Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1864-03-25
iron The po.ton Tran,erip,,l

Henry Clay and w. 4. Garrison.
VIII my friend Haskell allow me brief
The editor Of the Louisville (Ky.) Journal,
in an article on the release Of the editor Of the
Liberdtor from prison, in Baltimore, In 1880, |
makes the following statement;
Mr.. Clay related to Us the facts In July, |
1880. A few months before, Mr.. Garrison,
editor OF an emancipation paper In Baltimore, |
was prosecuted, imprisoned, and fined for libel
on Voolfolk. Not being ablo 10 pay the fine,
his Imprisonment was prolonged on that &C.
count. Mr.. Whittier, an entire stranger to
Mr.. Clay, wrote TO him al philanthropst,
begging him 70 pay the flne, and thus procure
Mr.. Garrison's release. Mr.. Clay wrote to his
old friend, Hezekiah Niles, Of Rilss's Register,
asking whether Mr.. Garrison was . worthy
man, and saying that II no was so he would
pay one-half tho fine, provided Mr.. Miles or
others would pay the other half MI. Niles
wrote back stating that, on the whole, he
thought Mr.. Garrison worthy. Mr.. Clay at
once RENTED the money for half OF the hnej
the other half was paid, and Garrison was dis
charged.
time Afterwards both Whittier ard Garrison
wrote bitter things against Mr.. Clay.
The facts In the case are simply these; During
the Imprisonment Of my friend Garrison, ven
tured 10 address line 70 Henry Clay, asking
him 70 use his influence with his political and
personal friends In Baltimore 70 procure his
pay himself the fine and costs. / had no deli
mite Idea upon what terms, II at all, his release
could be effected, or whether, In the words Of
Dumbedikes 70 Jeanie Deans, "Slller would
do It," Ny appeal, wisely or otherwise, was
mAdo TO = distinguished political man in behal
Of one of his most ardent supporters, who mus
have been already known to him, as the frs
editor In New England to nominate him fol
the Presidency in an able and vigorous article
published In the Bennington (Vt.) Journal o
"a - a,.l hi nl,
widely copied and commended. II 10 proper to
say that my letter was written without the
knowledge OF my friend Garrison.
In a letter which I received some time after
from the Kentucky statesman, be informed me
that he had written to a friend In Baltimore, In
learned from his correspondent that he had beer
anticipated, aud that the liberation had beer
effected without the aid be would otherwls
have given. The fine and costs were In fac
paid BY Arthur TaPpan, Esq, OF New York.
The promptness OF Henry Gays response 4
nv appeal IVES honorable In itself, and charac
teristlc Of one who was always true TO his po
lltical and personal friends. The implied
charge of ingratitude suggested by my ole
friend Prentice is perhaps hardly worth no
tcing. What Henry Clay proposed to do 70
Garrison was no more than he would have don
and should have done for any one who had q
tablIshed similar claim upon his favor.
As 10 myself, could scarcely be said 10
an "entirS stranger to him, for young an
obscure as was, had In the Boston AanI
Eaeturrr advocated his claims with such Eel
and earnestuess that was selected as the SUI
ceSsor OF the editor Of the journal himself, an
In the Hartford (Ct) ". T. Review assisted
as he will doubtless remember, In writin
1.-The Life OF Henry Clay" and declined Q
account of illness an Invitation from Il
National Republican Committee TO all q v
cancy in the delegation OF Connecticut to Il
Convention which nominated him IL 1881.