Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1844-06-06
JOHN WHITE.
WAsuIyGroN, May C, 1914.
10 Messrs. GALES 8, SEAToN.

My DEAR SIR: ! have received your
note, bringing to my notice certificate
subscribed by five gentlemen, members
of the present House Of Representatives
all Of them my political opponents, which
you inform me is going tho rounds Of the
Locofoco papers. The object Of that
certificate seems to be 10 verify the cor
rectness OF an extract taken from the
National lnteIlig encer of the st of July,
1920. In that extract | am stated by a
former member Of the House Of Repre-
have remarked, in debate which occur
red year before, 10 the following effect d:
"If gentlemen will not allow US to have
black slaves they must let us have whue
ones /; for we cannot cut our iirewood, =,
and black our shoes, and have our wives
aud daughters work in the kitchen
think you attach an importance TO
this miserable attempt to prejudice me
which il does not merit. Here is an ex-
tract from the files OF the lntel'igencer,
under date near twenty-iour years ago,
not from any speech OF mine, but from q
speech Of another member of Congress.
lie does not undertake TO give my words,
but merely states his impression of the
effect of certain words used by me year
before.
During the long and arduous Discus
sion of what was called the Missouri
question, ! was 80 engrossed with the
importance Of the subject and so deeply
apprebensive of the awful consequences
which il involved, that never wrote on,
or corrected any speech of mine made
during the progress OF the debate. On
the agitation of that question, | made an
elaborate speech of several hours dura-
ton, no part of which, ] believe, was
ever reported by any of the stenographe;s
as il certainly never was by me.
! certainly will no, undertake to re-
cite what were the precise words used
BY me on the occasion OF any of the nu-
merous speeches, short or !oag, which |
made in Congress on the Missouri qucs-
;iOn but this | will undertake to assert,
with the most perfect confidence, that |
never used the words, or any words
which would bear the import of the ex-
tract TO which ! have alluded. ! am
confident Of il because | EeYer eutcr-
tanned such sentiment in my life. ]
never conceived contingency in which
] would favor or countenanco reducing
white men to slavery. To such an i'm
putaion ] may oppose the tenor Of
whole life, during which my hunOlc
eyerlions have been constantly directed
20 the preservation OF liberty at home
Hnd the encouragement OF IT. establish
menl in foreign countries. II have not
been abie TO extend these exertionS to
tho black race held in bondage in this
country, il has been because Of consid-
crations and convictions, sincerely and
honestly entertained, embracing the
peace and happiness of both the white
and black races, which have been often
presented to the public.
II is quite possible that, in arguing
upon The existence of the institution Of
slavery in this country, may have con
tended that the black race supplied those
domestic Offices which under, the names
OF "hclp," "menia servants" and edo
mesllcs," are to be found in every state
Of civilized society, and consequently
relieved the white race from the perform
ance Of those Offices. III have employ
ed such an argument, (of which | have
no recollection,) it is apparent how cr-
roneous inierences may have been drawn
from it which it did not authorize.
have no desire to dsparage the in
dustry of the wives of any Of tho cerlI6-
cIs to the extract, nor to boast Of that
IN roy own family but | venture to say
that 10 one Of them performs more do
-I,,es,ic industry with her hands than my
wife does at Ashland.
em with great respect, your friend
aud obcdient servant, III. CLAY.
Hon. JouN WHiTE.