The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1844-10-10
BY KITCHENER & MATHEWS.

s4- From the Ohio Statesman. ;}r,
THE ANSWER OF TWENTY-EiGfiT Me-
THODISTS TO THE REV. DR.. BASCOM'S
CERTIFICATE OF Mr., CLAY's MoRALl-
TY. 49,
Why is Il that so much sensihitY is excitedi why
such holy horror manifesiedl- why so much futering
heard among the partisan presses throughout The length
&nd breadth Of the land, when the morality Of candi
date for the most exalted stallion within the power Of
the people confer on any man is made the subject or
legitimate nquiry4 Is because that people are TO be
debaed the privilege Of investigation into the life and
conduct OF the man who seeks elevation their handsl
or are they required BY bireling and subsidized press
blinly 10 entrus their desnes inothe hands Of an in
dvidual whose deeds they are denied the right 10 scru
ti1ite3 '"t<l
A virtuous man fears no scrutiny into his conduct
he inviles investigation requires no endorsors howev
er strict the ordeal may behe requires no partisan
press 10 sustain him, or TO do The bidding of the
ters hand' IT. on the other hand, 'a is not right in
Denmark'-if his life has been passed in vicious and
immoral acts in violation OF the laws Of God and man
III The fabric be not pure and unsustained and
not sustain ITSELF the foodgaes Of abuse and recrimi
Nation are opened and lavsbed forth with relentless
hand-certifcaes are manufactured 10 order TO delude
the people, aud 10 bolster up sullied reputation; and
ven ministers Of the gospel lorsake their sacred calling
and are persuaded to venture into the political arena,
and by their endorsement to prop the character OF man
whose life (and we speak knowingly has been one con-
tnued scene Of vice and immortality from his earliest
aaanhccd TO decayed old age.
How was the moral and religious world astounded
%hen the certificate Of the Rev. Dr. H. B. Bascom
which so recently appeared was heralded forth by Ii
tentious press endorsing the character of that man
whose name has been byword among his own breth-
ern Tor years past carrying along with 1t not the faint
est sevdence of morality and virtue but on the other
Hand associated by them With all the prevailing vices
which characterize The worldly and the vicious
man.
We would for bis sake we would for sake Of
thai church OF which he is bright and shining orna
Inentwe would, as his brother, for the sake of that
religion which he processes and the sake of that rep
utaon which be has hitherto sus,ained as candid and
konseencious man cover this last act with an ipene
Stabe VEIL and hide ii in oblivion never thence to be
brought forth and reckoned against him. But there is
aduty an imperative one, which we eve to ourselves
;oour children, TO our church, religion aud our
country, which no personal consideration must shake,
and from the discharge Of which must neither falter
or depart, even when The name of the Rev. H. B. Bas-
com is opposed to u.s. II is fresh in the minds and re-.
Inemberauce of the whole country that letter was ad-
dressed by Dr.. J. G. Goble 10 the Rev H. B Bascom,
~ihthe inquiry, whether the charges preferred against
the Hon. H. Clay, of being Sabbath breaker pro-
fame swearer and gambler were correct or not, Now
mark the reply of the Rev. M Baseom to the charges.
u have been In intimate and confidential intercourse
with the Hon. a. Clay in private and public life for
more than tcenty gears and koso the charges enumera
led your letter against the private character OF Clay
70 be 1y and bascy false. Mr. Clay does not belong
70 the church, but in view Of the ordinary accredited
principles Of goOd moral character no charge can be
brought against him without violating The obligations
dTRUTH and sound justice; and 10 each and ervrg
charge in your letter. return for an answer, that re.
gard them, one and an shamtully unjust because moi
true either in whole grin part
The Rev. Doctor sweeps the platter goes the whole
figure without exception or reservation; and in this
wholesale denial, can arrogate himself the credit at
least Of going further and stronger in denying these
charges than any man Of any size, Sort description or
CLOTH has ever ventured CO. He strikes the current
and leaves himself no chance Of sKiming TO land but
but iair one for sinking before gets even in
sight.
This wonderful certificate covers the ground Of Mr..
Clays morality 'in whole, and not in partp for twenty
years and more, and 10 that period so embraced we
Shall respond and take the Doctors intercourse SO in.
innate and confidential, public and private and no
more.
Everyreader Of the paragraph referring to the Doc.
ibr's'public iltercourse' with Mr. Clay would very
Hatufay infer that he had held for twenty wears and
more, some public station under the Government and
consequently was placed ina situation 10 lao,O thai
these charges were utterly and basey false But the
public be asnaturallg very much surprised tolearn
'hathe reverend gentemans public life is comprised
not in twenty years and more, but in the enormous
short space of ten short mophs in the capacity ofCp
hinin the lower House Of Congress.
.Ofthe reverend Doctor, Mr.. Clay has ever been a
duasiparon and bis supporter to that Office; and il
the report Of that day be true backed bis claims TO thai
Office with the somewhat novel but singular recon-.
iaendaon, that he could prodnce preacher who could
preach them all to h--lland back again. That. areu-
nhen was irresistible to members the reverend Doc
TOR was backedagainsI salan--Ir Clay endorsed fol
hmthen-he Doctor was elcClcd--and he, moi forget
tulof past iavors, and chenshing a very commenda-
hegratiluds now backs Mn clay, and endorses 10,
Idinlo the full extent, and lsele over The Doc
i5rpreached and preached well but.wether he ou;te
came up toahe leer, q filed te r0easmeof the rec
Concentration weregfes % say history does not now AZ
fafd ~ t,s