The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-08-28
ST. ALBASs Aug. 6, 1874.

ST. ALBAxs Aug. g, 1874.
Dear Sir,-Your favor of the 9Th inst.
IN which you make several inquiries of me,
respecting the charges which have been
made against the moral character of Henry
Clay by his political enemies, has been re-
eeived.
livery much regret that the friends of Mr..
Clay ars under the necessity of condescsn-
ding 10 contradict, or even notice, the slaE-
dsrs of bis enemies. Where he is best
known, such necessity does not exist.
do not consider it necessary for me 10
answer particularly the several inquiries you
have made, but deem it sufficient to say gen.
orally that each and all of these charges
specified by you are, so far as know or
baiieve, untoun!ed in truth, and base cdlum-
mes. / have been long and somewhat init
taately acquainted with Mr.. Clay. My first
acquaintance with him was in the fall of
1877, when he was Secretary of State, and
| have since been six years with hiu in the
Senate of the United States, and never
heard or knew of any act of his, during my
acquaintance with him, which his most bitter
enemies charged agains, him at that tine as
immoral, and Judge of his character before
and since that time, from what knew of him
v.
wi:h which bis life has been identified.
Mr.. Clay is charged with being a duellist;
an,i It is true, and TO be regretted, that in the
eonTss of his life he has fought two duels,
hat without harm TO either OF his adversaries,
and in conversation with him on the subject,
he expressed TO me his decided disapproba-
ton OF the practice Of dueling, and the
great satisfaction he felt in the reflection
-b,t l.,
hing; but the circumstances Of these cases
Trrs such that he then thought that he
could not sustain the reputation of an hon
orable man, and decline compliance with
custom then universally prevalent at the
South. know that Mr.. Clay has voluntar-
lily Ecfed as mediator to prevent such hostile
meetings., and has probably been the chief
AZ - in preventing several ducls which
seemed inevitable. The charge that Mr.
tlay approved OF and was aidiae il, the duel
between Graves and Ciiiev, is rs fully be-
licvc wholly without foundation, bit en- the
contrary he did ali he could to prevent it.
1 vas in NaShington at the time of this I'M
fortunate affair. aud my opinion is formed
OF what was said aud known at the time.
On the morning Of the day on which that
duel took place, after the parties had left the
ely the fact of their meeting was generally
known, AMI was almost the only topic of
conversation, though all seemed ignorant of
the place Of meeting. Iconversed with the
friends of MIR. Graves at the time. and all
manifested great desire that the meeting
should be prevented il possible, and measures
were taken for that purpose and under
s'cod that Mr.. Clay was active in pros
noting such measures. Mr.. CLAW was IN
Entnaic friend of Mr.. Graves, and il was
anticipated that meeting between the
parties, I'm case it should take place. J
would prove fatal to Mr.. Graves, owing
TO his entire want of skill in the use of a
rife. ami ii can hardly be supposed that
MIR. CLAW would urge such meeting.
Mr.. Cay has probably been the object
ol ii'nre sander and abuse Than anv o'her
man in the United Stales. and if the
purity of his moral chnrac er has been
furnished, it is still UNNECESSARILY exalted
ubove that Of his slandcre-s
As much as | admire Mr. CLAY for his
SPLENDID talents, l admire him still more
i his unimpeachable interests and lib ry
OF his country. His attachments are less
SSN'r"''di iiidh Hiost PolltlclatlS, MS pat
rlotism embraces the whole country, and
lie Is, as L hope and trUsf, destined to fiji
with honor to himself and gr ,at benefit to
the country. the most exalted station in
tho gift of the American people
In great haste, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
G. LyYDE, ESQ. B. SEIFT.