Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1844-11-21
IN Incident IN the Life of Henri

Cay.-Among the many wonderful
things done by Henry Clay in early life,
it is recorded that he once procured the
conviction and execution of negro
for murder, whose crime if any, was
only manslaughter. The circumstances
are thus detailed by his biographer,
Prentice:
The defendant was negro slave
a proud and faithful servant--and one
who has never been accustomed to-
corporal chastisement During a
temporary absence of his master, how
ever, he was placed under the charge
of a young and passionate overseer,
who, for some slight or Imaginary Of
fence, struck him rucely with horse
whip. The spirit of the slave was in
stantly reused, and siezing a weapon
that was near him, he laid his overseer
dead upon the spot This offence, if
the perpetrator had been white man,
would have been SO clearly case Of
mansiaughter, that the counsel for ike
prosecution would have contended for
nothing more. 1t had all the disting-
a.shing characteristics of manslaught-
er, having been committed in mo-
ment of sudden evaporation, and with
out the shadow of previous malice
The negro, however, stood indicted
for murder, andit belonged to Mr.. Clay,
as counsel for the Comm onwealth, to
sustain if possible, the indictment. In
order to do this, he contended In long,
subtle and elaborate argument that, al
though white man, who in a fit of
rage, on account Of personal chastlse-
ment, killed his assailant, would be
guilty Of manslaughter, and not murder,
a slave could plead no such mitigation
of similar offence, inasmuch as it is
the duty of slaves to submit to punish
ment
Mr.. Clay was successful in his argu-
ment, notwithstanding the invalidity
ofhis positions. By his strong and
plausible reasonings, and the exhube-
rance and felicity of his illustrations,
he wrought completely upon the minds
Of the Jury that the prisoner was con-
victed Of murder and sentenced to
death. Soon afterward he was borne
to the place of execution. The pride &
spirit and character which he there dis
played, is said to have been worthy of
a Roman patriot. Being asked wheth
er he was DESTROYS that his life should
be spared, MOP said he, sternly, &
would not live day longer, unless iii
the enjoyment of liberty"
These are the words of warm, per-
sonal and political friend of Mr.. Clay.
The circumstance is dwelt upon by
him and Clay's admirers generally AS
a specimen of his wonderful eloquence.
The fac. that the life of a fellow being
was sacrificed to illustrate his oratori-
cal powers, and to crafty his personal
vanity, on that occasion appears to be
regarded by them with as much com
placency as the most praiseworthy act
of his life. But was he not, in
fact, by the laws of God and man a
MURDERER? Here was a man con-
victed ola crime of which he was not
guilty, through the perverted genius
and talent of Henry Clay. And to
procure that conviction how was the
obligations of humanity, truth and JUS
tice trodden under foot' eff | had !
been WHfTEMAN," says his BIZ
ographer, Mr.. Clay would not thought
of lndlcting him for murder; but be-
cause he was black man, the truth
loving statesman could take advan-
tage Of the situation of defenceless
fellow being, like the poor negro, and
by force of superior abilities make
twelve men believe a LIE in order to
deprive bis victim oflife, and thus add
to his reputation as lawyer. There,
Coon, you have Henry Clay just as he
is. He has manifested, through life
the same disposition to perpetrate acts
of cruelty and injustice, when his own
selfish feelings were to be gratifed.