Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-07-17
DEATH OF GEN, ROGER JONES.

fcinoVeu from thls community, and from very large
family circle, most respectable and esteemed gen
tleman and gallant and distinguished veteran O.
the Army. General ROGER JONES, for so many
years Adjutant-General of the Army, died, at his
residence In this city, after very short Illness the
evening before last General JONES wasin the Gath
year OF his age Hewas native of Virginia, and the
elder brother of the gallant and respected Commo-
dore CATEsBY JONES, of the Navy We never knew
more honorable gentleman or one more estimable
in all the domestic and social relations His pro-
fessional services and merits are familiar to the
whole country The eloquent general orders" in
serted in another column, of the Generalin-C Chief
his old brother in arms, do justice both to the per-
sonal and professional virtues of the deceased.
1t was stated in the "Union" newspaper of the
18th instant that JOHN M. CLAYTON, of Delaware,
Ex-senator, advocated alteration of the fugitive
slave law in ratification Speech in favor of Gen
ScoTT's election in Delaware some days ago. Now,
we are assured by one who heard that speech that
the "Union'' has done gross injustice to Mr.
CLAYTON, who advocated the ratification Of the
Wing Platform at Baltimore, embracing settle
iiOho VI luSooioAo ouUJCCU VI
Mr.. CLAYTON is known to have been the draughts-
man of the resolutions procaiming the fnality of
the Compromise measures adopted at the Wing
meeting at Delaware City, which we published some
time ago, to refute the assertions made in the
Union" that the friends Of Gen. ScoTT had in no
instance been known to express themselves in favor
of regarding the fugtive-slave-law, and other mea
Of tha oc Al. n. q
slavery, final settlement, and as deprecatng all
further agitation Of the questions involved in them
But this is not all Mr.. CLAYTON was the draughts-
man and author Of the strong resolutions in support
Of the Compromise measures adopted at the Wing
State meeting at the Capital of Delaware, when
to Baltimore as Delegate instructed to sustain the
very platform which the Wings adopted.
In the Wing Convention at Baltimore, Mr. CLAYTON
of the committee phich drew apthe Wig Platform
and most active and influential in securing the con-
sent of Northern gentlemen to the resolutions the sub
ect of the Compromise. All the delegates in that COM
mitee will attest this fact and they will further say that
among them took pains to reconcile all Sec
tons the disractng questions of the day than JOHN
M. CLAYTON, of Delaware.
Occupying position in slave State bounded both on
the north and east by nonsayehoding communities Mr.
CLAYTON maintained the character at Baltimore
which he has sustained in public e and at no time
conspicuousy than when he brought forward that
great of peace, called the Clayton Compro
oriy, and defeated in the House by majority of
only four FIVE votes.
Our friend from whom we derive these facts informs
that Mr. CLAYTON in the speech delivered at Rati
cation Meeting in favor of Gen. ScorT and referred to in
the Unon abored with the utmost zeal to induce his
hearers adopt the Wing Platform the subject Of
slavery, and trumphanty succeeded in his object. In
stead of opposing the ugitvesave law with view to de-
prve the Shareholder Of his rights he pointed out what
he considered defect in the eighth and ninth
tons of the act the legitimate construction of which APP
peared not to justify the payment of the expenses
sariy incident to the delivery of fugitive from labor
does not allow any expenses except those accrung
the affidavit Of the order to deliver the slave
Should this be the construction Of the act he said it
would require amendment; we think no Southern
man. residing in slave State, he does, would differ
from him. He stated if information be correct that
the costs in the Sims case, the payment of which de-
pended this construction of the act about twelve
thousand dollars and the other cases. before the
affidavit of order deliver often ranged from
one to FIVE thousand dollars.
If these costs should not be paid under the act he SUBJ
mtted the people of Delaware his opinion that the
fugitive law defective and ought to be amended for
the purpose of securing compliance with the constitu
tonal provision which commands the delivery of the
gtve, the payment of such enormous costs by the
owner would make the act imperative These the
views Of Mr. CLAYTON. and known by his friends
have been his sentiments freely expressed to all who de-
sired to learn them.
In this connexion let us add that gross injustice
has been done to the memory of Gen. TAYLOR in
reporting him as ever having opposed the fugitive
slave law. We have the highest authority for say
ing that neither he nor his Cabinet ever opposed
that law. General TAYLOR, Mr. CLAYTON, Mr.
JOHNSON, Mr. PRESTON and Mr.. CRAWFORD were
known to all their friends advocates of that mea-
sure before its passage They constituted majority
of the Cabinet and we do not believe that any mem
Der of Gen. TAYLoR's Cabinet ever made any eppo-
sition to the bill.
THE Who's OF VERMoNT-A large gathering
of Wings took place at Burlington (Vt.) on Monday
evening. Addresses were made by Chalon f..
Davey, and Mr. Weston of Burlington, Nathaniel
Ellmaker of Pennsylvania, H. j. Raymond of New
York, and others. Speaking of the meeting, the
g Free Press remarks
The Wings of Vermont are Just true and certain