TO THE LEGISLATURE OF OHIO.

FRANKFORT, Ky., November 20, 1822. At a joint meeting of the members of the two Houses of the General Assembly of Kentucky, informally convened at this place on the 18th instant, Henry Clay was unanimous ly recommended to the people of the United States, as a proper person to succeed James Monroe as President thereof, by a resolution, an enclosed copy of which we take the liberty to submit to you. A committee of correspondence was also at the same time appointed, composed of the undersigned, and we beg leave now to address you on this occasion, in discharge of the duty thus imposed.

preceded them in the declaration of their wishes. But as the session of the legislature here will terminate probably before or about the commencement of yours, it was not supposed probable that, if you should choose to make any expression of your opinions, it could reach here prior to our adjournment; and therefore it was not deemed proper longer to delay the adoption of the enclosed

resolution.

It will be extremely gratifying to us, if the state of Ohio should coincide and co-operate with that of Kentucky on this interesting subjcct. The weight and influence to which your It is perhaps a source of deep and general state is justly entitled from her position in the regret, that there is not any mode, perfectly Union, her patriotism and her population, unexceptionable, of collecting and proclaim-must and should give to any public manifestaing public sentiment on the very important tion of her opinions and wishes on any subquestion of Presidential succession. Congres-ject, but more especially on that of the next sional caucuses, which have been generally Presidential election, a most controlling and used as the organs of popular opinion, are lia- extensive effect. ble, certainly, to many and serious objections. The substitution of the state legislatures, although not entirely free from all objection, is not so obnoxious to public reprehension as any other mode which has been adopted or devised.

Whilst we frankly admit the possibility of a bias on our part, towards a fellow-citizen whom we have long and intimately known in private as well as public relations, unless we are very much deceived, the many pledges he has given his countrymen of a capacity and Some one or more of the gentlemen in the disposition to promote the general welfare, are executive department at Washington, seem to as notorious, as numerous and as strong, as be considered ex-officio candidates for the any which have been furnished by either of Presidency. In regard, therefore, to an indi- the distinguished individuals towards whom vidual in the private walks of life, as he does public attention is now directed It is not our not challenge public attention by the glare or purpose, nor is it necessary to pronounce an patronage of office, if it be thought proper to eulogium, nor to dilate upon, or even enumepresent him to the Union as a fit person for rate the many and signal services which he the chief magistracy, there seems to be a pecu-has rendered to our common country. They liar propriety in bringing him forward under speak for themselves in a most emphatic lanthe auspices of respectable portions of the guage, and are identified with the most imcommunity at large. Difference of opinion portant transactions of the Union during the may, and probably does exist, as to the most last fifteen years. We might recall your reproper time when this should be done; but the collection to the impartial, dignified, and unimembers of the general assembly of Ken-versally satisfactory manner in which he pretucky were impressed with the belief, that if, sided, for a series of years, in the House of Reon the one hand, it was unadvisable to exhib. presentatives of the United States, during the it a premature anxiety, on the other, it was im- hottest contentions of party; to the efficient portant that there should not be a culpable and distinguished part which he bore in the procrastination, indicating a careless indiffer-declaration and prosecution of the late war; ence about the object.

It was believed, moreover, that if they permitted the present occasion to pass without any expression of their wishes, it would be too late, hereafter, to have any effect on the formation of the general sentiment.

Indulging the hope that there may be a concurrence of opinion between Ohio and Kentucky on this subject, it was the sincere desire of the members of the general assembly of the latter, that those of the former should have

to his agency in the negotiation of peace, and in the convention of London, the basis of all our subsequent foreign connexions. We might remind you also of the zeal with which he ever espoused the cause of internal improvement, and that which he successfully displayed in the extension and completion of the Cumberland road. We might point you further to the deep solicitude he exhibited in the support of home manufactures, so essential to the prosperity of the United States; nor can thef

riends

of liberty ever forget the ardent and intrepid ble countenance nothing can be achieved? perseverance which he evinced in the cause of There can, we would hope, be but one answer Spanish America, so dear to every Western to these questions in the West. If there be a bosom. Even on the memorable occasion of coincidence of opinion between us on this the proposed restriction on Missouri, although subject, and also as to the person who should we know that you differed from us, we are per- be selected, should we not endeavor, by all suaded that you will be ready to do justice to fair and honorable means, to effect the common the motives by which (if mistaken) he was object? animated, of preserving the constitution from The western states are distant from the seat what he believed would be a violation, of of the general government, and from the mass maintaing the general tranquility, and of up- of the population of the Eastern states. If holding the rights of the several states to they display an indifference on this interestjudge separately, and for themselves, on that ing subject-if they fail to manifest their delicate and difficult question. We apprehend that no mistake could be greater than that which would impute to him the wish to extend the acknowledged evils of slavery; for we are persuaded that no one entertains a stronger sense of its mischiefs than he does, or a more ardent desire, by all prudent and constitutional means, to extirpate it from our land. We believe that it is his deliberate opinion, that in any state, in which, from the relative For the purpose of drawing the attention of proportion of the slave to the free population, Ohio to this subject immediately, and of solicthe experimet may be safely made a gradual iting her serious examination of the consideremancipation ought to be encouraged and ef- ations which we have herein ventured to offer, fected. And some of us happen to know that, we have thought proper to address you, not in more than twenty years ago, when the present your official, but private character, hoping constitution of Kentucky was adopted, con- and requesting that you will make such use of ceiving that such a comparative proportion then this letter as your good sense may recommend existed here, he exerted himself in favor of a as most proper to effect the object, by animatgradual abolition of slavery.

wishes by an unequivocal declaration of them, their sentiments may be unknown or misunderstood, and their weight unfelt. But when our opinions shall be known, if united, we have every reason, from our attachment, invariably displayed toward the Union, to anticipate, from the justice and magnanimity of the other parts of the confederacy, a kind and favorable hearing and a just decision.

can be induced to act in unison with Ken-
tucky, you cannot fail to see the great impor-
tance of her doing it without delay. Hoping
that you will receive this communication in
the spirit in which it is made, and that you will
use it advantageously, we beg leave to sub-
scribe onrselves your

Friends and Fellow-citizens,
W. T. BARRY,

ing Ohio, if possible, to an immediate co-operWhile Mr. Clay has employed, in the nation-ation with Kentucky and Missouri, which al councils, his best exertions to advance the has made a similar recommendation. If Ohio general weal, he has not been an inefficient or careless advocate of our peculiar interests in the West. His exertions to obtain relief to the purchasers of the public lands, in consequence of the extraordinary and unforseen embarrassment of the times, are well known. Many years ago, in the Senate, he yielded his best support to a measure, having for its object the removal of the obstruction, at the falls, to the navigation of the Ohio river; and lately, at his instance, an appropriation of public money was made to explore, by skillful engineers, that river and the Mississippi, with the view to the improvement of their navigation. When abroad, far distant from us all, we have much reason to believe that he made every effort in his power to liberate the Mississippi from an odious and arrogant pretension, and to prevent the exertion of a pernicious foreign in

R. C. ANDERSON,

J. CABELL BRECKINRIDGE,

J. J. CRITTENDEN,

G. ROBERTSON,

JOHN ROWAN,

B. W. PATTON.

fluence on the Indian tribes, by an interdict of INVITATION OF MR. CLAY TO A GAR

RARD DINNER.

British traders from among them. He has, as far as we have understood, uniformly supported every measure in Congress, calculated to At a Barbecue, near Lancaster, on the 4th of increase among us the expenditure of public July, 1827, the following resolutions were money on legitimate national objects, and unanimously adopted, by a large company asthereby to diminish the evil of an unremitted sembled from different neighborhoods, in the drain eastwardly, of the circulating medium. county of Garrard:

Is it desirable to have a Western President, Resolved, That as a testimony of the confiwho, while he will not be unmindful of his dence of the people of Garrard, in the patriotduty to the whole, is well acquainted with ism, talents, and integrity of their distinour peculiar interests, and is capable of an ad-guished countryman, Henry Clay, he be invantageous exhibition of them? Is it desira- vited to a public dinner, to be given him at ble that the West should fairly participate in Lancaster, at such time as may be most conthe executive government of the Union-that venient to him.

initiatory department, without whose favora-Resolved, That George Robertson, John

SIR:

LANCASTER, 5th July, 1827.

Yantis, Elijah Hyatt, Robert M'Connell, Wm. thus far, in a manner which could not be disB. Parrow, Thomas Kennedy, Thomas Millan, paraged by a comparison with any preceding Simeon H. Anderson, John Rout, Daniel administration-whe is national and liberal in O'Bannon, John Faulkner and John B. Jen- his principles, impartial in his favors, honnings, be appointed a committee to commu- est and patriotic in all his purposes who was nicate to Mr. Clay, the desire of the people of the choice of a large majority of the people of Garrard to welcome him to their simple hos- the United States, as a fair induction of acpitality, in thier own county. knowledged facts will demonstrate-the choice of General Jackson himself (next to himself)the choice of your own districtand, as I have never doubted, the choice (in I am instructed by the committee, ap- preference to the "Hero") of the people of pointed in the 2d of the enclosed resolutions, Kentucky. Your knowledge of the disparity to invite you to a Public Dinner, proposed to of the rival candidates, in fitness for so high be given you by the county of Garrard, at a station-your devotion to the cause of interwhatever time shall be most convenient to nal improvement and domestic manufactures yourself during your sojourn in Kentucky; and I am also instructed by the committre to as-tution of your country, left you no safe, or con-your regard for the welfare and the constisure you of their individual respect and undi-sistent, or honorable alternative. Even your minished confidence, notwithstanding the cal-enemies cannot deny, that theyhad no right to umnies of factious and disappointed men.

Allow me to add that, in making this com- and your opinions, that you would vote for expect, from a knowledge of your principles munication, it is peculiarly gratifying to me, Gen. Jackson; and many of them candidly adat this eventful conjuncture of our affairs, local mit that you could not have done so consistas well as national, to be the organ of the good ently. And if you had suffered yourself to be wishes for your welfare, and for the success of tempted or provoked to such a suicidal and your cause, which are felt and have been most parricidal act, it would be quite easy to signally manifested by my county-a county show that you could not have made him which, if distinguished for nothing else, has President. I have personal reasons, too, for some acknowledged claims to a good name, knowing, if any man living can know, that in for the constancy and disinterestedness, and (I will say) consequently, the general recti- Voting for Adams, and accepting the station tude of its political opinions; and my gratifi- you now hold in his Cabinet, your motives cation is in no small degree increased, by the selfish aim or expectation. were pure and patriotic, uninfluenced by any fitness of the opportunity which this occasion I never doubted that you would act as you offers me, to bear my humble testimony in did. I never doubted that the vote of Kenyour behalf, against the calumnious charges tacky would not be given to Gen. Jackson, of Gen. Jackson, and some of his disappointed under any circumstances: or that the votes of Ilfriends. linois and Missouri would not be given to him, whatever your course might have been. And for the people of Kentucky, I will say, that I do not believe they ever were in favor of electing Gen. Jackson President of the United Statesalthough, in his famous Harrodsburg letter, he intimatss that you and Mr. Adams are corrupt, and are engaged in a crusade against the people, and that He is their great Atlas.

Associated with you for years in a public service, then full of peril and difficulty, I have ever found, in your political conduct, unquestioned purity of motive, elevation of sentiment, undisguised frankness, and invincible intrepidity. But these claims (strong and undeniable as they are) to the approbation and gratitude of your country, are multiplied and enhanced by the incidents connected with the last three years of your life.

Go on as you have done "be just and fear not"-and that Government which is the best, The late Presidential election placed you in and that administration which is the cheapest a situation singularly delicate and responsi- in the world, will continue to prosper more ble. Unawed by threats, and unseduced by and more, until their complete triumph. In promises or hopes, you obeyed the dictates of ordinary times, it would not be proper, or cona sound mind and a pure conscience, and fear-sistent with my self-respect, to address you lessly contributed, by your vote, to the elec- in a style so unusual, and which, by some tion of an individual eminently qualified in might be deemed adulatory. But I felt it due every way for the high trust-one who had to truth, and to a just magnanimity, recollectserved his country at home and abroad, for ing, as I do, that our public intercourse and forty years, faithfully and successfully-one personal acquaintance commenced under cirwho enjoyed the confidence and friendship of cumstances not the most propitious to the inWashington, Jefferson, Madison and Monroe terchange of kind feelings or favorable opin-one who concurs with you in the policy ions. Believing that the same intimate best adapted to promote the prosperity and en- knowledge which I have acquired of your sure the union and harmony of these states-character, by long and scrutinizing observawho cherishes and advocates, and will encour- tion, will produce the same effects on others age to the limit of constitutional power, the that I am happy to avow it has had on me, I American system of roads and canals, of do- cherish the expectation that, ere long, many of mestic industry, and of a diffusive education- those who, from prejudice or delusion, are one who has administered the government, counted your enemies, will be numbered

among your friends, and feel regret and surprise that they ever doubted the integrity of your conduct.

be preferred for civil office? Whether the principles consecrated by the approved administrations of Washington, Jefferson, Madison and Monroe, shall be upheld or trampled down

Accept, sir, for my colleagues of the committee, and for myself, our most respectful sal-by perilous innovation? Whether the "AmerG. ROBERTSON.

utations.

Hon. H. CLAY.

GARRARD ADDRESS ON PRESIDEN-
TIAL ELECTION.

ican System" shall be sustained and prudently extended, or condemned as mischievous and unconstitutional? And last, "though not least," whether, by sanctioning the unjust means employed to degrade and supersede those now at the head of affairs, an example shali be set which will encourage the indulgence of the worst passions, and render the Presidential election in future the occasion of At a very large and promiscuous assem- incessant crimination and commotion, apt to blage of the citizens of Garrard county, at the result in the triumph of force, falsehood and court house, on the 19th of November, 187, vice? or whether, by discountenancing the county court day for said county, Gen. John premature haste and rancorous spirit of the opFaulkner being appointed chairman, and Jo- position, the people will assert their own digseph Hopper secretary, after suitable explana-nity, and show that the canvass shall be, as it tions of the objects for which the meeting was has heretofore been, an honorable competion in organized, the following preamble and resolu- a decorous appeal to the intelligence of freemen? tions were adopted with striking unanimity, only two or three voting in the negative:

The "Signs of the Times" are visibly por

tentous.

These vital considerations and many others, minor and consequential, are presented in the pending controversy between Mr. Adams and Gen Jackson; and in the influence which they shall be found to have, it will remain to be seen, whether we shall have a new assurance of the stability of our free institutions, or a plain indication of their tendency to decay and dissolution.

Upheld by the virtue and intelligence of the people, our blessed government, essentially moral in its structure, has passed through many trials in peace and in war. But it is not indestructible. Whenever the majority fail to exercise the reason and stern virtue necessary to the conservation of such a moral system, the wreck of their liberty will rebuke their degeneracy, when it may be too late for repentance to expiate the errors of the past or repair their ravages. Wise men feel that a fearful crisis is now before us, which will, more than any other, try the principles of the people and fix the destiny of the constitu-sual degree of prosperity which is daily retion.

The political doctrines and the principles of policy foreign and domestic, which characterise the general tenor of the administrations which have preceded that of John Quincy Adams, and under the operation of which our government has attained an elevated rank in the opinions and affections of mankind, are hapily exemplified in the unu

sulting from the wisdom and prudence with The approaching election of chief magis- which his administration is giving more extentrate of the Union, is pregnant with either sive developments of their soundness and benblessings or calamities, which will be exten- eficence. We are at peace with the whole sively felt and long remembered. world. Our treasury is ample. We pay no Involved in the issue is safety or peril. It taxes. Our country is steadily progressing in will subject to a test, novel and eventful, improvement, physical and intelluctual. The the value of free suffrage; and will evince government, so far as the President is responwhether, in the exercise of the elective fran- sible, is administered as providently and chise, reason or passion-judgment or feeling, economically as it ever was in the hey-day of shall predominate. republican simplicity. No citizen is oppressed by federal authority; and we only feel the general government in the blessings which it confers.

In the decision of this important issue, the people are called on to determine, not merely what individual shall fill the Executive chair; this is personal and comparatively immateri-1 Since his induction, Mr. Adams has done al. But they must incidentally decide other nothing, in which he is not sustained by the and, more momentous questions-such as example or opinion of all his predecessors and these-whether the President shall be an able by the authority of the people who continued and experienced statesman, well-tried-or a to ratify and approve for thirty-six years, lucky and blazoned warrior, self-willed and measures which, when attempted by him, are impetuous, and inexperienced in the practice denounced by Jackson politicians as daring or duties of the office? Whether the first civ- usurpations. For desiring the extension of the il station in the world shall be conferred for Cumberland Road through the western states, the benefit of those who gave it, or for the grat- he has been abused for encroachment on state ification of him who asks it? Whether, if it rights. For favoring the protection, to a prushall be bestowed as the reward of service, it dent and necessary extent, of our domestic inshall be a just tribute to the distinguished Ci- dustry, agricultural and manufacturing, he vilian, or the pension of the valiant Soldier? has been charged with a wanton violation of Whether civil or military pretensions should the constitution. For treating our South

152

GARRARD ADDRESS ON PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

American neighbors respectfully, he has incur- appointed ambition, have been deluded almost red the imputation of a design to unite our to fanaticism; and seem to suppose that their destinies with theirs. For being willing, with liberty is in danger, unless by exalting the the majority of the Commissioners at Ghent, idol of military enthusiasm, the administrato continue in force the article of the treaty of tion can be revolutionized. The malcontents '83, in relation to the Mississippi, the people are invited to the standard of a venerated and have been told that he attempted to sell the laurelled soldier, valiant and glorious, but in navigation of that great river. When the op- every other respect totally unfit for the cabinet, position frustrated the colonial negotiation by --a soldier, the accidents of whose eventful life, espousing the side of England, they endeav-public and private, manifest the unreasonableored to make the responsibility of the failure ness of his claims to the civil eminence, to recoil on him and his cabinet. All his acts which, unfortunately, for the peace of the counare misrepresented; his meaning perverted; his try and for his own posthumous fame, he now motives questioned; his language distorted, aspires.

and himself falsely charged with prodigality It is not because he is well qualified, that and corruption. Many are made uneasy with his leading adherents prefer Gen. Jackson to visions of chimerical danger-and the Ameri- Mr. Adams, but because he is the only individcan people, more highly favored than at any ual of their party who has any chance to sucformer period, are divided into two anomalous ceed. His civil qualifications are not only parties, in which all ancient badges and feel- greatly inferior to those of Mr Adams, but cering, are buried in the all absorbing question-tainly very unequal to those of many of his own shall Andrew Jackson and his partizans be el- party. But it was not the fortune of any of evated to supreme power on the ruins of Mr the latter to command at Orleans; the accidenAdams and Mr. Clay? So acrimonious are tal circumstance of doing which, is the sum many of the complainants, that they employ total of the General's recommendations.— all the resources of opprobious epithets and Without this event no human being would vulgar defamation. Such rudeness and in- ever have thought of electing him to the Exjustice to such men, are not only inconsistent ecutive Chair of the U. States. with the personal respect due to them as gentlemen, but with the forbearance which their stations should exact; and are ominous, if ap proved, of the degradation of exalted worth, and of official diguity. "If such things are done in the green tree," what may we not expect "in the dry?', The persecutors of either of these honest men, may be earnestly asked, "what evil hath he done you?" The answer must be, like that of Aristides on a similar occasion, "thou art just."

This his partizans know. But they know too the spell of a military name on the popular affections and that it covers a multitude of glaring defects: and hence they use the battle of Orleans alone, as the talisman for effecting their contemplated revolution. The 8th of January, the anniversary of Kentucky's disgrace, is therefore vociferated as if it entitled the renowned Hero to everything. If Andrew Jackson has any other than martial claims to the office which he anxiously seeks, let his friends present them. There has been no attempt to recommend him by an address to the understanding. Every effort in his favor has been directed to the passions. This alone is an admission of the insufficiency of his civil pretensions, and, with rational men, should be decisive.

Before Mr. Adams had taken the oath of office, a party, formidable for number and accidental influence, composed of disaffected and disappointed men of discordant feelings and principles, was organized for the avowed purpose of prostrating him and Mr. Clay, and denouncing their conduct, whatever it should be, "right or wrong." They adopted the apHe has admitted his own unfitness. Not propriate watch-words-"They must be put only does his civil history show that he never down if they are as pure as the angels at the rose above the grade of mediocrity, but he has right hand of God;" and true to their pur- magnanimously acknowledged his want of pose, they have left no means untried for qualifications for a seat in Congress, or on the effecting their unworthy design. Judged by judgment Bench-and is he who is unequal to their acts, it would seem that their first max- the duties of these comparatively humble plaim is, "the end justifies the means." They ces, competent to guide the affairs of a whole had learned from history, sacred and profane, nation? If it be intended that he shall be onthat, during transient paroxysms of popular ly the nominal President, we say the pension excitement, the multitude, roused to phrenzy is too high, and the hazard too great. by the arts of the designing, had proscribed The most memorable act of the General's potheir benefactors and most virtuous men. And boldly experimenting on the credulity and presumed aptitude of the body of the people to believe indefinite charges of delinquency against men high in office, "the Combination" have endeavored to excite public indignation against Mr. Adams, and the Se cretary of State of the United States, by charges as false as they are foul. By a dex- The same spirit is yet alive, and instigates terous use of these, many honest men, unac- the violent outcry against the present adminquainted with the artifice and resource of dis-istration. Nothing but the name of Washing

litical life, is the vote which stands against him on the country's record, in opposition to an expression of approbation by Congress, of the public life of the Father of his Country, when on the eve of retiring forever from the public service. Washington had enemies, and his administration too met with opposition and reproach.