The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-10-26

The wings arv giving out that there As certain
writing from Henry Clay, letter OF somo wv. -
OF the sort, which. being LET on like pc's,o
The Of the election, week alter neAb 10 W w
digous execution. ,
AZ present il has been handed about only among
the initiated Ii is to be withheld from Puoie '..o''
until tho Monday previous 10 the eieepon' "nen Is
TO be circulated in print and in the opinion OF me
wings who have seen il, viii AID the cause o' pir'
Clay more than any thing else wh'ch mas ao"s -
lers which be has written on The dinefeh' Sues VI 'e
Texas question.
From he gyings out Of the knowing ones among
the Wing party, II oonjectured ina, us hysS,'ous
document Is syringe 10 catch tho NAu'os' DUNG
kept IN reserve until the very day before the eieeho,
when ITS effect cannot be counteracted, Is probably
hoped thai IL will sweep all the Ratisist into the net
and the lection will have passed before they nave
lime 10 dscntangle themselves, their votes VIII Dc
be secured.
While these arrangements are making IN tins city
the parlsans of Mr. Clay making strong interest
To secure the votes of the Catholics and people oil
foreign birth, ia different parts OF the country la
Pittsburgh paper called the Iron City, appears long
article addressed TO the Irish Catholics, attempting
TO persuade them that Mr.. Clay abhors the Native
American party and Its principles, and entertoins the
proiouudest respect for the Roman Catholic Church.
Now, IL happens luckily for Mr.. Clay's advocates,
that whatever doctrine you wish 10 ascribe to him,
you find no difficulty in proving by some letter or
speech OF his that he most firmly holds the doctrine
For example Ii you wish to prove that he Is against
national bank, make extract from his celebrated
speech OF 1911; you wish to prove that he is for
such institution fer TO his more modern speeches
and letters. Ii you want to show that he is for free
trade and the compromise act there is his speech oil
1912 and his letter TO Mr.. Merrwether. II you
would demonstrate that he is for the policy OF re-
strction and against the compromise act there are
three four letters written the last summer. II you
desire 10 make him out friend TO the annexation Of
Texas, there his Alabama letters II It Is conve-
nient for you to show that he is the other side,
there is hls Raleigh letter and his Ohio letters.
1t happens that this Pittsburgh friend Of Mr.. Clay
has also his letter 10 prove that Mr. Clay is vehe
ment enemy OF all attempts TO procure change in
the naturalization laws, and that he enterains figh
respect for the Catholic elgon. We here extract
this letter from his article 10 the Pittsburgh paper,
together with the Introductory remarks Of the writer,
who calls himself a Catholic Layman:
In 1887, Mr.. Clay presented a petition to the
Senate from certain individuals, praying an altera-
ton IN the naturalization laws, and the passage of a
law to abrdge the rights Of the Catholics. The cir
cumstance produced good deal Of excitement, and
vas the subject of much remark with those against
whom the petition was directed. Wherefore letter
OF inqulry was addressed to Mr.. Clay by veteran
and venerable clergyman 10 the Catholic Church. who
is now no MORE TO which he made this very feeling
and satisfactory answer
WARRINGTON, February oth, 1881
My DEAR SIR-I received your friendly letter.
and thank you for calling my attention to the news
paper paragraph which is enclosed. The petition to
which IT refers forwarded TO me by nativity,
did not know saw that it was from pery ignorant
persons. 1t prayed for object, alteration Of the
naturalization incs, which Congress had power to
act. They bad right to petition, and without shar-
ing their prejudices, their very ignorance made me
anxious to fulfil the duty Of presenting their petition.
NEITHER WISHED NOR EXPECTED THEY
WOULD OBTAIN THEIR OBJECT, and accord
ingiy the committee vo,,d against IT,
Such, my dear sir, is true account OF this matter.
You do me no more than justice, in supposing in
capable of any feelings OF prejudice, entertaining
any spirit OF intolerance toward the Catholic ReIig
ion, have, the contrary, the highest respect for It,
and count among its members some of my best and
huest friends. | am mortified and grieved to think
that any one should have misconceived me.
am, with sincere regard,
Your obedient servant,