New Orleans daily crescent., 1860-10-12
aNsRx sa.AY ,AsD .,oHN BELL.

The attempt to excite the enmity OF the friends
of Henry Clay against John Bell, so industrionsy
made by the Breckinridge press, is one Of the
| latest devices of the present canvass The fact
that for twenty-five years, and mp to the day Of
| his death, Mr. Clay had no more devoted friend,
personal and political, within the limits Of the
whole Union, than Mr.. Bell, is something studi-
ously ignored by these enterprisng friends OF Mr.,
| Breckinridge Relying upon toast which Mr..
| Bell drank thirty-fve years ago. during the flush
| times Of Jaeksonism, they proclaim that no one
can support Mr.. Bell now, who had any admiration
for the character of the great statesman Of Ken
lucky.
The idea Of Henry Clay and John Bell being
enemies is one which, to any person at all con
versant with the record of either, will appear
curious indeed. But, that any lingering doubt on
the subject may be removed, read the following
authoritative statement and narrative, made by
the editor Of the Louisville Journal;
HENRY CLAWS OPINION OF JOHN Bull We
stated few weeks ago that in l84S, after the eec-
ton Of Gen. Taylor to the Presidency, we inquired
of Mr.. Clay by letter, in compliance with what We
understood to be the wish of near relative and
intimate personal friend of Gen. Taylor, what
statesmen would in Mr.. C.'s opinion make the best
Executive Cabinet and that Mr.. g, in reply, men.
u0Ueu exalted utHGT
names, that of John BelIs
From d conversation thatwe had yesterday with
Gov. Letcher of this State, we are enabled to say
that Mr.. Clay had the same opinion Of Mr.. Bell in
1874 that he had in ls4s. What we are now about
to state is upon Gov. Letcher's authority
After Gen. Harrison's election, he made visit
to Frankfort, KY, and very soon after his arrival
wrote to Mr. Clays expressing wish to see him
as soon as practicable. The Hen. VIM. J. Graves
was the bearer of Gen. Harrson's letter. Mr.. Clay
answered that he would with great pleasure see
Gen. Harrison the next evening at Gov. Letcher's.
He accordingly went from Lexington to Frankfort
the next evening and, on the following morning,
he and Gen. Harrison breakfasted together at Gov
Letcher's house. Immediately after breakfast,
Gov. Letcher conducted them to the parlor and
told them they could have the freest conversation
there without Interruption. Gov. Letcher about
to retire, when Gen. Harrison insisted that he
should not-saying that he wished him to be pres
ent at the interview. Gen. Harrison proposed to
Mr.. Clay to accept the Secretaryship of State,
which Mr.. Clay IN very earnest and very respect
fu manner declined for various reasons not neces-
sary to be detailed here. Gen. Harrison then in
quired Of Mr.. Clay who in his opinion should be
appointed Secretary of State. Mr.. Clay said that
in bis opinion Mr.. Webster should be, and that the
public would expect it. Several gentlemen, whose
merits were discussed, were spoken of for the diff
ferent places in the Cabinet. In the course Of the
consultation, Gen. Harrison remarked that he
wished to look to Tennessee for member of his
Cabinet. Gov. Eetcher yentured to suggest, elf
you go to Tennessee, John Bell is your man. z Gen.
Harrison then inquired ofMr. Clay what he thought
of John Bell. Mr.. Clay's reply was, very well !;
NJ. Bell possesses two excellent qualities for a
Cabinet Minister-frmness and integrity"
Such was the opinion that Henry Clay expressed
in regard to John Bell when speaking to the Pres
ident elect under a deep sense of the high res
possibility he owed to his country and we all
know that President Harrison appointed John Bell
Secretary of War.
Mr. Bell was an elector on the Clay ticket in
1874, and in an elaborate speech at Murfrees
borough, in Tennessee. defended Mr.. Clay from
the charge Of bargain and corruption. Thus, this
gun is spiked. Who comes next?