The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-09-20

aUTJcCI5 .
cussed in Mr. Letchers room may may not be true ou
that the whole Of that conversation far as Il related 10
the question Of bargain and corruption was covered "
Mr. BuehanAns statement is neonsubly established BY me
solemn declaration Of Mr. Lchsr himself Until Mr. Letche
that his letter contains deliberate JaLseood nc
man put any faith in the declarations thus WanionJ
made la the North by the blackrepublican Cotonrepro-
duced in the South by the know-nothing Prentice with
the unworthy purpose Of securing party advantage and
echoed in Nashville by the old organ OF the Kitchen
Cabinet" ......
Az event In the history of political parties in the past
affords memorable parallel 10 the undet con-
sheraton il win be remembered that Henry Clay, pend
ing presidential election of 1926 addressed letter TO
the arch traitor Francis Blair who has by turns desert
ed every party or public who has conhded in him
He that time regarded by Mr. Clay as his unwaver
ing friend. AS Mr. Clays political fortunes waned how
ever did Mr. Baips friendship, until at length he sold
out bag and baggage to Mr. Cays enemies Then II was
that dark and mysterious hints began to be disseminated
that Mr. Clay had written confidential letter 10 Blair in
which the whole bargain and intrigue fully admitted
Blair counenanced the rumo and SO the enemies OF Mr.
Clay assumed the dark hint to be black reality and the
whole country rang with the charge At length, after
many years Blair called upon, and Obliged to
publish the letter in full 1t turned out all viii remem
be to be utterly insignificant Blair, however witnessed
the tremendous influence which The him exercised upon the
public mind to the prejudice of Mr. Clay, and hence no
doubt the pernacy with which the old Kitchen Cabinet
and It's adjunct of the Louisville Journal cling to the above
story of the private conversation between Mr. Leeher and
Mr. Buchanan which, we have before shown, Mr. Lecher
most emphatically denies
have thus called up from the records of the past the
declarations Of all Mr. Clays bographers and friends to-
aether with his own solemn assurances all agreeing that
Mr. Buchanan5 conduct was noble manly and conclusive
of Mr.. Clny's innocence will now read to you the
testimony Of his son. James b. Clay who surely cannot
be suspected OF doing or saying anything which would be
calculated TO njure the reputation OF his noble father
From j. B. Clays speech in Mason county, Kentucky July
&c, 1856
al have fully and carefully studied the whole history of
this Observation-Disclosures SANDER with the express pur
pose of ascernng the truth or the fasy of the charge
against Mr. Buchanan and the result of search has bee
tha. honest man, am bound TO acquit him of hay
ing had any part in the original SANDER Of having done
my father any wrong when he summoned before the
public as witness against him. am bound to acqut him
upon the testimony of the very person whom be said TO
have wronged and sandered and however little partisan
editors and partisan esteem the evidence OF
my father himself it is abundanty sufficient for me- his
son. The charge of bargain and intrigue was first made
by Mr. Kremer in anonymous letter, subsequently,
iterated by Carter Beverly in his celebrated Fayetteville
letter and finally asserted by General jackson, who
sumed the responsibility of it, and, to prove its truth
summoned Mr. Buchanan before the public as his only wit
ness Mr. Buchanan promptly responded to the call for
his testimony. Did he sustain Mr. kremer Carter Bever
ly and General jackson, the last of whom summoned
hm2 On the contrary bis evidence was clear and dis
against him So Mr. Clay regarded IL himself and he the
person accused testified publicly and privately that he
considered Mr. Buchanan had done him no wrong"
have thus furnished the recorded testimony of Henry
Clay himself and every single individual claiming to be
bis friend who has written upon the subject from the mo-
ment the charge first heraded TO the world up TO
the hour when James Buchanan was nominated Tor The
presidency. will direct your attention TO the ies
mony furnished since that time by the reorganlzed kch
Cabinet in conjunction with their ally OF the Louis
vile Journal who has recently IN ADDITION 10 hs oanes
duties taken charge OF the reputation OF General
Andrew jackson.
few weeks ago the Nashville Banner, the old homo
organ of the Kitchen Cabinet pa-sded in its columns an
extract of letter. written in ls4 by Gen. Jackson to
VIM B. Lewis the old member of tie culinary cabinet be-
fore referred TO, (which the TO owl X lisa copy
Your observations with regsid to Mr.. Buchanan
correct He showed of courage in the affair
OF the intrigue OF Adams and Caydid do me justice
in the expose he then made and about that time
did believe there was an understanding between Adams
and Clay about the presidency and Secretary OF State
This am Of But whether he viewed that there
corruption in the not know not but thing
know, that he wished me to combat them with their own
weaponsiha to let my friends say If was elected,
would make Mr.. Clay Secretary Of State This TO me
appeared gross corruption and repeled 1t with that hon
EST indignation as which | thought 1t deserved"
This much OF the letter of Cen jackson had been pub
shed for months when ii charged that important
portion had been suppressed The Banner finally admitted
the fact and on the 18th instant published the entire let
ter from which discover that the paragraph instead Of
being terminated at the word deserved continued in
the following words
"kr. buchanan is Of fine talents and i he
into The Department Of STATE, UH execute the dutie; Wth
Gblity."
Without pausing to comment upon the injustice Of this
suppression Mr. Buchanan, would ask What does this
letter prove7 Why FIRST that Gen. jackson did, in all
probability to the end Of his life entertain his old preiu
dices against Henry Clay What does it establish
Clearly this that IL the opinion of Gen Jackson not
yibstandnR Mr. Buchanan had all tmes orally and in
writing proclaimed Mr. Clays innocence yet that in the
depths OF his heart he really and IN all sincerity did be-
Iieve Mr. Clay guilty charged Mark you, Gen. jackson
does say that Mr. Buchanan made the charge on
the contrary, he in effect complains that he did do so
but be expresses the belief that Mr. Buchanan did nepe
less beleUe true.
For one do not doubt but that General Jackson did
honestly entertain the opinion of Mr. Clays guilt For
myself entertained doubt Of his innocence. No two
public since the days Of Washington have filed so
large space in The public mind In the affections OF the
American people al jackson and Clay. For nearly
quarter Of century their great struggle couvused
ton Both are and will be in all time come beloved
and reyered for the services they rendered their
General Jacksons honor Is irrecoueiabe with Mr.
Cays innocence OF the charge of bargain and postey
will confirm the decision which the upprudiced public
mind is fact arriving the passions engendered by the
conflict subsding that jackson honestly believed Ne
Clay guilty of offence Of which Mr. Clay was alto.
gether innocent
And now, If there single sincere friend to the memory
Of Henry Clay, who is giving tenapce aid and com.
fort the Kitchen Cabinet in circulating this passage
from the pen Of the dying Hero let ask him what be
expects to accomplish by etablshng-frst that almost
upon bis deathbed Gen jackson believed Mr. Clay guilty
and secondly, that james Buchanan whose recorded tes
mony has beep In all times past triumphantly adduced
establish Mr. Clays innocence did nevertheless on his
honor and his conscience aud in the OF his
heart believe Mr. Clay to be guilty chsrged2 oh if
this is the token Of your love may Heaven protect the
memory of Clay from the tender mercies of hs friends
No, the friends Of Henry Clay let rather that this
ebulltion Of III bumor xlracted from him. after bis
physical and mental energies had been Frustrated by dis
est and unreentng enemy That this is is fully
ahed bva IyE adj hv