Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-08-24
nurraln. INTRIGUE aud Corruption.

Bargain, intrigue aud Corruption.
During the Presidential canvass OF 1911, the
howl was set up in the Wing camp, that I'
good Wing could vote for Mr.. Buchanan, who
was once said to have exposed the bargain, i'll
trigue and corruption, Of their immaculate idol,
Henry Clay. L, will he well for all such to
see where John Bell stood, at the same time,
on this subject. If they could not support Mr..
buchanan then, how is j, possible for them to
support Mr.. Bell? The following extract is
copied from the Nashville Union and Ameri-
eau, Il PAPER published at Mr.. Bells OWL home {:
From the Nashville Unionl
Hurmaiu. Intrigue mud CorruptIon-John
Fell and Henry Clay.
We see that our contemporary Of the Louis
vile Courier has al article upon the Bar
gain, Intrigue and Corruption charge, and
publishes an extract from the letter OF Mr.. Bell
in 1927, III which lie maintained that John
Quincy Adams had been elected to the Prcsi-
lency by means Of Bargain, Intrigue and Cor
ruptioll between Mr.. Adams and Mr.. Clay
The languasr of Mr.. Bell is: al have seen the
highest and most important office in The gov
eminent filled by means and under cireu'h'
stances atfording all the evidences Of Il coalition
formed upon the basis Of mutual dement's TO DC
received and conferred, Independently Oh any
controyerted point i'll the details that any gov
ernmcnt can ever expect the light OF, in any
combination that has been or may he entered
into, to defeat the will OF the people"
For the benefit Of those old warm-hearted
friends Of Henry Clay in Kentucky and other
Southern States who are NOW supporting Mr..
Bell, we publish today the entire corrcspon-
dence. 1t will be seen that the letter was writ
ten during the Administration Of John Quincy
Adams. At that time Mr.. Bell was a strong
Jackson man. We particularly invite attention
10 this letter:
NASHVILLE, Sept. 18th, 1927.
Gentlemen: 1 have seen with regret the
| efforts which continue 10 be made, in some Of
the public papers, to give Inc credit for politi-
cal attachments which | never felt. During
the late canvass in this district, persons were
not wanting who sought to ascribc to me srnti-
ments different from any ! entertained. In
this, they Iid me al injustice which was with
out any preteXt Of reason or truth, to palliatc
or excuse.
Influenced by these considerations, rcitcr-
ate that my opinions Of the present Admins.
tration are in accordance with what | believe
10 b. those of the great body uf the Rcpubii-
cans of the United States. | have seen the
highest and most Important Office in the gov
ernlucnt filled by means and under circum-
stances aiturding all the evidences ola coali-
ton formed upon the basis Of mutual benefits
to lie received and conferred, independently OF
any ]controrcrtcd point in the details, That tie
government can ever expect the light OF, III any
combination that las Gccn or may be entered
into to dclcat the will Of the people. .Ambi.
tious and aspiring politicians who have great
characters to sustain, and sense enoligii to
guard against the common plumbers OF less
p~racticed adopts in the arts Of intrigue and
management in forming coalitions, will but
seldom expose themselves 10 the danger Of de-
lection from positive proof. 1t is not, there
fore, in my view, Of so much Importance to
consider whether L possibility Of innocence
can be admitted in favor Of the parties ilnp!l-
Gated Is to determine whether the presurnp.
ton to the contrary is not so great III the pre-
sent instance that their continuance would be
incompatible with the safety and vel! being OF
our po itical institutions.
General jackson had been presented Il call
didatc for tue first Office in the gilt Of the people
i may SHY for the highest Office in honor and
dignity in the world, for the reason, that it Is
the gilt of a nation uG ~freclnen. The electors
Of the people, acting in reference TO their wish.
es, had pointed 10 him rs the object OF their
preference. Their opinions had been fairly
cxpressca-fully indicated; yet, when the
question was brought to the consideration Of
Congress, the preference thus manifested was
| disrcyarlcd and Il selection made contrary TO
the wishes of those who had Il right to direct
and govern; of this the ~lrcelncn of the United
States had a right to complain, and they did
complain nor will they, trust, cease to do
so until they shall have vindicated those rights
which were thus outraged and wrested from
them.
| am gentlemen, with The highest respect.
your fellow citizen, John BELL.
In addition to the above, we have it further
in our power to inform the old friends Of Henry
Clay, who arc now for Sr. Bell, that on the
+,h of July, 1887, a dinner was given in honor
Of Gen. Jackson, at Vanxhall Gardens, in this
city. Mr.. Bell was present, and gave the fol
lowing toast. He was llie!r u candidate for
Congr,si agains, Mr.. Grundy-both Jackson
men. Inc toast proposed by Mr.. Bell
10 tie indignant murmurs phich announce
II future distinct utfernnre IF II free TINT az
suttea pcople'swW-more terrible to tie guilty
statesman Mda tie 6atte'S din on tempests
rage