Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-07-11
Henry Clay-The Louisville
Innrnnl and MI. buchanan.

Mr. Buchanan in the coming Presidential
election. but the statement has ~ foundation
whatever In fact. Nothing could well be
further from the truth. for no journal is man
Testing more thorough knowledge Of the
mans true character, or moro determined
/ opposition 20 his election. Mr. buchanan ls
/ SHOWN bv the journal to have been the auth
or and originator of bnselcss ISLANDERS upon
/ Henry CLAW. aud mo- truc or consistent Wing,
least OF all, one who has any regard for the
memory of the great Kentucky statesman,
can entertain any other feelings than those
of contempt and opposition towards his ma
lclous and wiIlul caumniator. We have
before MS a recent number Of the Louisville
Journal, which exposes James Buchanan's
participation IN the coalition ISLANDERS, and
expresses the hope that IL VIII command
the attention of all honest and honorable men,
and especially Of old line Wings - the former
supporters OF Henry Clay, and the presen,
reverers of bis memory" The iucis, as a.
bridged from the statement Of the journal,
nre substantially these;
Mr. Clay was charged by his political en-
emies with having sold his vote 10 Mr. Adj
sms for the Secretary-smp, and this cruel
and mon.trous charge, though abuudantly re-
fu.ed IN every form 10 which retuiauon was
possible or conceivable, involved TO great
extent, the ruin Of Mr. Clay's political for
tunes.
Foremost among those who pressed this
charge was Gen. jackson, who gave Mr. Blu
rhanan os his authority for It's truth In
| fact the General did not hesitate 10 say that
Mr. Buchanan had come 10 hun with foil su-
ihorly from Mr. Clay TO propose terms TO
him IN relation TO their votes that is, to
propose TO vote for him for the Pres-
dency, II be would promise office to Mr.. Clay.
Mr. Buchanan was called on 10 put into the
form of letter what ho knew upon the sub.
lcct, and what he had stated to Gen. Jack
SON. He accordingly wrote the letter which
afterwards became famous in the controvrr-
scy. The letter was most adrotly written,
with view 20 relieve the author from the
excessively painful position IN which he
stood. lie dared not say that he ever had
any authority from Mr. Clay or his friends TO
propose terms to Gen Jackson, yet be care
fully so shaped his language as TO afford Mr..
CIny's political enemies a proicNt for .epcut-
ing the atroclous columny against hIm.
And now, fellow cOunlrynen, says the
Louisville journal we ask you to marx the
FINAL development OF facts. The real tfuth Is,
I ll'"' i'''''V ~ WI va. 7"E ~ '''
buchanan during the pendency on lhe ires.
dental election no the House OF hrpresen,
tatves m le2'' That he ana his lnends would
support General JACKSON u ne couid nave t'e
/ Nec'e'a, ls"i1 Oh oi",e uHI n..h ~ D",
cNnndn hmSeU dctudty sought 'hf Gay. ana
"a me presence q q MIRA gtWi'n'''' 'fW'cuy
deciai ed 10 hun' fhai' W me tre" Of nus Vnfmg
J'r HtnefW JdchsoH ana me ft0"n W hs
] ~. ! a. D.
tit''l' nc Poud mare me Ne"tiHy,NP. VII.
Clhys intimate PERSONAL friends oilen heard
nun make this statement 800 the alter years
nl his Iite aud we, with half dozen others.
/ heard hun say. lu the Presidential campaign
/ OF 1874, that he would not be willing tu die
without leaving u on record. Aud be- dad
not die without leavIu1 it ON record. A few
years ugo Mr. Calvin Cotton published the
/ Life OF Henry Clay. in the preparation of
which be visited Ashland and had tree nc
/ cess To many of Mr. Claws private papers.
/ He devoted considerable portion OF bis
book To the old bargaln. intriIrne. and cor
/ ruption story. and Mr.. CLAW wroie out on.
passaoe of II with his own hnud Vbot pa.-
sage was incorporated IN ibs volume word
for word az II zane from the venerable states
mems pen Let the American people read
IL and ponder upon H. Hero IL liz -
". DIrNfNhn hundred
and TWENTY-FIVE. and NOT iono before the eler.
tun of President of the United states by
the Housg of Reoresen,auves the Hon
James buchanan then a member o, the
House. and afterwards mnnv voors SOM.
ior of the UnitcJ States fr,n pennsylynni,
who had been "a zoalous md influential sno
porter of Gen. Jackson IN the preceding can
ynss. and was suppo.edto eniiv ms unbound.
CLAW. m the CIV of Wssbinr,nr. MIR. Clav
was at the time i'm the room Of bi- only
messmate In the House. hs intimate md
conhlentnl fiepJ, ,I.e EIoo. r.. r. Lrtcner,
since Governor of Kentucky, then also a
member OF the House. Shortly after Mr..
Buchnnan's entry into the room, he introduce
ed the subject OF the approaching Presidential
election and spoke OF the certainty of his
iavorite, adding thlt he would form HE mosi
splendid cabinet that the country had ever
/ had. MIR Leicher asked how could he have
/ one more distinguished than that OF MT.
/ Jefferson, IN which were hoih Madison and
Ghlain' Where would be be able TO ind
equally eminent men; Mr. bIchonnn re-
pled' he would NOT go out OF the room Tor a
Secretary ct State looking at Mr. Clay
Tins gentleman Mr. Clay pIaylul'Y remark
ed thrt De Thought there "as 100 tnDer There
fiji for cabinet officer unless 70 we're Mr.
Buchanan himself
MT. Clay, while he was so holly assaulted
WIN ihe ch'rge OF bargain intrigue aad
corruption outlns 'he administration on NIT
Adams noilheu NC, buchanan OF his mlen
ton TO publish 'le aho'e occurrences ont by
the earnest enirealics OF that gentleman, be
was induced TO 'oroeaf dong sp.
governor Lelcher' VINO was present At the
interview m January io21' ana heard all
that passed, was always OF opinion that Mr.
Clay ought to make the publication and often
told hun so 4; but Mr. Clay was long-sutfer-
ing, and carried ms generosity too far
Mr. Lelcher, II seems, alIer The interview
OF January 1873, rellived Mr. Bnchanan's
apprenenslons, by the assurance that he
would not publish the facts OF the Interview
without Mr.. buchanan consent But SO
strong and deep was Mr. Letcher's conyic-
ton thnt the facts OUgM TO be published that