Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1845-08-30
c. M. CLAY.

G. M. CLAY.
There was a fearful excitement raging
at Lexington, Kentucky, at the latest ac-
counts from that place, in consequence of
the course pursued by Mr.. G. M. Clay,
editor Of the "True American" an aboli-
ton paper recently started there by that
gentleman. In his paper of the 10Th inst,
was the following paragraph, addressed to
the white population
"But remember, you who dwell in marble
paaces-that there are strong arms and fiery
hearts and iron pixies in the streets, and paneS
Of glass only bet'ceen them and the silrer plate
on The board and The Smoothed skinned Woman
on the ottoman. When you have Knocked at
virtue, denied The agency OF God in the affairs
of men, and made rapine your honied faith: trem.
BILE! for the day Of retribution is at hand-and
The masses will be auemged" ....
The excitement became intense, and
meeting of portion of the citizenes of
Lexington took place, on Thursday, Aug
ID, at which a resolution was adopted d.
recting that Committee be appointed, to
request Clay to discontinue his paper. In
pursuance Of that resolution the Commit
tee addressed to Clay the following note:
LEXINGTON, August IA, 1916.
CAssIUs NJ. CLAY, Esq.-Sir: We the un.
designed, have been appointed as a committee
upon the part Of number Of the respectable
citizens Of the city Of Lexington, to correspond
with you. under the following resolution:
"ReSoLUed, That a committee OF three be ap.
pointed to wait upon Cassus M. Clay, editor Of
| the "True American" and request him to dis.
continue the publication Of the paper called the
"True American" as its further continuance, in
our judgment is dangerous to the peace OF our
community, and to the safety Of our homes and
families
In pursuance OF the above, we hereby request
you 10 discontinue your paper and would seek
10 impress upon you the importance OF your
acquiesence. Your paper is agtatng and ex.
citing our community to an extent Of which you
can scarcely be aware, We do not approach
you in the form threat. But we owe it to you
to state thst in our Judgment your safety, as we'll
as the repose and peace Of the community are
involved in your answer. We await your reply,
in the hope that your own good sense and regard
for the reasonable wishes OF a community in
which you have many connexions and friends,
will induce you promptly TO comply with our
request. We are instructed 10 report your an.
swer 10 meeting, tomorrow evening, at three
o'clock, and will expect it by two o'clock P. M.
Of to morrow. Respectfully, &c.
B. w. DUDLEY,
THO. H. WATERS,
JOHN w. HUNT"
ITO which Mr.. Clay made the following re.
ply
"SIRs: | received through the hands OF Mr..
Thomas H. Waters. one OF your committee,
since candlelight, your extraordinary letter. In.
asmuch as two Of your committee and myself are
not upon speaking terms, and when | add 10
this the fact that you have taken occasion to
address me a note Of this character, when am
on bed OF sickness Of more than months
standing, from which | have only ventured at
intervals 10 tide out and to write few para.
graphs, which caused relapse, think that the
American people will agree with me, that your
office is base and dshonorabe one, more par
ticuarly when they reflect that you have had
more than two months whilst was in health,
to accomplish the same purpose. say in reply
to your assertion, that you are a committee ap.
pointed by respectable portion Of the commu.
nifty, that il cannot be true. Traitors to the
laws and constitution cannot be deemed respecta.
BILE by any but assassins. pirates, and highway
robbers. Your meeting is one unknown 10 the
laws and constitution OF my country, it was Sc.
cret in its proceedings, its purposes, its spirit and
its action, like its mode Of existence are wholly
unknown to and in direct violation OF every
known principle OF honor. religion, or govern
ment, held sacred by the civilized world. !
treat them with the burning contempt OF brave
heart and loyal citizen. deny their power
and defy their action. 1t may be true that those
men are excited as you say, whose interest it is
to prey upon the excitement and distresses of the
country. What tyrant ever failed TO be excited
when his unjust power was about TO be taken
from his hands? But deny, utterly deny, and
call for proof, that there is any just ground for
this agitation. In every case OF violence by the
blacks since the publication Of my paper it has
been proven, and will be again proven by my
representatives. If my life should fail to be spared,
that there has been special causes for their action
Independent. Of and having no relation whatever
10 the True american or its doctrines. Your
advice with regard to my personal safety is
worthy Of the source whence it emanated, and
meets with the same contempt from me which
the purposes Of your mission excite. Go tell your
secret conclave Of cowardy assassins that C. NJ.
Clay knows his rights and how to defend them.
G.. NJ. CLAY.
LEXINGTON, August Is, 1916"
On the same day he published the fol,
lowing, which was properly regarded as a
call on his adherents, black and white, to
prepare for battle:
"KENTUCKIANs: You sec this attempt OF
these tyrants, worse than the thirty despots who