The true Democrat., 1855-08-14
James E. Clay, Esq, in Reply to
 the Louisville Journal.

MT. James b. Clay, or hSnianu (tut young gentleman who tore down the old mansion of his immortal father instead of leaving it to be resorted to and gazcd on with emotions of re- vcrentlal awe by the men of future generatlons) has made very violent speech against the American party.
 By the way, as Mr Jas. B. Clay, according to our information, is or has been selling the beams, rafters, posts, etc. of his glorious fathers old dwelling house to be manufactured into walking sticks etc., probably the know noth ings would be glad to sec publication of his tariff of prices for his lumber. A great many of them would no doubt be willing to pay any reasonable price for precious relics from the mansion of the most illustrous of American statesmen. If Shakespeare had had son, pos sby his house at Stratford- upon Avon, instead of standing as 1t now does merely to be gazed at by hundreds of thousands of pilgrims to his genius" without yielding farthing to anybody, might have been torn down and sold for very smart sum as material for walking gcaneg, chairs, snuff boxes, etc, years and years ago
 In the Louisville Journal of the 18th instant appears the above article under the editorial head. feel it due to myself to reply to it, and as 1t will be necessary for me to speak more of myself than like to do, knowing that tbc public neither does nor ought to interest itself very much with the private affairs of private men, can offer TO other apology for appearing before it at this time, than that l. q private in dividual have been most wantoniy grossly and falsely assaulted.
 1 am held up before the country in the CO., lumns of leading journal, and in an editorial too, upon three charges; that have made a violent speech against the American party; that l am the young gentleman who tore down the old mansion of his father; and that either am or have been selling the beams, raltcrs, posts, etc., of my fathers old dwelling house to be manufactured into walking sticks, etc.
 Now, as to having made public speech in Lexington on Monday last, in opposition to the principles of the so-caled American party, plead guilty. l deny that I made violent one of whatcversort however it was. 1 attack ed no individual, public or private, but confined myself altogether to the discussion ofquestions before the country. l thought that, as free American citizen, had the right publicly to express my opinions upon questions of public policy; and thought then as think now, that my speech was fair game, and should have found no fault with any criticisms, attacks or censures that might have been made, either upon my style, manner, facts or arguments, by any one, public or private. So much for the first charge.
 But am " the young gentleman who tore down the old mansion of his father, instead of leaving it to be resortcd to- etc, etc. Was not the mansion l tore down my mansion? I did not inherit it from my father, but purchased it when offered by his executors at public auction, to the highest bidder. I am grateful to any body who ever pretends to feel interest in my fathers memory; but is it not fair to presume that 1, his son, feel quite as much reverence for him, and any thing that was his, as any other person? As aspersons, both public and private, have been made against me for thus pulling down my fathers old house, I am really glad to have fair opportunity to make known how came to be its owner, and why determined to take it down and rebuild it. For years pre- vious to my fathers death it was his desire that should purchase Ashland. Knowing that the house would have to be rebuilt, he often said when speaking of it, "It will last my life-t time" When I left Kentucky to reside near St. Louis, he abandoned the hope of my purchasing it with much regret, expressed in letter now in my possession. Hearing of his, last illness and