American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-08-09
LIBERTY FoREvER-oNE AND
MNlNlUWN MWOWlAA uWNIY M MIlUAY AUGUST H6 WHOLE NO M

Clay wanted those facts stated in his
lifetime for the vindication of his foully
slandered fame, and Gov. Letcher, as
is proved by Mr.. Buchanan S own hand,
applied to Mr.. B. for permission to
state the truth, but that guilty man ,as
is proved by his own hand, withheld
such permission, and insisted that the
old pledge of silence should be rigidly
kept. If Mr.. Buchanan now, with the
whole Sag Nicht press at his back,
dares to meet the truth face to face, if
he dares to let the world know what
his conduct was upon the memorable
occasion which gave rise to that dread
tul charge against the greatest and
best man of all our land, charge that
has influenced the political destinies of
our country ever since, let him, aban-
doning the miserable and skulkinc
cowardice of his present position, stand
up and bid Governor Letcher speak.
Then the world, whatever else it may
say of him, will never call him coward
again. He will strongly remind MS of
Ajax defying the thunderbolt. Will
he let Gov. Lotchcr do justice to the
dead Clay by a statement Of the truth?
If not, who, of all the true and honor
able and just men Of the country, will
be guilty of the degradation of sup
porting him for the Presidency?
And, whilst Mr.. Buchanan is giving
his consent that Gov. Letchor shall
speak out, let him, if he dares, give his
consent in another matter, during the
Lifetime of Mr.. Clay. A writer of
high responsibility and authority after
publishing the statements given by Mr..
Clay jim Colton's Biography, said:
"To add further testimony we state
and let it be denied if it can-that
Mr.. Clay has now in his possession a
letter which, if published to the world,
would place Mr.. Buchanan in an en-
barrassing condition. The letter came
from Mr.. Buchanan; and no call on
Mr.. Clay will induce him to give it up,
save one from his country that is, the
Senate of the United States. The
bargain and sale conspiracy, with this
expose, would place Mr.. Buchanan
without the pale of Democracy, as to-
tally unworthy the place he holds and
the suifrages Of the people,"
We and many others heard Mr.. CLAY
speak of this letter of Mr.. Buchanan,
which he had in his possession. And
now let Mr.. Buchanan, who aspires to
that lofty position which he prevented
Henry Clay from attaining, the Pres
idency of the United States, signify
under his own hand, or through an au-
thorized friend, his consent that any
letter of his to Mr.. Clay upon the sub
ject of bargain and corruption shall be
given at once to the world We are
not quite certain that the letter is still
in existence. Possibly Mr.. Clay, whose
resolve was that it should not be pub
lished, unless with the consent of Mr..
Buchanan, or at the call of the Senate
of the United States, ordered it upon
his dcath-bcd to be destroyed; but we
should not be at all surprised if the for
NAL consent of Mr.. Buchanan to its
publication were to effect sudden, re-
markable, and most astounding devcl-
opement. At any rate, if no develop
ment should follow, Mr.. Buchanan
would sustain no damage from giving
his consent; but, on the contrary, he
would be very essentially benefited.
Then let a just world, with one voice,
demand of James Buchanan, candidate
| for the Presidency of the United States
to authorize the Hon. Robert p. Let
cher to make that statement of facts
which Henry Clay sought to obtain
from Mr.. Il. through Mr.. Cotton, and
let it also demand of him to authorize
the publication Of his own letter to Mr..
Clay, which the great statesman so Of
ten said to Ills friends lie would never
publish unless with Mr.. Buchanan's
consent or at his country's call. And,
if Mr.. Buchanan shall resist these de-
mands Of q just world, then let Just
world set the seal of its scorn upon his
namo forever