Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-09-20
THE sLANDERERs REBUKED-MR.

CLAY'S PRIVATE CHARACTER.
! Never were the ocofoco and third party editors
more industrious in any work than they in Will
flying Mr.. Clay. Hardly can they allow sheet to
come from their Offices which is not freghed with
assertions concerning Mr.. Cay's character, which
are pronounced gross libols by men of high repu-
tation for morality and veracity. We have already
given our readers the testimony of the Rev. DR..
Bascom, Of Ky.-a clergyman of the highest rep
utation not only with the Methodist church to
which he belongs, but also with all other dcnomi-
nations. Now are gratifed in adding the testi-
mony of men better known in our own State. The
first is that OF the Hon. Benjamin Swift, of st. AL
bans, who was for several years member of Con
gress with Mr. Clay; and the next is that of Rev.
F. b. Nash, worthy clergyman of the Episcopal
church, and formerly resident of st. Adams, Vt.
From the Burlington Free Press.
MIR. CLAWS PRIVATE CHARACTER.
O. The following letter is in reply to one adj
dressed to our late Senator by Cornelius I.ynde.
Esq of Johnson touching the many foul aspersons
cast upon Mr.. Clays moral character by his poti-
cal opponents. 1t will be read with satisfaction
ST. ALBANs, Aug. 8, 1874
DEAR SIR,-Your favor of the Sth 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 received
| very much regret that the friends of Mr..
Clay are under the necessity of condescendinr TO
contradict or even notice, the SANDERS of his enc.
mics. Where he is best known, such necessity
| does not exist.
| do not consider it necessary for me to answer
particularly the several inquiries you have made,
but deem it suilicict to say generally, that each
and all Of the charges specified by you are, so far
as know or believe un)oundel ia truth and base
! caumnies. | have been long aud somewhat int.
mately acquainted with Mr.. Clay. NV first &C.
quaintancc with him was in the fall of 1927, when
| he was Secretary of State, and have since been
six years with him 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 against him at that time as
immoral, and ! judge Of his character before and
since that time, from what knew of him thenand
from the history of the country with which his life
has been identified.
Mr.. Clay is charged with being duelst and
it is true, and TO be regretted that in the course Of
his life he has fought two duels, but without harm
to either of his adyorsares, and in conversation
with him on the subject, he expressed to me his de-
cided disapprobation Of the practice Of duelng
and the great satisfaction he felt in the reflection,
that he never shed the blood of felow-bting
but the circumstances Of these cases were such
that he then thought that he could not sustain the
reputation of an honorable man,and decline a COM
pliance with custom then universally prevalent
at the South | know that Mr.. Clay has voluntari-
y acted as mediator to prevent such hostile meet
ings and has probably been the chlefagent in pre-
venting several duels which seemed inevitable
The charge that Mr. Clay approved of, and was
aiding in, the duel between Graves and Cilley, is,
as fully believe, wholly without foundation, bu,
on the contrary, he did all he could to prevent t-
| was in Washington at the time of this unfortu-
nate affair." and my opinion is formed from what
was said and known at the time. On the morning
Of the day on which the duel took place, after the
parties had left the city, the fact of their meeting
was generally known, and was almost the only top
ic of conversation, though all seemed ignorant Of
the place Of meeting. conversed with the friends
of Mr. Graves, at the time and all manifested a
great desire that the meeting should be prevented
if possible and measures were taken for that pur-
pose, and understood that Mr. Clay was active in
promoting such measures. Mr. Clay was an init
mate friend of Nj. Graves and it was anticipated
that meeting between the parties, lin case it
should take place. would prove fatal to Mr.Graves
owing to his entire want of skill in the use of ri
file, and it can hardly be supposed that Mr.. Clay
would urge such meeting.
Mr. Clay has probably been the object of more
SANDER and abuse than any other man in the Uni
ted States, and if the purity of his moral character
has been furnished, it is still UNNECESSARILY exalted
above that of his slanderers
AS much as admire Mr.. Clay for his splendid
talents, | admire him still more for his unimpeacha
BILE integrity, and for his deyotedness and attach
ment to the interests and liberty of his country
His attachments are less sectional than most poll
ticians, his patriotism embraces the whole country
and he is as Hope and trust destined to fill witt
f honor to himself and great benefit to the country
the most exalted station in the gift of the Ameri
f can people.
+ In great haste, respectfully,
Your obedent servant,
Z. LYNDE, ESQ. b. SWIFT.
From the ST. Adams Messenger
ST.. ALBANs, Aup o. 1874