Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-05-24


accusation against the friends of Mr.. Clay
and through them against Mr.. Clay himself
and taking this statement made by Mr.. Blu
chanan in connection with Gen. Jackson's
own statements, in his letter of July 2S,
1927, they both demonstrate the falsel,ood
of the Card, as to the ground on which he
therein pretcnds now to have formed his
opinion Of Mr.. Adams and Mr.. Clay in 1925.
Again: Carter Beverly, the person TO
whom Gen. Jackson originally communica-
ted his foul SANDER, and through whose
agency it was induslriously propagated, was,
during the past year, summoned to another
state of being. Before his death, however,
his agency in this calumny against Mr. Clay,
pressed too heavily on his conscience to al
low him 10 pass to his final account without
an effort 10 make some reparation for the in
jury he had done in this very matter. In
his last sickness, therefore, Mr.. Beverly adj
dressed IA letter 10 Mr.. Clay, in which he con-
tesscs the compunclions of his conscience,
and says as follows:
Although the time is quite far gone since became
very nnocently instrumental in circulating through
out the country very great attack on your charac-
ter ana virtue as n gentleman and certainly very
heavy one as public man, feel exceedingly desl-
rous To relieve ynn far as can, from the SANDER,
md my own feelings from the severe compuncton
that is within Inc, having been, though neither d.
rccty or indirectly, your personal accuser yet that
was drawn directly into the representation of an at
arl upon you.
II again say, that am most thoroughly convnc-
ed that you most untru,hlully and, therefore,
unirsiy treated; fr have never seen any evi !cnce
to Substantive at all the charge.
This is by no means all. When the charge
was first concoctcd by Gen. Jackson, (who
was then, 1925, in the U. S. Scnate.) and
his partizan friends, and preached in the
shape ola Gard By one of those pariizans by
the name of krcmer, member of the House
of Representatives from Pennsylvania, Mr.
Clay, who was then Speaker of that House,
Instantly and Indignantly denounced the
charge as a foul SANDER, and demanded an
investigation, defying his calumniators to sus-
tain their accusation.
A committee was thercupon appointed bv
the House to investigate the matter; and that
committee reported that Mr.. Clay was inno-
cent.
The Richmond Enquirer, moreover, speak,
ing of this matter, under date of February 10,
1926, says:
"As 10 the other questions upon which we publish
this day such copious debates we do not hesitate to
say Tat Mr.. Clay has met the change man ought
10 meet IT, His fearless promptitude and open def
ancG are the surest indications ofhis innocence This
combined with avowals from almost all quar-
'ers OF the House. and the uHfJrm information in the
last letters from THAI city, can leave doubt of the
result olthe iIvesugallon does Mr. kermer shrink
but suspect he will seek TO escape by sort of spe
cal pleading such as Mr.. McDulfie has thrown into
ms amendment. bel as It may, the inquiry is begun
and 1t ought 20 be prosecuted with energy; the whole
matter should he probed 10 the bottom; no loop hole
ought Ia be left to hang single doubt on for in times
like these the people will expect their Representative
not only to be chas'e but free from all suspicion. VI
Clay is innocent dfMis charge We are fully ptepai
ed 10 see the committee acguit HIM of this Impu,atlor
OF bartering his vote for an Office"
The committee, as the Richmond Enquirer
anticipated, did declare Mr.. Clay innocent.
Again: Thomas II. Benton, the U. S
Senator from Missouri, also bore his testi
mony in this case, in which he shows that al
early as the forepart of December, 1924, Mr.
Clay had informed HIM (Mr b. ofhis deter
mna,ion to vote for Adams. Mr.. Benton'
letter containing this testimony, is dated Dec
7, 1927, and it makes the siatemen, in thes
express terms, that he twas informed b,
MIR Clay, in the forepart Of December, 1924
that he (Mr. Clsy) Intended to vote for MI
Adams
To this same point on which Mr.. Bcnto
speaks, the illus,rious Lafayette, who visile
tins country as all the country will remem
her, in 1924, also testifes. In the cours
, of his intimacy with Mr. Clay, he had, in De
cember, 1924, put the simple question TO NJ
; c. as TO winch of the candidates for Pres
= dent he intended to vote. To this Mr.. Cla
; replied, says Lafayette, as follows:
: "Your answer that in your opinion the actin
n state qfheaW ofW Crawford had limited the conte
= t. a choice beirsen Mr. Adams and Gen. .J1ckson
u that claim founded on military achievements did n
: meet your preference, AND THAT you HAD CONCLUDE
TO VOTE FOR Nh. ADAMS"
Oar readers will recollecl that in Noven
u Der last, the venerable John Quincy Adam
I visited Cincinnati, Oho,to deliver an adore
a. the laying of the corner stone of an A!
Economical Observatory in that city, and tn
- in all the great principal places on his lou
{ ney, he was greeted by the people, wilho
L distinction Of party, with testimonials of r.
spec,.-When at Maysville, KY, some a
Is fusion was made by the gentleman who d
u ivcred the address of welcome on behalf
" that community, to the charge IN ques'io
l. and in his response Mr.. Adams took the o
: casion to speak as follows:
- 81 thank you, sir for the opportunity you ha
nven me OF speaking OF the great statesman who "
associated with me in the administration Of the CT
rs era Government al my earnest solcltation-who
m longs not TO Kentucky alone bur 20 the whole U
~ on and is not only an honor to this State and I
at Nation, hut to mankind. The charges TO which y
. refer have after my term of service had expired,
u it proper Tor speak, denied Lefore the VIII
Ir country; and here reiterate and reofrm that de
al; and as | expect shortly 10 appear before my q
OF 10 answer for the conduct Of my whole life. sho