Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-01-26
NO. SO.

Col. THOMAS II. BESTos.-This d;siiu
guished public functionnry, one Of the most
bitter of Mr.. Gays opponents, has had tire
ma gnaniini'y to declare, that Mr.. Clay stated
10 han, several months previous 10 tl& late
presidential Gle ction, that he would not in any
event vote for General Jackson. II will be
remembered that Mr.. Benton, until tho eles-
tion took place, was the warm personal and
political friend Of Mr.. Clay-was probably in
his confidence, as lie is u near relative, and
that immediately after it was asccrtained that
Mr.. Clay would not be returned to the House,
ate foe General Jackson.
Since writing the above, a cory of Nr. Ben
tons letter has fallen into our hands, and az
/, belongs TO the political history of the tiues,
we copy it as il stands.
U'ashingt9n City, nee III, 1927.
sIR-lour letter OF the 10th ult. covering
Tie Lexington Virginia Intelligencer Of that
date, has been duly received, and in answer 10
the. enquiries you put 10 mo, / have 10 state
that the article 10 which you invite my atten,
ton, is substantially not verbally, correct, So
far as in the forepart of December, 1874. that
he intenied to vote for alr. Adams. There ia
no mistake in tho date, MS 1 visit which I made
TO your part OF Virginia about that time enables
me 10 fix il with certainty, / left Washington.
on that visit, about the 18th of December, md
had received the information Of Mr.. Clay be-,
fore | sat OFT, and told il, while absent in the
family Of my fathcr-n-law, Col. M'Doweu, OF
your county. But tic inference so much in
sisted upon, that l mus. have told the sama
Liz, - NJ. - - -. L. --I...--l
friends, is nholiy erroneous; hr, having no
authority from Mr.. Clay to promulgatc lis in
%tentions, / only spike ofihem in the bosom OF
a private family ri two hundred miles distance
from Washington. Since that period, and es-
peciaiiy during tie present sumner, ! have on
several occasions, AMI sometimes in the PRES
encc of political opponents, when tho course
Of conversation led me to il, I mentioned what
I knew of Mr.. Clay's carly intention 10 ,ote
FOR Mr.. Adams; and in this way l came to
speak of again some two or three weeks sincn
in the house Of my fatiicr-;n. law, where ] had
first spoke oft near three years 90 and whenca
with solro additions and variations, without tho
pri"ity OF any one present at the conversation,
It has crept INTO The paper which you have
sent me. Noonc ever asked my leave to pub
lsh what | said; II any enc had, the authors OF
the publication IL the Lexington paper might
have Seen spared an office which must have
been incS9ressib!y painful to their honorable
feelings, 10 / should not have refused to tire
administration any testimony in my favor ia
give, notwithstanding lie chUacier Of the
war which the great body Of their forces arc
carrying on against me-, Yours, respectfully,
THOMAS II BENTON.
After his, who vii! doubt, the purity ofNIr.
Clay: Who will fer q moment believe, that
he contemplated, at any period, giving his vote
to General Jackson. We canno; but hope,
and believe, that tic letter of Mr. Benton. will
put n Period 70 tie Glamour which has so