Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-07-31
TO CORRESPONDENTS.
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Journal will attract attention. For heightened
gentleman, Mr. Buchanan permits himself to occupy
very strange position in respect to the charge of
bargain and corruption" which made against
Mr. Clay. The fact that Mr. Clay charged that Mr..
Buchanan made the proposition to him to support
Gen. Jackson in consideration of the State Depart
ment aud tho further fact that General jackson has
affirmed that Mr.. Buchanan had urged him TO per-
init his friends TO make that propositon-which the
old Hero characterized gross cOrruptioa'-theSe
facts are before the world. Neither has been
contradicted by Mr.. Buchanan any Of his friends
Mr. Clay, in his statement, referred to Gov Lecher,
who present at the interview with Mr.. Buchanan
for further particulars But it appears that Mr.. Blu
chanan had obtained pledge of secrecy from Gov.
Letcher Gov. l., therefore, called upon Mr.. Blu
chanan to release him from the pledge. Mr. b., in
his reply affects to have forgotten what the matter
that Gov L. had promised to conceal, but most
wonderful, he had not forgotten the pledge, and he
refused TO release Gov. L. from its operation. So
stands that matter now. Gov. Letcher's lips are
sealed and Mr.. Buchanan will not consent that they
shall be opened nor will he open his
The Journal, however, brings forward fresh mat
ter. Mr.. Clay had a letter from Mr. Buchanan which
he would not publish except called for by Mr.. b. or
the Senate. We left to conjecture its character
II,
and we may safely conclude that it would throw
food of light upon one of the most important Incl.
dents in our history. The Journal insists that Mr.
Buchanan shall give his to the publication Of
this document in justice to the dead and the living
The demand is reasonable; and if Mr. Buchanan be
the upright, high-toned above board man that his
friends proclaim him to be- he will be the foremost
10 urge the publication of the document II its con-
H., ,r. H.. IL.
be, who holds it at the mercy of an adversary at all
moments privileged to take it? II 1t be Of nature
to reflect credit upon the writer why should he be
studious Of concealmentl
The Journal intimates that the letter may not now
be in existence. If this be the case what an advan-
tage would it give Mr. Buchanan over his ASSISTANTS!
Whatever its tenor, if it longer exists, he might
loudly and proudly defy its publication The attack
would recoil on those who make it with tremendous
force In this aspect the part Of discretion would be
the part of valor.
We imagine the honorable and sensitive admirers
Of Mr.. Buchanan must feel uneasy at his continued
silence under such call They will infer and cir
cumstances would to justify the Inference that
there is something in the affair which, if known,
would be dsreputable TO him as a man and politi-
clan. correspondent stated few days since, that
in Washington, a short time before his death, and
refused TO speak to him. This fact vouched for by
of the respectable gentlemen in the Statc,
would gu to confirm the impression that in Mr. Gays
opinion Mr.. Buchanan was not entitled to the consd-
Grafton of n gentleman. What connection there'mav
have been between this incident aud the suppressed
letter, now in question, are left TO conjecture
Ii would be more satisfactory to all the world If all
tba E,.fl Il. l., ID
power alone authorize the desired publicity Will
he, can nc as an honorable man. withhold that au-
thorityY
liz Musr "SrEAK OR DIE."-Mr c. Cotton, the author
OF the Biography OF Henry Clay recently addressed note
readers have seen, the editor OF the New York
Times, confirming that the paragraphs
In the Biography relative TO Mr. Buchanans approaching
Mr.. Clay Lea Mr. Letchers room in January 1928 offer
M Clay the Secrearyshp of State his support of Gen
Jackson were written by Mr.. Clays hand Mr. Uol-
ton further states in his the Times that Mr. CLAY
on furnishing him those passages for she Biography a.
pended to them note requesting him apply to Gov
Letcher for further information the subject and
he adds that he did accordingly apply 10 Gov Le,cher
out found h- lips sealed by pledge OF silence gwen 10
NJ. Buchanan.
We say, with the Times that We must now have Gov
Letchers evidence in full Mr. Buchanan must a be-
fore the namy of his position in refusing aowit Mr.
Clay has appealed To IT, and the injustice done him by Mr.
buchanan cries from the grave for Governor Lecher 10
be permitted speak The truth of history demands il
Every oil friend OF the santed patriot will demand
And W. trust the American people will demand it, Lef
Gov Lecher ,eak let the deep damnaion of the seal
put upon his lips be proclaimed to the world Justice
Henry Clay calls aond from his grave for this revelation
There j. enough indeed, the record of history which
Me- C. caused 10 be- made, show which tide and by
whom bargain was proposed but the finger OF deceased
patriot aud he the greatest the pure and magnan
Imons OF the in which he lived points revelation
on this very subject yet uunads aud justice TO his name
and fame demznds that il should be made.
II Mr. Buchanan has any friends rft that entertain the
slightest respect for him willing see Justice rem.
dered TO the injured and mighty dead let them at once
unite With the rest OF the people othe country demanding
peremptory aud steruly that he AZ authorize Gov
Lecher TO make statement Of the facts which that gen.
ueman stands pledged 10 make without his consent
Henry Clay wanted those facts stated IN his lifetime tor
the viniication of his fouy sanGered fame and Gov
fletcher, IL proved by Mr. Buchanan's own hand al.
piled TO Mr. b. for permission the truth but that
guilty man. proved by his own hand withheld such
permission aud Insisted that the old pledge Of silence
should be igdly kept
II Mr. Buchanan now with the Whole Sag NIGHT pres.
this back. darc' 70 the truth face face fine dare
20 let the world know what his conduct was upon the
memorable occasion which gave that dreadful charge
against the greatest aud best oal land charge
that has Influenced the political desnes Of county ever
since, let him. abandoning the miserable and skuking
Wadico OF his present position, stand up and bid Gov
Lctcher speak Then the world whatever else NAV say
OF him. will call him coward again. e will strong.
" remind us Of Ajax drfyiug the thundcrbolt Will he
let Gov letcher do justice 70 the dead Clay by state
ment OF the truthf u not who Of sll the and hon
oa6e and just OF the country will be guilty Of the de-
Bradluon OF supporting him tor the Presidency
And, whilst Mr. Buchanan is giving hs consent that
Gov L"tchcr shall speak out let him II he dares give hi.
consent In another matter Witch have already re
ierred In lsis, during the lifetime Of Mr. Clay wdte
Of high responsibility and authority after publishing Nh,
statements given by Mr Clay IN Colton's Biography saw
TO add further testimony stac-and let il BE- denied
Ut can-that NJ Clay has In his possession lette,
which, published 10 the world would place Mr. Buch
anan In embarrassing condition The letter came Gon
Nc Buchanan and no call NJ. Clay will induce him 4
give IL mp, from bic couny-tha w. the Senate
che United States The bargain and sale conspiracy With
this expose, would place Mr. Buchanan without the pa
OF Democracy, totally unworthy the place he holds ant
the sunragcs OF the people"
We and many other. heard Mr. Clay speak Of this let
Ter Of NJ. Buchanan's which he had IN hs possession
And nov let Mr. Buchanan, who sspres that lony DO
ston which he prevented Henry Clay from attaining the
Presidency Of the United States signify under HE own
hand through authorized friend his that any
letter Of his 20 Mr. Clay upon the subject OF bargain and
corruption shall be gwen NJ 10 the world We are
quite certain that the letter Is s IN existence Pos
sbls Mr. CLAY, whose resolve that IL should not b,
published unless With the consent Of NJ Buchanan
Che call Of the Senate Of the United States ordered upor
bis death bed 10 be destroyed but should not be
al surprised " the formal consent Of Me- Buchanan 70 ".
publication 10 effect sudden remarkable and