The Litchfield County post. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1826-1829, 1827-08-16

should greatly prefer that any inference have made
NAV turn out TO be III founded
Mr. Clay declares his great satisfaction that this mat
ter has at last been brought light and to public
consideration. He feels rejoiced " that specific ac-
cusaton by a responsible accuser has at length APP
peared." To this passing notice is due.
IL must be recollected that in consequence Of let
ter from MIR. George Kremer in January, 1898, n-
quiry was set foot in Congress upon the applica-
ton Of Mr.. Clay himself.
On this memorable occasion, of guilt imputed on the
one hand, and innocence maintained on the other,
MIR. McDufie it will, be recOllected, submitted for
consideration to the House of Re ,resentatives,
matter of instruction to the committee the following
resolution; that the said committee be instructed
inquire whether the friends of Mr.. Clay have hnted
that they would fight for those who would pay best
any thing to that effect; and whether Overtures
said to have been made by the friends, Of Mr.. Adams
to the friends of Mr. Clay, Offering the appointment
of Secretary Of State for his aid elect Adams and
whether the friends of Mr.. Clay gave this information
to the friends of Jackson, and limited that if his friends
would offer the price they would close with them;
and whether Henry Clay has transferred or resolved
to transfer, his interest to John @. Adams; and
whether it was said and believed as consideration
for this abandonment of duty to his constituents, Clay
be appointed Secretary Of State and that the
said committee be authorised to send for persons and
papers, and to compel the persons so sent for to an
sWer upon OATH.
Now here is a resolution, officially submitted COW
ering than the ground of my communication to
Mr.. Beverly and resting in connection with an accu-
sation publicly charged in the newspapers; and yet,
MIR. Clay at this late per iod, processes to be reoiced
that ga specific accusation, by responsible accuser,
has at length appeared" Certainly more than two
years ago accuser respectable. and an accusa-
ton specific, were both before himwere both within
his reach and might have been met had he been at all
disposed to the Interview or rejoced at the prospect
of meeting an accuser. Had Mr.. M'Duffie believed
the charge groundless and untrue, he is man of too
high sense of honour to have pressed upon the consd
Grafton of the committee instruction clothed in the
pointed phraseology that this is; can it be Inferred
that in matter serious, the friends of Mr.. Clay
would have voted against extending this asked for pow
er to the Committee. An innocent man before an i'm
partial tribunal fears not to meet the exercise Of any
power that competent authority gives; and far less
should he dstrust that exercise, when in the hands of
correct and honorable men.
Innocence seeks for safety through ways
and hidden ambuscades; she fights by day and in the
open plain, and proud in her own strength meets her
| enemy tearlessly. In the proposition submitted by
Mr. Dufe, there was nothing to alarm, nothing that
innocence should have doubted about it was neither
more less than call of the attention of the COM
nittee to particular inquiries with application for
power to ferret out the TRUTH through appeal the
oath of those who might be called upon to depose be-
fore them.
| Without documents and unacquainted with the num-
der of Mr.. Cays friends in the House, canot assert
that they were in opposition to Mr. MDuf6e's resolu
ton. ct it is obvious that the influence he possessed
would have been amply sufficient to produce differ
ent result had Mr.. Clay been at all DESTROYS that diff
! erent one should have been produced. The resoln-
ton contained strong impuations and serious charges
|
it be presumed under such of general excite
men that if Mr.. Clay desired it, he could not have
ound present and at hand, friend to ask in his
behalf that the resolution should be adopted and full
powers extended to the committee! And moreover
can it be thought that such indulgence, II desired
by Mr.. Clay, any of his friends could would have
been denied And yet 1t was denied nasmuch as the
resolution was rejected and the power asked for, refu
| sed by the committee. A socitude to find "a specific
accusation, by responsible accuser," could not have
been so seriously entertained then, it is earnestly
expressed now or else so excellent opportunity,
being afforded to encounter both, both could have
| been so carelessy regarded--so condemned, and
thrown away. controversy with me can no more
disclose render apparent Mr. Clay innocence, thss
could controversy placed within his reach two and
half years ago; and while the one was avoided, al
any rate not embraced with zeal corresponding Wits
the necessity OF the occasion, at the prospects prcsen
ted by the other exceeding joy seems to be manifested
Then, as now, specific accusation was before him.
| Zone further remark and | am done, with a hope
that, this subject, may not be under any necessity
of again appearing in the newspapers In saying
what have, all the circumstances considered, have
felt that it due to myself and to the public. My
wish would have been, to avoid having any thing to
say or do IN this matter, from an apprehension we'll
conceived, that persons will not be waiting who may
charge whatever is done, desire to effect others,
and benefit myself. My own feelings, though, are Of
higher Importance and value to me than the opinion
of those who impose censure where it is believed not
to be deserved. have been actuated by such de-
sign, nor governed by any such considerations. The
orgin-thc beginning of this matter, at my own
house and Preside; where surely freedom may be per-
nted to speak public topics without having ascr
bed to him improper designs. have not gone into
the highways and market places to proclaim my
pnions, and in this, feel that have differed frCm
somc, who, at public dinner tables, have not
ssruped to consider rae legitimate subject for Il
ispeech and the entertainment Of the company. fe's
for this, who has heard me compaiE No Trus-
ting TO the justice of intelligent People, have
been content to rely for security their decisionr
against the countless assaults and slaafers which
repeatedly are sought to be p!med upon them, with
out seeking to pcesen: myself in my own defence, and
sill less, become "the responsible accuser OF Ms
Clay or any other person. <,r~s,r>~r
Hermitage, July 18Th 1897.
MR.. CLAYS SPEECH.
The following is the concluding part of a speech
delivered by Mr.. Clay at public dinner in licking
ton, Ken, on the 18th of July.
81 rejoice again and again, that the contest has a.
last assumed its present practical form--Heretoforc.
malignant whispers and dark surmses have been clam
desnely circulated openly or anblushingly utter
ed by irresponsible agents. They we're borne upon
the winds, and like them invisible and intang ibe
No responsible stood forward to sustain them with
his acknowledged authority. They have at least To-
cal habitaton and name Gen. Jackson has now
thrown off the mask and comes conessedly forth from
behind his concealed batteries publicly and
convict me. We stand confronted before the Ameri-
lam