Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1849-08-13
For THE VINDIcATc

Mr.. Edtor.-Some interest is felt in this com
nunity to know which side Of the Free Soil sap
ling the editors of the Wing organ ofthis county
intend to ride. We waited somewhat impatient
ly for the issue oftheir last paper to see whether
the editors had responded to the request made OF
them to give Mr.. Clay gentle brushing down
for having turned Free Soiler, and whether they
had defined what position he occupied in the
Wing ranks since the appearance OF his Cleve-
land letter. Upon a careful review OF the two
articles in the Spectator of the LIST inst, headed
::Gen. TAYLOR and Prescriptions" and '.Ihe
| Cleveland Meetng," we are not surprised that
your call for an expression oftheir opinion should
have been disregarded for, in the first article al
luded to above, we find this language used =
sIienry Clay, as spotless a patriot as this coun-
try has ever known, has been vilified and SLAM
dered His lofty spirit uniformly rose above the
foas of foul detgaction, and he reposes calmly
upon conscious rectitude, and a welspent life,
committing his reputation to faithful history.
His will be a bright page in our countrys an
nails, and rendered brighter stir by the black
ness of the efforts to blast his far fame"
In the second article we find, simply an
nunciaton of Mr.. Clay's having written letter
to this Free Soil meeting in which he expressed
his opposition to the Introduction OF slavery into
the new Territories .seither by authority of Con-
gress or by individual efeterprize," but declined
taking part in a proceeding calculated to increase
the prevailing excitement upon the slavery ques-
ton; with an expression of .Iregret' by the edl-
tors that Mr.. Clay ssdid not administer more
decided rebuke,8 they presume, however, tflat
his not doing so arises from wish to occupy Il
position where he can exert his influence tt
com promise the difficulty to the honor and the
interest of the whole country. Perhaps he does;
but i'll our opinion he has taken poor way to
shew his devotion to his country-at least the
Southern portion. ollt.
We gay that we are not surprised that the ed
tors of the Spectator should decline saying any
thing more upon this subject; we say further,
that we may fairly conclude from what they
have saidin the articles quoted from, taken IN
connection with their opposition to the ssccilsay
resolutions that they are prepared to &c oyel
as soon as that ''spotless patriot" Mr.. Clay
shall think the time has arrived to take pant i'll
these erciting proceedings. And when wall thai
time arrive? 1t may be tomorrow, or IT may
not be until the Free Soil party are assembled i'll
| Convention for the purpose OF nominating can
ditlate to the SJunor Washington"
five are correct in our deductions from the
articles OF the Spectator, let US be tod why the
same course of deserved denunciation has not
been pursued by that paper towards MIR. Clay
that was towards Col. Benton. Both Southern
men, but recently discovering the evils OF an ex-
tension of slavery aud the beauties of Free Soil
why was not the whole letter OF Mr. Clay pub
lished in the Spectator instead Of quotation OF
one line, anda Aiusy effort to keep the Free
Soil principles he avowed in the back ground
by talking of the rebuke he administered
Have the editors SO little respect for the intel
ligence of ther readers as to suppose they could
not see through their intention to follow the for
tunes of Mr.. Clay, neither he proves recrean
to the South or not, if they would only publish
his letter2 We think not. The time has moi
arrived when it will DE expe'ieni to take par
in these cueitiag proceedings, but when it does
come, we greatly the editors of the Specta
tor will be prepared to go over to the enemy.
SOUTHR0N.