Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-06-07
MR.. CLAWS PRIVATE AFFAIRS.

The conduct ofthe Opposition in bringing
the private affairs Of Mr.. Clay before the pub
lie, are without parallel in the history Of po-
litical contests in this country. What point
can the partizans Of General jackson expect
10 gain by such course Of conduct! They
cannot, for moment, indulge the vain hope.
that the rejecting and high minded people of
the United States will uphold them in such an
unjust ifab bic course Of conduct.
1t is a we'll known fact, that when Mr. Clay
retired from the Speakers Chair, in the year
1928, that he was compelled to do so, in con-
sequence Of the dcranged state of his pecuniary
affairs. Mr.. c. had become a large endorser
for number of individuals, without asking or
expecting any pocuniary compensation for
so doing. Owing to the distressed situation of
the currency in tho Western country. those
persons for whom he had endorsed, we're COM
PEELED to stop payment. and leave Mr. c. TO
shoulder the greater part Of their debts.
The result Of the affair was, Mr.. Clay was
obliged TO mortgage his real estate to the Bank
Of the United States, to satisfy tho demands;
and we would ask il there was any crime in
this. Mr.. Jefferson was stripped of all his
property in his old age, oy endorsing for his
connexion. and was finally compelled to np-
peal to his cpuntrymeh for aid. Was The
| charge Of dishonesty brought against Mr.. JEFF
ferson by tho Richmond Enquirer and other op-
position prnts' Was any reproach cast at the
venerable sage Of Montcello'" None at all.
Congress purchased his Library, as an act OF
charity, for which act, no one complained. 1T
met the appreciation of the people, and they
were satisfied.
But the gentlemen of the Opposition say,
that Mr. Clay was dishonest, and ought to be
| condemned by the American People That
every one may judge for themselves, we copy
the following article from the National Ga
zette, which places the whole affair in its
proper light. After mentioning some of the
less important transactions, Mr.. Walsh OBJ
| serves:
"One Of the Kentucky articles is Ca list oi
moyfg ages made by Mr.. Clay" followed by
his reputation for probity and solvency. The
| Injustice and harshness Of this mode OF hostili-
ty must be apparent to every observer who has
any knowledge Of the ordinary business, Of life.
Mortgages may remain on record though the
mortgager possess al ample surplus in the ag-
gregate Of his resources, or though the great
er part Of their amount may have been dischar-
ged Just as promisoryl ylnotos, bonds, bills, s. C
may be outstanding, when it is certain that
they will be paid, or could bo at once settled
without difficulty out Of an exubercnt fund
Any man, Of whatever substance, who ha:
been active in tho transactions Of property
might trembIe ir one side only Of his situation
were thus investigated and proclaimed. lie,
us take an illustration OF this species Of wrong
from the case Of Mr.. Clay, which we have
been Of the pains to examine.
| Two Of the mortgages cited in the black lis,
are-one Of S22, 900, dated July 1920, and
another Of Sl665 So, dated 24th December
1922, to the Branch Bank OF the United State.
in Lexington. Hero then, according to the
Kentucky partisan, is a massive, terrible debt
Of t,cenfy-three thousand sir hundred and
sirfy-six doiiars and sirfy-sir cents, proving
how much the Secretary 10 TO be blamed for
living Hospitality in Washington, AID how far
he may be suspected as a sort Of desperate in
his political ambition. Now, we aver, upon
the highest authority on the subject, that oI
the bank itself, the following plain facts -
The said debt has been for several years in a
course Of reduction, and at-this time amounts
10 no more than about four fhousond dollars:
Even for this sum there 10 already deposited IN
The Lsxinstoa efiee. paper payable 70 Mr..