The Van Buren press., 1872-01-30
Mr. Clayton

Little Rock Gazette OF the 2lst, the COM
monts of the press, particularly those pa
pers claiming allegiance to the Republi-
can party, on the defense of Mr.. Clayton,
read in the United States Senate On the
9th inst, TO sec what effect it had. The
following is from the Sunday Herald, an
ndependcn, RepubiicaG journal, publish
ed at Washington. Il was written by 4
supposed foreign diplomat, who listened
to the defense as read by Mr.. Clayton
| Here is what is said Of it:
have been much amused with the ev-
licences of political honesty exhibited by
the action of both houses regarding the
integrity of their members. In the Sen
ate Mr.. Clayton was called upon, virtu-
| ally, to show reason why he should not
be expelled for fraud in his election,
! while in the house Mr. Clarke, Of Texas,
was admitted to give him an opportuni-
ty to prove that the frauds by which he
was not elected were no greater than
those by which other members retain
their seats | overheard, apropo, of this,
one of your corps of correspondents
talking about the Clayton affair He
had said lie had printed in one of your
daily cotcmporares all the facts that will
he elected by the pending investigation,
hut had enormously asserted that the tes
timOnY was already before the judiciary
committee, Therefore. it seems, Mr..
Clayton, suifuS2d with vlrtuous mdigna
ton, rose to a personal explanation, de
nouncing tho statement as 4 base fabrl-
cation, etc, and denying that any such
charges had been made before any com
mttee. In this he was sustained by
Judge Trumbnll, chairman of the judici-
AIRY committee, who added, however, that
he knew nothing about the matter or
course the correspondent error resided,
rs Senator Conklin would say, in his
substitution Of the Judiciary for the ku-
klux committee. Meanwhile the CORES
poudent bided his time, the result prov
that, after all, he was not so much Of 4
libelous villain as the distinguished
and soon, it is to be hoped, extinguished
gentleman from Arkansas would have
the puplic believe My late contempt
rary, Mr. Catacazy. had a similar cxper-
fence, from which it is evident that peo-
pie OF your profession do not always
make grOundlcss assertions. | refer to
Catacazy with all due respect, and hum
bly, beg his pardon for mentioning his
name in such close connection with Mr.,
Claytons. In fact, | never knew 81
statesman, politician or diplomat to make
anything out of a quarrel with ajournsl-
ist.
Aud Don Piatt's paper, the Capital, q
straight Republican journal, thus COM
mcnts:
Tuesday brought another personal ex
plauation, and one that in the light OF
circumstances is more necessary now
than it was originally. Senator Clayton
it seem. is the victim of persecution
most people are, you know. Harlan WAS
the victim of persecution. so is Gov.
Scott OF South Carolina. and Blodgett OF
Georgia, and many other great If not
good men. In rumsging around through
kluX committee stumblcd upon some
awkward facts with regard to our friend
Clayton, which made it necessary for him
to rise and explain, like our old acQuain
tance, Truthful James. Clayton rose
and explained for two hours to an empty
Senate and emptier galleries. He ex'
planned many things he might not, and
left unexplained many things which he
should have explained, and our faith is
slightly shaken. At the conclusion of
his remarks Clayton asked tor an inves-
tigating committee. with about the same
desperation that lie would bluff at euchrc
with a ten thousand dollar bet, when he
knew that the hand held against him
consisted Of two bowers and an ace. But
then this seems to I've the day for investi
cations, and, alas for the credit Of public
sentiment, ii must he said that they have
but little effect The more you prove
against party, or an individual, in the
way Of corruption and scandalous prac.
tees, the less you hurt him.