The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-08-08
Clay and Prentice.


JAMES B. CLAY, son of HENRY CLAY.
recently challenged PRENTICE of the Lou
isville Journal, to the field. PRENTTcr
declined, and Mr.. CLAY published the
correspondence. It is said that the affair
has produced much excitement in Ken
tucky.
The cause of the misunderstanding was
briefly this: Our readers are aware that
young Clay lately made an eloquent and
powerful speech against Know Nothing
ism. In the course of notice of this
fact the Louisville Journal went out of
its way to assail Mr.. Clay very coarsely.
for having resolved to tear down and re-
build the late residence of his father at
Ashland. Mr.. Clay replied that he had
purchased the property, after repeated
and urgent requests from his father and
mother before the formers death. and
with his mothers concurrence and appro.
baton since. She now lives with her
son. He states that the house was in q
decaying condition, and was pronounced
dangerous for occupation by competent
architect. Prentice charged Mr. Clay
with selling the old material for private
gain, and thought this was great desc
Grafton, shocking to public sensibilities,
and unbeeoming the son of such father.
Mr.. G. denies wholly that he had sold
the materials of the old house for his own
profit, and charges Prentice with "lying'
and "villainy," on account of both the
manner and matter of his attack The
reply of Prentice in his paper was again
gross and insolent, and as Mr.. Clay
charges, as false in its statement as the
first. He addressed letter to Mr.. Prem
tice, asking him if he held himself "ac-
countable as gentleman" as the phrase
is understood in Kentucky, for the con-
tents of his editorial columns. Prentice
replies by mail. that he is not willing to
fight MIR. G. for anything he may have
said during their controversy. Mr.. Clay
publishes the whole correspondence, charg-
ing the editor with having rudely assailed
the feelings of both himself and his mother,
on false grounds, because he has made
public speech in opposition to the views
advocated by the Journal as q Know
Nothing organ. He denounces Prentice
in the most extremely severe manner.
The editor of the Louisville Journal is
well known as having long professed great
admiration and love of Henry Clay.
None have complained more frequently
and reproachfully of the severity and zeal
with which the great Kentucky statesman
was always opposed by his political a.
versaries. That Henry Clay was man
calculated by his strong will and firm
courage as party leader to be bitterly
opposed as well as cordially supported as
long as he was a public man, was . fact
universally recognized. The zeal of his
friends naturally produced zeal in his OPP
ponents. 1t was SO with Jackson, Clay's
life-time national adversary. Every one
remembers the hot party spirit of those
times. They were both pursued at every
turn-both had to answer as statesmen
and as men-in their private as in their
public life-for their deathless ardor and
Jealous and unqualified admiration and
love, with which each inspired his friends.
But it was left for Prentice of the Louis
vile Journal, the adulator of the father,
to violate the unhealed griefs of the, son,
because that son SO well remembered the
lessons and example of the father, and
was, in trying times, an open friend Of
civil and religious freedom. .Satesnsan.