The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-05-29
THE WHITE SLAVE LIE.

THE WHITE SLAVE LIE.
We copy the following correspondence from
the National Inteligencer of yesterday, in refer
ence to the old and stale SANDER which few
officially honorabes (not otherwise SOY have taken
upon themselves to place again before the coun-
try. 1t will be recollected that these honorables
do not say that Mr. Clay actually uttered the
Objectionable language. but that Mr.. Somebody
said, in has speech, that Mr.. Somebody else said
SO, or words which might be made 10 bear that
Interpretation.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May %, 1874.
Gentlemen | herewith transmit letter writ
ten some weeks since by Mr.. Clay, lin reply to
| a note which addressed to him at Norfolk, in
Virginia,) which have withheld from publica-
ton, inasmuch as he was impressed las expressed
in his letter. that overrated the Importance of
! the charge. Within the last ten days have re-
ceived several letters asking copies Of my speech
| in defence of Mr.. Clay, particularly upon this
charge. have not yet had the leisure to write
out my speech, but shall do 80 at the first conve-
nient moment In the meantime, you will please
publish the enclosed, which is a single link in the
| chain Of testimony have in my possession to
nail this charge to the counter as base forgery
JOHN WHITE.
u MeSSTs. GALES " cEAIoN.
WASHINGTON, May 6, 1874.
| My Dear Sir have received your note, bring
| ing to my notice certificate subscribed by five
gentlemen, members of the present House OF Rep
representatives., all OF them my political opponents,
| which you inform me is going the rounds of the
Locofoco papers. The object of that certificate
seems to be to verify the correctness Of an ex-
tract taken from the National Inteligencer of the
- r. Ill, T tai
former member of the House of Representa-
| tves U believe not now living) to have remarked,
| in debate which occurred year before, to the
| following effect: I" If gentlemen will not allow
| us to have black slaves, they must let us have
| Dhite ones for we can not cut our frewood, and
| black our shoes, and have our wives and daugh-
] tiers work in the kitchen"
| think you attach an importance to this miser-
able attempt toprejudice me which it does not
merit Here is an extract from the files of the
Intelligencer, under date near twenty -four years
ago, not from any speech of mine, but from a
| speech of another member of Congress. He does
not undertake to give my ,oords but merely states
his impression of the effect of certain words used
| by me year before.
| During the long and arduous discussions of
| what was called the Missouri question, was SO
engrossed with the Importance of the subject, and
so deeply apprehensive of the awful consequences
| rected any speech of mine made during the pro-
gress of the debate. On the last and most i'm
portant occasion Of the agitation of that question,
| made an elaborate speech of several hours du-
ration, no part of which, believe, was ever re-
ported by any of the stenographers, it certainly
never was by me.
! certainly will not undertake to recte what
were the precise words used by me on the occa-
sion of any of the numerous speeches, short or
/ 1oo nh r A. ~, %ho
question; 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 extract, to which have alluded.
| am confident Of it, because | never entertained
such sentiment in my life. ! never conceived
contingency in which would favor or counte-
nance reducing white men to slavery. To such
an imputation may oppose the tenor Of whole
| life, during which my humble exertions have been
constantly directed to the preservation of liberty
at home and the encouragement of it's establish
ment IN foreign countries. If have not been
able to extend these exertions to the black race
| held In bondage in this country, it has been be-
cause of considerations 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 contended that the black
race supplied those domestic Offices which, under
the names Of "help," mental servants" and
"domestics," are to be found in every state of
civilized society, and consequently relieved the
white race from the performance of those Offices.
If have ever employed such an argument, (of
which have no recollecton,) it is apparent how
erroneous differences may have been drawn from
it which it did not authorize.
have no desire to disparage the industry of
the wives of any Of the certfers to the extract,
nor to boast of that in my own family but VEN
ture to say that no one of them performs more
domestic industry with her own hands than my
wife does at Ashland.
am, with great respect, your friend and ODE
dent servant, H. CLAY.
Hon. JOHN WHITE.
LATE FROM HAvANA.-Capt. Gardner OF ship