National Republican., 1873-09-24
"REMINISCENCES.
Henry Clay, Andrew Jsskseu, and Other
.-... D.. uDs.stua ulsl1ed Men. TH#. ..H ..


From an article contributed by Colonel
Tom Green 10 tho Maysville Eagle, wc extract
tho following, There Ia q paragraph going
the rounds Of the press stating that james b.
Clay, the grandson Of Henry Clay, has pre-
sentcd to the museum Of Ashland, Kentucky,
the coat which the statesman wore as one of
the commissioners to make tho treaty Of
Client In 1914. This garment Is saidlto DO cx-
cellcntly wrought ana claboratcly trimmed
with silk and braid. frr ur,a
When General jackson, In order to get rid
Of the intrlgucs Of Buchanan, sent the Penn
sylvanin politician into gentccl exile by civ
log him The mission to 81. Petersburg, that
functionary Inquired Of Clay, one night at q
whist party In Washington, what style Of dress
he should wear at the court OF the Car
The Kentucky Senator informed the Minister
that as they were about Of a sizc-Bnchanan
had not then grown so stout US he appeared
later In life-the coat he wore as one Of tho
United States Commissioners at Client was at
his service. n..But II has been worn, Mr..
Clay" was the response TO tho offer. "Oh,
that Is nothing-you can turn It, Buchanan,
you arc used TO It." Ever after the writing OF
the famous letter Of Buchanan, charging
bribery and corruption" and "bargain and
Intrigue" between Clay and John Quincy
huuuIrt WHtH tnc IWttVT WINS ClCCttu W tHV
presidency by the House Of Representatives
Clay never lost an opportunity Of rctaliating
upon the author Of This charge, both in and
out OF the Senate. In the course of a spccch
in this body, on one occasion, Buchanan
stated that when ayoung man he Joined q
volunteer militia company that marched from
Lancaster to the relief Of Baltimore, when
British, during the war Of 1912. Upon reach
ing Hagorstown, however, the troops, learn
Ing that the invaders had been rcpulscd at
North Point, returned home without further
participation In the war. At this point Clay
arose, and, addressing the chair, expressed a
desire 70 ask tho speaker question. Ger
tainly," was the courteous response. "I
would like to inquire OF tho Senator from
Pennsylvania" remarked the Great Com
monor, with that lnlmitable twist Of his cat
fish mouth, whether the gentleman marched
to the rellef g Baltimore, because ho had
learned that tho British had left, or whether
the British left because they heard the gen.
tleman from Pennsylvania was coming 2"
sasss.s s OF s asa ns ana
his remarkable memory OF names and faces
he never forgot either, although his only ac-
quaintance was casual Introduction In q
throng OF presentations. After lapse Of
years he never failed TO recognize q party In
troduccd under such circumstances, readily
Chliiilk tnt Ny nuiuc.
citison OF town in Ohio, where the
writer resided, was q passenger on the
steamer from New Orleans upon Which Clay
took his passagc 10 his home In Kentucky
when returning from his participation In the
Treaty Of Ghent. 1t being the winter sea-
son, the steamer was frozen up o short dis
tance above the mouth Of the Ohio, and re-
weeks. During oil this time the Kentucky
statesman-always famous for his exuber-
ancc of splrits---was the life and soul of the
crowd, not only In the cabin, but Of the deck
passengers and steamboat hands. Among
the passengers was an antiQuated frencli-
man, who opened game of "kcno" In the
cabin. There CHANGED to be a bright and
whom Clay had taken a great fancy,
and he would frequently buy card
for his young favorite. After the game had
progressed for some time, and oil were intent
upon thcir Individual interests, Clay would
call out "kenol" aud claim the pool for his
youthful prdtegc. The aged Gaul, completely
dumbfounded and mystihed by the logic OF
the great orator, would generally pay over
without any demurragc. Some years after,
ns Clay was passing through Ohlo,on his way
to attend sitting Of the United States CIR!
cult Court at Columbus, the citizens Of Leba-
non gave him public reception. At the time
OF his arrival our informant was standing on
the pavement In front Of the hotel where he
was to stop, not entertaining for moment
the idea that he would be recognized In the
crowd. Stepping from his carriage Clay sim
gled him out, and shaking him heartily by
the hand, !aughingly remarked, &C, do
you recollect the old Frenchman and his
keno gamer"
While the three United States commirsion.
ers, John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay and
Albert Gallatin, were In London. on their way
a, la. fad IN
| yissount Castlercagh, the British Premier.
After tho dinner the illustrious host, criti-
| cisiDg his guests IN his curt and concisc man
| ncr, repeatedly remarked, "a like the Ken
tuckian the best! likcNhc Kcntuckian the
best!"
Clay had o standing joke which ho never
failed to perpetrate at Adams expense, when
he caught Ills Massachusetts colleague In o
congenial crowd. Adams was afflicted during
his whole life with disease Of the lachryma
duct, which caused his optics 10 be constantly
watery. The two occupied the same depart
ment, and q rosy and buxom Swiss damse
attended the room. Clay's story was that
upon his attempting to snatch kiss from
OF with, "Oh, Mr.. Clay, you must not fo
Mr.. Adams a few minutes ago begged mt
with tears In his eyes for a similar favor, ant
refused himl"
1t Is a well-knowu fact that In carly life, q
these parties were launching forth on the sci
Of politics, there existed bitter feud betweei
General jackson and the Bentons. This at las
eliminated In tavern fight with pistols an,
sword-canes in Nashville, Tennessee, In whicl
jackson, with his friend Colonel Coffee an
the two Bentons-Thomas II. and Jesse
participated. The result was, that Colone
Benton planted bullet In the neshy part O
General Jacksons arm, which the old her
carried until his second Presidential term
when TWAS extracted by DR.. jackson, a ccle
brated Philadelphia surgeon. During tn
closing years OF his last Presidential tern
General jackson had occasional and yioler
attacks of hemorrhagc Of the lungs, an
DR.. Lewis Field Linn, Of Missouri, the co
league OF Colonel Benton In tho Senate, wa
his physician. The bitter feud having Ion
before been settled, Col. Benton was fr,
quent visitor at the White House, and wa
specially attentive during the Illness Of h
former foe. DR.. Linn, feeling himself Just
fed by his Intimacy with the parties, ven
turcd TO ask their version Of the Nashvlll
rencounter. Benton, you tell it, was III
, response Of Old Hickory. mo, jackson, L
leave II 10 you, for yonr account will be col
, rect" and, pending the discussion, the tw
! ancient focmen were crying like children.