Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-07-16
Clay-Buchansn-Jackson.

For twenty Ave years, Henry Clay charged
by the whole Democratic party with having been
guilty Of bribery and corruption" and during al
that period, whenever his name was mentioned in
connection with the Presidency, the charges were
rung, throughout the land, upon the nonstrous out
rage he had perpetrated against good morals and
publican Government He had actually attempted
20 bride the incoruptble Jackson "A friend of his
had called upon the old Hero and proposed to make
the latter President IL he would in turn make Clay
. Secretary of State This Is the statement which
Jackson put forth-this is the statement which the
Democracy have sworn by. But jackson indignant
~ rcpelled the base overture and Adams was AT.
forwards elected and Clay made Secretary, IL was
thence inferred that Adams had hearkened to the
bride which Jackson repudiated. This has been the
Democratic version this affair for the last quarter
Of century Mr. Clay, for the part imputed to him,
came IN for the severest denuncation ever heaped
upon the head of man. The Democracy were per-
fectly right in their denuncations, If Mr.. Clay had
done the things imputed to him II he had sent a
friend to bride Gen. Jackson, he merited all the
odium cast upon him. -..f.- H r.'i-
But history has come to the aid of truth, and it
now appears that the friend who passed between
jackson and Clay, was friend OF the former, and
that friend was no other than James Buchanan. The
the tact that corrupt proposition made is the
present Democratic candidate for the Presidency
He called upon Clay, aud in the presence of Mr.
Lecher suggested that If Gen. jackson was elected
he would make Mr.. Clay Secretary of State. This
statement written by Mr.. Clay himself published
in the lifetime of himself and Gov Letcher and con
tradiction challenged while all parties were alive 1t
never, to this day, has been controversial by Mr. Blu
chanan or any friend for him
Mr.. Buchanan, then, was the man who had alone
proposed corruption; and all the Democratic thun-
der which launched at Mr. Clay, should be hurled
at the head of the Democratic nominee
But sufficient and conclusive as is the testimony
Of Mr. Clay and Gov Letcher, it is not all that the
supplies We have the emphatic testimony of
General Jackson. In letter written late as 1876
is the following distinct declaration, Mr. Blu
chanan urged him (Jackson) to let his friends say
that if he elected, he would make Mr. Clay Sc
cretary of State The Identical proportion Which
Buchanan made to Mr.. Clay A curious and most
important confederation of the exact statement which
Mr.. Clay published
Ii would appear from General Jackson's letter that
Buchanan had persuaded him that Adams friends
were playing the game Of bribery; and that the
argument used TO induce him Ito combat them with
their weapons" 81 am sure about that time
he did believe" &c SAYS the old Hero. Now, al
that very time buchanan, from all the light that his
tory throws upon the transactions Of that day, was
the ony max engaged in any intrigue actually
stimulating jackson to bride Clay, and did himself
submit n corrupr proposition to Mr.. Clay
The old Hero says: This (Buchanan's PROPOSE
tom to me appeared to be gross corruption, and
repealed il with that honest indignation as thought
il deserved"
But from the transactions OF Buchanan started the
tale Of bribery and corruption" against Mr.. Clay,
and which pursued that great .man To his grave
Buchanan could at any moment have set the matter
right; but it seems highly probable, from General
Jacksons letter. that he had lied both To him and to
Mr. Clay and therefore, any expose of the real facts
would have damned himself to everlasting infamy =
The facts, however, before the world, with.
out any agency of his. He stands forth convicted,
on Gen. JacksoH's authority, Of having proposed
gross corruption" to him. Mr.. Clay confirms the
same thing. He was the only intriguer and corrup-
zionist of that day. and he is the substantial author
Of the calumny which pursued Mr.. Clay through
life
Yet there Democrats who hold this man up TO