Weekly Trinity journal., 1867-01-12

PoLITIcAL CALUMNY-INsTRUcTING REMINIscEN-
cEs OF HENRY CLAY.-A New York correspond
ent of the Providence Journal, evidently Wash
ington reporter, many years ago, gives the fol-
lowing interesting illustration of the rancor with
which political controversies are sometimes con-
Quoted:
Henry Clay once wrote a private letter to
Judge Brooke, of Virginia. which created a
world Of excitement, and gave rise to multitu-
dinous speculation Nobody save Judge Brooke
and Mr.. Clay had the ghost of an idea ir refer
erce to the contents of the missive, but all the
Democratic papers in the Union swore that it
embraced matters which, if they could be got at
would prove to the letter the existence of what
John Randolph dcnominated the coalition be-
tween the Puritan and the Black-leg.' Mr.. Clay's
friends were defantly called on to produce that
letter; Mr.. Clay himself was importuned to per-
nit its exumation year after year by his immedi-
ate friends and Amos Kendall ayowed that he
dared not bring it to the light, because if given
to the public, it would convict Henry Clay of
some thing next to treason.
For quarter of century from 1919 to ls44)
that terrible letter a bone of contention, and
every blackguard who felt disposed to insult the
- Noble Harry, of Ashland, - outrageousy cast its
ghost in his teeth, and screamed q That letter
convicting you of treason, or something very like
it, you dare not show; we defy you, and demand
its publication.
In 1914 Judge Brooke-not Mr.. Clay, but
probably with his concurrence-brought forth
the terrible letter, and at once demolished all
the towering air castles of the political dema-
gogues. And what do you suppose it contained
In the year 1919 Lord Byron published his
first canto of Don Juan, one of the most power
full and popular of his publications, though its
morality, like Popc's Rape Of he lock, and Dry
den's matchess Htnde and the Panther, was sub
jected to severe criticism, if not anathema -
Lord John Russell, then in his prime, and redo
lent of scholastic glory, sent Mr.. Clay present
alton copy, at the request of the author.
Though Mr.. Clay was neither poet nor a
devotee of polite literature, he read the copy
sent him with high satisfaction, and subsequent
ly sent it, with highly commendatory note to
his friend, Judge Brooke, Of Richmond. His
letter marked - CONFIDENTIAL y and of course
the worthy Judge so observed it. Six years
afterward, the existence of this confidential let
ter leaked out, and Mr.. Thomas Richie, of the
Richmond Enquirer having got wind of it, grave
ly stated that could it be produced, it would
prove the existence of Il corrupt bargain between
Mr.. Clay and John Quincy Adams, which result
ed in the election of the latter to the Presidency.
1t simply commended the genius of Lord Byron
but as Don Juan was the recipient of denuncia-
ton at the hands of the pulpit and press, Mr..
Clay did not choose to have it known that be
had spoken favorably of the genius and talent of
its author. And for no other reason, added to
an unwillingness to crafty prurient and i'm
pertinent curiosity, Mr.. Clay, for FIVE and twen-
ty years, insisted on his injunction of privacy,
and quietly submitted to the most unjust and
unfounded obloquy.