Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1844-10-10
I91
HENRY CLAY'S PROFANITY.
FToM he Nslo York plsbs'aa.

VIZ 1Ae AsSto ! O!fS : tcoStuis
There are some wings so lost to all
regard for truth, that they even deny
that Henry Clay addressed to Mr.. Spea-
ker Polk the insulting and profane lam
guage attributed 10 him. There is no
more doubt that Clay used the Ian
guage than The sun shines. Not only
have We the evidence of Mr.. Chaney,
OF Ohio, who was at that time mem,
Der Of Congress, but we have also tie
testimony OF the Hon. William Par
menter, member of Congress from
Massachusetts. On the 4ih Of July
last, the Hon. B. +. Hallett delivered
an address to the democracy on Bun
Eer Hill. The Hon. VIM. parmenter
was president ofthe day. Mr. Hallett,
speaking OF Mr.. Clay's profanity said:
"With what conscience can Mas
sachusetts man, who has swornto sup
port the constitution, vote for Henry
Clay. Denial cannot be broad enough,
nor charity itself large enough, to COW
er over the ayewed moral delinquen-
cies in his character But without re-.
terring 10 other well-authenticated
charges in this respect, which SO seri-
ously affect the private character of
Mr.. Clay, and which place his pure,
exemplary, and virtuous opponent, Mr..
Polk, in eminent and beautiful contrast
with him, viii take this occasion,
which has never occurred before in the
presence Of the people, to prove, as
eftectually as any fact could be estab-
llshed In court Of law, one grave
charge which is sterdily denied by his
supporteIs-that ofyulgar and vindic-
tive profanity, In violation OF all decen-
cy and all rules, in the hall of the
House of Representatives.
"When Mr.. Barley, the eloquent
delegate from Ohio announced the vote
ofthat State, in the national conyen-
ton, for Mr.. Polk, he happily said,
(omitting the profanity Ohio now SAYS
to Henry Clay, as Henry Clay said to
James K. Polk, 600 home-where
you belong!" Did Mr.. Clay utter that
profanity?
Son the 9th of February, 1888, you,
Mr.. President, were on the floor of the
House of Representative as a mem
Der, and was there as spectator
We were, both within few feet of
Henry Clay, who, with other senators,
had been attracted to the House, by
the exciting question then pending up
on the contested seats Of the Mississip-
pi members. The vote was taken,
and was tie. James K. Polk, the
digniGed, prompt, and efficient spea-
ker, was in the chair, and with his u.s.
ual clearness of decision declared the
vote: GILT in the affirmative, 1T in
the negative-the chair votes in the
affirmative. 1t is vote" At this
instant, Henry Clay, looking directly
at the speaker with an expression and
q gesture / shall never forget, exclaim-
ed, $50 home, God damn you, achere
you beIongq'' You distinctly heard it;
Mr.. Gallup, of New York, heard it
and we subsequently, compared our
recollections, and they greed in every
word; and if called on our oaths, we
should both be obliged to attest to that
fact. Am right, sir! [Mr. Parmen-
ter: You are; it is correct.
''Fellow- citizens, you now have the
fact, and from this proof of one charge,
SO pertinaciously denied by our oppo-
nents, you may judge Of the credit their
denial Of other charges is entitled to-
[Cheers.] Is it not a singular coinci-
dence that the rude senator who COM
mitted that outrage, and the digni6ed
speaker whom it was designed to insult, |
should now stand before the American
people to decide between them upon
their claims to the highest Office in
their gift? And which of these men
would New England fathers like to
hold up as an example to their sons' !
With what pretence to sincerity can
the teachers Of religion and good NOR
ais pray for men to rule over US who
fear God and reverence his holy name,
and then go from their pulpits to the
polls, and vote for Henry Clay! With
what force can father rebuke his son
for profanity and other vices, who
knows that he has given his vote for
that mani And yet the ministers will
do it, and the deacons will do it, and
the pious professors will do it,andthen
turn round and re5uke sin, and thank
God that they are not SO bad as those
publicans and locofocosi"
[10l
At sale ofthe property Of Thomas t
z 4