Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1852-10-20


Observers that such visit would give rise to
great deal of idle curiosity and speculation
and that it was far better for you to visit him a
his own public Hotel. If he had no objection
theret1re, you proposed to call upon him at thC
National Hotel at A o'clock in the evening O
Sunday next, tour conversation, think, being
ON Friday.) You also asked of Mr. c., the favol
Infringing friend with you, not for the purpose
OF having witness of the interview, nor a re
corder of the transaction; but because thai
friend | understood perfectly well at the time
and so told Mr. Clay, that you referred to the
Hon. Thomas H. Bayly, of Virginia, was also
Mr.. Clay's personal friend; because he was bet
ter acquainted than yourself with the whole
question and with the sentiment of the South
and because, if you could agree upon anything
that gentleman was in so conspicuous position
an the House of Representatives. that he could
five the most effective assistance to any meas
kure which he might approve.
Mr.. Clay agreed to the time and place thus
designated, and sent word to you, through my
self, that you might bring as many friends with
you as you wished. The interview, thus arran-
ged, was held at the time and place appointed
Of its events and results you can speak most
fttingly.
Trusting that the foregoing statement fulils
the conditions of the request by which you have
honored me,
remain yours, with sincere respect.
JAS. w. SIMONTON.
Our fellow citizens of the North will see, from
this whole movement, the awful presentments
which Mr.. Clay had formed, of the dangers
threatening the stability of the Union from the
existing crisis.
On the evening of the 10th of February,
Gen. Bayly and myself waited On Mr. Clay at
his room in the National Hotel 1t was one of
the most remarkable interviews which ever took
place in the city. He received us with the most
winning courtesy and kindness. He treated me
as if no unpleasant relations had ever existed
between us. | shall not detail all the particu-
lars of our conversation. We began by going
back to our early acquaintance, the friends we
had known, and even the frolics which had ANU
Sed US in Richmond. We passed on to some
subsequent events in our lives, and he assured
me, that though we had been parted for years,
he had never lost sight of me-that he had con-
stantly read my paper, and that when the mail
arrived at Ashland, Mrs. Clav was in the habit
of selecting it first from the budget before her
He expressed the profound interest which he
took in the leading questions of the day, and
the anxietes he felt about the Union itself He
regretted that | had formed so unfavorable an
opinion about his resolutions and said that he
had been hurried into their presentation by the
strong appeals 1 had addressed to Congress-
See the preceding narrative.
We then proceeded to a critical analysis of his
resolutions of COMPROMISE. We commenced
upon the policy which it was proper to pursue
in relation to California We devoted some
time to the recognition which he had virtually
given, in his resolutions and speech, of the
Mexican Law, in respect to slavery in New Mex
acqaIesce IN this feature, because the recognition
of the validity of the Mexican Law, by an act
of Congress, was equivalent to the NilmOt Pro
viso. Upon this point there was a great deal Of
ingenuity and learning exhibited on the part
of Gen. Baylv, as well as Mr.. Clay in which
Gen. B. sustained our view. SO frank was our
conference, and with such courtesy did he de-
mean himself, that Mr. Clay even received, with
the utmost patience, the observation threw out,
that as it was necessary to strike the Mexican
Law from his resolutions, | had been thinking
how that object was to be accomplished, and
that | would respectfully suggest to him to fof-
low his own precedent during the Missouri con-
troversy, and move committee of l3 to whom
the chole subject should be referred, and settled
at once-never again to be disturbed. On the
question of Texas, Mr.. Clay conversed with
GREAT frankness. He saw there was great dan
Ger of cohesion between the government of the
United States and the people of JexaS-and he
smoke at some length of the boundaries which
Texas should possess, and the amount which
should be paid to her. Upon the passage OF
law for the restoration of fugitive slaves, he was
most emphatic and decided 1t was an essential
mart of the system-and it would be idle to at
tempt ANYTHING, unless it were effectually to be
provided for. He touched upon the sale of
slaves imported into the District Of Columbia.
And in fact there was no branch of the subject
on which the three persons present did not free
lv eypress their opinion, my friend Gen. Bayly
taking most active and efficient part in the
whole conversation. There was but one senti-
ment among them on one point-and that was,
It was necessary to settle the whole subject at
once and torerer, in order to secure the peace,
the union, and the permanent prosperity Of our
As rose to leave the room, asked Mr.. Clay
if did lot understand him as saying, that the
whole question was to be settled at once, by
fair and liberal mpromise-'E ECeI'ythlng OF
N0thino?1 He cordially assented to this idea.
| then frankly asked him, whether, if nothing
else could be effected to save the UniOn, would
he agree to the adoption of the Missouri Com
He as frankly replied, substantially,
aad nearly in the words, as follows: GAS far as
| am personally concerned, | can have no OBJ
lection to the Missouri Compromise line, but
do not think it viii be agreed to, and if it be
agreed to, and if it be satisfactory, will acqui
esce in it for the sake of the public tranquility"
After fnality telling him that | would see him
again, if it were necessary to renew the conyer-
sation, we took our leave.
have meyer seen any one conduct himself
with more frailkness and dignity than Mr.. Clay,
during the whole of this interview. left him,
deeply impressed with his love of country, his
devotion to the Union, and the cOncilatory spir-
it in which he was attempting to secure it
How superior did he rise, above all private feuds
and party considerations! With what indefata-
bic yea, and with what an indomitable spirit,
did he pursue the great object he had in view!
But his numerouses speeches, elaborate as well
as impromptu bear witness to his energy, abil-
ty. and devotion to the Union. The labors of
the day, and the vigils of the night, were conse-
Grated to this obiect-until at last his constitu-
ton began to give way, and the foundation was
aid of that fatal disease, which has sent HIM to
he tomb, martyr in the public service.
Yet Mr.. Clay was as fortunate IN his death as
Re was in his iife He died amid all the conso-
ations of Religion, with the respect of his
country, and the sincere regrets of many man
who had been once his political enemy. He
lied, after having seen the compromise, to
which he had devoted the last year of his life,
,dopted as the platform of both conventions Of