Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1860-04-13
The following private letter from Mr. Clay
shows that the agitation in Madison county
is more serious than papers represent. The
letter is dated March goth, 1860.

is more serious than papers represent. The
letter is dated March 29th, 1860.
Yours of the 9th is received. | have only
time to say that we are in a state of war
The obligarchy were aiming at me in the
expulsion of the Bereans from their homes,
BENG in hopes that would forcibly defend
them, 1.-THE radicals" Defeated bv nv
Frankfort speech rallying all the conservat-
i've men to my standard. thev churishlv gave
in. yet tanning the discomfort by garbllng
my speeches North, and cirulating false
rumors. Hanson's return to his saw-miu
at Berea, (whcre lie employed many Re
publIcans.) gave new fuel 70 the old fire.
| went there on Saturday and tried to induce
him TO leave, telling him he would bring on
fight, and advising the Republicans to keep
apart from the movement The mob at
once cried out that | was plotting an attack
On Monday they met at Berea, insulted the
people by searching the houses, and not
finding Hanson, they provoked a conflicts
several were wounded, and the Lyncher;
were defeated. On Tuesday they returned
in force, but finding no one, they broke up
the saw mill, and swore vengeance against
Inc and the whole party. In the meantime
| (on Tuesday, | spoke at Richmond, stating
I
stood upon the ground of my Frankfort
speech, and should defend myself and friends
| The mob increases in violence; | lie upon nv
| arms awaiting an attack my family abso-
lutely refuse to retire, saying they will run
bullets and, aid as in l776 If driven into
the woods, | shall attempt TO hold my posi-
ton as long as possible, standing on the con-
stitution the laws and my right. | Will de-
tend them or die. The cannon at Lexington
Is sent for and the Governor, aids
Is this my cause only, or that of the
American people? Is it to be vindicated in
this way, and now? Shall | stand or fall
alone May God defend the right.
Your friend,
C.M. CLAY.
P. S.-My daughters are as firm as l and
Mrs c.
"OUT OF a SITUATION The political car
feature in Vanity Fair last week is on the
whole a very good one. A matronly lady
with her dress modestly decked with stars
and stripes, is sitting with map of the |
United States on her lap, which having been
torn, she is engaged in mending. An un-
trusty, ancient looking house-maid, whose |
features are slightly suggestive, and who ap-
parently has had something to do with in
.juring the map, is before her, with a very |
pretentious dress on, and bundle in her
hand addressed J. B., "Wheatland - Below
the cut is the following
OUT OF SITUATION.
MRs. COLUMBIA. "Well, Bridget, guesi
we shan't want your services after next
March"
BIppY BUCHANAN. can sure thin, will yez
be after giving me back me charackthur ?"
We must however make one exception to
the design. Behind the colloquists there
stands hard looking, lean faced, strap-pan-
talooned, swallow-tail-coated subject. meant
of course to symbolic Brother Jonathan.
There is nothing peculiar in this figure, ex-
cept that it is little less abominably ugly |
than other figures of the same sort, which
came into use in old Jack-Downing times,
to represent the American people as a body.
For one, we protest against this mean, dirty,
i'll bred, and utterly unappro
pirate representation of onr nation. 1t does
not represent a single trait of it. We won-
der that, years ago, some artist of genius
has not designed figure to represent in car
feature Brother Jonathan in true symbol
ical lineaments. Were this done and repeated
a few times, it would come into vogue, and
the scarecrow figure we speak of would soon
disappear forever from all decent society, at
home and abroad.