Bedford inquirer and chronicle. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1854-1857, 1855-12-14
THE PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE
OF HENRY CLAY.

An interesting volume has recently been
issued from the press, by Mr.. Cotton, the
biographer of Henry Clay, containing the
private correspondence of the illustrious
statesman. It contains about 800 letters
fren Mr.. Clay to various persons, and
about the same number addressed to him.
Among the latter are letters from Daniel
Webster, Zachary Taylor, Chief Justice
Marshall, James Monroe, James Madison,
Albert Gallatin, Lord Gambler, Henry
Goulburn, Lafayette, and other distinguish
ed personages.
The letters addressed to Mr.. Clay, after
bis defeat as candidate for the Presiden-
ey in 1874, are highly interesting, as indi-
eating the opinions of the writers on what
is now called Amerieanism: L will be
apprehensions entertained by the Auleri-
can party, regarding the influence of for
eign Catholics, is nothing new. In letter
dated Buffalo, November II, 1871, Mr..
Fillmore writes to Mr.. Clay as follows:
.'The Abolitionists and foreign Catho-
lies have defeated us in this State | will
not trust niysel to speak of the vile hy-
pocrisy of the leading abohtiolf;sts now
Doubtless many acted honestly but igno-
rantly in what. they did. But II is clear
that Birney and bis associates sold them
selves to Locofocoism, and they will doubt
less receive their reward
Oar opponents, by pointing to .hs Native
Americans and to Nr. Frelinghaysen, drove
the foreign Catholics from US and defeated
US in this State"
Writing on the same subject, JOHN r.
Westwoed, in letter dated Baltimore,
Nov. IS, 1914, says:
"Fhen Judge my deep Modification to
find the sailors friend, he m lsicr spirit of
the late wars, the noblest Ronaa OF them
all, rejected by the American people, and
snch man as james X. Polk tlaced
in the Presidential Chair Did | say the
American people' l recall that expression,
for two-;hirds OF the native freeman of tie
United States are your fast friends Yes,
sir, we love you now better than ever, and
when the name of jackson and Others of
your vile tradaccrs shall be forgotten, yours
shall be remembered and live in the atTec-
ton of all lovers of liberty.
1T was foreign influence, aided by the
Irish and Dutch vote that caused our de-
feat As proof, in my native city alone,
IN the short space of two months, there
we're over one thonsand natura lized.''
Ia a letter addressed to Mr. Clay by
Theodore Frelinghuysen, dated New York.
Nov. 9, 1914, occurs the following pas
sage:
''More than three thousand. il is conf |
IDENTIFY said, have been natural.aed in this I
city alone, since the first of October l. /
is al alarming fact that this foreign vote
has decided the great questions of Ameri~
can policy. and counteracted a nations
gratitude"
These extracts may be regarded as fair
specimens of the general tone of the nu-
ncrous letters addressed to him in refer
ence to the same event, and which are par
ticularIy interesting at the present moment.
GEoRGiA,--Thc American cause is rep
resented as daily increasing in Georgia. A
letter from Sumter county, dated Noyembet
10, says
s'Tbe American cause is now brightning,
rot withstanding our recent defeat. Let
he American party put up man of the
,ight stripe for the Presidency, and we will
,at through in Georgia, right side up with
s<T.a.' Mark the prediction.