Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-12-07


of the late ienry Cluy taken from work h'"u, !"
be brought hcIure the public, by the Rev. Calvin Coz
ton As yW personal and political friend. and hav'
ing long sp,ia!ned the same relations with SIR. Clay,
think it due TO all the parties concerned THAI
should call your particular attention TO paragraph
in one Of tic ietters-whch marl:-o the late Pre-.
sidcnt Tay1r, having injurious reference 10 youIsoi
am, very truly, your friend,
JOHN b. FRY.
MR.. Borrs To MIR. FRY.
A:rnR lluusE New York, Nov. 30 lSj5.
To JoHN !. FRY. ESQ:
My Dear S,r-l ain obliged 10 You for calling my
attention tt the Daily Times OF the 2Sth inst, in
which is tobs found number of letters taken from
work receitly published by the Rev. Calvin Cotton,
purportingto contain the correspondence of the late
Henry CHI, and in which is to be found, mixed up
with potion, OF Mr.. Clays letters of The most un-
iutcrcstip! and uunportant character and of pr,
yntc and cnestlc nature, several from General lay
lor 70 Mr.. Clay, willie Mr.. Clay's answers TO these
letters are neither to be found in the paper nor the
book: ltcanlot fail TO create surprise that the
friends of Mr. Clay should have beer willing t" sup
ply the prblie with perhaps all of Gen. Tayiors let
tcrs To him, when there is nowhere in tina. work
letter to b. ford from Mr. Clay to Gen. Taylor. 1t
mny he, perhaps, that as friend OF Mr.. Cl"y, feel
the more Sensitive oil this subject, rs in of his
letters 10 me b" complains that copies Of his letters
Gen. Taylor had been furnished, whilst he had re-
fuse. copies OF Gen. TaylOr's TO hm--but adds: 81
sho'!d be perfectly willing that a the letters which
har' passed between Gen. Taylor and myself should
be published"
hone OF these published letters of Gen. Taylor the
| fOlo"lhS pnssnge occurs:
The hostile course pursued by the Hon. Mr.. Bolts
tHvard mo since wa. brought prominently before
{" country, a. a candidate for the highest office
l!oWn to our aws, Ens been doubtless the cause of
,,mc moTfIraUn on the part OF Il portion of his
lends-yon, perhaps, among the numbrr-as feel
Ohhuenn that you did not approve Of it. Had Mr..
5nttS, or any one else, opposed my election 70 the
Presidcncy the ground Of want o! proper qualit-
cations 10 discharge tho important duties connected
WIN SAID Office III n becoming ua!Iler and proper
spirit, 1t would have been all right aud proper and
w"ulu not have gwen Inc Que moment concern; nor
does 1t, atany rate but the momen, misrepresentation
aud scurTllity were rcsnTtud 10, whether il effected
the oeeet OF defeating not II must ultimately
degrade those whoever may be concerned III it"
II anything in this mutable world could have oc-
casiuned me surprise, it would have been thnt any
paper Or letter left by Mr.. Clay in the possession
his family friends, containing matter that might be
used to sarace position before the public, Of
fensvey TO my sensibiIities should have been llr.
nished for publication. Our relations inr the last
twenty years OF his existence, my constant devotion
to his Interests the sacrifices of both personal and
political character that encountered for his advance
ment should have forbidden it, and have protected
me from all assaults whether with IN open sinister
design, as far ~ they were concerned.
have in my possession quite volumnous mud III
tion OF which is marked 'prlvae aud confidential.
Some Of It will, perhaps, never rrac! the public eye
Much Of ii may, that has yet been seen by but very
| few Of my most confidential friends.
| During the last six months have received nunor.
ous applications from Mr.. Culton, urging me 10 III
him have this correspondence for his contemplated
work, which have uniformly declined, from motives
OF prOpriety ns concerned Mr.. Clay, and from motives
| OF dplcacv as concerned other men, including alike
| the li-ing and dead.
| can have no desire To see the :euds which existed
III 1873, between the friends of those distinguished
gentlemen revived and Which, 81 for ~ participated
| in them, have been long since forgiven and forgot
ten but since this letter Of Gen. Taylor has been
! leced and somewhat prominently displayed in tLe
public prints, presume not without nm object, Zee
myself not only NJ liberty but called on ty n seEsC
O! what is dac 20 my own character and position, Il
show TINT Gen. Taylor was somewhat mistaken II
his conjecture that Mr. Clay iiscountenanc"d or is
approved nv course towards him. and for that pur
pose submit the enclosed letter of Mr.. C!ny, being
one only Of great nrInher Of fmllar character IL
my possession to be used at your discretion.
| Gen. Taylor Is now iend, ard | am let IN lgn".
rance what portion Of my letters or speeches he
has reference, and which he characterized ns 'mi-
reprcr rntntiun and scurr;v" aud | am, therefore
eii without the mean. of defence, further than &c
give the most unqualified denial TO both. ha"t
abundant reason TO suppose that there were n0t q
few misunderstanding earwgs ready at oil times tt
whisper in Gen. Iaylors ear very Gross m-repre
sentations of private conversations some of which
have also reason 10 know found their way into por
,ion of the public presa: and think il not improha
BILE that was 10 such lie had reference But be thi.
rs NAV, if anv friend Of Gen. Taylor can point tC
ANYTHING ever spoke or wrote respecting him winch
in his estimation deserved 10 be thus characterized
by Gen. Taylor, invite Him +" point it out nnd
thereby afford me an opportunity tor vndicaion q
the Objectionable matter
lam very truly Your friend,