The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1856-10-11

latons and hcnrth.stonc scenes held sacred to
the humblcst among us. II is mortiiying to
the American people that the declining years
Of the widow of him to whom this Republic
loved to recognize .. debt of gratitude, should
not he permitted to pass her declining years in
that calm serenity her eminent virtues would
merit 1t is enough to bow the head Of every
Kentuckian in same for his native State, when
he sees that peace aud quiet in which the wild
ow of Henry Clay had hoped to pass the brief
remnant of her days, disturbed by course and
cruel assaults upon the domestic relations of
her Immediate family circle She has in silence
witnessed unjust attacks upon her son, until
her aged heart can no longer withhold its tri-
butte to his ilial love and devotion. She has
seen the ties of affection which once united her
family criticised and misrcprcscnted, until her
duty to the memory Of her departed husband
demand her interpositon. She comes forth
with pain from that retirement which should
never have been invaded, aud in that calm dig
nifty becoming her position. applies to the
American people for protection. Let that
people atone for the past, if atoncmcnt is pos
sbe, by visiting upon the heads of those who
have driven her to this painful position, their
deep indignation:
SEPTEMBER Is, 1856.
Tr Jpdgc 1Homos 4. JIarshaH aM James q.
Uofrisoa, Esq.
GENrLEMEN: Having seen from time to time
the most abusive and unjust attacks made up.
on my son, James d. Clay in the Louisville
Journal | had hoped that among the many
who have prOjrSSm to be friends Of the father,
might be found some willing and anxious to
vindicatc the son, knowing us many OF them
must know, the injustice and un,ru,hs contain
ed in those attacks. But as such hopes APP
pear to be iruitlcss, rcpngnant as it is to me
to appear in any way before the public, ] feel
that it is Il duty that owe to the memory of
my husband to say to you, his executors, and
through YOU to the public, that the charges
made against my son James are utterly and
unqualified false; that he possessed the love,
respect and confidence Of his father, and was
ever to both his father and myself Il most
ailcclionatc and dutiiu son, always endcavor-
Ing to alleviate our sorrows and add to our
happiness.
Ills father took his advice in the making
Of his last WILL and at all times advised and
consulted freely aud ailcciiomtcly with him,
having confidence in his love, integrity and
Judgment
lie was not with his father at the time of
his death, il being the expressed desire Of his
father, knowing the condition Of lis family
in a distant State, upon II new place, among
strangers, and his wife in feeble health, herself
bnl lately bcrcaycd Of iathcr--that he should
not leave them and go 10 him
lie WaS present at his fathers funeral, direct
ing the mounfnl preparations, and Offering
words OF consolation aud of comfort to his
widowed mother.
1t was my husbands desire and hope that
his son James should be the poSScSSor Of A Sl-
land and although il had been my intention To
reside at Ashland during my lifetime yet
partly owing TO the tumbIing, ruinons condi-
on OF the house, through one Of You, Mr.
James Q. Harrison, begged my son to come
at once and purchase the place
! have only to add, gentlemen, that make
this statement TO you Tahout the knowledge
OF my son james, and TO regret once more that
should have been drawn forth from the pri-
vacy and scclnsion in which | had hoped to
pa the brief remnant Of my life.
Yours, very truly,
LrcRETM CLAY.