Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1856-08-13
CLAY AND BUOHANAN.
: ~. =. - ,4.,, ,,-;i,J ,yher1 Il IL neceS

Strange how men run wild when Il IS neces-
sary for tiisiF success in a particular object -
The press opposed TO SIR. Buchanan isre-bash-
ing the old cry of Bargain and corruption be-
tween Clay and Adams, long since dead, believed
by no one Of common sense, pronounced by ar.
WebSier to be the acast of slough of polluted
and shameless pres. for the purpose Of imPll-
cntins 3lt Buehauan as the regiler OF Mr. Clay.
We have long sies arrived at the conclusion tt'at
his is q bad cause who has to yamp it up with
deTastion. The Louisville journal has been
greatly ''exercised" on the subject and has devo-
ted column aiter column to prove Mr. Bnclansn's
completely insths afair.
Now what IRE the plain facts? The Journal
parades 1 letter said to have been written by
Gen. Jackson just before his death, in which he
bites ii Buchanan because Buchanan minated
to him saeh,an arrangement M. Buchanan, if
he made such a proposition, must have done 1t
accord * to Gen. Jackson for Mr.. Clay, as the
General was indignant at such an idea Now
Mr. Clay says Mr.. Buchanan had acted as imam
of truth and honor" towards him in that matter
air. Buchanan publicly denied the charge when
made in 1928 at the Carter Beverly period, in a
letter addressed to Gen. Duff Green, and Gen.
jackson did not then controvert the statement
ifhe ever has since, which We doubt.
Mr.. Buchanan, in his speech IN the House of
Representatives in 1928, declared that ne had
no knowledge Of the charge Of bargain aud cor
ruption against Mr.. Clay.
Jas. B. Clay, son of Henry Clay, acquits Mr..
Buchanan Of all improperly. How then stands
the evidence as hashed up by the journal, and
gioated oyer by that portion of the opposition
press, who can find no other charge against Mr.
Buchananfy Is Gen. Jackson's letter genuine?
fit is, it comes with bad grace from a man
who had permitted Mr.. Buchanan publicly to
proclaim the contrary twenty years before, and
to pass that period weoasradietc2. and during
that period his (J's) warm friend and supporter.
Whit does Gen. Jackson's letter prove, if it
proves snything2 The frst conclusion is that
there ,cas bargain aud corruption" Does any
admirer Of sTr. Clay believe this charge:
The second conclusion is, that, there being
such r',bargain and corruption" HIr. buchanan
was party. to it for Mr.. Clay. Who is silly
enough to believe any such gammons
Against these conclusions we have: LIST, Mr.
Clay's character. Cd, The death and burial of
the false charge in his life time. Sd, The denial
of Mr.. Buchanan in his seat, in 1928, and in
public letter Of the same period. 4th, The tes-
timony Of a son of Mr.. Clay, who prefers be-
lieving his own father to any ono else" and
against ali these facts and conclusive circum-
stances we have the unsupported letter said to
hayebeen written by jackson in his Usefulness,
when. he may well be supposed to have had but
little left of what was once Old Hickory.
Itappears thus that the Journal and its coad-
tutors, In order to strike at Mr.. Buchanan, are
willing 10 rcsurrect slumbering calumny and
to give it direction which, If it duplicates Mr..
Buchanan, eonvicts Mr.. Clay. For our own
part we must eschew such warefare as this
We will take the testimony of Henry Clay
against the world of slanderers, and it is enough
for us to know that he says that Mr.. Buchanan
.,eonduetez lEinuasE1' in that AFFAIR as a man Of
truth and honor" Let Old Line Wings remem-
Der that in order to be party to crime there
must DO crime committed, that if Mr. Blu.
chanan was a party to "bargain and corrup-
ton" there must have been "bargain and cor
ruption. No man can be party to a murder
unless murder be committed, and if Mr.. Blu
chanaunBe a party, let Wings ask themselves,
W0Oailsaa IluEueEeEb SttS
Journal makes will fall harmless at the feet of
Clay Wings They win be slow to receive
charge which strikes at the honor, the character
and integrity Of Henry Clay. They will tear
aside the fiinisy veil with which the bantam"
is concealed, and see the charge in its naked
ness, and hideous deformity. They viii brand
as q ealumny that which Clay branded as cal
umny and strangled as such, and they will not
non believe it even though it reaches them
through paper edited by Clay's biographer.-
For our own part, if We have ever known an
idol in man. that idol was Henry Clay We
respected and admired him while living, we re-
vero his memory when dead, We have never
known his equal while he lived, NC never ex-
poet to meet with his peer, for sSTake him all
in all We ns'er may look upon his like again.
and while we have a voice to raise or pen to
WELD, We viii defend his character and his hon
or and stamp as caIumny that which would as
perse his fair name and character. He bore up
against detraction and calumny from enemies
during life, emet them boldly and trinmphant-
IL; like an evil spirit at his bidding were they
torn from. existence and consigned to intamy,
Islander paled before his face of honor, ISLANDER
ers crouehed at his defiant rcpulsc, and he lived
above them al and died the eonquercr of cal.
unlhy and detraction; admired by the world
and wsspt By nation. and It's now too late to
strike 1t another, BY attempting to involve the
fair fms of Henry Clay for 50 ignObls an end.
Clay Wings guard vel yOur esrs against the
serpsnts voice. Guard we'll the immortal name
bequeAthed you by the "Great COmmoner" and
see that the fame and character of Henry Clay
is transmitted to your posterity bright and IN.
furnished as when you recciyedit and brand as
calumniatoFs those. who. to strike another. viii