, 1926 by tho aid of
Mr. Clay and his friends lie received the votes Of
thirteen States on the first ballot, jackson soven
States, and Crawford four. Mr.. Clay was appointed
Secretary Of State by MIR. Adams. Many Of his
friends, (away from Wash,ngton) were of opinion
that he ought to decline the ofce but the prepon-
derance Of opinion among Them in favor of his
acceptance, and he accordingly coniormed to that
opinion, and Vas the leading member of the cabinet
OF John Quincy Adams.
Mr. Clay's principal objection to General Jackson
for President was, that his qualification WAS only
that of Il military ohieaain and he had all along,
before the election declared himself opposed to the
elevation Of mere military men to the first Office in
the gift Of the people, Many Of Mr.. Clas's political
opIorents approved Of his vote in favor OF Mr. Adams.
Among othcrp, the regular democratic candidate for
President in 1924, William IL. Crawford, wrote Mr..
Clay ~ follows
WoooL,wn, Feb 4, 1875.
NV DEan SRI hope you know too welt 60 suppose
tLst have tL chsrgo corruption which
hs reiterated against you The truth Is Iappro,cd
q your vote when i Was given aud wonld have voted
you did between .,ackscn and Adams. But candor
mo IN fAatt dot .pti
cslec under him. wM. H. CRAWFORD.
Mr.. Clay, in reply To this letter, says-
My own Judgment rather opposed 10 my acceptance
Of tie peps ncnt OF state; but my friends-nd let
asd Mr Forsyth Of Georgia urged strongly not to
decline H. II vas rrprescnted by my fticnds that
si,c nd get credit for the fotboArancc but thst
on the corns it would be said thst my fcbearancc
evidence oi having nadc absIgsin though unwilling
t,eSecuto IL. ias, ara o,hef sim'iar arguments were
pressed on me and after weeks deiiteraton yielded
20 their force II Is 1ai'e possible that may bayo erred
! shall at least, hsve no consc sf sca rcrroach.
During the administration Of Mr.. Adams this
charge OF bargain and corruption against tue rresi
dent and Secretary of state renewed, and
tnued through the whole term of four years. fnrm-
ing The principal ground Of eieotioneoring during
tho Presidential campaign, which resulted IN the
defeat ct Mr. Adoms. and the election oC GeneTal
Jackson to the Presidency
Mr.. C!ays career AS Secretary Of State was
marked BY many important suggestions and nego-
tiatiops HIS favc,ite project ot Congress Of Ma
although sanctioned by the various branches OF our
government, was failure, owing to the want Of
tull cooperation the part Of the South Ame-
lican governments, and lack of any definite plan
of agreement among the different powers concerned.
Tho affairs of the Office Of Secretary Of State were
ably managed curing the four years Of Mr. Ciay's
continuance III that office
After the election of General Jackson, Mr. Clay
retired TO private life, his farm Mt Ashland--a
beautiful scat, situated about Il mile from Lexine-
ton, Kentucky. In the autumn Of 1881, he was
elected to the United States Senate, by the Legsla
ture Of Kentucky. About the same time he was
nominated by a National Convention Of anti. Jack
sonmen, national republicans assembled ut Bal
tmoio, Tor President Of tho United States, to run
as candidate in opposition TO General jackson
lt was great mistake on the part of Mr. Clay in
accepting this nomination for the Presidency for
there were no possible chances of success, and n
personal defeat by General jackson suro to mar
his future prospects for The Presidency. The anti
masonc party had been formed, and nominated
Mr.. Writ ms their candidate; that party contained
large numbers OF the former supporters Of Mr..
Adams, without whose aid very few of the States
opposed to General jackson could be carried. Tho
consequence might havo been ioreseen General
jackson was 70 elected by an overwhelming ma
jority of the electoral votes. which stood Jackson
2i9: Clay, 40; Writ (VernonD, Z; Floyd (the
vote OF South Caroina), IL. These last we're given
against Gen jackson on account OF the quarrel be-
tween him and Mr.. Calhoun, which brought about
the Duifcation agitation.
Mr. Clay took his scat in the United States Se-
nate in December, 1881 and reelected for ano.
thor term Of six years in ISL. lie resigned his
seat in February, 1872, after having boen in oou-
t1uous service In the Senate for nearly eleven
years. During this Senatorial career many im-
portant measures were agitatod and settled, among
others, the celebrated Compromise Tariff bill,
with Mr.. Clay, which settled the nui.
fcalion question in March, 1888 Mr.. Clay also
brought forward his famous Land bill to distri-
butte the proceeds of sales among the States, which
passed both houses, but failed in consequence Of
.be refusal OF Gen jackson to sanction it,
But one Of the great measures which Mr.. Clay /
exered bis strcrg 9Th carry through Congress was
the attempt TO re-charter the bank of the United .
States. That bill passed both houses Of Congress-,
but was vetoed by Gen. jackson; who subsequently
removed the government deposits from that ilstitu
ton For this last measure the President was CEN
sured by vote OF the Senate, ia resolution \
by MIR. Clay. There can be no doubt
that the active opposition of Mr.. Clay to Gon jack
son, during his Senatorial career. greatly increased
the number of his opponents as asprant for tho