Hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1843-1845, 1844-04-11
I'll A w K E.
35urltmgton:
Thursday, April III, 1874.
Bribery and Corruption.

We are, we candidly admit, prepar-
ed to see any means, however low and
despicable, made use Of to tarnish the
the fair fame of Henry Clay, and injure
the wing cause. Our opponents know
full well that truth is no longer trusty
weapon, and that in their hands, cal
umry and detraclion, are noaO more
sure and effectual. But we must say,
we did not think the editor Of the Ga
zette, would so degrade himself, as to
revive at this day the charge of bribery
and corruption against Mr. Clay. We
did not suppose that any honorable
man, would give currency TO such a
base and malicious lie. We did not
believe that any man of character and
truth, would publish such vile and
unmitigated libel. We did not and could
not expect such thing, because we
were confident that after what has been
said and written upon the subject, none
but fools would believe. and none bu,
knaves circulate the story. 1t was met
at the time by DR. Clay, its falsity most
conclusively proven, and its author or
rather the wretched tool of Gen. Jack
son and his friends, Geo. Kreme r,
branded as a mendacious libeller. And
the late Carter Beverly, who first pre-
sented it to the country in tangible
shape, two years before his death, then
on the verge Of the grave, magnanim.
ously retracted it. What is more con-
elusive still, he reracted it voluntarily,
and without previous concert with AR
Clay or any Of his friends. We shall
here show Mr. Beverly's connection
with the matter, and at the same time
give an extract from his letter of recan.
tatlon.
On the Sth of March 1927, he wrote
a letter from Nashville Tennessee,
which was soon after published in the
Fayetteville ~. g. Observer. In
that letter, he said :
"He Gen. Jackson) told me this
morning before all his company, in re-
ply TO a question put to him concern
the election of John @. Adams for the
Presidency, that Mr. Clay's friends
made proposition to his friends, that
if they would promise for him not to
put Mr. Adams in the seat of Secretary
of State, Clay and his friends would, IN
an hour, make him, Jackson, Presi-
dent. &c." Upon being called upon
for his authority, Gen. Jackson gave
the name of James Buchanan, of Pa,
who in reply said, IL had no authority
from Mr. Clay or his friends to propose
any terms to General Jackson in rela-
ton to their votes, NOR DID | EVER
MAKE ANY SUCH PROPOSE
TON"
From this it will be seen that An
drew Jackson himself was the accuser
Of Mr. Clay and Mr. Adams, and that
James Buchanan was put forth as his
prosecuting witness. And let it be re-
that the witness of the accu-
ser, the political friend Of Gen. Jackson
most fatty and unequivocally denied
the accusation, which he was called on
to prove.
We come now 10 the recantation. In
his letter to Mr. Clay, dated Feb. sth
1912, Mr. Beverly said +:
81 again say that am most thorough
ly convinced that you were most IN
truthuliy, and therefore uyustly treat.
ed; Gin reference to the charge) for |
have never seen any evidence to SUBJ
stan,ia.e at all the charge"
Will the Gazette say tina. Nh Bever-
ly lied, will it pronounce his state
ment false!
Again, Mr. Adams when at Maysville
KY, during his late western tour, in
RESPONSE 10 Gen. Collins welcome, and
his allusion to this charge, used this
emphatic language;
IL thank you, sir, for the opportuni-
ty you have given me Of speaking of
the great statesman who was associated
with me in the administration of the
general Government at my earnest So
licitation-who belongs not to Ken
lucky alone, blu. to the whole Union
and is not only an honor to this State,