The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-08-01
LEXINGTON, NAV "a, 1874.

: 1 nne ol tienfy Clay was placed In my
In speech which made soon after
reading the tract, | stated my convictions
that Mr. Clay's habits were unchanged
and that he still continued that practice
which he is represented by "Junius" to
have stigmalized as obstructive of good
NAME" | referred to a case as late as the
4th of July last, which occurred near Lex.
inglon, where he played and won between
one and two hundred dollars, as was in.
formed by gentleman who was present
was assailed by "a Lexington editor for
having made that assertion, and dared to
the proof l did not wish to 60 into a
controversy upon such subject, altho'
well aware that the fact was notorious in
all this country and especially at the pub
lie watering places in kentucky, on the
steamboats, of the Ohio and the Mississip.
pi. and in Lexington, Washington city,
and New Orleans.
fany reformation has taken place, it
must have been long since the period fixed
by the author Of 'Lpnius." | assert, on
the authority of gentlemen of undoubted
standing. that as late rs the 4th of July
last ne gained at cards, at the place before
mentioned, for money, Which he won.
If Mr. Clay will dare to deny the truth
otIhe charge, as to this particular instance,
which Is given merely as one out OF many
recent instances, | will produce the proof
The witnesses shall be named, and they
must testify or stand mute. There are
enough who will, although reluctantly,
state the facts.
JNo. M. MoCALLA."
The next evidence will introduce is the
following from David Merriam Jr., mem
Der of the Congregational church in this
town; and | think Esquire Conant will not
feel disposed 10 dispute the yeracily either of
David or Cyrus Merriam, as he is we'll ac-
qualnted with both of them.
BRANDON, July rs, 1914
In conversation with my brother, Cy-
rus Merriam, last September on the SUBJ
ject of the Presidential election, Henry
Clay Was named as one oflbe men who
would be put in nomination as a candid
ate, and | remarked that Mr. Clay had
been accused of being gambler, but that
| supposed he had not practced gambling
of late. My brothe. replied that | need
not think so. for it was notorious that when
Clay visited ZamesOills, the place of my
brothers residence he associated with no.
torlous gamblers, and the general under
standing among the people of that place
was that Mr. Clay pracliced gambling
whenever he came there of late, as well
as In former years. My brother has
dopted non resistance principles, and with |
drawn all connection with every political
parry, and remarked that he had no inter
est in the contest, and that politicians
might elect who they could, and he would
submit DAVID MERRIAM.
will say nothing further on this practice,
but proceed 10 one which the Wings of this
State place higher on The score Of criminali- |
ty, and will quote from Chapter 81 of the
Revised Statutes before banned.
Section reads thus
Every person, who shall engage in |
duel with any deadly weapon, although no
homicide ensue, or shall challenge anoth-
er 10 fight such duel, or shall send or de.
liver any written or verbal message, pur-
porting or intending 10 be such challenge,
although no such duel ensue, shall be
punished by Imprisonment IN The State
Prison, not more than len years, or BY
fine not exceeding one thousand dollars,
and SHALL also be torecer incapable of hold
ing, or Of being elected or being appoint
ed TO aug place or honor, profit or trust,
under tie Constitution or laws of tAas
State, or Of enjoying The privileges of a
freeman wsthin This State
No one acquainted with the facts in the
case will deny that Mr. Clay has actually
ought tUo duels- with Messrs. Marshall
Ind Randolph, and that according to the
avs revised and pronounced good by the
Wings Of this State in 1889, had he been
'esident of this Slate when he fought the
iuels, would have been liable to inprison-
nent in the States Prison twenty gears
Ind Jorecer after been denied even the priv
lege ola freeman And had he killed either
If his combatants, as no one can deny that
he designed to do, The act would have been
pronounced by your revised laws, to be mur>
Ter, and the penalty death. But you say
lie has repented of these acts, and denounces
he practice as morally wrong. have no
ioubt that at times Mr. Clay has had his
ceilings enlisted that way, but his subse-
luent conduct does not convince me that he
las fully repented. Be that as it may, the
lets which you all admit he perpelraled
would have inexperienced him forever from
holding any office, and even from voting in
his Stale. So that unless some special act
vas passed for his benefit, he could receive
10 Office from you. But we'll let that pass.