Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-07-30
From the Louisville journal.
lie Must "SDelk or Die.c

Mr.. G.. Cotton. The author If the Biography Of
Henry Clny, recently addressed note, as our
readers have seen. to the editor Of the New York
Times. confirming our statement that the two
paragraphs in the Biography relative to Mr.. Buc-
hanan's approaching Mr.. Clay IN Mr.. Letcher's
room, in January, 1925. to offer Mr.. Clay the
Sccretaryship of State for his support of Gen.
lack son, were written By Mr. Gays own hand.
Mr. Cotton further states, in his note To the
Times, that Mr.. Clay. ON furnishing him those
pages for the Biography, appended to them
hote requesting him to apply to Gov. Lecher for
further information ON the sam" subject, and he
adds that he did accordingly apply IT, Gov. Lctoh-
er but found hi- lips sealed by pledge Of silence
given to Mr.. Buchanan.
We cay. with the Times, that must nov
have Gov. l.etchers evidence III lull, Mr.. Buc-
hanan must fall before The infumy of his posi-
lion in refusing to allow it. Mr. Clay has appeal
ed to it, and the injustice done him by Mr.. Bur-
hanan cries out from the grave for Gov. Letch-
or to be permitted to speak, The truth of history
demnnd>i, Every old friend of the santed pa
iriot will demand it. And we trust the American
people will denanlit. Let Gov. Letcher speak,
or let the deep damuation of the seal put upon
his lips be proclaimed to the world. Justice to
Henry Clay calls aloud from his grave for this
revelation. There j. enough, indeed. in the re-
cord of history. which Mr., G.. caused to be made.
TO show On which -dn, and by whom. bargain
OF, aud he the greatest, the pure>t, aud most
magnannous of the age in which he livcd,ponts
To revelation On this very subject yet unmndr,
and iu.iicr To his name and fame demands that it
should be made
II Mr.. Buchanan has any friends left that
terrain the slightest respect for hin. or are will
ling to see justice rendered to the injured and
ighty dead, let them at once unite with the rest
Of the people Of the county in demanding, Pc
remptorily and -ternly, that he at once authorize
Governor Letcher Ia make statement of the
fncts, which TINT gentleman stands pledged not
to make without his consent. Henry Clay want
ed those facts stated in his lifetime for the vnd
cation of his foully slan1cred fame, and Governor
/ Letcher rs ia proved by Mr. Buchanan's own
hand. applied to Mr.. b. for permission to state
! the truth, but that guilty man, "a is proved by
! his own hand. withheld such permission, and in
si-tad that the old pledge Of silence should be- rig
idly kept. If Mr.. Buchanan now,wih the whole
! Sng NIGHT press Mt his back, dares to meet the
truth face to face if he dares to let the worll
know Whit his conduct upon the memorable
occasion which gave rise athat dreadful charge
against the greatest aud best man of'all land,
charge tina, has Influenced the political desti-
MES of our country ever since, let him. abandon
ing the miserable and -kulking cowardce of his
! present position, stand up and bid Gov. Letcher
speak. Then the world. whatever else il may say
Of him. will never call him coward again. He
derbolt. Will he let Governor Letcher do jus
tice TO the dead Clay by n statement of the truth!
If not who, of all the true and honorable and
'ast men of the country will be guilty oi the
degradation ofsupporting him for the Presiden
cyl
And, whilst Mr.. buchanan is giving his eon-
sent that Gov Letcher shall speak out let him,
if he dares, give his consent in another matter:
during the lifetime Of Mr. Cav.a writer of high
responsibility and authority. after publishing the
statements given by Mr.. Clay in Coiton's Bio
graphy. said:
ITO add further testimony We s,ate-aud let
it be denied if i. can--;hat Mr. Clay has now in
his possession II letter which, if publ shed to the
world, would place Bdchanan in an embarrass-
ing condition. The letter came from Mr.. Buch-
anan; and no call on Mr.. Clay will induce him
. to give II up, save one from his countrv-that
is, the Senate of the United States. The bargain
and sale conspiracy, with this expose woulc
place Mr. Buchanan without the pale of Damoc
iacy, as totally unworthy the place he hold.
and the suifrages Of the people"
We and many others heard Mr.. Clay speak o
, this letter of Mr. Buchanan, which be had in hi.
, possession And now let Mr.. Buchanan. who as
pres to that lofty position which he prevented
Henry Clay from attaining. the Presidency of IN,
United States. signify under his own hand. OF
through an authorized friend. his consent tina
any letter ct has To MIR. Clay upon the subject O
S bargain and corruption shall be given at once t,
the world We are not quite certain that the let
ter rs still in existence. Possibly Mr.. Clay .hav
ing resolved that it should not be published. nm
less with the consent of Mr.. Buchanan or at tn
call ct the Senate of the United States, ordered /
upon his death-bed to b. destroyed; but we shout
not he at all surprised if the formal consent o
Mr. Buchanan to its publication were to effect
sudden, remarkable. and most astounding devel
: oPement: At any rate, if no developement shout
. follow, Mr.. Buchanan would sustain no damn p
: from giving his consent, but on the contrary
J. would be very essentially benefited.
Then let just world, with one voice demap
OF james Buchanan, candidate for the Presiden