Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-06-07
WASHINGTON, Nav 6, 1914.

WASHINGTON, May g. 1874
My Dear Sir: have received your note, bring
ing to my notice certificate subscribed by five
gentlemen members of the present House of Rep
resentatives all of them my political opponents,
which you inform me is going the rounds of the |
Locofoco papers. The object of that certificate
seems to be to verify the correctness of an extract
taken from the National Inelligencer of the LIST of
July, 1920. In that extract am stated by form
er member of the House of Representatives Il be.
leve not now ving) to have remarked, in debate
which occurred year before, TO the following eff
feet If gentlemen will not allow us have black
slaves they must let us have White ones for we
cannot cut our fre-wood, and black our Shoes and
have our wives and daughters work in the kitchen"
think you attach an Importance to this msera-
BILE attempt to prejudice me which it does not mer-
it Here is extract from the files of the Intelli-
gencer, under date of near twenty years ago. not
from any speech of mine, but from speech of an
mother member of Congress. He does not
undertake to give my acords, but merely states his
impression of the effect of certain words used by
year before.
During the long and arduous discussions of what
was called the Missouri question, was so engross
ed with the Importance Of the subject and so
deeply apprehensive of the awful consequences
which it involved that never wrote out or correc
ted any speech Of mine made during the progress of
the debate. On the last and most important occa-
sion of the agitation of that question, made an e.
Elaborate speech Of several hours DURATION no part of
which, believe, was ever reported by any of the
stenographers, &c il never by me.
| certainly will not undertake to recite what were
the precise words used by me on the occasion of a.
ny OF the numerous speeches, short long, which
made in congress on the Missouri question but this
will undertake to assert, with the most perfect
confidence, that | never used the words, or any
words which would bear the import of the extract
to which have alluded. ! am confident of it be-
cause never entertained such u sentiment in nv
life. never conceived contingency in which
would favor o. countenance reducing white men &c
slavery. To such an imputation may oppose the
tenor of whole life, during which my humble ex.
ertions have been constantly directed to the pres
ervatlon OF liberty at home and the encouragement
OF Its establishment in foreign countries. If have
not been able to extend these exertons to the black
race held In bondage in this country, it has beer
because OF considerations and convictions, sincere
ly and honestly entertained, embracing the peace
and happiness of both the white and black races
which have often been presented to the public
1t is quite possible that in arguing upon the ex
isence of the institution Of slavery in this country
may have commended that the black race supplied
those domestic offices which under the names o.
"help," "menal servants" and domestics," are tc
be found in every civilized Society, and conse
quenty relieved the white race from the perform
ance of those offices. III have ever employed sucl
an argument (of which have no rccollection,) it il
apparent how erroneous differences may have beer
drawn from it which it did not authorize.
have no desire to dsparage the industry of the
wives OF any OF the certiers to the extract nor t.
boast OF that oimy own family but venture to say
that not one OF them performs more domestic in
dustry with her own hands than my wife does Al
Ashland.
am, with great respect, your friend and OBJ
servant H. CLAY.
Hon. john WHITE