Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-11-08
HENRY cLAYs MORAL CHARACTER.

We presume many honest and high-minded Vermont
intend Tuesday next to their vote against
Henry Clay on the sole ground that he is an immoral
man. "Come and let us reason together upon this
charge
Mr.. Clay entered the service of his country U.
S. Senator, in 1906. From that time until 1926 when
he became Mr. Adams Secretary of State, scarcely
lisp heard against his private reputation notwith
standing this was the period of life which is f any bel
tainted by dissipation The federasts whose viruence
against jefferson and other old republicans is well
known, uttered no word derogatory Of Henry Clay's
moral character Mo- bitter and abusive as that party
shew itself towards all else Of its opponents Mr. Clay
who was ever in the front rank against it, out Of
its hands unscathed. II reserved for modern,
patent democracy to Guido in SANDER and magnity,
that faction which lampooned by obscene songs
the author Of the Declaration of Independence.
We said this systematic vitperation of Mr.. Cisy
not commenced until his support Of J. q. Adams We
would not force the inference readers that Mr.
Clays life pure up to that time II is well known
that he had been engaged in duel and he freely
admits that gambling and drinking were sins not I'M
known him. But he is now free from all these things
and that he has been for years, no reasonable
can ask better evidence of than his undiminshed vgor
of body and intellect Would Il be possible for any
human being to follow during lifetime the debauched
habits which the locofocos charge upon Henry Clay,
and yet retain his commanding fertility of mnd-his
excellent personal health Common tells
The presumption then agrees with his statement that
he addicted 10 dissipation only in his younger days
And Downing it removes half the crime and a
sincere repentance followed by reformation the other
half do not how Mr.. Clay's early indiscretons
ought TO deprive him of any Christians morasts
vote.
! A few words to his dnels. Into each Of them he
drawn by those false notions of honor which gov
ern Southern society. And we consider him more
at fault than the fashionable lady who laces tight to
cause death. What can be more wicked than for her
to follow custom which not only kills herself, but
ruins the little beings who may after her The
precisely similar except that cherished
idea Of slim waists murders by strings instead of bullets
That Mr. Clay's private character is rreproach-
able we have the testimony of the best and pures in
the land. And their evidence is not wrung from them
like Gen Jacksons letter certifying to James X Folks
courage, but is yielded freely and from the heart II is
conclusive and earnest that those hireng deamers
who have despatched the great Statesman Of the West
with their foul slime for years. can find no way of evad
ing but by turning their weapons of calumny against
those who give it. This shows that the exalted
the good Of man. the better these Swiss sabber,
of the press,-
"Who drudge thro' tracks of infamy for pay,
| And hackney out their conscience by the day
-love to blacken it. Even courty neghbor I'll
to hint at "reverend rascay" in connection with DR.
Bascoms lctter-thus gratuitously assailing man o
whom he knew nothing, for political end! How much
weight than this random attack, the thousand
stories against Mr. Clays personal character entitled tG
among men Both spring from the source--boti
are prompted by the motive-and both are eithe
worthy or unworthy of credit. When Amos Kendall
word is on a par with that of Rev. Drs NASH anC
CHAPMAN and John J. Mccall stands side by side will
JoHS Quincy ADAMs,-then will it be time indeed for
moral community like that of Vermont to shudder a
their tales and look wretched ingatea and recannG
church members for the truth.