Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-09-20
MR.. CLAY':s LETTER To Mr. FRANCIS
AID

l.. DI4Al'i.
The imposing demands which have come from
all Portions OF IL country Tor light on the sub
lect OF ias Canned "on'nunicalion, cooperating
with the mote p; pab.e waning O! Wing hopes,
have n, las; drirca The Wing Leaders from the ,r-
roeanl position i coucealment and denial, which
they had polt'y assume in the commencement.
of the canvass, End awaken. them Ia the Ec
ce>siiy Of giving some apparent delerencc 10 t1r
wcll-folndci suspicious and reasonable eXPccta-
lions OF he public IN relation 10 ihs letter. We
accordingly find in Tuesday mornings Wing
an intimaion that copy OF these l-iieFe - now
in the hats 81 3. w. Leigh, 80, OF this c''y,
aad that any gentleman OF either parry may sec
hem l. strikes us IS rather strange, that no as
surancc oil the accuracy of this copy, nos the
source whence obtained is vcnlurel, and no IN
vita,on is .endered 10 POLITICAL opponents OF Mr..
Ciay. Oor whose especial benefit presume such
copy is Intended to call and examine ii. The
Editors merely state, that we arc informed that
copies %. Mr. Claws letters 10 !. p. Blair are N
the hands OF Mr. Leigh" &c. Was il intended
10 r.ofrr these letters for public inspection
Are gentlemen of all parties 10 be at liDer-
t. 10 intrudc on Mr. Leigh End demand
an examination OR was II intended lhal
while the show Of universal lihcnyto inspect was
made motives ofdeicacy or consideration oi de-
ference 10 Mr. LciSh's privacy and feelings were
To prevent any cxcept has friends or Political asso-
cia,cs from really Judging ol their contents. We
confess we are moi free from suspicion, that, I'M
der The seeming Of fairncss, may be cloaked some
hope ol Il. further conccalmcnt. But avoun2
every injurious suspicion, We might perhaps fee
justified in considering the notice OF the Wing II
the LIGHT OF IN invitation 10 ali gentlemen OF eiihe
marty 10 call on Mir Leigh and inspect the al
lodged copies and SO, We only wish further IL
know. whether anv restrictions are to he place.
upon the examination Of he copies. and The free
cy,-csson by such gentleman, prlvatcl; ana plip
licly OF the convictions made on his mimi 10y lht
examination Once before. We believe, proiieI
of similar inspection was inade, and when Ger
tain gentlemen, availin@ themselves u ttc Pr
yl,ece. gave 10 the world their impressions AM
rccollcclicns OF its contents, they we've assaIict
tor allcdocl breach of confidence AMI grossly WI
l;Ged. Now, il the present proilcr is intended /,
~. guarded BY such implied restrictions aSains
the expression of opinions upon the coheht
Of the copy, the offer is one not oil actual e1
rosurc or real satisfaction but mere h.ockc
~. holding out "a promise - The ear 10 break u
| 10 the hope" 1t cannot remove nc mysterious
veil now 50 strangely cloahns this cofrc>pon
dence II can Only extend the coniiieailai KNOW
ledge Of it 10 few other gentlemen, wioSc honoi
is taken as hostage against revelation. The PUB
lie wilI be no less i2norant-lethais ONLY more
grossly deceived than heretofore. by he l'lc bra
vado Of seeming exposure. Cul !. opinions ar'
To ~ espresso, il gard - ttt c2i.ah'S oi TN
copies how far are they To DC loved freely d
| 10 all the political parts? May the very hi!
ouaoo rs TAR IS rcco!.ectd, (and this is>urcly TN
| best mode 10 avoid mi,nte.p.ti. ioES,) &c repeat
/ cd in public Ar political opponents :" De en-
:,;lrd 10 nse the contents On the musings and b.
fore the peoo.c7 Or are Ihey TO have their mp
sealed. or be allowed only II express th"I
impressions. aud those in private Ii such IL
l .,,c pur-osc OF he seeming oi,rr, then cat IN
mo what good can i, effect? None-c1ceP'
rnrha~s 10 produce on The public generally fea
| ,,rccptiyn by seeming lrankncss and amor. qrl
rate gentlemen ,.iilcrcn; convictions, and Wan
cling interpretations which, al best, but lea"
tnateIs wnc.e they stood before.
Caa these points, information : really deslTe3
and seriously asked Ii an invitation be meat
and full Xxi SUE irisnaed, let the fsriarati'
l., made ~ we doubt hot mary gentlemen {
,hc -ery highest respccabi;y VIII be most happ
10 call and satisfy their doubts upon this much
i. lked.of and long-concealet correspondence. J
On ,bc other hand restricted confidence
lie utmost meant we feel assured the publ:
mu., be as unsa,isiied as ever ifnct really insult
e5 bv an attempted imposition, aIi' the polilica
onponenis of Mr.. Clay must vir:aail; feel then
selves cxc.,lded from the liberty OF examination
since ,cbarred of the main end ;or which the
rol.i,; req sonaby te expected TO desire it-tne II
lioh,en, ent of ~. Public on matter o! graz
charge ,,ain>' the ha.acter Of the Wing c nd
date We nave ways understood NJ: Gay i
legged ground Of objection 10 the publication o! III
correspondence 10 b., hat portions related 10 m.
ters, and pcrhap, contained reflections, WING
should b. kent ,riva;c. II this BE- so, an! Mr. va
is now willing that the CORE ooade2cc Should !
submitted 10 the examination OF gentlemen J.
their fire.. use afterwards we would respectful
suggest ii TO be both wiser and much moi
satisfactory. tina, a Committee OF gentle,nt
OF un,ionb;ed honor. but of opposite FOL
,;cal opinions. should be selected 10 expurga
from the copies all matters Of : private natnr
or whch may not relate 10 the Presidential col
lest oe 1926, and 10 give the rest freely throus
he putlc pril;s TO The people. This cour'
would ne ri once manly, frank and fair, Ill
would exclude The possibility OF NEE private il
terrretaion and conflicting representations. W
mean. OF course, no such inpntation on NJ
IejoS IS that he would lend himself TO an imp
sj,ion on am man of false or Inaccurate cope
He NAV, however, be himself deceived.