Bedford inquirer and chronicle. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1854-1857, 1856-07-25
Mr.. RUCHANAN'S CONDUCT TO-
WARDS HENRY CLAY.

/ There are some deplorabie passages 4n the
history of American politics. Henry Clay
was struck down. in 1926 BY the charge of
bargain aud corruption: and subsequently
he was struck down by the same charge as
often as he was presented by his friends as
a candidate for the Presidency. There is
not now respectable man in the United
States, who will express the opinion that
the charge had the slightest foundation in
truth; but, false as it was, it did its work.
Hundreds of thousands of American citi-
zens now look back with equal astonishment
and regret at the effects of miserable cal
umny in prostrating the greatest cf Ameri-
can statesmen and patriots, and moulding
the political dcstinios of the nation.
/ For twenty years Henry Clay was an as
pirant to the Presidency, and during all
that lcngthened period, there was not
time at which be could not have been tri-
umpLantly elected, but for the use of the
wretched old bargain slander. And now
let our fellow counTymen reflect what an
everlasting infamy it would be- If, af-
ter having uniustly rejected Henry Clay,
upon the strength of the charge of bargain
and corruption, they were to elect James
Buchanan, who stands convicted before the
world, of having done everything in his
power in 1924 to bring about bargain and
corruption. We appeal to all men, to mark
the disgraceful part he played. Unques-
tionably, without the slightest authority in
the world from Gen. jackson, he went to
Mr.. Clay, and in the presence of distin-
guished witness, professed to be able to say
what kind of a Cabinet Gen. jackson would
make if elected, and directly and explicitly
stated. as n matter within his knowledge.
that Mr. Clay would be Secretary Of State
of course, provided lis vote should be
given for jackson.
Mr.. Clay would not even consider the
proposal; but see what the self constituted
emissary did in the pursuit Of bis purpose.
Although NOT receiving the semblance Of
encouragement from Mr.. Clay, he went
straight 10 General jackson, and, whatever
may have been bis language, he made the
, distinct impression on the chieftan's mind
that Mr.. Clay and his friends were willing
and anxious to give him the vote of Ken
tucky, on condition of Mr.. Clay's being
Secretary. The Impression was made so
distinctly. that Gen. jackson published the
aIledged advance of Mr.. Clay and his
friends as a fact which lie could establish,
and gave up the name of Mr. Buchanan as
his authority, and sole authority.
So Mr.. Buchanan played the part of a
3 miserable 60 between in an attempt to gel
ND bargain between Clay and Jackson, first
going without authority to Mr.. Clay, and
assuring him that Gen. Jackson proposed
to bestow on bim the secretaryship. Clay
and jackson we're too proud and honorable
, 10 have anything to do with bargaining for
, Office: but Buchanan's conduct showed that
his whole soul was bent upon bringing abou
a bargain between these two distinguished
men. Gen. jackson, with perfect conf
dence, publicly named slr. Buchanan al
the witness by whom he could prove Mr.
Claws corrupt advances, and although Mr.
Buchanan did not dare, in view Of what
he knew could be proved upon him, to con,
!, firm Gen. Jackson's statement, be did dare
with IN infamous effrontery never exceedee
upon earth, to publish his own conviction
that Mr.. Clay had sold himself to Mr. Ad'
ans for the Secretaryship. In publishing
such conviction, hepublished what he per
sonslly knew to be calumnious.
We have already dwelt sufficiently fol
. the present upon the extraordinary fac
/, that Henry Clay with power at any momen
! 10 tear the ba rbed arrow from his own in
e nocent breast, and to hurl it into the guilt,
i. heart OF James Buchanan, did, in pity t
: that pleading aud abject man, keep silen
!. for more than twenty years--yesrs of tn
4 bittcrest trials and prosecutions ever en-
$ dured By public man in any age o. coun
: trv. We hare dwelt sufficiently at preseD
: upon the fact that MIR. Buchanan, in let
/, ter to Gov. Lstcher, published by us th'
: othcr day, refused to that gentlemen th'
= privilege Of making known to the publi
what occurred in his room between MIR
CLAY and Mr. Buchanan in 1925. as proc
: that Mr.. Clay, far from having made pro
posal for bargain, had rejected such pro
i posal from Mr.. Buchanan himself. w
+ may now add that Gen. jackson never for
s' gave Mr.. Buchanan for failing to state Il
! his letter to the public, what jackson ha'
said he could provo By him. de made NJ
open quarrel with the Pennsylvania pollti
o tician, but he never had confidence IN hin
b afterwards. Louisville journal.
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