The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-06-05

III Iuc emu inc =C1IlIlIlls6 TSpOIteQ IUdI
he had declined to appear before 1t. send
ing instead a communication in which he
denied the power of the House to COM
pei him to testify. No further action
was taken, and in this shape, for the
time being. the matter rested.
Looked Like Bargain.
Soon. however, came the election OF
Adams by the House, followed quickly by
his appointment Of Clay as his Secretary
OF State. Though It Ii now generally ac-
knowledged that there had been no bar
gain between Adams and Clay, 1t was
natural that, Mt the moment, the rank
and file OF Jackson's following should re-
gard Clay's appointment as conclusive
proof that such a deal had been made.
BY accepting 1t Clay made himself the
victim OF c.rcumstantial evidence As q
matter OF fact. he hesitated to accept the
place, and finally assumed Its duties with
reluctance What chiefly determined him
was the belief that II he did not accept
1t would be argued that he dared not.
This to Clay was more obnoxious than
the other horn of the dilemma. He.
Therefore, took the alternate OF bold
defiance but in SO doing committed a
calamitous error.
A strong effort was made at the mo-
ment to- reject Clay's nomination. This
falling, tho cry OF bargain and corrup-
ton was again raised, and with 1t be-
gan another contest for the Presidency,
a contest longer and more scandalous
than any other in our political annals.
Everything that rancorous partisan in
yention could concoct was spread broad
cast by the Jackson journals; nor were
Clay and Adams the sole objects OF tbs
! storm of SANDER Charges of the most
infamous character were made against
Jackson, and infamed his animoslty
against Adams and Clay to degree that
approached insanity. jackson believed
CLAY capable OF anything of which the
latter could be accused. and he himself
gave currency to the bargain and COR
ruption' cry. which was printed. pla-
carded and harped upon throughout the
land. Clay on the other hand, was I'M
able on the stump to assume the line
of dignined refutation; and his language,
losing all restraint became tho vehicle
Z OF raging wrath. The result OF the con-
test was signal triumph for Jackson.
Even Kentucky. Clay's own State. went
against him. and Adams retired In the
shadow OF deep humiliation, Four years
ter when Clay himself was a candidate
against Jackson, he received but forty
nine out OF 2s6 electoral votes.
Fillmore and Weed.
A quarrel which ,unmade, II 1t did not
make, President was that between Mill
ard Fillmore and Thurlow Weed. Fill
more was one OF Weeds political dis
scoyerles and when they met for the
first time had Just graduated from the
wool carder's loom to the dignity OF a
law office In Buffalo. Fillmore. at Weeds
suggestion, was sent to the Legislature.
William H, Seward was there serving his
flrst term as Senator, and upon the day
that the Legislature met these three men.
one of whom was to become President,
another the idol of his party and secre-
tary OF State. and the third a maker Of
Governors Senators and Presidents, be-
gan an Intimacy that lasted for more
than twenty years. Fillmore. by Weeds
help, was sent to Congress, where he
speedily became one of the leaders of the
Wings, and also by Weeds direction
seward was elected Governor of and then
senator from New York Weed brought
about the nomination OF Fillmore for
Governor In 1874. two years later made
him comptroller OF the State. and In
lS48 helped him to second place on the
ticket with Taylor.
Taylor and Fillmore were elected. but
no sooner was the latter seated In Office
than the ambition for the succession
seized him. and desiring to break Weeds
power, which he feared. and Stewards
prestige. OF which he was Jealous. he
boldly turned his back upon his old
friends. He set out to create a machine
Of his own In New York, and when Of
sudden he became President, through the
death of Taylor, he filled the chief offices
In the State with men who We're loyal to
him. turning out others who had borne
the brunt Of the Wing party's battles.
Thus he struck at the very yitals Of che
organization, Of which Weed and se-
ward were the master spirits At the
same time he cultivated the Southern
wings and signed the fugitive slave law,
eve must match strength with him"
said Weed to Seward, "and show to the
country that although he is President he
does non control the Wings Of New
York" The test came In lssa, In the