The Woodstock age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1844-1845, 1844-05-23

such practicable Iamented that he ha
ever participated in it. But the fede, Al
list would not pardon him. Though h,
had reformed-ihough he had been mil
itary man-though he had fought in com.
Para'ively early life, they would not over
look the transgression. 1t was with then
an insurmountable objection. Yet here il
Henry Clay. engaged in succession oI
duels, in early life and in advanced age.
encouraging by hisinAuence and example
this murderous practice and not one word
ofreproofor objection do we hear from
them. 1t is in character with all their con.
duct.
Although we disapprove and condemn
this barbarous practice, wherever and by
whoever practised, yet we should not have
brought thi, subject before the hypocriti-
cal supporters of Mr. Clay. had he been
concerned in no recent strife, or had he
reformed his life. But ii is not three years
since this reckless old man was put under
$4,000 bonds in Washington. to prevent
his fighting, The moral, the religions,
the humane will say whether such man
Is suitable and proper candidate.
AT the age orsiyiy he wrote, as he him.
self admits, challenge for young friend
of his, who consulted with hir, and that
challenge, written by Henry Clay, led to
the death of a youthful member of Con.
gress in the opening dawn ola promising
career-made his weeping wife widow
and his little children orphans. No pub.
lie man has committed an act like this, and
those who have pro(essed to be opposed TO
duel'ing and to duelIists, must remember
their professions and their practices as
they can when supporting Henry Clay.
While Secretary of State Of the United
States, he was guilty of the challenging
Randolph then a Senator and twice
shooting at him, He is, we believe, tie
only man who, while holding cabinet Of.
flee in this country, has sent challenge or
fought duel. Aaron Burr, while Vice
President, did challenge and kill Alexan.
der Hamilton, but public opinion sunk him
forever. The lederasts had tried TO make
him President against MIR Jefferson, but
after his duel with Hamilton the federal
lists of that day abandoned Burr; but mod.
ern federalism is more degenerate than the
federalists of former days.
Had democrat while a Secretary Of
State, challenged Senator and twice tax.
EN- deliberate aim to shoot him down, does
any one believe the democrats whould have
made him their canddatel
Had democrat in 1887 written chal.
Ienge for young friend, and been advs-
ing to duel which eventuaed in the death
of young statesman, ought such trans.
action to have been passed in silence, and
he made candidalel
Had a democrat within three years been
involved IN the preliminary stages of duel
so as to be put under $1,000 bonds by the
police to prevent it, what holy professions
of pious horror should we have Witnessed
againstn!
These are home questions for the sin.
cerely honest and upright man to answer.
''"' A'A' S'"l i'NC NCI' SdIhouH, uVtI
military man-had he like Cen Jackson
been only engaged at a long distant peIi.
cd in a dnel-above all had he, like that
good old man, reformed, and opposed the
practice, We should have been the last to
have pressed an early error, as one pas, for
glveRess But here is man from youth
to age duelist who, unmindIul of sta.
lion of the influence of his personal and
official example, has challenged and writ.
len chalenges-has in the words of one Of
his former intimate friends, been ian &C.
complIce IN the murder of one man, and q
principal in two attempts 10 murder two
others;" aud who within three years has
been arrested by the police and put under
80 GOO bonds to prevent anolher-who is
now the candidate ola party for the Chief
Magistrate of this nation. This confirm.
I'd duellst is paraded as their chosen lead.
'r, this is the man whom they hold up as
IN example to American youth.