The Woodstock age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1844-1845, 1844-09-19
10. SMITH TO HENRY CLAY.

10. SMITH TO HENRY CLAY.
The " Nauvoo Times and Seasons"
Mormon paper, contained correspond
dence between 10. Smith the Mormon
Leader and Henry Clay Not long pre-
vious, Jo had manifested disposition tC
support Clay, but having addressed to hin
certain queries as to the course he wout
take towards the Mormons should he be
elected, his reply was not satisfactory tc
Jo. who consequently wrote a long letter
in which he criticized Mr. Clay's letter
and his conduct as statesman, very Sc
verely. 1t is supposed this letter was one
cause of the excessive excitement recent,
manifested against Smith, and that his as
sassinaton was fastened in consequence
This is likely, for we know that Mr. Clay
has many friends among the more lawless
and reckless of community. For these
reasons and at the particular request OF
sundry persons, we are induced to copy a
portion of Smiths letter, as it appears in
the "Times and Seasons" Of June LIST.
state Sentinel
"In your answer TO my questions, last
fall, that peculiar tact of modern politi-
clans, declaring, IF yOn erer enter into
that high office, yOu must 60 inio 1t free
and mfdtred, 'rjh no guaranty bm such
as are to be drama fi'om yom whoie Hf,
character and conduct, so much resembles
a lottery vendors sign. with the goddess
of good luck sitting on the car Of fortune,
a-sraddle of the horn of plenty, and driy-
ing The merry s,ecds of bealiudc, without,
reins or bride, that canno, he p exclaim-
inc; O fral man; what have yon done that
can eyaIt you! Can any thing be drawn from
your life, character or c0nduct that is wor-
thy of being held up to the gaze Of this ma.
tion as model of rirtae, charity ondmis-
dam? Are you rot lottery picture with
more than two blanks TO Il prize; Leave
many things prior to your Client treaty,
let The world look at that, and see where
is :he wisdom, honor and patriotism which
ought to have characterized the plenipo-
Tertiary oflhe only free nation on EARTH
A quarter Of a century's negotiation to oh
tain our rights on the northeastern bound
ary. and the motley manner in which Ore
gon tries to shine as American territory,
coupled with your presidential race and
comc.by-chance secrctaryship, in 1925,
all 90 to convince the friends of freedom,
the golden patriots of Jenersonian democ-
racy. free trade and sailors rights. and the
of persons and property, that an
honorable war is better than dishonora.
BILE peace.
Again this is not all: rather than show
yoursclfan honest man, by guarantee
ing to the people what YOU will d. in case
you should be elected presidents you
can enter into no engagement, make no
promises, and give no pledges rs to what
YOU will do Well, it NAV be that some
hot hearted partisan wouldtake such moth
upon trust, but sensible men
and even ladies' would think themselves
insulted by such an ovation of coming O.
vents lfa tempest is expected. why not
prepare to meet it; and in the language
of the poet eXclaim--
"Then let the trial crme; and witness thou,
lftouor he upon me- If shrink
Or flter in INV strength 10 meet the storm,
When hardest it besel me?''
True greatness never waivers, but when
the Missouri compromise was entered in
to by you. for the benefit Of Slarerv. there
was mighty shrinkagc of ursicrn houor;
and from that dav, sir. the sterling Yam
kee, the struggling aboitionist, and the
staunch Democrat with large number
of the liberal Wings. have marked YOU
as a blockleg in politics, begging for a
chance TO shuttle yourself into the Prcsi-
dental chair, where you might deal out
the destinics Of our beloved country for
a game of brog, that would end in, Hark
from the iombs a doI,ful sound Start
not from this picture; for your whole life,
character and conduct have been spot-
ted with deeds that cause a blush upon
the face of virtuous patriot, so YOU
must be contented in your lot, while
crime, cowardice, cupiditv or low cum
ming have handed you down from the high
tower of statesman, TO the black hole
of a gambler. A man that accepts
a challenge or fights duel. is nothing
more nor less than murderer. for holy
writ declares that 'phosorrrr sheds mans
blood. by man shall his Jlood be shed"
and when in the renowned city of Wash
ington, the notorious Henry Clay dropped
from tho ci,mmit or /, Con,to, A. Al. -.