New-York daily tribune., 1842-08-17
Mr. CLAY and sinvery.

queatly been published concerning Mr. Gay
character as STAKEHOLDER, many OF them denoun-
cling him in terms as coarse and vile as they are
unwarranted and slanderors, and all OF them iouno
ed in the grossest ignorance or the basest msreP
resenta.ion. The Inteliigencer notices espe-
cialy the published account of a visit to Ashland
by one j. C. Fuller-who calls himself an tusilsh
| Quaker-and whose sole business In this country
since his rst arrival here, to act the part OF
spy-pickins up the widest and most improbable
stories from every negro he met and giving them
to the world as the results of his Investigations.
This man went to Ashland under pretence CT wish
ing to see MIR. Clay's cattle. He went pry1ng
about the back yards of the house and has filled
mis- narrative with the most impertinent criticisms
Of the domestic arrangements OF Mr.. Clays dwell
ing. He fell in with negro woman, with whom
| he had the following conversation
:sHe asked her how many children she mad.
She replied, fifteen or sixteen" /" Where are
thew! "Cslored folks don't know where their
| children is; thew are sent al over the country.
"Where were thee raised?' Washington"
Did Henry Clay buy thee there y " Yes"
.. How many children had thee there T. Z" our
Where are they?'' I" 1 don't know they tell
me they are dead
The Editor OF the Intelligencer has taken the
trouble to inquire into the truth of this story, and
gives the following as the facts of the case -
"Mr. Clay purchased the negro woman (Darkey
| is her nancy many years ago, from Montgomery
| county, in MARYLAND, at her own earnest solcita-
ton. He neser bought Stare sche did not de-
sire to come to him. He sold one without
some serious faults. He seter separated families,
Gut has frequently purchased, in order to unite
them When he purchased Darkey, she had no
child whatever with her, or in her masters pos
session, but was married to a free man of color,
who removed with her to Kentucky, and has re-
mained with her ever since. They have had
four children, a.! Of whom are in Mr.. Clays
family, except one of them, a grown young maa,
who lives in Lexington, within mile and halt
of his mother. Mr. Clay built very comfcrta-
Bile house for Darkey with brick chimney and
shinged roof. She is seamsTess, and does
nothing else, except occasionally to cook in the
family. VIXEN James Charming Edller's story
was heard of at Ashland, Darkey asked how
she came to tell him that she had fifteen or six
teen children. Why, she sad the man came
sneaking about her house like a fool, and she
thought she would make bigger fool Of him.
Rev Abel Brown, Secretary of the Eastern N
Y. Anti-Slavery Society, has published several no
tces of Mr. Clay in the Tocsin of Liberty, of
which the gross blasphemy and Infamous indie
cency prevent us from copying them. In one OF
them he says he "can prove by two living wit
ne,ses that two young mulatto women were sold
in New-Orleans by trader, toho said that they
wero raised on Henry Clay's plantation" If any
trader would make such statement, the lnte-
gencer says that it would be false, for MIR. Clay
never sold any such women in his life. The same
paper copies from the County records articles of
liberation by which Mr.. Clay sets free FIVE young
and valuable slaves; and gives the following para
graphs, which we commend to the attention OF
every candid and honorable Abolitionist:
i "Mr. Clay owns about fifty slaves. Several of
them, from age and inhrmity, are an absolute
charge upon him. His allowance of food to them,
il pound of bacon per day for adult men, and in
that proportion for women and children-free &C.
cess to the meal tub for bread and plenty of vege
tables. Most of them raise fowls. They are well
clothed and housed, and in cases where tasks are
given them, they are very light, insomuch, that
during the season of breaking hemp, some Of the
men can earn their dollar per day. Their attach
t nent to Mr.. Clay is strong Charles has travelled
with him through the greater part OF the United
States and in both the Cnnadas. When at the
i Falls of Niagara, threo years ago, MIR. Clay was
asked by friend if he was sure of Charless hdeli-
ty, for that some abolitionists had been attempt
ing to seduce him from his service. Mr.. Clay re-
piled that they were welcome to get him off if they
could. He might go if he pleased-he would only
be anticipating his freedom few years. In Cana
| da he was again importuned and teased until ex-
cessvely vexed, he turned upon his tormentors and
told them that he would not leave his master for
both of the Queens provinces. Charles's wife, a
free woman, and her children, all live upon MIR.
Clay's place and are chiefly supported by him,
without rendering any equivalent
Z" MIR. Clay has emancipated five slaves, whose
joint value, considered as lawful property, is
probably greater than ninety-niae hundredths of
Abolitionists ever contributed to what they pro-
fess to consider the of humanity ia the United
States. Charlotte is the mother and Mary Anne
the sister of Charles. To these might be added
his father, who isSvirtually, although not formally,
fee. He works only when he pleases, and does
not earn his bread and salt. To these might also
be added sn0ther, Of negro man whom, upon his
arrival ct the age of twenty-eight, Mr.. Clay al
!, lowed to leave him, and gave him thirty-fve dol
lars and suit of clothes. Although not author
lied to make, we will conclude with proposition
to Rev. Abel Brown. He may 60 to Ashland, and
ii he can persuade any of Mr.. Clay's slaves to
leave him, the slave shall be free; prorided, that
if he fail to persuade him, he, the Rev. Abel
Brown shall go to work upen the farm and con-
tiaue as long Mr.. Clay shall think proper to re-
tain him. He has much better, more useful, and
more honorable employment for him there than
such an agent, Corresponding Secretary and sala-
ried officer, as he procaims himself to be, of the
Eastern New-York Anti-Slavery Society has, in the
pursuit of his vocation of libeler slanderer and Gu
lumuiator."
We have not condensed this statement from the
lnelligencer in ordertopaHiate the offence charged