The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-09-27

throw off all the shackles, and disclose to him all
the correspondence"
Both Mr. Clay and Mr. Blair are now In the
city, and no doubt the Letter is still preserved.
propose to my colleague to join me in call on Mr..
Clay for its publication. II is due to the country
and to Mr.. Clay himself, that ali mystery shall be
removed from this transaction. II he can show
that such Letter does not and never did exist, l
will take all the pains in my power to retrieve his
character from any imputations which Its alledged
contents have brought upon it.
Mr.. B. asked the Clerk to read the form of a
joint Letter to Mr.. Clay which he invited his col
league to sign with himself and it was read, as o
lows, viz:
"HousE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
''Apr 2S, 1874.
"SIR: The public notice having been called to
a letter said to have been written by you at Wash
ington city the 9Th of January, 1926 addressed to
Francis P. Blair. then a resident of Frankfort,
Kentucky touching the then pending Presidential
election, in which it is charged you said to Mr.
Blair, among other things, in substance as follows ::
ga friend of Mr.. Adams comes to Inc with
tears in his eyes, and says, Sir Mr.. Adams has al
ways had the greatest respect for you, and the
highest admiration for your talents. There is no
station to which you are not equal. You were un-
doubtedly the second choice of New England, and
Ipray you to consider whether the public good and
your own future interests do not distinctly point
you to the course which you ought to pursue.
"My friends entertain the belief that their kind
wishes towards will, in the end, be more likely
to be accomplished by so bestowing their votes
Your representative is inclined to concur with us
in these sentiments; and as know his respect for
your opinions, ! request, if you concur in our
views, that you will write to him by return mail to
strengthen him in his inclinations. Show this to
Crittenden alone"
''To avoid all misapprehension, therefore, and
to the end that even-handed justice may be done
to all, we respectfully ask to be informed whether
such letter ever existed, and if SO, that you will
furnish for publication (if within your reach) the
original or copy of said letter; or ifnot within
your reach, that you will give full authority to Mr.
Blair TO publish said letter, certified copy of it.
"Respectfully your obedient servants,
"Hon. H. CLAY
Mr. WHITE (Mr. B yielding the floor) re-
marked to his colleague, that he could not enter
into any such partnership. He could only say to
his colleague-and he did It with the utmost con-
fideUce-that if he would address such letter to
Mr.. Clay, he no doubt would frankly respond to
him, and throw off every shackle upon the subjet.
Mr.. Boyd said, choose to call on Mr.. Clay and
his friends In my place, as representative Of the
people, TO give an explanation as to this letter. |
do not care to encounter the abuse might receive
from my distinguished fellowKentuckian il |
should approach him on this subject in my private
capacity, unless should 60 under the shield ofmy
colleague. But, in my public character, do not
hesitate to call Mr.. Clay and his friends to tear
away the veil ofmystery which hangs around this
letter. That it existed, we have the admission of
Mr.. Clay himself, in his refusal to let it be pub
lished in 1928; ofis substance, and portion of its
language, we have statement which has remain
ed over fifteen years uncontradicted and unexplan-
ed. If there be any thing wrong about it-any
misrepresentation or misconception-let US have
the letter; let the world judge for ITSELF and let
pie justice be done to Mr. Clay, as well to those
who are accused Of bringing false charges against
him.
His colleague had asked the other day, how he,
Mr.. Boyd, could advert to the evidence in this
case without blush and now, said Mr. B., il
bushes rise on reading such testimony, they will
be on other cheeks than mine.
Mr.. WHITE said he did not intend the remark
for his colleague.
Mr.. BOYD said, Sir, although impartial men
may believe, as do myself, that there was no
technical bargain entered into between Mr.. Ad-
ans and Mr. Clay, in their own proper persons
yet It does seem to me, that one free from preju
dice can carefully examine the circumstances and
evidence in the case without the most thorough
conviction that it was understood by the parties
that Mr.. Clay's appointment to the office Sec.
retary of State would result from the election Of
Mr. Adams to the Presidency; that the vote Of
Kentucky was cast for Mr.. Adams with that view
and for the further object ofpromoting Mr.. Clayi
prospects for the Presidency, in utter disregard o
the will of that State. And in this, the most ia
vorabe view of the transaction, it merted the con
demnation it has received at the hands of tn,
American people. @
Mr.. BoyD said his colleague had introduced il
evidence Mr.. Clay's own declarations to Gen
Lafayette and others, as well as the opinions of tn
editor of the Richmond Enquirer and Others, Il
prove his innocence. His own declarations wer'
met at the time by proof of counter declarations
and the opinions quoted were expressed while thei
authors were ignorant of a large portion ofthe evi
dence afterwards elected. He had not done Mr.
Ritchie the justice to state that after the expires
sions quoted by him were used, he, Mr.. R., oil
the disclosure Of further evidence, publicly recant
ed his first opinion.
Mr. White (Mr B. yielding) said his colleague
in every statement he had professed to give, ha'