Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1871-11-02

Cs1t r. rks. ~ Hesrys Clay
~ 81 s. James Ruehanan for
y ~ r., eye1 1S2i-'25 ia the ecl-
- IN and sale BY which it was
yhzt Clay gave The vote Of Ken
> Juth Quincy Adaais instead oil
ckSDn. IN consideration sf his sub
lheut sppointment By Adams b The de-
1mcnt qf State. Buchanan wis then. q
enplive in Congress frcaa the old
oleo Chester, and nelaware district
hans Chosen crigiua1ly rs a
~ &csme De.nosrs endez
erec. q JsckEpsa pepusars...
sGhilc Cav or. tnsily u~s1
. violent whig antagonist Of jackson aud
his party. In 1s24-'5 Buchanan s-as in
his thidy-ffth year. and Clay in his forty
eighth.
The accusation that Clay he'd supported
Adams for place in his cabinet, long insist
ed upon by his adyersaries, aroused the BIT
terest passions. and was haughtily and iu-
digpantly repelled By himself. He was
made to believe that the story was started
by the young member from Lancaster but
this was always denied by the latter, and
he wrote several letters etiec,uallv dis
proving it, bu; they were not satisfactory
to the imperious ken,uckian. 1t will be
recollected that John Randolph of Virgin
in was one of Clay's ferccst asSailants. and
he carried his enmity so far that it led to
a duel between them, which terminated
without bloodshed. Some ten years later.
Clay and Buchanan were in the United
States Senate together, and the latter was
one of the leaders of Democracy.
Clay did not conceal his dislike of the
Pennsylvania. and sought every occasion
to show it. One memorable day he rose
and made 4 studied attack upon the Dem
ccrats. and especially upon Gen. jackson.
Mr.. Buchanan was put forward to answer
him, which he did with his best ability.
When lie took his seat, Mr.. Clay rose
with well-feigncd surprise, and sarcasti-
cally remarked that he had made no al
lusion to the Senator from Pennsylvania
lie was referring to the leaders. not to the
subordinates, of the Democracy" Upon
which Buchanan took the floor and said
tina; the Senator from Kentucky was car-
tainly in error, because he had roiu,rdl7 :
and repeatedly looked at him while he
was speaking.
Clay quickly and sneeringly retor.ed
by alluling to Buchanan's Slight ob'iIui-
ty or vision. :" beg to say. Mr.. Prc-i-
dent" he remarked, .that the mistake
was the Senator's, and not mine. Unlike
him, sir, 20 no: look one way and row
another" 1T was cruel thrust; aud when
a aSentlemau reproachcri clay for he hsr-l,
ness. he shrugged his shoulders and sail:
"Oh. hang him. he deserved it, He
writes letters" On another occasion Buch
anan defended himself against the charge
Of hostility to the second war with England
by showing that he had formed a troop OF
Lancaster horse, and rode to Baltimore to
resist the invader. "Ies. Mr.. President, -
was Clay's prompt rejoinder, II remember
that event. and remember alsn that bv
the time the Senator got into MARYLAND
the enemy had fed Doubtless they had
heard of the approach of the distinguished
gentleman and retired before the prestige
of his courage"
But times. if it does no: make all things
eyen. molifics the passions of men. Mr..
Buchanan was too much a man of the
world-too accomplished courticr-no. to
soften the aspcrity Of 50 proud spirit as
Clay. They frequently met in society
in after years, especially at the dinner
table. If they did not become friends.
they at least ceased to be enemies. And
in 1856, when Buchanan became the Dem
ocra,ic candidate for president he had no
more hearticr supporter than the som of the
great Kentuckian, James B. CLAW. who
after having served in the confederate
army, died a, Montreal on the 10Th OF
January. 1854.
Benton, who had always opposed Buch-
anan's aspirations. because he regarded
him as weak and timid, powerfully cham
Poined him in that year, even against hi,
own son-in-law. Fremont. Rufus Choate.
Webster's nearest friend, was on the same
side: so were John Van Eurcn and III.
father. notwithstanding both held Buch.
aBans friends accountable for the nomina-