Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1844-04-27

an honest he from the hands Of his God threw
into the teeth Of his enemies denial the charge and cha-
enged before the Congress Of the United States full in
yesgaiion of the matter That committee was appointed
with Mr. Barbour, distinguished Vrginan at lis head
that this charge had been referred that committee that
individual who had first made the charge had been brought
before the committee and the record showed that word
evidence produced and that the committee reported
the innocence Of Mr. Clay Now, Mr.. w. would send to
the Clerk the remarks of the old and distinguished editor
that party touching these proceedings Of the Congress Of the
United States:
From the Richmond Enquirer of February 10, 1895
As 10 the oher questions which publish This dy such
charge ought meet His fearless promptudn
defiance the Indications of his This
combined with ayowas from almost all quarters OF the House. and
tue uniform information the that city
dub Of the result Of the investigation does Mr. Keme
shrink but suspect he will seek BY Of special
pleading such Mr. McDufhe has thrown his
Be il may the inquiry begun and ought
with energy; the whole should be probed the bottom
ought be LETT to hang single doubt Tor times
like these the people will their only
to be chsse but free from all suspicion. Mr. Clay innocent
of this charge We fully prepared the
quit him Of this mpuaon Of ring his Office
Mr.. Richie, Continued Mr. W.. with all these facts be-
fore him, says that Mr. Clay is innocent Of this charge
Now If this old retailer Of Islander satisfied from full
view of athe facts of the that Mr. Clay innocent
of the charge how condemned he stand before the civil
lied world repeating this charge!
Mr.. w. would now call to the stand Hon. Thomas II.
Benton In letter written Dec 7, 1927, Mr. Benton said
WAsHINGToN, DECEMBER 2, 1927.
ssh: Your letter Of the 10Th umo covering Lexington
Virginia Inogence Of that date has been duly received and
in the inquiries have that the
article which you invite my is ntaly
baly correct so far represents saying that in
formed by Mr. Clay in the fore part December 1924 he
intended vote for Mr. Adams There mistake the date
as visit which made part Of Virginia about that time
enables me TO FIX with certainty left Washington that
visit, about the 18th of December had received norma
on Of Mr. Clay before sat out and told while absent in the
family OF father-in'law Colonel Mcdowell Of county
But the much insisted upon That told
the thing Mr. Eaton and other OF his political friends
wholly erroneous for having no authority from Mr. CIayo
in
lily hundred miles distance from Since
eod and especially during The present summer have on
several occasons and sometimes in the political OPP
ponent when the Of conversation led H. mentioned
what knew Of Mr. Clays early intention for Mr. Adams
and in this way came speak Of again. three
weeks snce In the house fatherin law where had first
spoke Of three ago, and whence with addi
lions and variations without the prvy the
conversation has into the which have
No asked leave publish what said if any
had the au hors of the publication the Lexington paper might
have been spared office which have
painful their honorable feelings should have refused
standing character Of the which the great body their
forces are carving o. against ma.
Yours, respectfully, THOMAS H. BENTON"
This letter said Mr. W. proved only that Mr. Claws
bterest opponents considered him innocent OF the charge
but it established fact connected with this charge which
most mportanthat before the Congress convened be-
fore the Presidential election took place in this body Mr.
Clay had disclosed his intention for Mr.. Adams
only to Mr. Benton but number Of other individuals;
that he had secrets disguise in all his conversations
about it.
Mr. W. asked the attention Of the committee the
testimony of another political opponent upon the charge Of
bargain and sale. He would read extract from letter
Mr. Buchanan to the Lancaster Journal dated August 8,
1927; !.
- called upon Gen Jackson on the occasion which have
mentioned sofcyds his friend individual respons
bly, snd not tho Of Mr. Clay other person
hare been the poitical friend of Mr. Clay since he be
candidate for the office Of President
know Uu saw Gen. Jacksons letter TO Mr. Beverly OF the
9Th ultmo, and the time informed by letter ro
the editor Of the United States Telegraph that the
whom be alluded the conception enter ed my mind
that he believed u have been The Il Mr. Clay and h
friends that Intended propose terms ANY kndo the
he could supposed capable expressing az
opinion that was right to fight such ntrisucrs with their
Ihad authority from Mr. Clay his friends TO pro
pose terms General Jackson in relation TO their pots
trust would be incapable Of messenger upa
such an occnon was known Gen. jackson would be to
1eive such a uiessage"
It will be ecoected sad Mr. W. that this was the wit
with whom this foul charge of Islander and defamation
had its origin. Gen. Jackson had repeated the Islander
the testimony Of Mr. Buchanan and from him this indivi
DUAL Garter Beverly bad received the charge which he had
made public. Garter Beverly at that time had been
my Of Mr.. Clay he had lived long enough come his
senses Before his death, although he had slept this
charge for years. perhaps in view Of the grave he had been
prompted to award justice TO injured and nnocent
he had with his unqualified denial and refutation
Of the charge. And (sad Mr. W., addressing the chair
man) predict that before you and other gentlemen
shall have descended to the tomb hen the violence of party
feelings shall have had time susde and party blinds shall
have fallen from your eyes and the eyes Of Others and all
those preudccs which calculated deude and bewder
the human mind and lead false conclusions shall have
been dsspatec that you and others will wre declaring the
innocence Of this man. Now hear what this dying man
said. Mr. w. read from a letter Of Carter Beverly Mr..
Clay as follows,
II will be doubt cf establishment you IN
receiving the present address with
iny kiud Of apology because in doing justify my mind IN
the discharge Of act OF that feel the
utmost pleasure 10 performing.
Although the time quite far gone since became very in
nocenty instrumental in circulating throughout h country
great attick your gentleman
and certainly very heavy public feel exceed
ngy DESTROYS relieve you, far can, rom the SANDER
and my own feelings from the severe comPuncon that Is within
having been though neither directly indirectly your
personal accuer that dnw directly thu
sanitation Of an attack upon you.
again say, that thoroughly convinced that You
have evidence substantive at all The charge
CARTER 8FyEaLY."
Now Mr. w. continued while this old charge Of SANDER
had been fully efued by the testimony Of the very
mics Of Mr. Clay, they found revived and repeated, only
the Richmond papers, but every paper in this District
claiming TO be Democratic official Mr. Richie had re
peaed this charge, and the Presidential organ here, the
Madisonian" had copied without any comment the
close the words "True, oh Kngp taking from Holy Writ
this expression perver il the sactoning Of this most in
famous and unounded libel Now, what had this man, the
Executive under whose eye and under whose hand
this charge being repeated sad in other days.
when he had little regard to truth and justice Mr..
W. read from letter Of Mr.. Tyler Of the 4h February,
1927, as follows:
Ia ndvertng that letter shall self with stating
IL Mr. Clay shall crafty the appe
es newspaper t,rs he liberty publish IT, shalt
have cpnrn OF IT, u H. then, perfectly that
wrote to NJ Clay in The spring Of 1875 is also true tha
approved e his growing out Of the Presidential election
and conrurred with him emphatc the result Of his
equally hat Adams decidedly