Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-10-10
(Ffom Tic R'cimond Wig, Oh. s.
MR.. CLAWS LETTERS TO Mr.. BLAIR



Some time during The last summer. Mr.. Clay
sen; me copies OF his letters To Mr.. Blair written
in January. lS.3 and authorized me 10 show
them 10 any one who might wish 10 see bcm.-
Finding that the charge OF Bargain and Corrup
ton which was made al the time. and rciu,cd.
was revived and MAS now seriously urged
against Mr. Clay, that il was alleged 10 be sns-
ceptiblc OF Proof under his own hand, ard that
these letters were referred to as containing the
proof | caused notice 10 he inserted in Tie
VINO, that copies vi tho letters were in my hands,
and that they were open TO the inspection oi any
gentleman Of either party. thought il impossi-
bic, that any man could read the letters, without
seeing and admitting, that they contain no cvi-
dence Ireudcial 10 Mr.. Clay-no evidence of
any Improperly in thought, word or decd-no
evidence OF any selfish or personal teeing-no
evidence Of aughl but patriotism: and that his
bit;crcst foes would be compelled to acknowledge
this upon pcIusal OF Them. Many Of The friends
Of Mr.. Clay have called upon me, and read
these famous letters. Not one of his enemies has
asked to see them, and have shown them to but
one, who did no, ask TO see them; they have ei-
thcr been unwilling 10 have any communication
with ME on the subject, or, perhaps, they wish 10
remain in ignorance.
II | am rightly informed, no application has
ever been made directly to Mr. CLAY, by Mr.
Blair. or by Mr. Linn Boyd, or by any other of
that party, TO consent 10 the publication of these
letters Mr. Clay would doubtless have consent
cd, il his consent had been asked by any Of Tie
leaders of the party hostile to him. They have
imputed whatever sentiments il suited their pur-
pose 10 impnte 10 Mir. Clay under the impression
thath he could not rciue The impuatons they made,
without violating the sanclitv of private cores
pondcnce, under the seal OF which the letters
were written. Overcome bv the earnest cnirea-
ties of his friends in Virginia, Mr. Clay has re-
!ucanlv consented 10 the publication (if they
think ii proper) of these letters private and conf
dental as lhey are, and even playful and sporivc
in their character. That he is rightin doing this
cannot be doubted, since the seal Of private cor
rcspondence has in fact been broken; The letters
have been seen BY hundreds-by all, indeed, who
wished Ia see them, and the only question is whc.
Their MIR. Clay ought 10 suffer all the evil miscon-
slruction which a longer suppression of them
might apparently warrant and which publca-
ton of them will refu,e. But the publication is
now made BY me-nos without Mr.. Clay being
apprised OF The purpose, nor without his acquics-
cence-hut, still. take the responsibility OF the
publication. Knowing as he must have known,
that the publication could only be beneficial 10
him, he has vcl patiently endured all the caium-
MES which have been founded on The letters
now publish them in order 10 put down, cfiec-
tually and forever, Il vile charge, which has been
revived dlitI HiN NY Dttn CoiiiClci1 icllCt anu
which has been revived here in Virginia, in the
hope that the letters after So long delay, would
not he published.
One word as 10 The authenticity 81 the copies
which are now published. In 1927. Mr.. Clay
sent copies, certified Nv Mr.. Blair To The late Col
John uarvic of Frankfort, Kentucky and he m,
them in the hands of Col. Richard II. TAYLOR
also OF Frankfort for public inspection. They
9crc examined by hundreds oi persons Of both
parties, and were perfectly accessible 10 any per-
son who wished 10 see them. II is confidently
believed, thai no one who has examined them
ever venlurcd TO assert that they contained any
thing preudicial 10 Mr. Clay There is iniruh
nothing in them, which is not substantially stated
in Mr. GAYS letter 10 his constituents, of the 2ih
Na-cl, 1895, which was printed in Niess Reg
is:er a, the time, and which is re-putlishcd in
Mallory's lie of Clay. Volume |, p. iS6. The
copies now sent for publication are copies Of the
copies certified by Mr.. Blair, now in Col Taylor's
hands. Ii is not doubled that the copies are cor
rect. But Mr.. Blair is challenged 10 produce The
originals, and, after showing them 10 any person
acquainted with Mr.. Clay's handwriting (lor
example the Hon. Willis Green, or Mr.. Gales, or
Mr. Fcndal) 10 publ n them.
Tim; y lie proper 10 say, that the expression in
h, first letter" Next, friend Of Mr.. Adams
&C mes, nth :ears in his eyss"-is an alluson 10