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against Mr. C. for political affect, & without evidence
on account of the prominent part, which I look in
defending him. At the May County Court for Clarke
County in 1825, there was a very large collection of
the people of the County, brought out mainly for
the purpose of hearing the Speeches of the new candidates
for Congress. After they considered those
addresses, I without the knowledge, of, or Concert
with any human being took the stand & addressing
myself to the assembled Multitude} 1825
said to them substance, that the character
of public servants, was public property; that
our late Representative (Mr. C.) & present Secretary
of State of the U. S. until lately considered as a model
of political purity, had been charged with the
highest Crime, that a Representative of the people
could commit, that of corrupt bargaining for
office. I did not believe it; there was no evidence
to sustain the Charge & I proposed, that for the
purpose of taking some steps in relation to it
that we should resolve ourselves into a County
meeting : The proposition was received with
decided approbation, & on my motion Capt. Chilton
Allan, was called to the chair, & I again
addressed the audience, concluding with the presentation
of two or three Resolutions; one asserting
(in our opinion) his entire innocence of
the charge against him; & of our unshaken
confidence in his integrity & patriotism. Another
tendering him the Compliment of a public dinner.
The resolutions were adopted by acclamation,
with but one dissenting voice. A committee
was appointed of which I was Chairman,
to address Mr. Clay on the subject, and