Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-08-13

this question: was pnt to him in disgust
"a sso lSee4 NO party HIM VIVA, then,
W1s Sc Is do Il He Locked Ar0und again to see II
there WAS not : chance for the resurrection OF the
whig party. Not gleam of hope enlivened the
gloom of the horizon. Under these circumstances,
his next thought and inquiry were, in what ranks
could he, in his humble way. contribute most 10 the
maintenance of the Union and of national partyf
He saw no other place for him to stand upon but in
the ranks of the party which alone maintained a
organization in all the States-which stood upon
national and Union ground-which alone was able
to present powerful resistance to the sectional par
~ whose be believed would involve the ds.
ruption of this confederacy.
But he confessed, il he deemed it wise and pa
triotc to vote for Mr. Fillmore, would certainly be
hard task to take him with the candidate for the vice
presidency, Andrew jackson Donelson, who, besides
being renegade from his own party had quite re-
Gently been the reviler and defamer of Mr.. Fillmore,
and of that administration which gave Mr.. Fillmore
the high consideration and claims that are now ac-
corded to him. To vote for Andrew jackson Dom
elson in preference to John G. Breckenridge was
certainly hard alternative for Kentuckan. Breck-
inrdge was his townsman, the playmate OF his in
fancy, the companion of his boyhood, his friend and
intimate at all periods Breckenridge had additional
claims upon him. When he was elected over Gen
eral Leslie Coombs to represent the Ashland dis
trict in Congress, Mr.. Breckenridge had asked q
friend of his father how Mr. Clay would receive him
if he should take the liberty of calling him. GAS
gentleman and Kentuckian," was the reply.
Mr.. Breckenridge accordingly came, and he
the speaker was present at the interview. Mr.
Breckenridge stated to Mr.. Clay that he had called
to pay his respects to him; that though of the OPP
posite political party, he had been chosen to repre-
sent the district which he (lr Clay) had himself
represented with much renown and fidelity, and
he should consider himsef-young and inexperienc-
ed as was-quite incompetent to do justice to
the high duty he had assumed without the counsel
and aid Of Mr. Clay and he desired permission to
hc
his duties and to receive the aid of his great expe-
rience and knowledge of political affairs. Mr. Clay
was much pleased with this interview. 1t produced
deep impression on his mind, and his regard for
MIR. Breckenridge was ever afterward warm and
earnest. And now am expected to throw aside
such man and vote for Andrew jackson Donelson.
"Why, fellow Kentuckians," exclaimed Mr.. Clay,
81 would not give John c. Breckenridge for a
woods-full of Andrew Jackson Donelsons."
In this connection Mr. Clay referred to the elo-
quent, just, and noble eulogum pronounced by
breckenridge in the House of Representatives on
the announcement of his fathers death.
Mr.. Clay then proceeded to urge upon his old
wing friends, the companions and constituents of
his father, to rally around that banner which he
had spent his life IN uphoAling-the banner of the
Union. He was ready to follow the wing standard
as the Douglas followed the heart of Bruce-as long
as it waved. But that hagwas no longer to be seen
on the battlefield 1t might yet be unfurled. After
death there was the resurrection. But at present
there was no wing organization, and the only party
of the Union was that of which Buchanan and
= VIC s'"'
Mr.. Clay then referred to the bargain and cor
ruption" charge, and said:
IL have fully and carefully studied the whole
history of the bargain andintrigue SANDER with the
express purpose of ascertaining the truth or the
falsty Of the charges against Mr.. Buchanan and the
| result OF my research has been, that, honest
man, 1 am bound to acquit him Of haDing had any
Par5 IN the original SANDERS or Of hacing done my
luther any sorong, when he was summoned before
the public as witness against him. am bound
to acqult him upon the testimony of the very per-
son whom he is said to have wronged and slandered
and however little partisan editors and partisan ora
tors may esteem the evidence of my father himself,
it is abundantly sufficient for me- his son. The
| charge of bargain and intrigue was first made by
Mr. Kremer, in an anonymous letter, subsequently
reiterated by Carter Beverly, in his celebrated Fay
ettevle letter. and finally asserted by General Jack
SOD, who assumed the responsibility of it, and to
prove its truth summoned Mr. Buchanan before the
public as his only witness. Mr.. Buchanan promptly
responded to the call for his testimony. Did he
sustain Mr.. Kremer, Carter Beverly, and General
jacksonville last of whom had summoned him?
On the contrary his evidence clear and distinct,
and fully excupated Mr.. Clay from the charges
made against him. So Mr. clay regarded 1t ham,
sell! and he the person accused testified publicly and
privately that he considered Mr.. Buchanan had
done hsna no sorong."
After quoting from his fathers public and private
letters, Mr. Clay proceeded:
Thus, fellow citizens. have the private and
public opinion ofmy father respecting the testimony
of Mr.. Buchanan upon the charge of bargain and
intrigue. En0so that may father aoouI not haze
expressed such opinions unless he belieued them to be
true. He was satisfied with Mr. Buchanan and so
expressed himself priuately and publicly that is
enough for me- and, far as 1 am concerned, it is
of the smallest possible consequence what may be
IF vhoo
vorng strike down their political opponents with
weapons dragged from the tomb"
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