Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1844-09-07

II. Gay haA recently ben wra1en tol
by gDntlemsn il Pennsy lvalis, aaking an
exrrss.ioa Il his views ID relallla to de |
practice Of duelling. In his reply he
says:
81 expressed, in strong terms Of con-
demnation, my opinion against duelling in
a letter addressed TO my constituents, in
March, 1924. which is to be found in the
published collection Of my speeches.
Again, within few years past, gave ev-
idence Of my strong disapprobation Of Il,
by voting, in the Senate Of the U. States.
for the bill for suppressing duelling in the
District of Columbia"
1t would be fortunate for Mr.. Clay if
he could prevail upon his fellow country
men to judge him by his, professions, in
stead Of by his acts. He viii find it DIFF
fcnlt, however, to do this. It's yet fresh
in the public mind that while Secretary Of
State-a short period after the publication
of the letter condemnatory Of duelling, to
which he now alludes-he challenged to
mortal combat John Randolph, then a
Senator, in Congress; and, according to the
statement Of his biographer, Prentice, but
Tor the folds Of the gown in which the
N. gre form Of Mr.. R. was cnveloped,
wouI,, , have killed him. 1t is also well
known. tn. since his vote for the bill sup
pressing ducln..,g, to which he refers as
furnishing "evidencc Of his strong disap-
probation of the practice, and IN the face
Of the existence Of such law, ne grossly
insulted Senator from section Of coun-
try in which duelling is tolerate: ano
when the challenge which he knew his G.
fensive conduct rendered inevitable was
received, he accepted it before taking time
to read the note. For Mr.. Clay now. in
the face Of this recorded evidence against
him, to refer back to words used by him
some twenty years ago to prove him an
anti-duellist, and to vote given by him
six years since for law which he him.
self was the first TO trample under the
! dust, indicates weakness not character
istic Of the man, and which can only be
accounted for by the consuming de-
sire with which he is seized of achieving
the Presidential honors.
Mr.. Clay's correspondents further ask
him whether, if challenged to fight duel,
he would accept the invitation; and in re-
ply to this interrogatory he says:
Considering my age, which is now past
81, | fell that ! should expose myself 10
ridicule if | were to proclaim whether
would or would not fight duel. It is
certainly one Of the most unlikely events
that can possibly be imagined, and cannot
conceire case in ,chich Ishould be provoked
or tempted to go to the field Of combat. But,
as l; cannot foresee all the contingencies
which may possiblys arise, in the short
remnant Of my life, and for the reason
Which have already stated, of avoiding
any exposure Of myself to ridicule, 1 can
not reconcile 1t to my sense # proprsety to
make a declaration one acoy or the other.''
No Catholic can hold the Office Of Gov
ernor, Senator or Representative, in that
paragon of locofoco-democrat States
New Hampshire Hackeye.
Technically true; but why is it so?
Simply, because the federal wings have
uniformly refused to join with the demo-
Gratis in eradicating the odious clause from
the constitution. An alteration in the
constitution Of New Hampshire can only
be effected with the consent Of two-thirds
Of the people; and although the democratic
majority in that State is large, it is yet in
Sufficient, without aid from the wings, to
effect the desired reform. This aid has
uniformly been withheld. Several at
tempts to call convention, with the view
of making the constitution more democrat
ic, have been voted down mainly by the
federalists, Gov. Steele, in his recent mes
sage, brought the subject again before the
attention Of the Legislature, and in urging
his reasons in favor ola change, enumerted
the d jectionable prohibition in relation to
Catholics as one which should no longer
be permitted to disgrace the State. The
Legislature, there exists but little doubt,
has or will act upon his suggestions, and
again throw the matter open to the people;
but inasmuch as the wings have all along
opposed all amendment, and the striking Of
the clause alluded to out would have the
effect to deprive their brethren out of the
State Of small amount of capital, it is
more than probable that they will again
employ their strength to defeat a change.
Technically, we have said, it is true
that Catholics are not permitted to hold Of
fee in New Hampshire; but it is only
technically, as we have the authority Of
many eminent men Of that State for saving.
For all practical purposes the prohibition
lis a nullity; the question az to what /.
mans religious opinions are never being