Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-07-29
AMERICAN ELECTORAL TICKET.
TUESDAY, JULY 90, 1856.
Testimony Suppressed.

u De oenled " IL can-tnat Mir. Clay has now
in his possession letter, which, if published
to the world, would place Mr.. Buchanan in an
embarrassing position. The letter comes from
Mr.. Buchanan; and no call on Mr.. Clay will in
duce him to give it up, save one from his
oountry-that is the Senate of the United
States. The bargain and sale conspiracy, with
this expose, would place Mr.. Buchanan with
out the pale of democracy, totally unworthy
the place he holds and the suffrages of the peo-
pie.
We learn from the Louisville Journal
that the above is an extract from publ
cation put forth in l848, and that its source
was high and unquestionable. A short
while since the Journal referred to this let
ter, and expressed doubts whether it was
still in existence, but stated that it had
grounds to believe that it was. Itnow an
nounces that it has additional reasons for
thinking that this dangerous cold docu-
ment" "still lives" and calls earnestly for
its publication. We join in the call, and
trust that every independent press in the
country of whatever politics, will repeat the
demand, and force those who have control
fit, to give it to the public. We have
oursef heard from gentlemen who have
been familiar with Mr.. Clay's intimate
friends in Washington City, that such
letter from Mr.. Buchanan was in the pos
session of Mr.. Clay, and that he held it
under such circumstances, that the delicate
and fastidous sense of honor which distin-
guished his ilustrious life, would not, for
mere personal reasons, permit him to give
it to the world Conscious of the rectitude
of his conduct, he felt that truth was ON
nipotent, and public justice certain" and
scOrning as he did the calumny and the
calumnatior, he preferred to rest the re-
demption of his fame, upon long life of
spotlesS public virtue, upon chivalric hon
or shown on numberlesS occasions, shin
ing catalogue of patriotic services, and
above all, upon the certainty that truth,
sooner or later, if not in life, at least in his
hallowed tomb would vindicate his reputa-
ton. He died, and did not avail himself
of the degrading confession offered by his
traducer, as the price. Of his pity.
His generous and truthful soul spoke 10
him in words of prophecy. The purifca-
ton Of his fame needed no aid from him
who blackened it. His reliance upon I'M
erring public justice was not betrayed. He
lived to see the SANDER that victimzed his
hopes, perish and pass into contempt, and
the slanderer will go the way of his off
spring. If this letter of Mr.. Buchanan is
preserved we are almost glad that Mr..
Clay did not make use of it during his life
time. The world regards him as relieved
of the foul aspcrSion which originated with
Buchanan, and we prefer that pOSterity
should consider that the calumny died Of
its own rottenness. 1t would seem BELT
ting had he stopped to use such means to
Justify himself 1t is better as it is. BY
native strength of wing his reputation has
scared above the fetid mass by which it
was sought to clog its fight. Let it con-
tinue to cleave and circle in the "clear up
per air" while the bargain charge hangs
like milestone around its authors neck
Praise or blame will now fall alike upon
the slandered dead, but the country is pre-
pairing a retribution for the slanderous liv-
ing.
1t is this with which the publication Of
this letter has to do. From representation,
it is virtual confession by Mr.. Buchanan
of his course in reference to the bargain
business, and an admission Of the injustice
which had been done to Mr.. Clay. 1t is
either this, or something tantamount. But
whatever it is, if it be calculated to throw
light upon the origin and events connected
with the charge of corruption against Mr..
Clay, it should no longer be suppressed. 1t
is necessary to truth and to impartial his
tory. The conventional reasons which
were in force, during Mr.. Clay's lifetime,
against its publication are no longer bind.
ing, especially if their loosing is demanded
for the calculation Of an important ques-
ton, hitherto enveloped in mystery. If this
letter of Buchanan contains such a history
of that celebrated affair as will forever put
to rest all doubts, its suppression at this
time is barely short of crime. If the charge
made against Mr. Clay by Gen. Jackson,
and reiterated and rung in the ears Of the
nation for the fourth Of century, be nm
true, it is but just TO Gen. jackson that il
should be known, and WITH it should be
known the grounds OF his mistake, and the
cause of his being misled. AS intense as
we're his animosities, and violent and relent-
less as were his passions, he was incapable
of wilful and malicious injustice; his high
and noble nature would have disdained to
prosecute a charge whose truth be doubted
Gen. jackson was magnanimoHs too, and
ever ready to retract when proven to be in
error. If there is evidence in existence
that his charge against Mr.. Clay is uufoun-
ded, his friends are false 20 his memory,
false to the great name he has left to his
tory, and false 10 the finest attributes OF