'pref'er‘enc'e to General Jackson.
-ple to an elector.
' .1 .~.
_._,.._. .n._____._.L.-
ADDRESS MR. CLAY --
To HIS c'o'Ns'1‘i't‘UF.-NTS‘.
The relations ofyour rcpreseiitaiiv'e and of
_1'ottr neigltbor in which I have so long stood,
‘ttttdfiti whibhl have experienced so many
strong proofs ofyour confidence, "attachment,
, .~..,_ —. 1. .. ,-
‘ ‘and friendship, ltavingjust been, the oite ter-
,__ ‘ initiated, and tlte other suspended,I avail my-
'_ sgelfof the occasion on taking, I hope a tent-
‘potary, leave ofyou, to expressmy unfeigned
gratitude for all your favours, and to assure
you that I shall clicrislt a foitd and unceasing
recollection of them. Tlte extraordinary cir-
cumstaticcs in which, during tlte laie session
nfCongress, I have been placed, and the tin-
tnerited aniniadvc rsions which I have brought
upon myself, for an honest and faitlifiil dis-
tltarge of my public ditty, foriti.ait additional
motive for this appeal to your oartdotir and
justice. If, in the office whichl have just
left,I have abused yoiir confidence and lie-
trayed your interests, I caii'not- deserve your
support in that on the duties of which I have
now entered. On the contrary, should it ap-
pear that I have been assailed without just
cause, and tltat misguided zeal atid interested
passions have singled me‘ out as a victim‘, I-
cannot doubt that I shall contirtiic to fittd, in
the cnliglitetted tribunal of the public, that
eltceririg countenance and impartial judg-
ment, without wltlcli a public servant cannot-
possibly discharge with advantage the trust
confided to him. '
It is known to yoti,tltat my name had been
prcseitti»-d, by the respectable states of Ohio,
Kr-iituclty, Louisiana and Missouri, for the
_ office ofPresidcrtt, to the consideration ofthe
At-nerican public, and that it had attracted
some attention in other qitarters ofthe Union.
W'lten-, caily in November last, I took uiy de-
partnre front the district to repair to this city,
the issue ofthe Presidential election before
tlte people was iiitknown. Events, howevez,
had then so far transpired as to render it
-- highly probable that there would be no elec-
tion by the people, aitd that I should be ex-
cluded from the House of Representatives.-
.- I: became, therefore, my duty to consider, 8:.
to make tip an opinion on, the respective pre-
. tensions ofthe tltrcc gentlemen that‘. might
. he returned, and at that early pcri‘od’I- stated
to Dr. Drake, one of? the I-’rofesso'rs in the
Medical School of 'I-‘rattsylvatiia University,
‘_:l§I(‘l to John J‘. Ct'itt'er2den, Esq: of Frankfort,
ttty deteruiiitzition to support Mr. Adams in
I wrote to
Charles Ilantniond, Esq. of Cincinnati, about
the same time, and ineiiiioned certain object-
" ions to tltc election of M r. Crawford, (among
wliicli wasthat ofltis continued ill liealtli.)ihai
stppearedto me almost insuperable. During
A my journey hither, and tip to near Christmas,
:il‘i"oii’r» information ntade it highly probable
that the vole ofLonisiana would be given to
me, and that I should consequently be return
ed, to the exclusion of Mr. Crawford. And,
whilst that probability was strong, I coniiitu-
nicated to Mr. ScnatorJolinston, front Loti-
” isiana, my resolution not to allow my name,
in consequence oftlte small number of votes
by wliiclt it would be carried ittto the Hon-c,
' iflwerc retu_rned, to constitittc an obstacle,
for one ntontent, to an election in tltc House
of Representatives. _
During the rnonilis ofDcc. aitd Jau.profcs-
sionsofiitiltouiitlctl admiration of me, were
. ll‘1‘ltle to my friends by some oftlte friends of
all the returned candidates. Iseemed to be
the favorite of every body. Describing my
situation to a distant friend, I said to him, ‘'I
am enjoying, whilst alive, the posthumous
ltonors which are usually awarded to the ven-
erated dead.” A person not acquainted with
liuntan nature would ltave been siirF*ised, iit
listening to these praises, that the object of
them had not been elected by general accla-
ination. Noitc made more or wariiter mani-
festations of these sentiments of esteem and
ziduiiration, than some of the friends of Gcti.
Jackson.‘ None were so reserved as tltose of
1\_l'r.Adams; under an opinion, (as "I have
learnt since the election,) which they early
imbibed, that the western vote would be only
influenced by its own sense ofpnblic duty ; &.
that ifitsjudginent pointed to any other than
.i\ilr. Adams, nothing which they could do
would secttre it to him. These professions
8:. manifestations were taken liy rue for what
they were worth. I knew that the siinbeams
would quickly disappear, after my opinion
I should be ascertained, aitd that they would
he succeeded by a storm. I found‘ myself
trai*‘sforuted front a candidate before the pen-
I deliberately examined
the duties incident to this new attitude, a-tit:
weighed all the facts before me, upon wlticli
my judgment was to be founded or reviewed.
Ifthe eagerness ofaity oftlte heated partisans
-of the respective candidates suggested a tar-
diness in the declaration of nty intention, I
believed me‘ the new relation, in which I was
placed to the subject, imposed on me ati obli-
gation to pay some respect to delicacy and
decorum. Meanwhile that very reserve
supplied aliment to newspaper criticisiii.——
Letters were issiir-d from the ntaiiitfactory at
.Wasliiitgtoit, to come. back, after perforniing
long journeys, for I'\"a.~ltington consniuption.
Letters imputed to “ Iilr Clay and his friends
a mysterious air, a potentous silence,” Sac.-
Frout dark and distant iiints the progress was
I:as_v,to open and bitter denunciation. Anon-
,_3.rnous letters, full ofmeuace and abuse, were
almost daily poured in upon itie. Personal
threats were_coininunicated to mi-,tltto’ friend-
ly organs, and I was kindly apprised of all the
glories of village efl‘igies.wliii-It awaited me.
).\"o man but myself could know the nature,
‘eitient and variety of means which were cut-
iloyed to awe and influence me. I bore them
I trust as gyottr representative ought-to ltave
ltottie tliein, and as becariie me. Then fol-
lowcdlthe letter, afterwards adopted as his
- own by Mr. Kiemcr, to the Colombian O|is’r.
li\’laen I saw the letter, alleged to be wriiteti
by a mcittbcr of the very I-louse over which I
‘yvas presiding .; a member with wlioiit I might
be daily exchangiitg, at least on my part,
frietidly salutations, and who was possibly re-
ceiving front me constantly acts of couriesey
and liiiitlitess, I felt that I could no longer
remain silent. I issued my Card. I ought
not to have put in it the last paragraph, bc
cause, although it does not necessarily iiuply
the resort to it personal combat, it admits or
that construction: ttor will I conceal that such
It possible issue was witltiit my conteitiplatioit.
I owe it to the coitiiittiiiity to say. that what-
_e\'€l hereiofere I-tllay have done, or, by inev-
itable eiicuiustaiices, might be forced to do,
no in-an in it holds indeci-er abliorrence than
I do, that periticious ;...:~.ciice. L‘ontlciut;ed
as it must be by tltejuilguzciittiiitl philosophy,
n
in say iiotlting ofilte religion, of every tliink—
iug titan, it is ab affair of feeling about WItlt‘ll
we cannot, although we should reason. Its
true corrective will be found when all shall
unite, _as,a'll ought to unite, in its unqualified
prescription. _ .
A few days after the publication of my
Card, " Another Card,” under Mr. Ki‘emer’s
name‘, was pitblished in the Ititelligencer.'—
The night before, as I was voluntarily inform-
ed, Mr. Eaton, a senator, from Tennessee,
and the Biograplier ofGeneral '.lacks-on, was
clOSel€(If0t' sometiiite with him. Ardent in
his attachment to the catise which he had es
poused, Geit. Jackson is his idol, and ofhis
blind zeal others have availed themselves, and
ltave made ltiin their dupe and their itustru
merit. [do not pretend to know the object
of Mr Eaton’s visit to ltiin. I state the fact,
as it was communicated to me, audI leave
you to judge. Mr. Kreuicr’s card is cottiposed
with sttllle care and no little art, aitd he is
made to avnw in it, though soittewltat equivo-
cally, that he is the autltor ofthe letter to the
Coluiitbian Observer. To Mr. Crowninsliield,
a tl'tt:lDl)t-'1' from Massaclnisetts, fornterly sec-
retary ofthe Navy, he dz. ~‘.'ticd that he was
not the author oftliat letter. In his Card, he
draws a clear line of separation between my
friéitds aitd me, acqiiittiitgtlieiri, and under-
taking to make good ltis charges, in tlfat let-
ter, only so far as I was coiiceitied. The pur-
pose ofthis discrimination is obvious. At that
time the election was undecided, aitd it was
therefore as important to abstain front intput-
ations against my friends, as it was politic to
fix them upon me. If tltey could be itiade to
believe that I had been perfidious, in the
transport of tlteir indignation, they might ltave
been carried to the support of Gen. Jackson.
I rec’d the National Iutelligeucer, containing
Mr. I(retner’s card, at breakfast, oit the mor-
ning ofits ptiblication. As soon as-Iread the
card, I took my resolution. The teruis of it
clearly implied that it had not entered iitto
his conception to have a" personal affair with
me; and Ishoulil have justly exposed my-
selfto DllI'~VG‘l'S8-I‘ ridicule ifl had sought one
with kivn. I determined to lay the matter
before the House and respectfully to invite
ait investigation ofnty conduct. I accordingly
made a communication to the House, oit the
same (lay, the motives for which I assigned.
Mr.Kreiner was in his place, and when I sat
down rose and stated that he was prepared 8L
willing to substantiate his charges against me.
This washis voluntary declaratioit,ttnproinpt-
ed by" his aiders and abettors, wlio.liad no op-
portittiity ofpreviotis consultation with him
on that point. Here was ati issue publicly bl-
soleninly joined, in which the accused iitvok-
ed an inquiry ittto serious charges against
him, and the accuser professed ait ability and
a willingness to establish them. _A debate
ensued, on the next day, which occupied the
greater part ofit, during which Mr. Krcnier
declared to Mr. Brent, ofLouisiaiia, a friend
ofrniite, and to Mr. Little, of Maryland, a
friend ofG«en. Jackson, as they have certified,
‘ that he never intended to charge Mr. Clay
with corruption or disltouor, in his intended
vote for Adams as President, or that he had
transferred, or could transfer, the votes or in-
teiest of ltis friends; that be (Mr. Kramer)
was aiitotig thelast men in the itatioii to make
such a charge agttiiist Mr. Clay; aitd that his
letter was never intended to convey the idea
given to it.’ Mr. Digges, a highly respecta-
ble inhabitant of this city, has certified to the
saute declarations ofMr. Kremer.
A message was also conveyed to me, dur-
ing the discussions, through a ineinber ofilte
House, to ascertain ‘fl would be satisfied
with an explanation which was put on paper
and shown me, and which it was stated Mr.
Kremcr was willirtg, in his place, to make. I
replied that the matter was in ;he possession
of the House. I was afterwards told that Mr.
Iugltain, of Pennsylvania, got ltold of that
paper, put it imc his pocket, and that be ad-
vised Mr. Kramer to take no step without the
approbation of his friends. . Mt» 000k "I ml‘
nois, moved an adjournment of the H0use,on
information which he received oftlte proba-
bility of Mr. K.’s iitaking a satisfactory atone-
ment, on the next day, for the injury which
be had done me, which I ltave no doubt he
would ltave made, if he l.ad been left to the
impulses of his native honesty. The House
decided to refer my C0ll)lltulllGIlilOll to a com-
iitittee, and adjourned until the next day to
appoint it by ballot. In the iiieau time Mr.
Kreiner had taken, I presume, or rather there
had been forced upon him, the advice of his
_/iieitds, and I heard no itiore of the apology.
A committee was appointed of seven gentle-
men, of whom not one was my political friettd,
out who were among the iitost eminent meni-
bers ofthe body. For one ittotneiit be pleas-
ed to stop here and contemplate til r. Kreiiier’s
posture, his relation to the House and to inc,
and the liiglt obligations itndcr wlticli he had
voluntarily placed himself. He was a ntent-
bcr ofone ofthe most august assemblies upon
earth, of which he was bound to defend the
purity, or expose the corruptinii, by every
consideration which ought to influence a pat-
riot bosoiii. He had chosen, in art anony-
iitous letter, to brittg against his presiding of-
ficer charges oftlte iitost fiagitious cltaracter.
If true, that presiding officer merited iioi
merely to be dragged front the chair, but be
expelled t he House. He challenges an inves-
tigation into his conduct, and Mr. Kreiner
boldly accepts the challenge, and promises to
sustain ltis accusation. The coniiitittee, ap-
pointed by the House itself, with the coiiiitioii
consent of both parties, calls upon Mt‘. Kle-
nter to execute his pledge, ptiblicly given in
his proper place, and also previously given in
the public prints. ‘ Here is the theatre of the
alleged arratigeitiengsg iltis the viciti-age in
wliicli the trial ought to take place. Every
thing was here fresh in the recollection ofthe
witnesses, if there, were any. Here all the
proofs were concentrated. Mi‘. Krctiier was
stimulated by every motive which could irri-
pel to actiuii, by consistency of character ; by
duty to his cnnstitueiits--to his country ; by
that of redeeming his solemn pledge ; by his
anxious wish for the success of his favourite,
whose interests could not fail to be advanced
by supporting ltis atrocious charge. Brit Mr.
Kremer had now the benefit of the advice of
his friends. "He had no proofs, for the plain-
est of all reasons, because there was no triitlt
in his charges. Tney saw tliatto attempt to
tsiablislt tlieiit, and to fail, as he must fail, in
the atteittpi, might lead to an exposure of the
coitspiiacy, of wlticlt he was the orgati. They
advised thereloretliat he should make are-
tieat, and tltetr adroituess suggested that. in
an objection to that jurisdiciioii of ilte House,
whiclt had been adinitted, and in the popular
topics of the fr,cedoiti of the press, his duty to
, .
his constitiict‘i‘ls', and the ineqtiality in the
conditiotroftlte Speaker ofthe oiiiie and a
member‘ on the floor, plausible’ means, might
be found to deceive tlte igno’i‘arr't, and conceal
his digrace. A labotit-ed comntitnication was
accordingly prepared by them. in Mr. Kre-
nier’s name, and transtnitted to the commit-
tee, founded iipon these suggestions. Thus
the valiant champion, who had boldly stepped
forward and promised, as a Representative of
the people, to " cry alotid and spare not,” for-
eot all his gratuitous gallantry and boasted
patriotisiii, and sitn-k at once into silence. '
[~‘-lr. Clay next proceeds to assign the rea-
sons for his vote oit the Presidential question,
fsafter fully examining and stating the influ-
ence which ought to have been exerted on ltis
judgment by-the relative state ofthe electoral
votes which the three returned candidates
brought into the house front the colleges, and
showing that the fact ofa plurality ouglt! to
have but a very trifling, ifaiiy, weight, 81. eer-
iainly ought by no incansto he considered
binding’; and after rentarkiiig that the preca-
rious state of Mr. Ctawford’s health was an
insurmountable objection to ltis election to a
station which required the vigorous exercise
ofall the faculties ofa imitt in sound health ;
and that even ifilie votes ofilte western states
had been given to Mr. Crawford, it would on-
ly have had the effect ofprotracting the. de-
cision ofthe contest, to the great distraction
oftlte coiiittry, and possibly of defeating ait
election altogether; and it: thus appearing
that the only practical issuewas between Mr.
Adams and Gen. .Irit.-ksoii, he says—]
In considering. this only alternative, I was
not unatvare of your strong desire to ltave a
Western Presidciit, but I thought that I knew
enough of your patrimisin and magttaniiiiity.
displayed on so many occasions,to believe that
you could rise above theinere gratification of
sectional pride, if the coiitinon good of llte
whole required you to make the sacrifice oflo-
cal partiality. I solemnly believed it did,aitd
this brings n.e to the iitost important conside-
ration that belonged to the whole subject-
tliat arising out ofilte respective fitness oftlte
only two real coittpetitors, as it appeared to
my bestjudgtnent. In speaking ofGen.Jack-
son, I ant aware of the delicacy and respect
which are justly due to that distinguished cit-
izen. It is far from my purpose to attempt
to disparage him. I could ttot do it ifI were
capable of making the attempt ; but I shall,
nevertheless, speak ofhim, as becomes me,
with trutlt. Idid not believe ltiin to be so coin-
petent to discharge the various, intricate, and
complex duties of the office of Chief Magis-
trate, as his competitor. He has displayed
great skill and bravery as a military coitiman-
der; and ltis renown will endure as long as
the means exist of preserving a recollection
of human transactions. But to be qualified to
dis-_-liarge the duties o_fPresideni ofthe United
States, the incumbent must have iitore than
military aitaiitinents—he must be aStalcsman.
An iudiviiliial may be a gallant aitd success-
ful general, ait einin_eut lawyer, ati eloquent
divine, a learned pltysician,or ait acconiplisli-
ed artist ; but no one oftliesecharacteristics,
nor all oftltem ttititcd in one persoti, would
qualify ltini to be a Prc-sident, ttitlcss he su-
peradded that indispensable requisite of be-
ing a statesman. -Far from meaning to say,
that it is an objection {Ollie elevation, to the
chief magistiacy, ofany person, that he is a
military coipmander. if he iinites the other
qualilicatio’ns,I only intend to say, that what-
ever may be the success or splendor of his
military achievements. ifltis qualifications be
only inilitary, that is a decisive objection to
his election. If Gen. Jackson has exltibited,
either in the councils ofthe Uuioii, or else-
where, tlic qualities ofa statesman, the evi-
dence ofthe fact has escaped my observation.
It would be as paitifnl as it is unnecessary to
recapitulate sortie oftlte incidents ofltis pub-
lic life. But I was greatly deceived in my
jutlgment iftltey proved him to be endowed
with that prudeitee, temper, aitd (liscreliott,
which are necessary for civil administration.
It was in vain to reiitind me of the example
of Washington. There was, in that extraor-
tllllZiY_V persoti, tinited a serenity of mind, a
cool and collected wisdoiit, a caiiiious and de-
liberatejudgment, a perfect command oftlte
passions, attd througltout his whole life, a fa-
iniliarity and acquaintance with business aitd
civil transactions, which rarely cliaractctize
any human being. No titan was ever ntore
deeply penetrated than he was, with profound
respect for the safe and necessary principle
of the entire subordination ofthe military to
the civil antliority. I hope I do no injustice
to Gen. Jackson, when I say that I could ttot
recognise, in his public conduct, those attain-
ments for both civil and military command,
which have been unaniniously a\'lill(ll’,d to the
father of his country. I was sensible of the
gratitude w.l-ticli the people of this coiiittry
justly feel towards Gen. Jackson for his bril-
liant military services. Butthe impulses of
public gratitude sltotild be cotitroled,it appear-
ed to iitc, by reason aitd discretion, aitd I was
not prepared blindly to surrender myself to
the hazardous indulgence ofa feeling,ltowev-
er amiable and excellent that feeling may be
wlten properly directed. It did not seem to
tne to be wise or prudent, if, as I solemnly be-
lieved, Gen. Jacks-on’s competency for the of-
fice was highly questionable, that he should
be placed iii a situation where neither his
fame itor the public interests would be ad-
vanced.———In his elevation to this office,too,
I thought I perceived the establishment of a
fearful precedent; and I am mistaken in all
the warnings of instructive history, ifI erred
in iiiyjudginent. Undoubtedly there are oth-
er and many dangers to public liberty,besides
that which proceeds fr. military idolatry,butl
ltave yet to acquire the kttowledge ofit, if
there be one more periloits or tnore frequent.
Wltetlter Mr. Adams would or would not
have been my choice ofa President, ifI had
been left ft ecly to select front the whole ntass
of American citizens, was not the question
siibiniited to my decision, Iliad tio such lib-
erty ; but I was circuiiiscribed in-the selection
I had to make, to one of the three gentlemen,
wltoni the people themselves had tlio’t proper
to present to the House of B_.epresentatives.——
Whatever objections might be supposed to
exist against lill4i,still greater appeared to tiie
to apply to his competitor. 0fMr. Adams it
is but truth and justice to say, that he is high-
ly gifted, profoundly learned and long and
greatly experienced ’ *« ’ ‘fairs, at home
aml abroad. Ilitlmt. - 'sant ivith the
rise and progress ot ntiation with
foreign powers, pent. ; :. cluded ; per-
sonally acquainted ‘ |i\ -. ti.- i‘ :,.~tcit_v and at-
tainincuts of rrtost of . ;u;’..":' men of this
'?t"/ i..‘
country, whom it mig j.‘??-'5- "tr to employ
in the public service; 2‘ ly possessed
l
of much oftltat valuable l.ii'td ofinfornizttion
which is to be acquired neither fr. books not
tradition, but which is the‘ fruit oflargely par-
ticipating in public affairs ; discreet aitd saga-
ciotts; he would enter on ilte duties of the of-
fice with‘ great advantages. ' I saw in his e-
lection the establishinent of no dangerous ex-
ample. I saw in it, oi) the contrary, only
conformity to the safe ‘precedents which had
been establislted in the instances of Mr. Jef-
ferson, Mr. Madison, and Monroe, who ltad
respectively filled the same oflice froiti which
he was to be translated.
A collateral consideration of mncli weight
was derived from the wisltes oftlte Ohio del-
egation. A majority of it, during the pro-
eress ofthe session, iitade itp their opinions
to support Mr. Arlants,and they were commit-
uicaied to me. Tliey said,“ Ohio supported
the candidate wlid"was the choice ofKentucky.
We failed in our common exertions to secure
ltis election. Now, among those returned,we
have a decided preference, and we tltiiik you
ought to make some sacrifice to gratify us.”
Was itot much due to our neighbor 8:. friend?
I considered, with the greatest respect, the
resolution of the Gieneral A-ssemhly of Ken
reqttcstiiig the delegation to vote for General
’J'.ickso'tt. Tliattesulutioii, it is true, placed
us in irpeciiliar situatiitn. \Vhilst every oili-
er delegation, from every other state in the
Unton,was left'hy its Legislature entirely free
to examine the pretentious of all the candi-
dates, and to form its iinhiased judgnicni, the
General Assembly of Keutucliy tlio’t proper
to iuterpose aitd to request the delegation to
give its vote to one of ilte candidates, whom
they were pleased to designate. I felt a siti-
cgere desire to cniitply with a request emana-
iiitg from a source so r-spectable, ifl could
have done so consistently with those para-
iiioitnt duties which I owed to you and to the
country. But after full and anxious conside-
ration, I found it incompatible with my best
jitdgmetit of those duties to conforiti to the
rcqiiest ofthe General Assembly. The reso-
lutioti asserts. that it was the wish oftlte peo-
ple of Kentucky, that their delegation should
vote for the General. It did not inform me
by what ineans that body ltad arrived at a
knowledge ofthe wish ofthe people. I knew
that its members had repaired to Frankfort
before I departed fr. hoiite to come to Wash-
ington. I knew their attention was fixed up-
on important local concerns, well entitled, by
their tnagnitude, exclusively to engross it.-—
No election, no general expression of popu-
lar seiitiiiient had occurred since that in Nov.
when electors were chosen, and that the peo-
ple, by an overwhclniiiig majority, had deci-
ded against Gen. Jackson. I could not see
how such an expression agairtst liiiu could be
interpreted into that ofa desire for his elec-
ttoii.
the delegation received, expresset. tlte tnost
opposite opinions,aiid there were not wanting
instances of letters from some of the "very
iiieirtbers who had voted for the resolution ad-
vising a differeiit course. Ireceived frotn a
highly respectable portion of my constituents
a paper, instructing me as follows: “ VVe,tlie
undersigned voters in the congressional dis-
trict, having viewed the instruction "or request
oftlte Legislature ofKeutuck_v,on the subject
ofchoosing a President and Vice President
ofthe U. States, with regret, and the said re-
quest or instruction to our representative in
Congress front this district, being without our
knowledge or consent ;‘ we for many reasons
known to ourselves, connected with so ino-
inetitous an occasion,liercby instruct our rep-
reseutative in Congress to vote on this occa-
sion agreeable to ltis ownjiidgitient, and by
the best liglttshe may have on the subject.
with or tvitlioiit the consent oftlte legislature
of Kentucky.” 'I'ltis instruction came both
unexpected and unsolicited by me, aitd it was
accompanied by letters assuring iite, that it
expressed the opinion of a majority of my
constituents. I could not therefore regard the
resolution as coticlusive evideitce ofyoitr wish-
es. Viewed as a iiteieieqiiest, as it pur-
ported to be, the General Assembly doubtless
ltad the power to make it. But then, with
great deference,I think it was worthy ofseri-
otts consideration wltetlter the dignity of the
General Assembly ought not to have induced
it to forbear addressing itself, not to another
legislative body, but to a small part ofit, and
requesting the members who composed that
part,in a case which the constitution had con-
fided to them, to vote according to the wishes
of the General Assentbly: whether those
wishes did or did not coitforni to their sense
of duty I could not regard the resolution as
an instruction; for, from the origin of our
state,its legislattire ltas never assumed not ex-
ercised the right to instruct the Representa-
tives iii Congress. That the portion of the
public servants who made up the GeiieralAs-
sembly have no right to instruct that portion
of tltein who constituted the Kentucky dele-
gation in the House ofRepresentatives_. is a
proposition too clear to be argued. The
members ofthe GeneralAsseinbly would have
been the first to behold as a prestimpiiioits in-
terposition, any insiiuctioit, if the Kentucky
delegation could have committed the absurdi-
ty to issue, from this place, any iiisirtictioii to
ilteiit to vote in a particular manner on any
ofthe interesting subjects which lately enga-
ged their attentioii at Frankfort.
Entertaitting these views oftlte election on
_whicli it was made my duty to vote. I felt my-
selfboitiid in the exercise of my bestjudg-
uruent, to prefer Mr. Adams ; and I according-
ly voted for him. Shortly after the election,
it was rumored that Mr. Kramer was prepa-
ring a publication, and the preparations for it
which were utalting excited much expectation.
Accordingly, on the 26th Feb. the address to
his constituents appeared in the Washington
City Gazette. No iiteiiiber ofthe house,I am
persitaded, believed that Mr. Kramer wrote
one paragraph ofthat address, or of the plea,
which was presented to the committee, to the
jurisdiction of the house. Those who coun-
selled h-im,antl composed both papers, were
just as well known as the author of any re-
port from a committee to the house. The
place and the time of the address are remark-
able. The fact that the President intended
to nominate me to the Senate for the officel
now hold wastlten well known ; and the pub-
licatioit ofilte addressin a paper published in
titis city, which has no circulation among
those to whom it was addressed, was no doubt
made less with an intention to cniniiiunicate
informatioti to Mr. K’s constituents, than to
affect the alec".sioti of the Senate on the in-
tended itoniination. Of the character and
contents oftltat atldress of Messrs. Kremer
Co. iuade up,as it is,ol' assertion without prool,
ofinferences witltoiii premises, and of care-
less,jocose, and quizzing couversatioiis ofiny
The letters from ‘homo, ivliic,,l,t some of —
friends, it is" not my in'tentio'n to say" i‘t’i't'{c‘h.—=7
It carried its own refutation, and ilte_pi“ti‘tie's?
concerned saw its abortive nature the next?
day in the indignant countenance of every’
urtprojtidiced and honorable nientlter. In his‘
card, Mr. Kramer ltad been made to say, that:
he held himself ready “ to prove, to the satis-
faction of uiiprejtidiced minds, the accuracy‘
of the statements contained in that letter. to’
the extent that they concern the course of con-
duct of H. Clay. The object ofexcluding my
friends from this pledge has been noticed.--'
Btit now the election was decided, and tltere
no loitgerexisted a motive fordiscriminaiing.
between them and me. Hence the only state-
ments made in the address having the sero-
blttnce ofproof,relate rather to them than me.-
I am described in the address as having assu-
med ‘a positioit ofpeculiar &‘.deL-ided hostility’
to the election of Mr.‘Adains,’ and express-
ions towards ltiiii are attributed to tire, wliiclr
I tiever used. I am made also frespousible
for “paniplilets and essays of great ability.”'
published by my friends in Keutiiclty, in the‘
course ofthejcauvass. The‘: injustice ofthe
principle ofholding me thus answerable, ttiay
be tested by applying it to the case ofGeneral‘
Jackson, in reference to publications issited,
for example, from the Coliitiibian Observer.
That I was not in favor ofthe election ofMr.-
Adams, when the contest was before the pen-
Ple. is most certain. Neither was I in favour
ofthat of Mr. Crawford or Gen, Jacksoii.—
That Iever did anything against Mr. Adapts‘
or either of the other gentlemen, inconsistent
with a fair and hoiiorable coitipetition,I ut-
terly deity. My relations to Mr. Adams have‘
been the subject of riiuch misconception, if
not- misrepresentation. I ltave been stated to
be under a public pledge to expose some ne-
farious conduct oftltat gentleman, driving the
negotiation at Ghent ; which would prove
him to be entirely unworthy of public confid-
ence ; and that, with a knowledge of his per-
tidy, Inevertheless voted forhiin. My letter,
addressed to the editors ofthe Iiitelligencer,
under date of the 15th November, 1892, is
iiiade the occasion for ascribing to me the
prontise and the pledge to make those treas-
onable disclosures on Mr. Atlantis. Let that
letter speak for itself, and it will be seen how
little justification tltere is for such an asser-
tion. It adverts to the controversy which had
arisen between ltlessrs. Adams and Russell,
and then proceedsto statetliat, “ in the course
ofthe several publications, of which it liar."
been the occasion,‘and particularly in the ap-
pendix to a pamphlet, which had been recent-
I tltink there are some errors (no doubt unin-
tentional) boili as to matters of fact and ntat-
ters of opinion, in regard to the transactions
at Ghent, relating to the navigation of the
Mississippi, and certain liberties claimed by
ilie United States in tho fisheries, and to the
part wltich I bore in those transactions.-
These important interests are now well se-
cured.”—“ An account, therefore, ofwltat oc-
curred in the negociation at Ghent, on those
two sultjeets, is not, perhaps, necessary to the
present or future security ofany of the rights.
ofthe nation, and is only interesting as apper-
raining to its past history. Under this con-
viction, I will, at some future period, more.
propitious than the present to calm and dis-
can be no misinterpretation of lll0llVeS/ lay
before the public a narrative ofthose transac-
tions, asI understood theiit.”
From even a.careless perusal-ofthat letter,
it is apparent, that the only two subjects of the
negociations at Ghent to which it refers, were
the navigation ofthe Mississippi and certain
supposed were committed, applied to both
Mr. Ritssell and Mr. Adams, tltongli more
particularly to the appendix of the latter;
that they were nnintentioiial; that they af-
ilteiii of no public importance, as connected
with the then, or future security ofany ofthe
rights ofthe nation, but only interestingxoits
past history ; and that the narrative which I
more calm, and when there could be no mis-
interpretation oftiiotives.
believes otherwise, I yet think there arc - omi-
'uuintentioital errors, in the controversial pa-
pers between him and Mr. Riissell. But I
judging when I shall execute the promise
which I have made, and I shall be neither
qnickened nor retarded_ in its perforitiaitce,l)y
the friendly anxieties of any ofniy opponents-
It is already known by the publication of
the British and American projets,Ihe protests-
and-the correspondence between the respec-
tive plenipoteutiaries, that the British gov’t-
ntade at Gltent a demand of the navigation
ofthe Mississippi, by an article intlieir projet
employed in the treaty of 1783 ;- that a ma-
jority of the American commissioners were
in favor of acceding to that deinand,iipon the
condition that the British government would‘
concede to us the same fishing liberties,witii-
in tlteirjnrisdiction, as were secured to us by
the saimetreaty of 1783; and that boili de-
mands were finally abandoned. The fact of
these niutital propositions was coinmuoicated
by-me to the Autericaii public in a speech-
whicli I delivered in the House of Represen-
iatives, on the 29th day of.Jan. 1816. Mr.
the Administration, the loss ofthe fishing lib-
crties, witltin the British jurisdiction, \VlllCl'l'
we gnjoyed prior to the war. In vindicatinz,
itt my reply to ltiin, the course of the gov’t..
and the conditions oftlte peace, I stated :-
“ When the British Commissioners deman-
dad in their projet, a renewal to G. Britain cf
the right to the navigation ofthe Mississippi,
secured by the treaty of I783, a bare iiihjority
renew it, upon the coitdition that the liberties
in question were renewed to us. He was not
.oite ofthat majority. He would not trouble
the coiniitittee with his reasons for being op-
posed to the offer. A majori'y of his col->
livca. made, however, the offer, and it was re,-_
fused by the British Cointnissiouers.” "
And what I thought of my colleagues of?
_tlie majority, appears from the same extract.
The spring after the tertniitatioit of the nego-
iinm at ffhent, I went to London, and there
entered upon a new and highly important ne-,
gotiation with two of them, (Messrs. Kdains
and Gallatin,) which resulted, on the Bid Ju_lYa
1815, in the Counnercial Convention, wliiclt
has been since made the basis of most of our
arrangeiiients with foreign powers. NOW. If
I had discovered at Ghent, as has been asser-
ted,that either oftbein was false and fziitltless
ly published by the Hon. Joltii QiiiiicyAdanis, -
passionate consideration, and when there
fishing liberties ; that the errors, wliichl ltad‘
fected myself principally; that deemed-
promised was to be presented at a seasonof
Altlto’ Mr. Admits-
ltave reserved to myself an exclusive right of"
nearly in the same words as those which were ,
Hopkinson had arraigned the terms of tiles
treaty of peace. and charged upon the War on
of the AmericanCommissioners offered to-
leagaies, r 2-tuatcd he believed by the best qfm.n-- .
~t.
Norwalk Chronicler