The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-10-11
To the editors OF the Daily (Phila) Chronicle.

Dear Sirs: notice in the Pittsburg Morning
Post of the 9th ult. an article taken from the
Cleveland (Ohio) Plain Dealer, in relation to a
difficulty between Mr.. John B Clay and myself.
/ pronounce the article as base fabrication az
ever emanated from the tongue of any Locofocc
editor.
| The assertion that received an insult in the
house of the Hon. Henry Clay is 5asely false
SO far from it, was kindly and Hospitality enter.
tanned BY him, as we'll as his son, with whom
had difficulty.
hotel in Lexington, and in my o,on room, that re-
marks passed between MIR. John B. Clay and
myself that caused me to challenge him.
| Again: that ], with the young gentleman, re-
tired from Mr.. Clay's table to game Of cards.
IS more than false. never played game OF
cards in the house Of Henry Clay and farther,
If was on my oath, | would have no fear in
saying there has not been played game OF
cards in his house, to his knowledge, for twenty
years.
Again as some of the prints have stated that
Cassius M. Clay urged on the duel between Mr..
John B. Clay and myself is equally false. Mr..
Z. M. Clay called on me few hours after | had
presented Mr.. John B. Clay challenge, and used
| the strongest arguments TO induce me to with
| draw the challenge, and manifested the warmest
desire to have the matter amicably adjusted.
In defence of myself however, must saw,
should have been guided by Mr.. c. M. Clay's
advice but his remark was, if would withdraw
my challenge, he would endeauor to settle the
difficulty. If Mr.. c. M. Clay would have been
responsible that he would obtain from Mr.. John
B. Clay an apology for words used to me, would
have withdrawn my challenge, and left the door
open for an adjus,ment-but, of course, that did
not expect.
Again: Henry Clay. jr., with Major Throck-
morton. of Louisville, came to see me at Cincin-
natl, where had gone to avoid the authorities of
Kentucky; and must say, never saw more
feeling manifested the part of any one to avoid
duel between his brother and myself, than by
the former.
He remarked to me that he regretted the cir
| cumstance, and trusted and hoped the matter
would be adjusted without exchange of shots
Through his instrumeEtality, with that of C. NJ
Clay, Major Throckmorton, and my friend F.
Chambers, Esq, the difficulty was amicabIy ad-
Jusied after we had met at Maysville, Ky.
make this statement to assure the public that
| none Of MIR. John B. Clays friends urged on a
duel between him and myself, as has been repre-
| sen;ed
| The difficulty between Mr.. Clay and myself
| happened about three months ago, and | had
trusted and hoped would never again have been
| Introduced to the public notice; but, feeling as
sured It has been introduced to public notice for
political purposes, deem it duty owe Mr..
Clay's friends, as we'll as myself, to state the
facts to the public
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
SNOWDEN E. HOPKINS.
Philadelphia, Oet 4, 1874.
The following is the article alluded to BY Mr..
Hopkins:
From tho Cleveland Plaindealer
| FIFTY CENTS GAME !"-Or enough to make
it interesting" says Cassius Nj. Clay, in his
late speech in Cleveland, " is not called gambling
IN Kentucky" We believe it would take a
mighty big pile to make game uninteresting to
"old Hal" But what is the gist of this argu-
ment, and what does Cassus propose to do i!
First, to make Henry Clay President, and then
kentucky morality will become the morality Of
the nation Every young man in the country can
carry pack of cards in his pocket, and will be
tolerated 10 betting enough to make the game
"interesting" Let us see how this practice
would operate on the minds and morals of the
American youth, should it become the national
amusement. We take case which recently
happened in kentucky, and even in Henry Clays
oun house.
S. E. Hopkins, son of Judge Hopkins, of Mary
land, recently visited the family of Mr. Clay, at
Ashland One day, after tea, the young gentle
men retired 10 a social game of cards. and, as
usual, some money bet. John b. Clay, the
son of Henry Clay, was playing with young Hop.
kns, and offered to bet him fire dollars on the
issue of the game, which offer was accepted on
the part of the latter, but no money was put up.
Hopkins won the money, but Clay refused to pay
him, as the laws of the game required the money
to be on me board dispute arose, in which
Clay gave Hopkins the lie. No notice was TAX
en- Of the insult at the time, farther than to break
up the play, but next day challenge was given
and accepted, and the parties actually crossed the
Ohio river to fight, with Cassius M. Clay as the
second of John B. Clay. The matter, however,
was settled without bloodshed. So much for
Kentucky morals at home.
Now place Henry Clay in the Presidential
chair, with John B. Clay his Private Secretary
aud let him make up bis cabinet with kindred
spirits, and fill the important Offices with the
IKE kidney, and where will be the morality Of
'ne nation Well may it be said, that
vice VICE SITS IN high places and is caressed
| starve" 0' i'eh WI" ~
Mr.. KIvEs.-The Charlottville IVA. Advocate