Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-04-06
"Be Sure yOa are Right"


Yankee guess that their troubles would increase
on that score; but we were not aware that they
were growing worse, quite so fast, as the last
Waterman seems to indicate. Its editor, usually
quite cool and self possessed, seems to have
strangely lost his balance-his good nature-his
courtesy-his SER respect; and we fear, that when
his phrenzy subsidies, he will be compelled to ac-
knowledge his disregard to truth in his notice of
the Freeman last week, or persist in the neglect of
manifest duty, as he has done in refusing to cor
rect his false quotations from Mr.. Garrison He
does not deny that Mr.. Clay gave two challenges
and fought two duels; but says
{" In these sixteen years of the fiercest political
and personal trials, he has challenged no man
fought no man. Is it generouS-nay, is it just, to
make no account of this?"
But the Waterman does not deny that he pub
licIy insulted Mr.. King of Alabama, for the mani
fest purpose of procuring challenge from him;
and that he accepted Mr.. Kings challenge only
three years ago, for which he was bound to keep
the peace in the sum Of five thousand dollars. This
is fine evidence of repentance, really a" Is it''not
too ''generOus"-9AE is it just to make no account
Of ths,''
Again, the Watchman complains of Us for allud-
ing to the part which Mr.. Clay took in the fatal
duel between Mr.. Graves and Mr.. Cicy; and
says.
Both Mr.. Clay and Mr.. Crittenden of KY, the
moment they heard fight was to be had, started
after the parties to prevent it. They were untor-
tunately toe lae''
Now, who shall we believe in this matter, the
editor of tive Waterman or Mr.. Clay himself, and
his devoted friends, Charles King and Reyerdy
johnson, FIR there is pupabIe contradiction be-
tween them? Mr.. Clay admits that he advised
the written correspondence which led to the duel,
that he wrote the challenge with his own hand
and that, being the friend of Mr. Graves, | could
not invoke the authority of the police to prevent
the duel;" and Messrs. King and Johnson assert,
that on their earnest appeal to him to avert the
duel, he declined doing so, on the ground
"that the honor of his friend, who vas the chaI-
lenger, might be compromised by any advice on
his (Mr CIay's) part, to arrest the progress of the
affair" There, reader, don't that look like start
ing 'afer the parties to prevent the moment they
heard that fight was to be had The fact is,
the least said by the Waterman about that foul
bloody business, the soonest mendcd, and the edi-
tor will find it So
Again, the Waterman tells US
"That the Freeman adopts the loco foco'S lies
about Mr.. CIays visit to New Orleans;''
and says
"Next comes the Mobile affair, which will
doubtless present Il different aspect when all the
facts are hnown.'
Our account Of Mr.. Cay's proclamation of the
Sabbath was copied from the Wing and democrat
ic papers; but it appears from the New York Tri-
bune of March 29th, leading Wing paper, thai
he was more extensively guilty than we represent
ed him to be. That paper states that 81 is only
true that he (Mr CIay) being at Louisville, a.
waiting, since the night before, a boat for New
Orleans, did take passage in one which left OF
Sunday" Again it says; True, the steamboat
arrived at New Orleans on Sunday, but how could
passenger help that" And again." that he left
on Sunday morning, is most true" Here is al
acknowledgement of all the violations of the Sab.
bath which we charged upon him, except that Of
leaving home and starting off on this eectioneerine
tour Oh the Sabbath, which the Waterman does
not deny, and considerable more. The difference
in the accounts Of the Wing aud democratic pa
pers, in regard to the New Orleans visit, is abou
the manner in which the people Of that city re-
ceived him. But under the caption q See that yol
are right" the Waterman calls these accounts
"downright les" and says, eve are not sur
prised to see the Freeman hand in hand with the
vilest and most reckless lbellers." Now, what
nowledgement that the papers of these parties arc
so corrupt, for we copied from both of them, tina
they are not to be believed. Well friend Walton
you never get more out of the way than that
we shall certainly never quarrel with you. Bat
as some Of your symptoms are, there is certainly
hope in your case. Next time, act upon your OWL
motto " Be sure you arc right" as you have done
in this virtual acknowledge anu you will dc
better
Among the amusing things in the said veritablt
Wanhman is, the reason il gives for disbelievins
the Tribune's account of Mr.. Clay's Sabbath day
travelling. 1t is this:
off he did not himself respect the day, we thinl
he cannot be so extremely foolish as to allow hi:
enemies to injure him through any neglect of hi,
own"
This seems natural enough, and we should sup.
pose so too. And we should also suppose that he
would not ''be so extremely foolish as to allow
his anenins IN iniure hi,nD nv f0htnr duaI. .oh