The North-Carolina standard., 1844-10-09
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES VELoPMENTI 4

Il
now on a mission to the liberty men or abolition
] lists of the North, with the view of inducing them
|to-droptheir candidate, Mr.. Bifny, and vote for
Henry Clay t SO turned out, however, that
tCassius in the North was injufng Henry at the
South, and this fact drew forth the following let
ter from Henry Clay. 1t is known as his s'WiclS-
life Letter" !" and was intended for the public eye
! - % ASHLAND, Sept. 2. 1874.
"MR. WIcKLFFE: The edltoryof neighborug
print, (the Kentucky Gazette, of Lexington, Ccal-
| ing my attention TO letter Of G. NJ. Clay, Esq,
under date of 10Th July, 1874 and addressed to COL
J. ]. Speed, of Ithaca, has appealed to me, with
so much earnestness, and with purpose of such
undfected Sincenitysto saYSwherher approve or
dlsapprove of that letter. that have moi the heart
to deny to that editor the very great qualification
which he will derive from the Perusal Of this note.
especially when il gives me- so little trouble to
| write IL SSs-5ss(..zs
"Mr, c. M. Clay's letter was written Without
my knowledge, without any consultation with me-
and without any authority from me: never saw
it until read itiu the public prints. That gentle
1 man is an independent citizen, having perfect
right to entertain and aVow his own opinions. |
am not responsible for them, and dhe is not for mine
So far as hesventures to interpret my feelings, he
has entirely miscenceiVed them. | believe him to
be equally mistaken to those in the circle of my
personal friends and neighbers generally.
| " In my speech, addressed TO the Senate of the
United States, and in resolutions which, offered
to that hodyriH-m my address 10 Mendenhalf, about
two years ago., and on various other public occa-
sions, have fully, freely and explicitly avowed
my sentiments and opinions on the subjects of The
institution of slavery and abolition. l adhere 10.
them, without any reservation. I hare neither
entertained noT, erpreSsed pubtictv nor q3yirote-
ty, any others And my friends and neighbors
generally far asI have interehaneed sentiments
WIN them, coincide entirely with me-. T.
The sentiments and opinions so G expresseJ bu
me, may be briefly stated to be-Ist That Con-
gress mas no power authority over the insitu-
ZION. of slavery ;-2d, That the existence. main
tenance and continuance Of thai Institution depend
exclusively upon the power and authority Of the
respective States within which it is situated. And
ID. Ihat Congress cannot interfere with slavery
In the Distinct OF Columbia; without violation OF
good 1aith TO the States of Maryland and Virginia
implied, II not expressed, in the terms, objects,
and purposesef the grant Of ten miles square 10
the General Government @.-
So far from the success of the Whig cause
HaVing any injurious tendency, as has been alleged
believe 1t will have powerful effect in tranquiliz-
ing and harmonlZing all parts Of the Union, and
III giving confidence, strength, and. security TO all
the great interests OF our country.
nope that your editorial neighbor will be sa-
tished. And. as trust that | do not exaggerate
the pleasure which this renewed expression of nv
views and opinions viii give him, is,it too much
to anticipate that he will forthwith Ienounee the
error OF his ways and come straight oul staunchI
Yours, respectfully,
-.-~s H. CLAY"
So far 50 good. But what next2 Why auo-
ther letter from Henry Clay, not intended for the
public eye. This letter, says, the Albany Even
ing Journal, federal print, was written by Hen
ry Clay to his kihsmau, Cassius M. Clay, and
was sent, under cover, to the Hon Willis Green
Mr. G, forwarded it. from Washington, under
cover, to Mr., B. Blunt, of New York. Mr.. Blunt
delivered tito MIR. Greely, of the Tribune, to be
handed by him to G. NJ. Clay. Mr.. Greely. lost
the letter from his pocket, and it was found and
published IN the New York Democrat BotAi
Mr.. Greely and Cassius NJ. Clay hare admitted
that 1t IS a genuine letter. Here it is
-r.z- EcoNFIDENTIAL.
ashland, Sept. 1s. 1874.
I" I1fy dear Sir: I received your favor of. 1be1
10th instant, in which you state that~you' will be
in Boston on the 18th, where it is impossibIe this
letter can reach you and therefore send il TO he
Hon. Willis Green, TO be forwarded to YOU Sc
!" am perfectly persuaded of your friendly IN
tentons and feef grateful for them But YOU can
have no conception, unless you had been here of
me Injury which your letter to the 7lribasne was
1oIng and that was nothing in comparison to that
which It ssIkelY 10 inf1ict upon the whg cause
a the States of Tennessee, North Carolina, and i
Georgia Our friend John Speed Smith, as well
IS others thought 1t even endangered the State of
aking TO speak of my private feelings and those II
u my near and particular friends, and your state
nent that youhad been ten years operating in the
bolition cause. r.. - 80 Ia
Under these circumstances there was an abso- =
ute necessity for the note whchI published, al-4D
nough regretted IT extremely L endeavored so +
Q shape It as MOTTO wound your feelings, and L | Z
lopeI did not. ; * 8 = N.5se.E
:" Had you been here, you would have concurfed I
With myself and other friends in thinking it indis-
ensabIe -. = = = : t''- c
!. You must be well aware of the very great p
ellcacy of my position. = 7
- the North, Fam represented as an ultrasup I
orter OF the Institution Of slavery, whilst atthe
south am described as an aboIitIonist ;,when /
IN neither one nor the other. As we have the =
anne slrname, andare moreover related, great use +
made at the Sonth against me, of whatever falls
rom you. There, you represented as "
eng my son hence the necessity of the greatest
lrcumspecnon, and especially that YOU should {
void committing me. Il
!" Y our are watched wherever YOU 90: and eve L
y word you publicly express will be tortured and
erYerted as my. own. are =
" After all, am afraid you are too sangune in
Imposing that any considerable number of the f.
oerty men can be induced to support me- How
an that De expected after they have voted against
ar. Slade? - . "''A''
!" 18th assurances of femy thankfulness for vour Il
lendly purposes, and with my best respects for EG
lrs. Clay - = - - "
!" am truly and faithfully, your friend, y
..c NJ H. CLAY. il