Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1844-10-31

The follow ing letter from the Hon. VIM C.. Preston
while nails the I,cooco blus,er about conversation
between hun and Mr.. Clay. aft ,rds another graphic H.
lnsi'a'on q" the natural propensity Of party. which
considers lasehood too absurd .ross if it promises
ogive them place aud power.
COLUMBIA, 10Th Octuber, 1874.
Dear Sir-The editor Of the Mobile Advertiser has
sent to me paper containing statement made by you
oi certain declaration Of nine concerning conversa-
ton with Mr.. Clay, many years since. Your state
ment thus published is connected with letter from
Mr.. Reynolds. in which Mr. Clay and myself com
men'ed upon with acrnony. II this geneman's letter
had appeared by ITSELF should have thought it unne-
cessay 10 notice II, as its sly and require
mentary.
To gentlemen of your intelligence am sure it would
be entirely unnecessary To pretend 10 yndcae Mr. Clay
against the vulgar and abusive charge Of Abolition for
you know that he is large savehuder-that his and
his chiden's destiny is with the slaveloldng race, aud
that he has publicly and solemny avowed this. You
have moi forgotten his noble Anti Aboonst speech in
in the Senate. in February. 1889, when he brought all
the weight OF his character and pustlonall The energy
of his nature. and all the power Of his eoqnence acasn
the wicked and misguided fanatics who agilana
the country. That signal effrt extorted applause from
men OF all parties IN the South, from the
lignant OF his caumnators. Subsequently 10 that
speech yon remember the striking in Indiana be
tween Mr.. Clay and Mr. Mendenha when in the midst
of great State surrounded by Aboltionists and
ti-sayery populaionhe and rtbuked the spirit Of
abolition win courage majesty and force that sent
covering and appalled, from his presence. know that
you have not togotion ell her Of these occasions and
however you may be opposed To Mr.. Clay, must be
eve that as patriot and Southern mar, you remem
Der them with gratitude and admiration.
beg YOU sir to revert to the speech of 1885, which
you VIII find IN Chambers collection of Cay's speech
es page 3o3, and in the meantime, wish TO refresh
your memory with passage or two. He says:-"The
first lmpedimenl Tin the way Aboiliunss)i is the
ter and absolute want of all power the part of the Gen
eral Government To effect the purpose"
Speaking OF the course which in early life he had Ia
ken in Kentucky, he says: "Bul If had been then, or
even now, citizen of any of the planting Staes-the
Southern or Southwestern Staesl should have oppo-
sed, and would continue to oppose any scheme whaev
er of emancipation general immediate, because of the
danger Of an ultimate ascendancy of the black race Of
civil contest which might terminate in the extinction
Of one race or the other" page 337)
Again he says-"1her liberty, (of the slaves) iflt
were possible, could only be established by violating the
nconiestabe powers of the States, and subverag the
tnIon-And beneath the ruins OF the Union would be
buried, sooner or later, the liberty OF both races"
In that SPEECH Mr. Clay TO look the ultima lie
termination OF domestic slavery. lie says. (page $500
"Bnl II we may attempt 10 lift the veil, and conteni
plate what lies beyond it, too have entered on a specu
laive theory with which will not trouble you, but
which has been published 10 the world. According 10
that IN the course Of time some hundred and fifty
two hundred years hence but few veslges of the black
race VIII remain among our posterlty." These senti-
10 Nhicn nave alluded, IN
nection with Mr.. Glays known abilities energy and
patriotism, have long since brought the conclusion
that beyond all competition he is the first aud fiesi
man, as President To guard and project The interests
the South; the only man. who, this wild and erociuns
spirit should run TO further excess has the strength Ia
control l. without force To this extent YOU
ma, at concur with me, but | canno, think that YOU
could dur with me On the general proposition that our
interests in this particular " III not be endangered in
his hands.
/ As 10 the statement Of my conversation with Mr..
Clay, you are mistaken IN many pa rliculars.
/ In the first place: My conversation with him not
in 1881 but III 1896, eighteen years since.
Seeondly-Mr Clay well as can remember, used
no such expression as slaves running away from their
masters, masters from them" These expressions
which have becu often attributed 10 Mr.. John Randolph
IN the public streets.
Thirdy-Air. Clay did mol say that the main object
OF The Tariff policy ihe abolition Of slavery In the
course OF the conversation alluded To, he spoke Of the
general causes which would in this country terminate
slavery. they had terminated it in all others aud said
as then understood him, that the influence, of these
causes would be augmented by the protection of home
industry, and the ultimate effect accelerated by the de-
velopmeni Of the industrial capacities Of the country.
Il viii not undertake at this dis ance Of time to give
precise account of the rsaon but believe this
Is tue substance oft.
i am sure. SIR. you will excuse my addressing you
through the public papers, inasmuch it intended
as commentary your statement, which has come to
me only through that channel
am, sir, your ob't. serv'i
w. Z. PRESTON,
/ r. p. McCoRp, Esq.