Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1845-08-15

CAsSIUs NJ. CLAY.-At meeting of q
few persons in Lexington, a committee Of
three were appointed 10 wait on Mr.. Clay,
and to request him TO discontinue the publ.
cation of the True American, on the ground
that it sis dangerous to the peace Of our
community, and to the safety Of our homes
and families" The committee addressed
letter to Mr.. Clay, making the request, which
was delivered to him by one Of them. Mr..
Clay in indignant terms refuses to comply
with the request, and says to the committee,
"go tell your secret conclave to cowardly
assassins tina, c. M. Clay knows his rights
and how to defend them" The following
is the manly letter:
SIRs IL received through the hands of Mr..
Thomas II. Waters, one of your committee,
since de>light, your extraordinary letter.
lnasmuch as two of your committee and myself
arc not upon speaking terms, and when add to
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 a months
standing, from which have only ventured at
intervals to ride out and to write few para.
graphs, which caused a relapse, think that
| the American people will agree with me, that
your Office is base and dislonorabe one, more
particularly 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 com.
mitee appointed by respectable portion of the
community, that it cannot be true. Ira tors to
the laws and constitution cannot be deemed re.
spectacle by any but assassins, pirates, and
/ huhwav rohhars Nour mpetinU oue IN.
known to the laws and constitution of my coun-
try, it was secret in its proceedings, its purpO-
ses, its spirit and its action, like its mode Of
existence, are wholly unknown to or IN direct
violation Of every known principle OF honor, re.
| ligion or government, held sacred by the civil.
Zed world. treat them with The burning con.
tempt of brave hear, and loyal citizen. de-
ny their power and defy their action. 1t may
be true that those men are excited as you say,
whose interest il is to prey upon the excite.
ment and dis,resses of the country. What ty-
rant ever failed 10 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 have
/ been special causes for action, Independent of
anu M IeIdllUIl 10, Tue true american
or its doctrines. Your advice with regard to
my personal safety is worthy OF the source
whence it emanated, and meets the same con.
tempt from me which the purposes of your mis-
sion excite. Go tell your secret c.nclave of
cowardly assassins, that C. NJ. Clay knows his
rights, and how to defend them.
c. NJ. CLAY.
Lexington, August Is. ls45
On receiving the above communication,
+ the original meeting adopted resolution
calling general meeting Of the people Of
Lexington and Of Fayetle County, to meet
on Monday, 18th inst. "to concer, measures
" for the suppression Of the further publica-
"tion Of the abolition paper called the True
, "American." A few days will give US the
result of their doings. In the mean time we
will not believe that they are so mad as 10
advise or countenance acts Of violence.
t p. Subsequent accounts bring US the
proceedings Of this meeting, which resulted
= in the appointment Of committee Of sixty,
i who were instructed to box up the type and
). other materials Of the True American, and
ship them to Cincinnati, there to await the
order Of MI. Clay. This had been done
without riot or bloodshed-Mr. C. being std
= confined TO his bed. r.