Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1852-09-10


ia interview with yoa. -, - ,rh m,
never forget Mr. CLAY louk ana mariner Mnei ~.
"..v srguested itself Ia his mind nat MS n'ts ot
- intrrview with the leading fl'in' ni ne siei'
20 =, uhjcll he had been 90 long ana ieeIueuy C rho
S be mis- ,pprehrnded Ills proud spltn s"!un a man
~ ,,i,i,n that sought inar'ihi'y agi''i'' "@' :
-. ,wn nc,s or fame, on MS own ocha'l o,ret
ID, Nv" ~ s-;t tho work in which he was engage"
b"' "' ,bnvr and beyond all personal or party CON
W. ;.,inns and he could not hesitate ne 'el.'"iH
y, M Richie has abused ne in his paper, Nie
&c, &C.: n,s the ligh, do He may abuse me n%"'i
which he the sane night To dc. hn' ue m p,i
Sno"r: IN. Union is threatened " ish TO see 'Ir' hIc'
@ may confer together the best means OF SWIM
M ocrious Union. For myself care nothing . i.t
~ Al Richie doubts nv motives and condemns acts
az WI rom source he m.lrus,s have nothing 10 say
o., lar the sake Of common country, would convince
nu' no necessity FOX some decided thorough united ac-
nan 10 save she country ana agree WIN nan upon '''
mean. hest calculated 10 secure that result MAX can
,v him that the plan propose IS worthy Of Ills support
"a ,h,r would have him aid HE instead OF counteTachn!
INV aims When these threatening dltlcutes are DISPOSED
~ ,,,ta al my poor self | shall not complain Now,
hrryrr would have brief lH in the Storm, TIA; on,
hnrE NAV trimmed Tor the gale. lha' accohp:s"e"'
:, >. NJ IhiDr for what FLOWS.
Tho date Of this communication will show, II mistake
M, that the plan OF several DISTINCT YET united measures
as "Cumprom!se" haa not AT that time been promulgated
or formed -,
a mon you an! stated Mr. Clay wishes repeating
o literally as cuuli his important words then itesh
upon my memory need not say that you me! ms rr%po
si,on with franknest and cordially You said Mr Clay
had acted az him. and that you would Yourself nave
dong the same Thing by him II had supposed The country
al onnroachrd very the ABYSS he apprcicted
ina, YOU indeed awiuy Impressed with the criSls
which vas hand; that every conscate man aust ADMIT
that the URun in dangcr and, unless some measures
were adopted 10 IT, IN imminent danger ana uat you
would most ciGeuiy NEE: MIR. Clay al any ne ana pace
he would appuintmost respectfully approaching me pa
triotic motives by which he was acuated nor 90
forget that this decision on your part was nor nnauf
w,Ihnut = due sense Of Mr.. Clay's colioqulal pow
crs Yon freely admitted his great tact in dlsc"ssIoh
bn; said tirr win smile, that yoh hah your
opinions the subject and had freely expressed tieh
but Whatever might b. Mir Cays powers, he would not e%
prct you YIELD them until your Judgment was convinced
you would therefore, him The purpose OF tree
frank aud friendly conference You suggested an interview
al MIR. C.'s al the National Hotel
I addressed Nr Clay in writing. informing him OF The
result of my mission The following IS copy oi MS reply,
he original Of which is still in my possession
Dear Sir- thank you FOR your prompt execution OF HE commits
SION winch con;.s you viii Mr. X win great lure
my odess Sunisy next between Tie hour :" n' . al
suggested Or ii, further ref:r"n he should prefer H. VIII
attend prSgs Church SUNDAY next aud immediate! al fr
the Conclusion Of Divine serscF VIII g 10 Mf. Is t 's'
the latter should be BE- T5esS be pleased to IN"
with great regards II CLAY
"Mr ]. ". Snlont"n.
$ Chamber Stn Feby, 1850
called upon you The evening, and showed you me
foregoing Ion stated al once that II would never 90
for Mr. Clay To pass from Dr. YSEs charch 10 yonf
house; that wherever ho went he was The observed OF a
observers; that ouch visit would give rise 10 great deal
of tl. curiosity and spcculGon and that was lar better
Tor YOU TO visit him his public Hotel Ii nc had no
ujec un therefore, you proposed TO eau upon MN al te
National Hotel o'clock in the evening Of Sunday next
(nur conversations lhink, being on Frday) f"n also
asked of Mr. Co. me favor Of hinsal Trend WIN you ~.
for live purpose Of having witness OF the interview" no"
recorder of the transactions but because that iEicno
understood perfectly we'll at the time, and 81 toh Mr
Clay, that you referred IL the Hon. Thomas H. BAY
" OF VAL was also Mr.. C's personal friend; because
he was better acquainted Than yourself with the whole
ques tOE, and win the sentiment o Inc Soh'hi anu
because if you coald agree upon anything that gentleman
conspicuous position in The House OF keprese'
rutivcs that he could give the effective assistance To
any which he might approve
Mr. Clay agreed the time and place mus drslenalea
and sent word 10 You through myself that you might bring
as many friends with you you wished The interview
thus held at the time and pllce appointed v!
its and results you can speak most httneV.
Trusting that the going statement inhs the conditions
Of the request by which you honored me-
remain yours with sincere respect ,,..,o>.
Our icow citizens OF the North will see from this whole
movement. the awful 7rcsentiments which Mr. Clay had
formed of the dangers threatening The stability Of the Mon
from the existing crisis.
On the evening of the 10Th Of February, General B4yy
and myself waited Mr. Clay his room, in the National
Hotel II was ore OF the remarkable interviews, which
ever took place in his city He received US with the most
winning courtesy and kindness lie treated me as no
unpleasant relations had ever existed between Us s!!al
no, detail all particulars of conversation We began
By going back early Acquaintance The !reh; We mad
known and the iucs which had amused Us IN Rich
mond We passed 10 some subsequent events IN our
lives and he assured ne that though Sc had been paTle
for years he had lost sight OF c-thn he had con-
stap,Iy read nv PAPER and that when The mail arrived
Ashland Mrs Clay in the habit OF selecting ii hrsi
from the budget before her He expressed the profound in
ere which took the lending questions Of the day. aud
the anxiees he felt the Union itself He regretted
that had formed unvorable opinion about his res1
uions and said that he had been hurried into their pre-
erratnn by the strong appeals had addressed TO Congress
(Sce The preceding narraiivc)
We then proceeded critical analysis OF his resolutions
of Compromise We commented upon The policy which
WINS proper pursue in relation Ia California We Devoted
some time the recognition which he had virtually given in
his resolutions and speech o the Mexican Law III respect
IN .Ivrrv in New Mexico | cun.niei that the South
wuu acqucsce in This feature because the recoen
ton Of the validity of the Mexican Law By act ni Con
yres was equivalent the W.mot Prov.n. Upon this
point there great deal 1f ingenuity and learning cSh
bitcd on the part Of General Blyy we'll Mr. Clay, in
which Cen B sustained view. So frank our con
ference and with such courtesy did he irrncan himself, ha
Mr. Clay even received with the utmost patience The oh
serva,ion | threw out. that it necessary % strike
the Mexican Law from his resgutinna | had been
thinking how that oblec, 10 be accomplished, and
that would respectfully suggest n him In follow his
precedent during the Missouri controversy ond move
committee of l3 TO whom the lcoc subject should be refer
red and settled again be disturbed On
the question of Texas, Mr.. Clay eonvcrscd with great
irankness He there great danger :" collision be-
tween the govern men: OF the United States and the people
of Teyasand he spoke length of the boundaries
whic, Texas should possess an! III; amount which should
be paid 10 her Upon the passage Of las for the estor,
lion of fugitive slaves hr emphatic and decided
Ii was essential part of The sysc!nand il would be idle
10 attempt anyihng unless were cic"tuay 10 De pro.
vded for He touched upon the sa" Of slaves imported into
the District of Columbia And in fact there branch
OF the subject which the three persons present did not
freely express their opinion my friend General Biyy TAX
ins most and efficient part in the whole convc'sa.
ton There was but sentiment among them on one
nuinsnt that was il necessary 10 settle the whole
shnc; al and forrer In order 10 secure the peace The
union and the permanent, prosperity Of our country.
A rose to euse the ROOM asked MIR. Clay 1t did not
understand him saying that the whole question was 10 De
settled at once by fair and liberal compromise" Erery
thing or Nothing a., He cordially assentcd 10 This idea
then frankly asked him, whether nothing else could be
effected 10 save the Union would he agree 10 The adoption OF
the Missouri Compromise? He az frankly replied snosnn
,ialv md nearly tho words, follows As far as am
hapn nh, inn IN fhr