The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-07-14
UnpubIi.hed Letters or Henry Clay.

Unpublished Letters or Henry Clay.
The New York Journal Of Commerce gives pub.
icity to the following letters addressed at the dates
they bear to Robert Walsh, esq, formerly editor
of the National Gazette, in Philadelphia:
lc'WR1. asaasa4os, Feb IS, 1925.
DEAR Sir: thank you for your prompt atten.
ton to the paragraph which sent you, and for
your friendly letter.
You did not like my Kremer Card. ! was not
surprised; but hear me- J. was assailed from all
quarters. The canon Of every man who would
now, or four or eight years hence, be President,
Except that of Mr.. A.,) was directed against me-
! heard it all, and saw every movement. should
have disregarded it, whilst the attack assumed the
ordinary form of anonymous or even editorial
commentary. But when person was 30 far de-
signated as to be elated to be member OF the H.
of R., belonging to the Pennsylrania delegation, 1t
assumed tangible shape. A crisis arose in my
poor affairs Silence and crimnahty would have
been the same. And it seemed to me that was
called upon to take q step even OF apparent rash
ness. fought to have omitted the last sentence in
the card; but "a to the sest yet approve Of it.
And still the reason, the philosophy the religion OF
no man more decidedly condemns duelling than,
hope may say, mine docs: The corrective OF
that pernicious practice must be found in commu
mites, not in individuals, at least in such humble
ones as am. When the public shall cease to
stamp with dishonor the man who tamely submits
to injurious imputations, duels will cease: hope
the sequel of that affair was more satisfactory to
the northern public.
/ have consented to go into the Department of
State, after much elaboration. They will ABUSE
had declined it. shall carry into it zeal and in.
dustry only. The other departments, which are
vacant by Mr.. Calhoun's election to the " p, and
Mr.. Crawfords retirement remain to be filled; but
am not at liberty to indicate their probable in
An opposition is threatened; but there is no dan-
ger of any, unless the course Of the administration
shall furnish just occasion for it, which we shall
g. hat ta NOV ia
offspring of chagrin and disappointment. what
will they oppose? five go right, that will not, it
is TO be hoped, make them 60 wrong. An impair
tial trial and just verdict all that is demand
hopes Of faction may inspire
l am, with great regard, faithfully yours,
RosIRr WALSH, jr., esq II, CLA1.
WASHINGTON, April %, 1896.
DEAn SIR: duly received your favor of the 18th
inst. You do me the favor to desire an adequate
notion Of my services and views whilst was In the
Department of State. Iregret that the bad state Of
my health, and my various public duties here,
obligc me to be very brief.
Besides the discharge of the current duties OF the
Chose for example with Austria and Mexico) were
agreed upon, but not actually signed, and were
subsequently concluded in the name of the succeed.
ing administration.
troduced the great principle, that the national and
foreign vessels should be equally allowed to intro
duce into their respective countries merchandise
without regard to it's origin. The principle had
been adopted in the Convention with England of
1915, negotiated by Messrs. Adams, Gailatin, and
me- of permitting the vessels OF the two countries
TO import the productions of the f,oo countries on
terms Of entire equality; but 1t was restricted to
the productions of Great Britain and the United
States II did not admit of an English vessel i'm
porting into the United States the produce OF eny
country other than Great Britain, nor vice versa.
BY the treaty with Central America, which nego-
fed m American vessel
carry into it's ports the produce OF any country OF
the four quarters of the world, on the same terms
it can be imported by national vessel, and vice
versa. This has been a model treaty, which has
been followed in several treaties afterwards nego
tiated.
MY instructions to Mr.. Brown on our claims
against France, cost me much labor, and were ia
vorably thought of by others.
But my great work was the preparation Of the
instructions intended for our commissioners who
were to meet first at Panama, and afterwards at
Tacubaya II you could take the trouble to read
them, you would obtain better conception Of my
views than can now give you as to the liberal
basis on which the commerce OF the world should
be placed. there argue and endeavor to have es-
tablished the principle that private property on the
ocean shall enjoy the same safety and protection
to which it is entitled on land. And all the mari
time principles in favor Of free trade, against spu
rious blockades. &c, for which we have long
and so earnestly commended, are sought to be es-
tablished at the proposed Congress
These instructions almost exclusively my
sole work. Without consulting anybody Particu-
larly, engaged in their preparation, and after
wards submitted the draft of them to the President
and his Cabinet They run into about eighty
pages of manuscript, and do not think that the
alterations which, on the scrutiny OF these gentle
men, they underwent, amounted altogether to one
page, and these related chiefly 10 the projected
connection between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
was disposed to go a little farther than my col
leagues. -s
the relations in which stood to the diplomatic
corps during the whole Of Mr.. Adams's admins
tration, and to every member of it, were of the
most cordial and friendly character. 1t was impos
sibe, think, that business could have been trans
acted more satisfactorily 70 all parties. / have
reason to believe that up to this moment the men,
bcrs Of that corps who were associated with me
tain lively recollcctions of our amicabc feelings
and intercourse.
will not dwell on this subject, but must refer
you, for any deficiencies, to my public acts and the
transactions Of the day.
will add that introduced into the Department
NJ vacancies from time TO time occurred, created
none) somc moel accomplished assistants, several
Of whom were found to be SO necessary that they
escaped the general prescription.
1 think il very probable that your feelings to.
wards me have been sometimes misunderstood and
misrepresented. Certainly in our personal inter.
course never discovered any evidence of hostility
or prejudice. Candor obliges me to say that I
have sometimes scen in your paper what thought
bore testimony OF an inimical spirit; but your
frank assurance now convinces me that WIS mic
taken. We have been in the midst, during these
late years, of the most exciting scenes in pub
lie affairs. l do not much Undcrrate the power
which was opposing-certainly not its disastroua
tendency. felt that ! was struggling Tor the
country for its civil liberty, it's institutions, its
prosperity, its value. felt that had good title
10 the support Of nil honorable and intelligent
Perhaps have been sometimes too sensitive, when
thought that support was not yielded; and have
censurcd too hastily when supposed measure Of
seal in the public cause was not displayed by
othcrs equal to my own.
With best wishes for your health and prosperity,
] am your friend and obcdient servant,
Walsh, esq. II. CLAY.
MAINE.--There has been a split in the Demo
cratic ranks in the Penobscot district, and each
faction is running its own candidate. One party
has put up Hastings Strickland Of Bangor, nd the