Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-10-12
From the Lerington Ken. Reporter, Sept %.
MR.. CLAY.

From the Lexington Ken. Reporter, Sept 90.
MR.. CLAY.
A charge against Mr Clay of mi,manage-
ment of the Legacy left by the late Col. Moiri-
son to Tran>ylvania University, originated We
believe. first with an anonymous writer in the
Kentucky Gazette 1t was l.ere so motor ously
known to be uufounded, that no notice of It
was deemed necessary to be taken at the time.
The most prohigate of all editors, Duff Green
Of the United States Telegraph. gown holder
from the contemptuous silence Observed in re-
lation to the charge, has had the hardihood to
accuse Mr.. Clay with tie emhczzlement OF the
funds of the Institution, and the accusation
will doubtless be re echot d by the coadjntors
Of this paragon of ibelIers, as it has already
been in the Adyertiser Of Cincinnati and New
York Enquirer.
We offer the following statement Of facts,
which are well known here, and Of the truth #
most of which any one may satisfy himself by
resort to he records of the County Court, or
to Mr. Robert Scott, the nephew OF Col. Nor.
rison.
Col Morrison left large estate, amounting
in properly, debts, and funds in hand, to up
wards of $500 900. All the ext cutors appoint
ed bv his Will declined 10 act, except Mr..
CLAW, in whom Colonel Morrison had such Un-
bounded confidence, that he directed that he
should not be required to give security He
gave to the University pecnnlary legacy oil
S2o. 900, together with the whole re slduun OF
his estate Col. Morrison and MIR. Clay were
upon terms of the greatest friendship and in
timacv, and to the advice ard persuasion OF Mr..
CLAY, it is believed, that the University owes
III, Sc liberal dispositions. more especially the
residuary bequ"st MIR Clay was the drafts
be
heard, thai when Col Morrison commu1icat.
I'd his desire to give legacy to little son Of
Mr. Clay who bears part OF his name, las
was done in the case OF Others thus named,)
and 10 make him hia residuary iegatee;Mr. C.
opposed it, and with difficulty prevailed upon
Colonel Morrison to relinquish the intention.
Mr.. Clay has made grea, and successful pro-
press in the administration Of The estate, hav-
ing paid off with The exception Of that TO the
University, all the pecuniary legacies, most of
them small, but amounting together TO not
much shor, of 1000 dollars. He has trans
ftrred land 10 The devisees to much greater a
mount. He has regularly settled his admins
tralron accounts every year, as the records al
test; and il may as well be- remarked, that this
is principal object of those annual visits 10
Ken lucky, which the Observation-Disclosures Of his
enc mies has aseribed to improper purposes.
AS the University was the largest pecuniary
legatee, and moreover entitled TO the residue Of
the estate, Mr. Clay's aim, il is well known,
has been TO discharge first the smaller Iegacies
We understand that he has not been in funds
to pay the whole of the $4,000 TO the Univer-
sity, as well as to pay the other isgacirs, but
that he has reserved toward that object SIS
600, on which he has paid interest out Of his
own pocket, though not strictly bound to pay
l.; and that as soon as he collects a sum suffi-
Gent to discharge the whole legacy, it will be
placed at the disposal of the University. In
the meantime the institution receives, in semi
annual payments, $1,000, being the interest at
six per cent. upon tn. legacy, which is applied
10 the payment Of the salary oil the Morrison
Professor.
We hazard nothing in saying, that ne Board
Of Trustees, which is appointed by the lesisla-
,ure, and 10 which we are :old Mr.. Clay has,
from Time to time, made an exposition Of his
administration Of his executorship, reposes en-
tire confidence both in his integrity and in his
discretion, though they are not all his person.
al or political friends.
Mr.. Clay suffered in the time Of the ex:raor-
binary embarrassment, from whnh thc country
IS happily emerging; but he suffered by his re-
s2onsiniiily for others, and not from his own
proper engagements. He has not endeavored
10 evaGe tina; responsibility BY resort to any
of the many expedicn,s devised and practised
by those who traduce him; but he has, by the
application Of his uncommon energies and in
dustry, nearly extricated himself from his Pc
cuniaty difficulties, without sacrifice Of any
portion of his large properly. Throughout life,
no man has ever maintained higher character
FOR The most punctual and undertaking dis
charge OF all his pecuniary engagements. We
submit this candid statement of facts, without
the comment which the alrocious character OF
the Islander would justify, and the retaliation
which might be Justly inflicted on MIR. Clay's
enemies, by exposing to the public gaze the
most notorious of their fraudule lent transactions