Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-09-20

statements of the kind | am about to make should
be called for in this section of our country.
have been living in Kentucky nearly ten years,
most of the time in Lexington, the residence Of
Mr.. Clay, and in its neighborhood. am personally
acquainted with Mr.. Clay, and intimately acquant-
ed with some of his relatives, and with many who
have been his associates and neighbors for twenty,
thirty, forty, and even more years and am further
extensively acquainted in various sections of Ken
lucky.
In his own neighborhood Mr.. Clay is universally
esteemed as an excellent citizen and as being in
his pccuniary transactions perfectly upright man.
have never heard his integrity in this particular
called in question by any one.
He is almost the idol Of his numerous relatives
by whom he is appealedto in difficulties as to pa
ternal counsellor
No man in the section of Kentucky in which he
resides has the reputation of being kinder, or
more indulgent master 10 his servants than Mr..
Clay.
If | have been correctly informed, he is not, in
the ordinary acceptation Of the term, a proidne
man.
lie has the reputation in his own neighborhood
of being peace-maker Principally, by his infu-
ence and advice, since my residence in Kentucky,
! have known difficulties amicably adjusted, which
otherwise would in all probability have terminated
in the death of or both of the parties concern
cd
Mr.. Clay is not q professor Of religion lie is,
however, as have been informed by the rector of
the Episcopal Church in Lexington, lin which Mrs.
Clay Is a conmunicant,) regular attendant at
church when at home, an las long been liberal
supporter of the church. He always, | believe,
speaks, when he says anything upon the subject,
with the utmost respect Of religion and Of religious
people. / heard him. in public address at Lex.
ington some seven years since, express firm be-
lief in the truths of the Christian religion and an
ur1n lao, bo o1ifriI,
man before his death. No one present upon that
occasion, presume, doubted his sincerity in ma
king this declaration. have no reason to suppose
there has been change in his sentiments since
them
AS a criterion of the estimation in which he is
held at home, it vii! not be out of place to state
hcre-whch | do unhestatingly, having had am
pie opportunities for ascertalnlng the truth--that
Mr. Clay has the confidence and political support
of very large proportion of the moral worth, and
may add, OF very large majority of the mem
bers of the different religious denominations in
Kentucky. There are twelve or fifteen clergymen
Of different denominations residing in Lexington.
All OF these, believe, with one exception are the
friends Of Mr.. Clay, and most of them are frequent
visitors at his house. There are about twenty E.
piscopal clergymen residing in Kentucky. All of
those are the friends Of Mr. Clay. of the one hun
dred and five or ten clcrgymen-l do not recollect
the exact number composing the last conference
OF the Methodist church in Kentucky, all but three
as was informed by member of the confer
ence, are the political friends of Mr.. Clay. j am
not SO accurately informed respecting the political
opinions of the ministers of other denominations,
as | am respecting the opinions OF the ministers OF
the Episcopal Church,an of the Methodist church.
| am confident, however, that there is nearly ifnot
quite as large ma orlty Of these friendly TO the
election Of Mr.. Clay as Of those last mentioned
Out Of the four or five hundred clergymen of DIFF
fGrent denominations in Kentucky, there are not,l
am almost certain fifty political opposers of Mr..
Clay.
ington last fall between Mr. Rice of the Presbyte-
rian church and Mr.. Campbell of the Campbcllite
Bab'ist church-an influential denomination in
kentucky-Mr. Clay presided. Twas not present
at the debate but know it was subject of gen.
eral congratulation among the members OF both de-
nominations in the section Of Kentucky where |
lived that Mr.. Clay had consented to preside.
The opinions Of great ma onty OF the religious
peoplc-ministers and othcrs-liying in the neigh
horhood Of and intimately acquainted with Mr.
Clay, | am confident is, that if he is elected to the
Presidency there will be, while lie continues Pres
ident, far healthier moral influence around the
Presidential chair than there has been since the
close of J. q. Adams administration.
You are at liberty, sir to publish these state
ments if in the estimation Of yourself, and other
friends of Mr.. Clay to whom you may show them,
it shall be deemed expeuient. My object in ma
king them is to give what believe to be the truth,
to those who are DESTROYS Of learning it.
Yours very sincerely,
+. b. NASH.
Mr. E. B. WmrIYG, Editor of ST, Adams Mes.
senger.