Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-08-21
WHOLE NO. Oh

force me prominently into the pending con-
test-w hich desire to avoid
"You are certainly correct in your reco!-
lection. You told me explicitly that you
did not feel at liberty to give the conyersa-
tion alluded TO, and would not do so under
any circumstances, without my express per-
mission In this you have acted. as yon
have ever done, like man of honor and
principle" s--
Without going into particular exposi-
tion ofthis letter, which will speak sfor IL
self, we would call attention 10 two things
in it. First, Mr.. Buchanan says, "i have not
myself any very distinct recollection of what
transPiree in your room nearly twenty Iyears
since" Well, it is confessed by himself
that he was there in Gov. Letcher,s room;
that is something. What ",ranspired" then,
which he affects MOTTO remember very dis
tinctly, was that very proposal of bargain
which he madeto Mr. Clay, in behalf of
Gen. Jackson, and which Mr.. Clay notified
him that he must publish in his own defence,
bu! "was induced to forbear doing it by the
earnest entreates of that gentleman Mr..
Buchanan. 1t was this publication which
Mr. Buchanan has feared from that day to
tbs, and ye: he has not "any distinct rec
objection Of what transpired in that room,"
Credat JudehS! This. doubtless, is part of
the matter in regard to which he holds the
lips of Gov. Letcher sealed, though not the
whole Oft, for Mr. Clay says to DR., Cotton,
"See Mr.. Letcher as to what passed be-
tween him and Buchanan" clearly intimat-
ing that It was something other than the
converaation in Gov L,tch er's room. In
pursuance of the instructions given to him
by Mr.. Clay, DR.. Cotton did apply to Gov.
Letcher for the information specified, and
received for answer that he Gov. Letcher)
was under obligations of promise to Mr.
Buchanan not to give it. For more full
and complete vindcation of Mr.. CLAW, who
wass again assailed in 1874 with the old
charge Of bargain, Gov. Letcher had evil
nently asked Mr.. Buchanan to release him
from the obligations of silence in regardto
certain matters yet unreveaisd.~ But Mr.
Buchanan holds him to his promse, as a owe
seen in the last paragraph of his letter. We
mnst now have Gov. Letcher's evidence in
full, or Mr.. Buchanan must fall before the
infamy of his position in refusing to allow it.
Mr.. Clay has appealed to il, and the in
justice done him by Mr.. Buchanan cries out
from the grave for Governor Letcher to be
permitted to speak. The truth OF history
demands it, Every old friend OF the sainted
patriot will dema nd it, Every honest and
fair man will demand it And We trust the
American people will demsni it.. Lst Got.
Letcher speak, or let the deep damnation of
the seal put upon his lips be proclaimed to
the world. Justice TO Henry Chy calls
aloud from his grave Tor this revelation.
There is enough, indeed, on the record of
history which Mr. Clay caused to be hi de
to show on which side. and by whom, bargain
was proposed; but the finger of a tereased
pItrint, and he the greatest. the purest and
most magnanimous of the age in which he
lived, points to a revelation on this very sub
iect yet unmade, and justice to his name and
fame demands that il should be made
We confess that this sur 2rising develoa-
ment has stirred up feeling IN our bosom,
as we doubt not it will do in thousands of
others, to make us wish that we had power
to call up Henry Clay from his grave, to re-
juvenate him and place him at this moment
before the American people in the light of
that great and irreparable injury done him
by James Buchanan, that lie might be put
forward to save the country in this its day
o. peril.