The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1827-07-23
H.lOlER, Secretary
MR.. CLAWS REPLY

MR.. CLAi'o REPLY.
We have never laid before cur readers
ument, the publication Of which has a0,r5.,,
sheerer qualification than the Reply Of H..
Clay to his acenscrs. Il is an unanaliGed -
aud fearIes. denial Of any, the sliehtcst ,.r,.,#
paioo in, or knowledge of. the int,ipres =
which he has been charged by his enemies co.
meet d with the last Presidential election al.
challenge 10 produce their proofs, which tho.
must meet--nof by qubbes and snberf,fgc.
hnf IN the same spirit Of irankness and eand.,
which 3lr. Cha, has exhibited. He has ,b,,,.
the gauntlet Of defiance in their teeth. aud IL,
now Their duty'to make good their alega,,,a.
OF to confess themselves wful sianderer. ,.l
maleVoient deiamefs. The Reply is every WIZ
worthy OF Nh Clay. II lust such doenr,s ;,
as might have been expected from an h,,,.,..
spirit, soaded by his enemies to a pojn, tr....
which he cannot retreat without igno,ni,. 49,.
upon which he can makea proud and loiiy stand
II IS worthy Of man who never vet. an a..
o0 aston, however momenfous. or however do
~ his personal interests might be affected IN. 49,
open aud decided disclosure of his senfi,r.o.-
AMI motives Of action, hestaled or faered 10
aynwing them. II is worthy Of man who IN,
barae WITH the in,oicnt taunts and deqt,J.e
snspcions Of his foes, though conscious Of ls
Innocence aud equally conscious Of his sbib,.
10 make that Innocence manifest, until theyNor
permit him no longer to be silent The, b,,.
dug the pi; and spread the net with their qua,
hands; but We hazard The prediction tba, Il.
hunters viii be caught in their own tolls aa3
the to"lers be entfapped in their own snare.
THIS is not freshly formed opinion inspIrcde,
the proud daring OF Mr.. Clay, or hast, ca,raf.
from the enthusiastic defiance which hi, .lcpi,l
breathes towards his untui = and ,mdicfiye r..
emirs We have always denied the possibhyor
his being the corrupt and unprucipled poitici,,
which the admission Of MS colluson with M
Nlams OF Of his alleged proposition to Genera,
Jackson would argue. We conl not brlipyetb,,
a man who had Won his fame by homes, eaors
aud who had -" honeh golden opinions" of hs
cnnntrymen, by the proverDially fearless intrgr,-
~ OF his condlct as had Mr. Clay. could con-
sent to barter MS high character for any earthly
when the temptation To such ~ act Of political
suicide was no greater than that which present.
ed Itself 10 MIR Clay. What was the promised
reward Of lbs turpitude? Simply a transfer
resentattcs, the theatre of his glory, a field on
which lie could haye won LARGE increase of his
fam with bu little exertion, and, by his person,
al popularity, exercise controlling nanaa#e
over IN administration Of public affairs, VIM
eyer mie m SIT At the helm, 10 the Departmental
7tbte, winch entirely excludes him from the
pubic ~ aud, whist IT imposes on him nee
and oaapus iuties, contrrs no applause, aad
lessons ather tlnn Increases his influence. Such
VAS the tempting reward, which, II the tales Il
kremer \ 70. De true, induced llr Clay 10 sch
h's honorapd blast AIS future political prospects,
Such wastIcreNa whcnmduced BIN to throw
a"as tas mighty need Of his large honor.'-
to abandon the carr Of honorable ambition.
whilst the goal was almost within bis reach--to
forget tn hieh character he had ALWAYS sustain"
ed-to wed hns aIttr infany--to drag after nm
the contempt ADD curses OF his countrymeu--n
fine, 10 draw down ruin on himself aud conslen
his memory to the deepest disgrace! lie was
willing 10 encounter the certainty of such fate
as h 81 that he might be made Secretary OF
State instead o, Speaker VI the House OF Rep
resentatives lie who can believe such an abb
smdty must be tine very child of crcdn.ltl-- the
passive slave Of lying rumor. But we infer Ar.
tiay's innocence rom other consideration
such as the well known violent hostility which
esistcd between Clay aud Jackson the aya~ed
OF the former for the civil qualifications
of the Ialtel-Nr. C's expressed preference OF
Mr.. Adams long before any correspondence
on the subject could have taken place
and Others which we shall not now no
uce, inasmuch as it is useless TO welsh
probabilities when Mr. Clay aud the nation dc
mand evidence, which can be easily produced, II
there be any. II is useless TO say 10 which s"e
the circumstances incline Issue has been JONI
ed between the parties-ihe accuser and the ae'
cuscd stand before the bar Of the people, whose
judgment Mr.. Clay courts, knowing that =" "u'h
is omnipotent and public justice certain
TOTnE PUBLIC.
On my arrival at Waering, Oh the 2}d INST
was informed that Mir. Carter Beverley, tn
al that place, had received the preceding hs'
by mail, letter from General Jackson. "hltH
he had exhibited TO several persons, aad Il"
with my friend Col Nuah Zane, for my peru
sal, and which was told formed subject OF e.
neral con' ersation, and had produced much tA-
element IN the town. The Captain OF The hem
deer having kindly detained his steamboat io'
my accommodation, aud as was wiling long
er TO delay his departure hiG only time TO on
tam hasty, but believe rs correct copy OF INC
letter, and now seize the first moment, dffr
my arrival at home, to present ii 10 the puiie,
together with a copy of another letter addftss'"
by MIR. Beverley to Col. Zane.
ipurposely forbear, at this moment, to mHhe
several comments which these documents auu".
rize, and confne myself to the notice Of If's
charges winch General Jackson has bfou5"
forward in his letter