Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1844-06-07
JOHN WHITE.
WASHINGTON, May 6, 1874.

WASHINGTON, may ., 1874,
My DeGrtSr: | have received your
note, bringing TO my notice certificate
subscribed by Eve gentlemen, members
OF the present Houes Of representatives,
all Of them ny political opponents.
which you inform me is going the rounds
Of the Locofoco pa pers. The object OF
that certificate seems to be 10 verify the
correctness Of go extract taken from the
National InielIgencer OF the lsI Of JI-
/ ly, 1920. 10 that extract ] am stated
/ by former msmber Of the House Of
Repre- believe now not liv-
ng) TO bays remarked, 10 a debate
which occurred a year before, TO The
following effect: ''Il gentlemen will not
allow US 10 have black slaves they must
let US have white ones, for we cannot
cut our frewood and black our shoes
aud have our wives and daughters work
in The kilcheD."
think you attach an importance TO
this miserable attempt 10 prejudice me
which it Goes not merit. Here 10 en- eX
tract from be files Of the InleIIigencsr,
under date near twenty four yeaFa ago,
not from any speech Of mine, but from
a speech Of another member Of Cen
gress. He does not undertake TO give
my SOO5dS, but merely slates his impres
sion OF the effect olcerIain words used by
me year before
During tho long and ariuoUs discus
sons Of what was called the Missouri
queellon, J was so engrossed with tho
importance OF the subject, and so deep.
Iy Opprehensve OF the awful coDse
qusnces which it involved, that | never
wrote oUl or corrected any speech oI
mine made during the progrese Of the
debate. On The last and most mpor
lant occasion Of the agitation Of that
question, made on elaborate speech Of
several hours duration, no part oI
which, | believe, was ever reported by
any o(the stsnogrSphsrO, as il certainly
never was by me.
! certainly will not undertake 10 re-.
cite what we're the precise words used
by me on the occasion ol any of the
humorous speeches, short or long, which
! made in Congress on the Missouri
question; but this will undertake to as
ssrl, with the mos perfect confidence,
that | never used tho words, or any
words that would bear the import Of
the extract, 10 which | have alluded.
am confident Of it because never en-
tertalned such a sentiment in my life.
never conceived contingency 10
which would favor or countenance re.
ducng white men to slavery. To such
an impulatiOO | may oppose the tenor Of
a whole lie, during which my humble
exerlons have been constantly directed
TO the preservation Of liberty AT horne
and the encouragement of its establish
ment in ioTslga countries II have
not been able to extend theso exrrtops
to the black race held 10 bondage in
this country, it has been because OF con
sidaralions and convictions, sincerely
and honestly entertained, embracing the
peace and happiness of both The white
and black races, which have been oLen
presented 10 the public.
1t is quite possible that, in arguing
upon the existence Of the institution Of
slavery 10 this country, | NAV have
contsnded that tho black race ouppliod
those domestic Offices which, under the
names ol help 'osnial servants aud
'domsstlcs,' are TO be found in every
state ofolvilzsd society 81 consequent.
Iy relieved lhs white race from the per
lormancs OF those Offices, II | have
ever employed such an argument, (of
which ! have no recollection, y ii is ap
parent how erroneous inlerences may
have been drawn from il which it did
not authorize,
have 90 desire TO disparags the in
dustry Of tho wives OF any OF the certi-
tierS to the extract, nor to o'bOast Of that
in my own family; but | venture to say
that no one Of than performs more do
msstic industry with her own hands shan
nv wife does OF Ashland.
! am, with great respect, your friend
and obedent OerVanl,
II. CLAY.
Hon. JoHN WHITE.