The New York herald., 1876-08-17
Ex-senator Clingman Corrects Mr..
Thurlow Weed.
HOW CLAY WAS FOILED.
President Taylor's Military Mad
ness a Strong Obstacle.
General ToOmbs Only at the
Presidents Deathbed.
wAsnIyGroS, August 13, 1876.

II.
The sth inst, in which some references made to mo
In connection with Messrs. stephens and Toombs.
understand that there previous letters of
name. The transactions which led to the mistake OF
Mr. Weed were in themselves sufficiently interesting to
justify elaborate article in OF the magazines Of
the day; but shall content myself with as concise
statement as can present to make the matter under
stood. know much more OF the transactions than
any else, but there gentlemen living TO whom
the several shall refer known far
they material.
During the session OF 1850, at which the compromise
measures passed, Mr. Clay resided at the National
Hotel also boardcr there, and though OPP
posing Mr. Cluy's plan, was in constant communca
ton with MIN. In fact II several days had passed
without my calling AT his room in the evening he
would on casually meeting about the Capitol say
"where have you been all this whileS l expect you
have been in some mischief" He would say fire.
quenty, 81 wish to hear from you all and then will
decide for myself"
REASONING WITH Mr..
During conversation evening said to him that
there werc three forces or obstacles TO his scheme OF
compromise that were sufficient 10 deleaty, VIZ -
Frst the opposition of the anti-savery pSty led by
such men Mr. Seward; second that of the admins
lration OF General Taylor and third that of tho South
ern rights That he would not win the support
Mr., Sewards party because they desired to keep up
sectional agitation for political effect, and were op
,osed therefore, to any settlement and that the ad
nnistration had plan of its0wn 1t would regard it.
,elf as defeated fany other form of settlement was
ldoptcd; but that tho Southern would be in
duccd cooperate ii certain changes adopted in
his scheme of adjustment That Of two things
roud bring him Southern votes enough to enable HIM
pass his bills-either OIL the southern portion
d California by the line OF thrtysx thirty, what
preferred, to let California come in whole, and
equivalent. on tho western border Of Missouri,
change the line OF thirtysix thirty TO the iortieth
parallel, aud, after running It back TO what was
10 The south aud extend it TO the Pacific Ocean with
lhe southern boundary OF California. had in speech
made i'll January previously, urged this plan Mr..
Clay rejected instantly the proposition to change tn
line OF The Missouri Compromise. He also al hrst
said, "You had us well talk OF dividing the moon
California" but alter some further conversation
seemed to yield somewhat. though he left has purpose
uncecded, or a; least did not then announce it.
MOVEMENT
few evenings after this my meeting him, no
said impet tuous!y and with seeming disappointment,
"You were mistaken, for The southern Senators win
California" lie then stated that Senator Fooe, OF Mis-
sssippi had that day spoken TO Hunt Soule, Yuce
Turney, and that they all refused. told HIM that
such hasty movement as that winch he had ed
III Judged and certain 10 have lalcu: that time
necessary to make The preliminary movements which,
felt conhdent would bring them in. then explained
in detail to Mr. Clay what l proposed should be done.
1t was IN substance this
GENERAL TAyLoR's BLUNpER
General Taylor, 1t was undc stood, was then coniem.
plating the of tho army to settle The dispute
The boundary OF Texas. There Was alarm at the pros
pect OF the country being precip ipated into civil
The southern whles especially were excited, feel ng
that they had already gone as far in their support OF
ihe extreme Northern views OF their party they
:ould afford TO do. NV colleague, Mr.. Outlaw Mr..
Humphrey Marshall, of Kentucky and others, were
disposed to abandon he administration II such policy
vas insisted on. After hnding that most II not all
Of the moderate OF the Southern wings concurred
these views, called composed ol South
ern wings alone. Alter full Interchange OF views 1t
agreed that proper effort should be male TO in
duce General Taylor to change his policy and in the
event OF failure so to change his purpose was evident
that The Southern wings probably all with the excep
ton OF Mr. Stanley, would abandon the administration,
cut loose from the Northern wings and act with the
democratic party Three gentlemen were selected to
confer with General Taylor-Mr. Charles NJ Colrad of
Louisiana a personal friend OF General Taylor and
Representative from his State; Mr. Humphrey
Marshall, who had served under hun in Mexico, and
Mr. Toombs who had been one OF the most acilve and
influential men in bringing forward General Ia, lor
Presidential candidate In order that
here might not seem 10 be any menace
implied in the movement, 1t Was agreed
hss these gentlemen should converse with General
Taylor separately. Mr. Conrad first saw him and stated
10 me the result OF the interview He said that the
President obstnaely fixed in his purpose aud that
his mind prcJudiced that he regarded the oppo
Sition to his scheme as factous, and stimulated by
Messrs Clay Webster from chagrn because he had
superseded them as a Presidential candidate while
cass was hostile account OF his defeat Mr.. Marshall
poon after had an interview with similar result
While speaking OF IT to me he burst INTO ii OF laughter,
Iaying, .the old fellow takes the military view OF the
question; he sald he had ninety men from the North
and only thirty from he South reerrng TO the rcla-
tive number OF whig members from the two seconsl,
and asked, 'Am TO give up my ninety IN the Norin
for your thirty in the South = ~
TooABs TAyLoR's DEArBBED
Mr.. Toombs did General lay until after ho
had been taken Ill, but before he was supposed 10 be
in danger Ee became ill., 1t may be remembered,
alter attending the celebration of the Fourth tJuy,
anu died on the 9th About the time OF his death some
II those papers which in sympathy with Mr.
r.
toombs' interview, and represented him as standing
over the dying President and using threatening lao
suage to him. presume that Mr.. Wceu'S mistake Is
iuc to some vague recolcctons OF these publications.
The death OF the President changed the condition of
gain. The machinery with which the Southern
wings to be detached ON tins question from their
:onndeLt that General Taylor would refuse our
'equcst, aud equally confident that in
iuch con. ngeney NE southern wings would unite
cad of Mr.. Clay, aided by General Cass, make
on the administration As Mr. Cay's per.
sonal influence would have brought IN few Northern
wings should have had about two-thirds OF the Con-
gress and would easily have carried substantial
measure of compromise 1t would have been
tension OF the Missouri line the Pacific. such
mod dhcaton would have been an Improvement. We
should have escaped the misohevous non intervention
Ambiguity which. in It's results verified the EVIL then
apprehended from 1t. We should thus have avoided
The excitement resulting from the Kansas and Nebraska
uruggc. which expedited the collision between the
iectlons many ycars and likewise the split at Charles
ON, which preciptatsd the country into immediate
MR. CLAY CHANGED HIS POLICY
The death OF General Taylor threw the issue again
back into its condition OF uncertainty. Mr. Clay
.hanged his Inc OF policy. He had refused to take the
amendment OF Norris though he sad II would VI
.doptcd give him our additional votes IN the senate
or his bills. He now, however. decided TO accept it.
Toward the latter yart of Juy had some conversation
si!h MIN In the senate That morning he was dressed
all sroicss white, except hIs blue dress coat aud
looked more buoyant In spirtts than ] had
nm during the session. On my reminding him OF tor
mcr conversations he said that he would take Norrs'
amendment and gain votes enough TO pass the bill
saia-"Mr. Clay, you have been disappointed three
times this session. With impeuous wave OF his
hand and a naughty Look, he said--'rhe admnistra-
iion tnc only obstacle TO the passage OF my
measures and | shall carry them without dffi-
,uIty.- l walked across the CHAMBER and spoke
10 Messra Hunter and Soue, who were standing to-
ssthsr Il may bs proper to explain that though they