New-York daily tribune., 1846-01-27
C. NJ. Clay in Reply to the Courier md En-
quircr.


To the Editor OF The Tribune:
l have just seen your paper, vindicating me from
the wanton assaults of the Courier and Enquirer.
have from time TO time borne In silence the de-
nunciations of that press, because we were acting
under the same party organization and every man
il bound TO some extent to sacrifice private resentment
to the public good had also too much confidence
in Hly own position 10 deem it necessary to defend
myself against one, who is well known to be void Of
fixed principles of moral and political action.
But then beg impartial men to remember that
falsehood oft repeated, may pass for truth and too
long suferance of injury invite 10 its criminal per-
petraton.
The c. and F. then, in the short extract which
have seen, misrepresents me as inrittng attack by
arming my Office II was indeed armed but no one
entering the building could see II, and the puolic
knew nothing of it. ] am also misrepresented as
courting assault by defiance. The newspapers OF
Lexington show that | was threatened with MOB
violence long before single number OF the True
American was issued. Surely, some allowance
must be made Tor consequent spirit OF resistance,
when all the force Of enemies, South and North, was
directed against me personally and not against my
vindlcation of principles
am injured in the insinua.ion, that changed my
tone toward the mob the danger 10 life increased
issued six hand bills, three 10 the THIRTY ConSpir-
otors and three 10 the People; those addressed 10
the thirty were dehunciatory al last as at hrst
those addressed to the People were as pacific al last
rs al first, and The very last address
before the action of the mob contained these words
M Constitutional rights / shall aerer abandon
/ Worn down as Friday, the day on which
! the thirty threatened my life, was yet ready TO
defend myself and Office.
1t is true that on Monday. overcome by month $
typhoid fever. and four days excitement was not
able 10 defend myself and ! appealed 10 the laws
of nv country and the magnanimlty OF my toes
STILL with an unconquerable spirit preterlng death
TO a REIMBURSEMENT of my brthright Is the Courier
and Enquirer son Of America, that he vaunts him
self that the Republic sumbers, when her defend
ers are borne down in the battle ! and is he man
that he is elated when the banner of his country,
Freedom of the Press and OF Speech is traied in
the dust and constitutional liberty is no more
1t is that l recognised the moo as a
constitutional meeting By our laws the People have
right peaceably.to meet together and consult about
the public good. The meeting on Monday. when
recognized il, was constitutional meeting and
treated il with respect but when il tdegeneratednio
mob, and violated the laws of my country, on my
own soil denounced il in the terms that
did the infamous Thirty
Ii is utterly untrue that yielded up the keys OF
my Office 10 the mob and thus saved life and types
l neither gave up the keys of my Office nor saved
my types. The City Authorities took possession o!
my Office, under the direction of Judge Troiter to
which | submitted from the Mayor James Logue,
the Mob took the keys, and the types ! have not
since seen
A just public will thus see that am illuminated
by the c. and Enquirer and to them I confidently
appeal against this war upon my personal character
instead OF calm refuation of my premises. In this
attempt 10 elevate my country higher Civiliza-
and purer Christianity, seems hardly just TO hold
me TO fauicss standard if could be prov en-
that q more pacific tone or entire non.resistance
would have caused different result, which utterly
deny. Surely ii belongs not to those TO whom the
fruits OF victory would accrue, denounce the man
who struggled faithfully if no, wisely for its achieve
ment.
Ii cannot be disguised that the C. and E. repre-
clique who, under pre,ence of friendship the
South play the sycophant in order acquire political
power or, like The tabled vampire, breathe upon as
with houeyed breath, that they may feed upon the
lIe-blood of our unhappy country Every high
minded, Intelligent Southron will rightly estimate
them whilst the North will mark those traitors 10
Freedom who sell their liberties for gold.
The movement in favor OF Constitutional Liberty,
is new too far advanced 10 be stayed by q hundred
thousand such as the Courier and Enquirer. That
press has indeed hung as stone abou, our necks,
whenever we would attempt 10 reach the hearts o,
the people by being true TO them, TO ourselves, and
10 our common country. But the time has come
when We must separate into great parties one
for Liberty, the other for S!svery-Slavery of the
Blacks and of tie IThites also In this contest il
is easy to plsce the Courier and Enquirer and ii
must soon cease TO affect 10 lead men, who are by
bir,hrisht 10 prefer death 10 dshonor.
YDur nh