The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1860-10-03
From the Chicago Press snl Tribune.
A Charge Proved

Press and Tribune frequent allusiens to the Ian.
guage once held by Mr.. Douglas in relation to
that eminent statesman, Henry Clay. We have
not produced his old charges against NJ. Clay,
that, " he ras a black hearted fraifor-ths frst
Americdn statesman uho eeer attempted to sell
his country for British Gold" because we at
tach any special importance to the opinion OF
Mr.. Douglas on any subject whatever, but to ex-
pose the meanness and dupicity Of which he is
now guilty whenever he, as is bis custom, lauds
that great patriot who framed the Compromise
which the Illinois Senator destroyed. Our own
knowledge of Mr.. Douglas former speeches and
of his Old.time ferocity against the Whig party,
did not permit us to doubt that the words attri-
buted to him were a part of tie common slang
with which his speeches from 1874 down to 1850,
were interlardsd. But we were not surprised to
hear them disavOwed by his friends, nor TO find
ourselves charged with falsehood in giving them
currency. But fortunately the proof that he
made common use OF them is still in existence.
In 1874, Douglas ran for Congress against
Hon. ID. NJ. WOodson, now as then of CarrOltton,
Green county, and during that canvass, his as
saults upon Mr.. Clay, Of whom Mr.. Woodson
was warm friend and supporter, were of the
most outrageous character. The leading topic
OF discussion was the Oregon question, then un-
settled. Mr.. Clay, when Secretary Of State un-
der Mr.. Adams, following the example of Mr..
Monroe, had proposed to fix the boundary on
the parallel of ~ degrees-the same that vas
afterward accepted by all the advocates of :" 81
deg. 40 min. or fight" policy. For this, which
proved Mr.. Clay's wisdom, Douglas assaulted
him daily. The illinOison, then chock full OF
fire and fury-and then as now, the advocate Of
any Irish policy that would embroil this country
nth (rroof Rrifo
he claimed to have engrossed all the patriotism
of the land, and to be the possessor of a patent
for the solution of all national difficulties from
whatever cause arising. Mr.. Clay had the te.
me:ity to differ with him in opinion, and for that
ofence-One that Douglas never knew how TO
forgive-he became liable to the billingsgate
which has always been the weapon in the use Of
which the small giant has proved himself most
skilled. 81 denounced him in the Congress OF
the United States, and now denounce him a.
a TEAITOR-AN OLD BLACK.HEARTED TRAITOR
the first American statesman who ever attempted
to sell has country for British Gold" was in
those days the mdest form of expression, when
MIR. Clay was the theme.
Following Democratic denial that these words
were never used by Mr.. Douglass denial made
with unusual bluster and vociferation by the
journals in Mr.. Douglas service-four gentlemen
of CarrOlton addressed Woodson q note whereby
they hoped to elicit the truth in relation to the
matter. Mr.. WOOdsou having retired from pol.
itics, is now Judge Of the Circuit Court Of this
district. He is a gentleman of unimpeachable
reptution and integrity, and is, We believe, un.
friendly to the Republican party. We have his
reply before us. He confirms all that has been
charged; nay, more, what might seem to be ex.
ceptional with Mr.. Douglas, he says was common.
CIT WAS HIS HABIT TO DENOUNCE Mr..
CLAY for the part that he took as Secretary OF
State, under Mr.. Adams, in the effort made du.
ring that Administration to settle the disputed
boundary between the United and Great Britain.
must in candor say that DO RECOLLECT
THAT JUDGE DOUGLAS USED on that, or
some other occasion during the eanyass, SUB
STANTIALLY THE LANGUAGE ATTRIBU.
TED TO HIM in the first part of the paragraph
first referred to-HE DENOUNCED Mr.. CLAY
AS A TTAITOR TO HIS COUNTRY, and a.
the only Americdn salesman that had eeer been
mitiiny to yield up any of our Territory on the
Pacific, to ,chich he insisted ,ce haps had per.
feet right, to Great Britain. In my feeble man.
ner l attempted to rindieate the Wing party,
and upset the dspersions then so freely used bs
their opponents against them, aud particularly
their great ehief and leader, Mr.. Cyay-I WAS
DEEPLY IMPRESSED AT THE TINE WITH
THE BITTERNESS OF THE ASSAULT UPON
MR.. CLAY" is Judge Woodson's testimony
We presume it will be satisfactory to all who
have heretofore doubted, and that hereafter al
parties, when Douglas snifiss over the bones o.
Henry Clay, will know just how to estimate hi
fictitious sorrow.