New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-08-21
freedoms Battle in kentucky--The Work of
Persecution begun.

Persecution begun.
The establishment at Lexington, Kentucky, OF
CAsslUs NJ CLAYs True Amer,cdH has been hailed
by the enlightened friends Of Freedom in every part
f the country with feelings of exul,aon as a token
ha, the system of Slavery which has so long cursed
a large portion of Country long to he
swept away by the influence and efforts of men
whose right to interfere with the institution could
not be disputed, and whose residence in the Slave
States peculiarly qualified them for the work From
the first have foreseen that Mr. Clay's high so
ial and moral standing in Kentucky would be in
sufficient to shield him from the persecution with
which the enemies Of Freedom and Humanity
wont to assail every man, however exalted, who
undertakes the work of reform with an carnestness
aud boldness that give at OF sincerity
and final success. w were not at all surprised
therefore, on learning dld yesterday, by the
True Amcrican Extra, dated the 18th inst. that
IN onset upon Mr. Clay has been commenced which
mas for ts object the suppression of his bold and
carless paper. Indeed this is precisely what we
have anticipated, and our only wonder is that the
movement has been so long delayed
The facts as stated by Mr. Clay are these; On
The 9Th inst. just before o'clock p. NJ, Mr. Clay
was informed that a meeting was TO be held at the
Court House in Lexington TO take measures for the
suppression of the True American. Although in
IL health he determined to attend the meetn- and
indicate his rights in person. About 20 persons
were present including two or three OF his person
al friends With the exception of those last named
| he knew them all as political and three fourlhs OF
! them as personal enemies. Among the rest was
Thomas F Marshall. Only one Wing present
Two speakers proposed TO dissolve the meeting. and
Capt Henry Johnson, cotton planter, declared that
| although he ready TO act boldly upon this
uhieci he would not then. nor hereafter take any
| action in regard TO the True American unless the
| Wing party also came up and incurred the same
responsibility. Mr. Marshall stated that the excite
| hent in the community had been caused by
articles in the American WI ch were thought To be
| nsurrectonary in their tendency. Several speak
crs commended that the meeting private one
| vhereupon Mr. Clay, after protesting against the
| wrong construction put upon the articles In qucs
ion left the house:
| The result of the meeting afterwards com
| munica,cd to him in the following letter
LEXINGTON 18th Aug. ls45.
| CAssivs NJ. CLAY. Eso.-sR: We. the undersigned
have been appointed as committee upon the part of
number OF the respectable citizens of the City OF Lexng
ION, TO correspond with you under the following resolu
/ tOn:
Rssol,sd That Committee Of three be appointed To
npon Cas-us VI. Clay Editor OF The True American"
and request him al continue The publication of the paper
called tie "True Am, rcan H. further continuance
oeI Judgment Is dangerous to The peace OF our community
! and 10 the safety of our homes and families
In pursuance OF the above we hereby request you TO
discontinue your paper and would seek to impress upon
You the importance OF your acquescence Your paper
asaiing and exciting our community 70 extent OF
| which you scarcely be aware. We do approach
YOU in the form OF II threat But to you 10
state, that IN our judgment your safety well
the repose and peace OF the community involved in
YOUR We await your reply, the hope that your
own good snd regard for the reasonable wishes OF
| So. ...k ha...
friends. WI. induce you promptly TO comply with our
request We instructed 10 report your answer 10 =
pee, by two o'clock, P NJ Of tomorrow. Respectfully
| &c h. w DUDLEY.
THO II. WATERS,
JOHN w. HUNT.
To this letter Mr. Clay sent the following bold and
manly reply
SIKs - received through the hands OF Mr.. Thomas
H. Waters. one of your committee since csnde-lght
Your extraordinary letter. lnssmuch two of your
committee and my self not upon speaking terms and
when add 10 this the TACT that YOU have taken occasion
to address a note Of this character when am on
bed of sic kness OF more than months standing from
which have only venured ~ intervals ride out and 10
write few paragraphs, which caused respse think
that the American people wi agree with me that your
Office is base and dishonOTabe one, particularly
when they reflect that you have had more than two
months whilst WAS in health TO accomplish the
purpose say IN reply TO your assertion that you
committee appointed by respectable portion Of the
community that cannot be true Traitors 10 the laws
and constitution cannot be deemed respectable " any
but assassins pirates and ghwsy robbers. Your !
meeting il one unknown 10 the laws and constitut
ion of my country II secret IN lie proceedings IL
purpos its spirit and its acton ike its mode ot Nist
cnce are wholly unknown 10 or in direct violation OF
every known principle Of honor, religion or govern /
ncni held sacred by the civilized world. treat them
III the burning contempt Of brave heart and loyal CT
tizen deny their power and defy their action IL may
be that those excited as you say. whose in
lercs IL 10 prey upon the excitement and and distress
Of the country What tyrant failed 10 be excited
when his unjust power about 10 be taken from his
hsnds But deny. utterly deny and call for proof that
there just ground for this agitation In every
OF violence by the blacks since the publication Of my
per has been proven and will De again proven by my
representatives my life should fail be spared that
mere have been special for action independent
Nd having no relation whatever to the Trae duricaa
~ 10. doctrines Your advice with regard 10 nv person
safety "a worthy ofthe whence il EN- ana,ed and
meets ihe same contempt from which the purposes
o your mission excite. Go tell your conclave OF
cowndy ssssssns tina, c. VI Clay knows his rights and
how defend them. G NJ 81 Az
Lexington, August Is, lsi5.
Having thus met the enemies of Freedom of
s,aecb and of the Prcsa he ynsaa m. su..:- |