Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1844-07-11
THE PERSONAL ISLANDERS OF
HENRY CLAY.


4 Reporter the following commentary on
the attempt. now making to defeat the
Wig party through tie grosscsi attacks on
the private character OF Mr. Clay We do
not copy this response Of his ncighbors and
friends for the sake Of defending the Ma.
ton. championship, is needless But we
appe1l to the generosity and right feeling OF
all men Of moderate politics TO act as they
would have others &C, ifthey were thus hun
tie W the bloodhounds OF personal maligni.
/ y We arc sure that Mr.. Clay ought TO
gain many votes we trust he will gain
/ them on account Of these ISLANDERS. Hear
the Observer
/ MR. CLAY AND HIS REVILERS
There is no example in the records Of de-
traction and calumuy, Of such persevering,
rancorous and malignant attacks as those
which have been constantly directed tow
ards Mr. Clay, during the last twenty years
They arose out Of the fact that he did no,
deem it his duty, acting either upon his own
Judgment, or in conformity OF the wishes Of
his constituents whom he represented in the
House Of Representatives, 10 cast vote for
Gen. Jackson as President Of the United
States His assailants, including the Cen
eral himself. seem resolved to persist in those
attacks during the Generals life. Nor
are they confined to hi. public character
and conduct; but, with a fiendish spirit
watching and pursuing him wherever he
goes in retirement AMI IN private and So
cal intercourse his unguardcd expressions
his full habits, and all his movements are
selzed for purposes Of misrepresentation and
malevolent abuse 1t is not now our lnten-
tion,o d,h with the revived crlumnyof
bargain. SC. so often denied, dsproved and
yriumphantly defeated We would as soon
handle putrid carcass. During the cam
vass in Tennessee, last year, Mr. Polk, on
several occasi ms, attempted to NC that stale
charge bu, it was met and repelIcd with
such indignan, spirit by his able, eloquent
aud Intrepid competitor Gov. Jones) that
he was entirely slenced, AMI we hardly
im1gine will ever again attempt to propo'
gate such cnlumny in the gallant and patrl-
otto State Of Tennessee.
But our present object relates to Mr..
Claws private conduct and character, so IN
dccen,ly attempted by his enemies to be ex'
pc. ID to the gaze Of the world Being his
near neighbor, having known him all our
lives. and having received from those who
are older than we are, full information a
bout him, prior 10 the commencement OF our
own knowledge of him. we can speak OF him
as witnc..cs who know, and behave the truth
of that TO which they testify, Forty one year;
ago. Mr.. Clay, without his knowledge, was
brought forward by his friends, and elected
to the General Assembly of Kentucky
from that day to this, there is no office o
trus, or honor, within the gift OF the people
of Lexington or Fayette county, that they
would not readily have bestowed upon hin
if he had desired it And after he became
, known. as he did to the whole State. by hi!
professional fame, and his service in the leg
$ islature, there is no Office, at the disposal
, either the People or the Legislature of Ken
Q lucky. which he might have sought, tina
$ would not have been readily conferred OF
$ him. He never lost popular election
D when he was a candidate. The attachment
g of the People of kentucky to Mr.. Clay
!. has not been one of cold, personal respect
/ or mere admiration OF his talents; bat it ha
: been warm, constant and enthusiastic. The.
|. have borne towards him the affection OF
J. friend and brother and father.
There is not a more moral and enlight
!, ened community in the world, to the exten
v Of the populatiou, than that of the city o
= Lexington and Fayette County. Is it pos
!, s;hle TO belive that Mr. Clay, if he wer'
!. The immoral, di,solute and debauched char
!. actor which his bitter and malignant enc
% mics reoresent him. could have lived II
g sucb community, for near fifty years, am
e, enioyed throughout that whole time IN al
y unex,mpIed degree, its constant friendship
II and confdence2 This confidence has beel
Q d;snl,vod in a variety OF form. No ma
10 has ever been more attentive and punctua
,e in his private agemonts than Mr.. Clay
,s He has suffered, sometimes, as others hay
5. suffered by his respon:lb Utilities for his friends
~ He is not rich, his pubic service has pre-
\ vented his becoming wealthy; but no mar
n could ever reproach him for violation OF an
A. pecuniary obligation or promise. Acco
: diuoly his credit has always stood, as !, "
e. stands at the highest point of elevation. :
~ And, by the way, we may reC.ark that m'
.. lions Of dollars have passed ihro11h h
I'd hands. as Speaker Of the House of Repr
N eentatives. and Secretary of State, and III
.. tongue OF malice has never dared TO chnTa
as him with the misapplcai'on oil single 90
10 lar
i o. one OCCASION, after settling his accoui
~ as Speaker, ut the Treasury, which be INV
~ riably did upon the termination OF eve'
m Session, it appeared that there STOOD to ,
a credit 10 the Bank, where he transacted
10. business, a sum of fifty thousand dollars
/ He stated TO the Secretary OF the. Treeasn
lie tina, there must be some mistake. but he "
~ -. ...as anna T.