Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1904-08-19

i Had not Alexander Hamilton been
the unyieldlng foe of Aaron Burr. the
latter, and not Jefferson, would have
succeeded the elder Adams; but even
more momentous in its consequences
was the long battle between Andrew
jackson and Henry Clay. When Jack
son first ran for the Presidency, i'll
1924, the candidates opposing him
were Adams, Crawford and Clay.
None OF the four secured majority
of the Electoral College and the cleo
ton thus deyolved upon the House,
with choice 10 be made from the three
candidates - Adams, Crawford and
Jackson-who had received the most
electoral votes. This debarred Clay,
who, forced. as he expressed II, TO
choose between two evils. announced
that he had decided to support Adams.
But Clays determination no sooner
became known than some of Jack
sons friends attempted to drive him
from it. The weapon used for this
purpose recalls one of the most dis
creditable incidents In our political
history.
Charge Against Clay.
A few days before the time set for
the election in the House letter ap-
peared in Philadelphia newspaper,
asserting that Clay had agreed to sup
port Adams upon condition that he be
made Secretary of State The same
-,
fered to Jackson's friends but none
of them would descend to such mean
barter and sale" The letter was
anonymous. but purported to be writ
ten by member of the House. Clay
at once published card, in which
he pronounced the writer "a bastard
and a liar who, if he dared avow his
name, would forthwith be called to
the field. Two days later the letter
was acknowledged by a witless mem
Der from Pennsylvania, kremer by
name, who asserted that the state
mants he had made were true. and
that he was ready to prove them. A
duel with such u character was out of
the question. Something, however,
had to be done. and Clay immediately
demanded an Investigation by spe-
cial committee of the House. Such a
committee was duly selected None
of its members had supported Clay for
the Presidency. Kremer promptly de
clared his willingness to meet the in
quiry; but in the end the committee
reported that he had declined to ap-
pear before it, sending instead com
munication in which he denied the
power of the House to compel him to
testify. No further action was taken,
and in this shape, for the time being.
the matter rested
Soon, however. came the election Oh
Adams by the House, followed quickly
by his appointment of Clay as his Sec
retary of State Though ii is now
generally acknowledged that there had
been no bargain between Adams and
Clay, it was natural that. at the mo-
ment, the rank and file of Jackson's
following should regard Clay's appoint
ment as conclusive proof that such
deal had been made. BY accepting 1t
Clay made himself the victim of cir
cumstantial evidence. AS IL matter OF
fact, he hesitated to accept the place.
and finally assumed its duties with re-
luctance. What chiefly determined
him was the belief that If he did not
accept it would be argued that he
dared not This to Clay was more OBJ
noxlous than the other horn of the iii
lemma. He, therefore. took the alter
native of bold defiance; but In SO do
Ing committed calamitous error.
A strong effort was made at the mo-
ment TO reject Clay's nomination. This
falling the cry of bargain and cor
ruption" was again raised. and with
II began another contest for the Presi-
dency, contest longer and more sean
dalous than any other in our political
annals Everything that rancorous
partisan intention could concoct was
spread broadcast by the jackson jour
nails: nor were Clay and Adams the
sole objects of the storm OF slander.
Charges of the most infamous charac-
ter were made against Jackson, and
inflamed his animosity against Adams
and Clay to degree that approached
insanity. Jackson believed Clay capa-
BILE of anything OF which the latter
could be accused and he himself gave
currency to the bargain and corrup-
ton cry. which was printed placard
ed and harped upon throughout the
land. Clay, on the other hand. was
unable on the stump 10 assume the
line of dignified refutation; and his
language, losing all restraint became
the vehicle of raving wrath. The re-
suit OF the contest was II signal tri-
uinph for Jackson. Even Kentucky.
Clays own State went against him,
and Adams retired in the shadow Of
deep humiliation. Four years later.
when CLAY himself WAS a candida ta