The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-08-01
THE DAILY UNION
LAMEs b. oLAY Avn GEoRGE D. pRENTICE

ID.
The public will recollect the controversy between Mr.
James b. Clay and the editor of the Louisville Journal
Mr. Clay made speech in Lexington against knownoth-
ingsm early last month and oGhe 18th bitter personal
attack was made upon him in the Journal On the 18th
Mr. ebay replied to it through the columns of the Journal
aud on the same day the editor Of he Journal commented
upon in his paper in long and personally offensive
tce In consequence of these rufany attacks Mr. Clay
addressed the following note to Mr.. Prentice;
ASHLAND, July 20, 1855,
SIN: This will be handed you by my friend Major
T. Lewnski similar addressed to you the 18TH
through my friend Mr.. H. O. Pinde who having lately
gagged in the practice of law in your city found the de-
livery Of inconsistent with his views of the moral obga
ton Of the oath he as lawyer is required to take.
The object of this solely inquire whether you
hold yourself personally responsible, gentleman, for
publications made in the newspaper of which you the
editor, attacking private individuals
| am sir, your obedient servant,
JAMES b. CLAY.
To Gro. d. Prentice Esq, Editor of the Louisville
Journal
Mr.. Prentice replies considerable length forwarding
the letter to Mr. Clay by mail We make room for the
concluding paragraph which is the only material part
the letter:
Howeyer all this is very little my present purpose
have only repeat that would accept challenge
from you on account of my article Of Wednesday. And
in telling you shall send this by mail scarcely need
add that IT have erred in any fact regard
to your conduct SHALL having the pointed
me, take pleasure in correcting them"
In reply this Mr. Clay has issued the following card
To PunncIt is always task fellow citizens, re-
voting to private individual if he have proper enbi
ties to obtrude his private affairs the notice of his fell
low-men. But there occasions when may feel himself
compelled however disagreeabe ii may be- adopt such
course and Justified in claiming public attention. feel
myself placed by the editor of the Louisville Journal in
such position and appeal to the tribunal Of your calm and
dispassionae judgment the confidently think that
your liberty has been assaed in my person Invading the
anctity of private life regardless of the feelings mother
of five years of age the widow Of man of Ash
land whose he has pretended almost doize that
editor has not scruped through the columns Of paper
hold up his and her object the scorn and ndi
nation of his countrymen
Why is it that have been so assaied Was IL that
had personally offended the editor OF the Louisville journal
Not Never, in the whole course of my e had qven
him the least of offence and if there ga any pub
print in the land from which ought have expected
such attacks, the Louisville journal was that one Wa il
that had been guilty OF any which any YOU placed
in similar circumstances, would have heated done
bought Ashland, have heretofore said the desire Of
both my father and mother determined to do with 1t as
thought best for the interest and of my family 1t
accorded better with my Judgment to rebuild my fathers
house upon the design using in its ucton every
particle Of the old material stone brick, wood--tha
would answer, than leave standing an old mansion
through which the water coursed and whose walls
cracked to such extent to render it positively
safe, harbor for rats and for thieves and
runaway negroes. IL il true that / did advertise in
Observer and Reporter newspaper the editor Of
the Journal in his letter of the 2ls instant that
wished to sell certain portions Of the old material but spec
fled in that advertisement doors, SASH &C., which
tery useless to was not fortunate to find a pur
chaser for single article that desired SELL and the
sequence is that large quantity OF old rubbish encumbers
my place which shall have to get rid of by making Dor
fire. the offer to sell such old rubbish that
fcrred to the first article in the journal attacking 1t
was very different thing with which charged. 1t
was that knowing them to be haowcd by association with
my fathers name, either was had BEEN selling for my
private profit the beams raers posts &c. of his old dwell
ing house, be made into sticks snuff boxes, &c. &C. In
my answer, which published in his paper, gave such
information respecting private affairs thought would
have satisfied any candid and reasonable that he had
done me injustice it is that used language which
harsh did conceive it to be too much towards
the author Of such an attack upon me.
In making his attacks upon the editor of the Louisville
Journal nstgated by any offence which had given
him personally and my conduct with respect to private
property but pretext He has clearly shown that he
cared little for my fathers name, his fame, his family.
The true cause fellow citizens of those attacks that
had Of the rights of freeman and bad
been guilty of the offence Of making public ad
dress my ow-ctizens around my home, in OPPOSE
ton the principles of party to which he attached
appeal you if this not the sole In attacking
reason your liberty and that of every freeman
in the land assaled in my person.
The reply which thought right to make TO the para
graph in the Louisville journal of the 18th instant
published in that paper and accompanied by article
of its editor, column in length, violent and
iustiable than the first had been felt that it did not
become to answer it by publication, and that
should be wanting in selfrespect did tamey suffer
tob held up in such before the public.
accordingly deemed it my duty to address to the editor
note through the hands of FRIEND simply making the in
quiry whether he held himself personally responsible
gentleman, for publications. attacking private individuals,
made in his newspaper. received through the post office,
the 23d instant reply from him dated the 21s in which
he refuses hold himself responsible gentleman me,
and with eDdsh baseness, wholly unparalleled in the his
tory intercourse between honorable men, with
purpose still further harrow my feelings audes
affair with which had nothing do, and of which
wholly and entirely ignorant.
Having placed himself without that pale recognised
by all honorable gentlemen in this region least
again, at time upon any preex occasion,
condescend take the least notice of anything whatsoever
that may from the editor of the Louisville Journal
either in his public capacity or private man.
have thought it right have been publicly prosecuted
place public all the facts and circumstances
my fellow countrymen The first attack of the
nal my reply it, the renewed assault of its editor upon
me- my him through the hands of friend, and his
reply through the post office, will appear under the
with this article.
In the fullest confidence that generous public viii pardon
for thus again bringing myself before its notice,
scribe myself with great respect, its obediont servant
JAMES b. CLAY.
AsHLAsD, July "a, 1855.
YOUNG AMERICA IN THE CRJNrl--A vouno Amaric,n