Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-08-12
Buchanan and CLAW,

An old Wing from the Western part OF the State.
referring to the connexion of Buchanan with the
charge OF bargain and corruption against Mr. Clay.
says:
"flow an old Clay Wing can find apology for sup.
porting Buchanan, is marvel to me"
Ii would indeed seem to imply total absence of a
spirit OF manly resentment No man of emnence
suffered so much from caumny Mr.. Clay
did from that; and no closely connect d
with il a. James Buchanan. Mr.. Clay, at the time
OF the propagation Of this SANDER, beyond all
COMPARISON the foremost of the Republic, and
he possessed such hold upon the popular affection
thst he and his fricRds were perfectly justified in
feeling every confidence that he would be speedily
elected tho first post in the Government But this
cau'nuy withered his popularity, enabled his
mics TO triumph over him. aud defeated the girsi
and noble ambition Of his life.
The instrument by whom this great wrong
wrong to the individual and to the country-was
achieved, Mr.. James Buchanan This is a his
torical fact, capable Of perfect demonstration
Mr.. Buchanan proposed TO Gen. jackson to permit
his friends to say that in the u his election
to the Presidency, Mr. Clay should be Secretary of
State. This is Gen. Jackson's statement Mr.. Clay :
statement, prepared by his hand and published
in Colton's life, is confrmatory of Gen. Jackson
He says Mr. Buchanan called upon him and suggest
ed that il Gen jackson were elected, he fClay
would be Secretary OF State.
This the foundation for the charge Of bribery
afterwards made against Mr.. Clay. Buchanan tras
the sole allocate and suggester Of bribery both to
Gen. Jackson and M. Clay!
But it would seem that when Buchanan failed to
make any impression upon Mr.. Clay, he induced
Gen jackson % believe that Mr.. Clay had made a
bargain with Adams. The old General after the
election, made the charge publicly, and when called
upon for his proof GAGE the name Of Buchanan
This placed the ntriguer and corruptionist in mar
row place. As Mr.. Clay had Gov. Letcher as a wit
ness to what had passed at the interview with Bu-
chanan the latter was forced to come out and deny
that he had gone from Mr. Clay by his authority to
make proposition OF bargain with Gen. Jackson
But he stndiousv concealei what he had proposed
to Mr.. Clay and what TO Gen. Jackson-only known
to Us within the last few years by the statements Of
both those eminent men.
But, in acquitting Mr.. Clay of the charge of hay-
ing proposed to sell himself to Cen Jackson this
intriguer, who appears alone Of all the public men
Of that -!ay, to have had any agency in proposing
corrupt bargain broadly intimated that Mr. Clay did
make bargain with Adams. Here is an extract
from his letter published in the o. s. Telegraph,
dated October 10th, 1926. Read!
"Thc facts before world that Mr. Clay and his
particular friends made Mr. Adams President and that
Mr. Adams Immediately thereafter made Mr. Clay Secre.
trv Of State. The people will draw their differences
from such conduct and the circumstances connected with
IL. They will judge OF causes from the effects"
The charge is not directly made, but it is broadly
and distinctly ntimated. The ialsehood is not at.
trined, but II is limited with emphasis not be
mistaken. 1t would have been more manly if the
1 L.
question is not Of Inaniness ii is of baseneSs
What degree of nfamy should attach to the man
who knowing what Buchanan did, that Mr.. Clay had
repudiaied his proposition to vote for Gen Jackson
in consideration of the State Department, should
cowardly hint such charge against him with respect
N Adansl We leave to casuists settle the ques-
ton.
And yet is said that this man. who is now begging
for the votes of the admirers Of Henry Clay never
gave countenauce to the base calunny, which pur-
sued him through life James b Clay, the son Of
the immortal Hurry Of the Vest" (wonder the
phrase does not blister their Internal tongues is
brought to the stand TO aid them IN palmng off this
imposition upon the public. The man who pulled
down his fathers house, is not the sort of man to
uphold his reputation. But the fact that he knows
nothing about the state Of the case or his fathers
sentiments, Is testified by the extract we have given
above from Buchanan's letter-by Mr. Claws speech
at Lexington, in which ho expaliated on the inE,ny
of the wretch who had borne the base proposition to
Gen. Jackson and by the further fact that Mr. Ciay
the last year Of his life dinner party in Washing
ton, refused to recognize Mr. Buchanan or to speak
10 him.
What must have been the intensity Of tine ,corn
felt by the high-toned Kentuckian for this housing
political hack may be imagined--it cauuot be OK.
pressed
We subjoin an extract from Mr. Gays speech ri
Lexington, alluded to above, made in reply to Gen
Jacksons charge, and before the members name was
given
III he 1.-THE General had rendered the distinguished
member Of Congress Mr. Buchanan little more di..
gushrd 10y instantly ordering him from his presence and
by forthwith deuouncing him. aud the infamous prop-
mons he bore, 70 the American public should be IN,
Tie bcit"r prepared 70 admit the claims 10 untarn.d i'm
tegty which the General 20 modesty puts forward But
according to his own account corrupt aud scand,lol.
pfopo-al u made " him the person Who conveyed IT, AL
yiss him accept aud vet that person stiU ,,,,,,
the friendship Of General Jackson who i 20 tends, f a.
Character. that hi name il carefully concealed aud r
served 10 be hereafter brought forward a. witness,
nan' VINO he ia neinbcr Of the House Of Representa-
yves - doHbty iYdaOsnialDous for the advice Whcl
ne gave, aui infamous for hi. willingness 10 conye ..
the corruption Of the body Of shch he Is sworn men,
oer-s tn" credible witness boy whom Gen Jackson stand
Huy 70 establish Tue corruption Of men, whose character
arc never questioned"
lhe y. T. Tribune is expstiating on its favorit
theme-the degeneracy Of Virginia in consequcnc
Of the existence Of slavery. One would suppo.,
from the hatred which the Tribune bears virg,nis
that It would be more rational to rejoice at the eSi.
tence Of an evil, which works her 50 much mischief
the old Commonwealth is hurrying 10 ruin as fast 4
she can go-why not let her rip in peacef If 81,
very has brought her to deaths door, and you a.
glad OF it-why sock to rescue her from destru
tonf
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