Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-08-29

In every possible manner the opposition W Mr.
Clay and his friends. BE acquired political
power and maintained it by lending the infiu-
ence of his name 10 all the combinations which
were suggested as necessary to break down the
administration of which NJ. Clay was the
leading member. He even went go far as TO
assert during the canvass of 1874, that Mr..
Polk was better Tariff man thai Mr.. Clay.
The leading feature in Gen. Jackson's first mes
sage TO Congress, was a reiteration Of the
! charge that Mr.. Adams had abused the public
patronage by employing it to influence cleo
! tons and to corrupt the public morals. Mr..
Buchanan, instead of defending Mr.. Clay
against this charge, took office under General
Jackson, and was one of the most subserVient
of all his appointees. Mr.. Buchanan was
high Tariff man, and on other great questions
of the day was understood to be fully as much
/ in accord with Mr.. Clay as he was with Gen.
Jackson.
Previous to Buchsnan's interview with Gen.
Jackson, in which he sought permission from
/ Gen. Jackson to say that if he were elected
President he would make Mr.. Clay Secretary
| of State, the relations between Gen. Jackson
and Mr.. Clay were those of kindness and good
will. After that interview, it is known that
| they became at once bitter and irrecOncilsble
opponents. Was this the way in which Mr..
J Buchanan manifested his wish to defend Mr.
! Clay9
But during all this time Mr. Donelson is dex
scribed as the accuser of Mr.. Clay. Upon what
authority is this gross misstatement foundedf
Why upon the mere fact that Mr.. Donelson in
the name of the democratic committee pro-
posed in 1874 to give nine cheers in honor Of
Mr.. Boyd of Kentucky, who had been elected
in democratic district, stating the charges
against Mr.. Clay just as Mr.. Buchanan had
stated them to Gen. Jackson. Mr.. Donelson
at that time, we are assured, knew nothing Of
this charge except as it had been acted upon
by the democratic party of which Mr.. Buch-
anan was then most busy and active mem
Der. Mr.. Boyd was particular friend of Mr..
Buchanan at that time, and has continued to
be so from that day to this. He was made
Speaker of the House of Representatives
mainly by the influence of Mr.. Buchanan's
friends, and was doubtless far morein the con-
idence of Mr.. Buchanan than he ever was of
Gen. Jackson when he took the stump in Ken~
lucky as the enemy Of Mr.. Clay.
Let the reader bear in mind that when the
Democratic Convention at Nashville was held,
Gen. Jackson had not then been informed of
A. danial Of tbo haI ad
made in 1925, and that Mr.. Donelson, there
fore, was no more responsible for the course
OF Mr. Boyd or for the truth of the accusation
against Mr.. Clay than tie child unborn. The
accusation against Mr.. Clay was Mr.. Bnchan-
ans accusation, and when it was Withdrawn in
1916 there remained nothing but question of
veracity between Gen. Jackson and Mr.. Buch-
anan.
But il Mr.. Donelson was Mr.. Clay's Gccuser where
was Mr.. Clay's defender during all this periOd'
The answer to this question ought to redden the
cheek of Mr.. Williams with shame if he possesses
spark Of magnanimty or honor. Mr.. Buchanan,
during all this period, protesting the most un-
bounded friendship for Mr.. Donelson, with whom
he continued to correspond up to the period of bis
leaving the editorial chair at Washington, Mr. Don
elson taking sides with Mr.. Clay aud Mr.. Web
ter,-Mr. Buchanan taking the part of the null
lifers and disunionists North and South. When
Mr.. Donelson spplauding Mr.. Clay as a
patriot and statesman for bis agency in queting
the spirit of faction in 1850, Mr.. Buchanan
was prating about the sanctity of the Mis-
souri, restriction which he has since abandoned
for Squauer Sovereignty. When Mr.. Donelson
was giving to Mr.. Clay all the credit which his
friends claimed for him in the columns of the
Washington Union, Mr. Buchanan was counting
the support of those sectional men who have risen
upon the ruins Of both the democratic and whig
pHrsicS, and ate uUw In possession Of the Federal
Government When Mr.. DOneson declared that
Gen. Jackson, if living, would tender to Mr.. Clay
the hand of friendship and gratitude, Mr. Buchan
was intriguing to defeat the nomination of Gen.
Cass who had co-Operated with Mr.. Clay in $50.
1t is against such facts as these that this Mr..
Williams utters the atrocious calumny that Mr.
Donelson has reached his position as candidate
for the Vice Presidency "0ver The PROSTATE body of
Henry Clay"
friendly intercourse Of Mr.. Donelson and Mr.. Clay,
except on one occasion, and that had no reference
any political question: Previous to Mr. Claws
death, We informed that he sought an inter
view with Mr.. Donelson, when he assured him Of
his regret at what bad occurred, declaring that
there vas one to whom he rendered bis hand
with more cordially and respect
On par with this vndictive attack on Moi. Dom
eson the allegations ofhis being member of
what Is called the Kitchen Cabinet of Gen Jackson.
thus leading the public to infer that Mr. Donelson
figured largely in the movements which led to the
overthrow Of Gen. Jackson's FIRST cabinet, and in
the steps which we're taken against the nomina
ton Of Judge White. Now this Mr.. Williams, il
he knows anything about these transactions, ought
to be aware ihat Mr.. DIS worst enemies at that
period never included bis name in the number of
those who were charged with influencing the course
pursued by Gen. Jackson.
In Me-. BIair's letter Of April last, when he
charges Mr.. Buchanan with an important agency in
taking $50, 900 from the public Treasury, he puts
Mr.. Donelson down in the same category with the
Pillows and the Ncholsons, not as a member of the
Kitchen Cabinet but a disciple OF Calhoun, and
one who had surrendered the Democratic party to
the nul6ers aud seceders.
We can offer no excuse for the gross misrepre.
sensations contained in the speech Of Mr.. williams
unless il be thkt be s still smartng under the defeat
be received at the hands Of Gen Jackson, and that
he expects it to be avenged by the elevation Of
Mr.. Buchanan, who is known To pay literally TO all
period Of hiAlifs. There is question of verncity
between Gen. Jackson and Me-. Buchanan. Geo.