The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-09-27
SPEECH
Mr.. LYNN BOYD, OF KY,

In reply to the Hun. John White, relatiue to the
charge Of bargain bettUeen .MeSsrs. adams and
Clay, in the presidential election Of lS24-25.
[Conclusion.]
How these Letters came to be written was a sub
ject Of inquiry and investigation in Kentucky dur
ing the Presidential canvass of,ls2s
Mr.. .an,os Kendall, then Editor of the Western
Argus, stated in his paper, and on oath before the
Senate of Kentucky, that as an inducement to him
to write to Mr.. White, he was informed by Mr..
F. p. Blair, three or four weeks before the Presi-
Dental election, that if Mr.. Adams were elected
he would make Mr.. Clay Secretary of State.
81. Dudley, Esq Senator from Franklin and
Owen counties, being called upon, made the fol-
lowing statement on the floor of the Senate One
day IN January, 1925, F. p Blair came into the
Senate Chamber, seated himself near me, and in
quired my opinion on the resolutions passed, re-.
questing our members ofC ngress to vote for Gen.
eral Jackson as President of the United States
Mr. b. desired that would write letters, request.
ing the members, and particularly d, White, from
this district, to consult with Mr.. Clay, and vote
as he might desire. To this objected, and gave
my reasons therefor Mr.. B. appeared surprised
that should raise any objections. He said that a
number of members of both Houses who voted for
the resolution, had written such letters and that
could do it with more propriety. He said, if Mr.
White could be induced to vote for Mr.. Adams,
he would obtain the vote of Kentucky, and with ii
the votes of most of the Western States, which
would elect him; in which case Mr.. Clay would
obtain the appointment of Secretary of State. /
then inquired how that fact had been ascertaned
His answer was, that letters had been received
ton city, containing such information, and might
rely with confidence on that statement"
Mr.. Blair, when called on by the Senate of
Kentucky, as Witness to state how he got the in-
formation which he had communicated to Messrs
Kendall and Dudley, refused TO be sworn or to tes-
tify; but concluded an explanation he made to the
Senate in the following manner, viz:
"Iie had not communicated to any ore the
grounds on which he had made his statement to Mr..
Kendall, nor had he shown the letters to which the
gentleman alluded to any person to whom they
were not addressed"
Mr. Critenden had publicly denied that he had
received letters from Washington, of the character
in question, and upon Mr.. Blair the public atten-
tion fixed as the channel through which the in
formation had come fiom Mr. Clay, or some one
else at Washington. Mr.. Clay was called upon
to remove the Injunction of secresy, and let his
letters to Mr.. Blaircome before the public. Feel
ing the injurious inferences every where drawn
from the position in which Mr.. Clay had been
placed by the investigation into which his friends
in the Senate of Kentucky, had been induced to
Committee at Frankfort, Kentucky, on the l4th
April, 1928, addressed Letter to Mr.. Clay, in
which he requested for publication copies oil his
correspondence both with Mr. Blair and Mr.. Ken
dali. Mr. Clay's reply must have been well con-
sidered; for 1t was not written until the 5th ofJune
following. He admitted the existence of cores
pondence with Mr.. Blair on the subject Of the
Presidential election, but after giving some rea-
sons or rather excuses, for his course, to the
following conclusion, viz:
81 must decline, therefore, authorising the pub
LEGATION of our correspondence. But the Central
Committee is at liberty to exhibit to the inspection
ofany gentleman, of any party, all such portions
OF il as relate to the late Presidential election and
Twill do the same upon any such application being
made to me-"
On application to the committee, however, il
was found that they had no copy to show; nor had
Mr.. Clay taken any step to furnish them. The
sensation produced by knowledge of this fact
compelled the committee to apply to Mr.. Blair fol
copies, without Mr. Clay's order, and, copies were
furnished. The following is Mr.. Kendall's ac
count of them, given at the time, in a Letter ad
dressed to Mr.. Clay, through the columns Of the
Argus, viz
'At last these famous copies are accessible.
hare seen them. The one is dated January Sth
1s25-m on,inous day; the other, January 29th
The former only is of material Importance. II il
perhaps unfortunate for you that it is not accom-
panied by those letters from Mr.. Blair, "showins
in what sense he understood them," to which yo,
allude; for | aver, that no candid man can read |
without aperfect conviction that the vote ofKen
lucky was given TO Mr.. Adams for the purpose o
promoting your personal aggrandizement. Indeed
il is impossible for me to conceive how any othe
construction can be put upon the letter, than tina
the friends of Mr. Adams had promised you thu
first Office 10 his gift, with their future support
that your friends had determined to vote for Mr.
Adams on that account; and that you were usinl
personal exertions to bring the members Of Con
gress into your views,
fi.sNot wishing to expose myself to the slightes
impuialon of fmisrepresentlng the contents Of you
letters, i determined to make no remarks on tha