Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1828-07-03
whole No. 1883.

which latter course Mr. Clay has adopted.
There IS some difference too, Between reta,i,.
,sg property after paying just debts, and nv.
ing unon u ssahots pagsag al olL n those Who
oFougn, tins subject before the public, are ia
possession ct their estates. while their iudg-
men's and executions of their creditors arc onss,
tished, the odlum attempted TO be excited q.
gsinsl MIR Clay justly attaches to them. Bur
we hope they may have il in their power "a
give as satisfactory an explanation az MIR. Clay
has done in The annexed letter. Their credit
ors beng satisfied, nobody win have RICH, 70
complain.
.uessrs Smith e pslpser.
The enclosed letter has been received in the
course ola private and friendly correspondence
with Mr.. Clay; but 40 it must satisfy oil impar-
tisl meN OF the bsseness and maignity OF those
who have attempted to assail his feelings by an
exposure OF his private affairs, take tha res,
Possibility of requesting its publication in your
useful journals and I hope that other paperr
friendly to the c.use OF truth. fov the satisfac-
ton OF the hsnest OF every political creed, Will
make It's contents known
Repeatedly,
ROBERT wicKLIFFEs
Lexington, June 4, 1923.
WASHINGTON, Oath May. 1919.
Dear Sirs--Ihe variety in their msdes Of ai3
tack, and the industry Of nv enemies are re-.
markablc. IL not always commentlabIe. 4 OBJ.
serve that some OF them about Lexington have
carefully searched the records Of Fsyette. and
extracted from them most formidable list OF
mortgages which are paraded ns evidence Of
my bankruptcy. That iairness Of this pyoceed-
ing, III my absence, on arduous public service.
and without enquiry into the fact Whistler tho
mortgages be extinguishsd or not, IL admitted
TO my fellow. citizens OF Fsyette lido not con.
s'der that man who honestly fuIfs his pecuni-.
AIRY engagements, rs entitled TO any special
praise. or would not observe, that can conf.
IDENTITY appealt all with whom ever had pev.
cunisry transactions. 10 bear testimony 20 thn
fidelity with which have discharged mine. I
invite the sevarest scrutiny INFO nv conduct. il
that respect. and request a comparison Of is
with that Of any one Of those who now assa;l mo.
never wss sued in my life for an unoontes,ed
dso,--'adeed have no rcsollection, ut ihia
time. OF having ever been sued fos any ascer-
tanned deb. coates,ed or uncontest ed ana
whether was principal or endorses
MIR. Gay hen speaks Of a heavy rssponsihil.
ny, incurred about ten years ago. 40 endorser
Tor h's frionds--and proceeds. Ito that CAUSE
u 70 be attributed my temporary retirement
from public life, add the renewal Of nv pyofes-
sionsi lsosrs. then resolved not 10 endorse
Tor Others, except in extraordinary cases. and.
mol to ask oihersto endorse for me; and that.
~hsnis become necessary for me to give secu-
ri'y, 10 pledge, IN the form Of mortgages. that
Estate which was the ultimate resource Of nv
creoitors'--Hence the greater number Of ihe
mortgages which have been recently 20 maI;rs
nantiy exposed to the public observation. Mosa
OF them have been long since satisfied. Amone
this number y one for debt OF so. 900, for ,b9
payment OF which you bad kindly becoma 81 :.
surety, every cent OF which has long s;nrsS
been discharged. There are NOT subs,at;nu,
mortgages upon ny Estate to the smouu, OF Ten
thousand doiisrs; and before the wear sxpresr
hope there will not remain more than one .fsfth
OF that sum. have hitherto met all my en-.
gagenien's by the simples, of processes, that oS'
living within my income. punc,ualIy paying in !.
carefully preserving ny credit.
am NOS free, absolutely, from debt. I am
not rich, never coveted riches But my "a.
tate would even now be estimated n not much
less than 100000 Whatever il may be worth.
Il - qualification TO ma to kaow, that il in the
produce OF my own honest labor, no part Of ;s
oelng hereditary, except one slave, who world.
oblge me very much If he would accept hi.
freedom. II is sufficient after paying al my
debts, to leave my family above want. 4 should
be separated from them. 1t 10 . matser also az
consolation TO me- TO know, thar this waaton
exposure OF my private affairs can do me no
pecuniary prejudice. MY few creditors will
not allow their confidence in me to be shaken
by il. II has indeed led to one inciden,. which
was at the same time source Of plcasure and
pam. Atyiend lately called on me, al tho
instance Of other friends, and informed me-
that they were apprehensve thai my privats
affairs we're embarrassed. and that allowed
their embarrassment to prey upon my mind.
He came. therefore. with their authority, to
tell me, that they would contribute any sum
that might want 70 relieve me. The emotionA
which such proposition excited can bo con-
ceived by honorable men. felt most happy to
be able to nndeceive them, and 70 decline theit
benevolent proposition.
lam, with great respccs.