The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-10-07
CIsSIUs W. Glars CorRiGE
what mn Old Political Opponent md Fer.
sonai Friend has to Say About II.
To rnr EpITon or I'm SIS 50. ! l

To THE EDrToR or THE SCN-Sr: ro-
tlcc in this mornings paper a communi alton
respecting Gen. Cas-ius VI. Clay. Perhaps no
following incidents. occurring I'm my own pre-
sOnal experience. mny be Of interest.
| first me; Mr. Clay in December. 1913, ~ I
public meeting at the White sulphur Springs,
in Scott county. Ky. The OBJ OF the meet ~
was to discuss the propricyo OF anneNing TeNu5.
Col. Richard VI. Johnson Vice President Of Ito
United States, was the Chairman. and it fell 10
my lot 90 debate the question with Mr. Clay. 1t
was shortly after his bloody encounter with
Sam Brown. n Post Office agent. and some (
my friends were apprchcnsivc Of n difficulty:
but | never met faircr and more courteous
opponent | remember that he object I'd 10 hav-
ing the term "Abolitionist," which was con-
sidcred on, Of great gppronrpm at that TIM.
applied to him. He DESCRIBED himself Us an
cmancpniuifisi and antics lavcry man.
:, met Mr. Clay thc succeeding WIN, ~ rank
fort, when he informed me of his intention 10
establish nh anti slavery organ at Lexington.
and offered me situation on his dit ria; IN,
OK my seryiccs. When Sxnini, " ,he imnmss
bIly, with my views. ot accepting. hc proposed
to furnish capital for me to buy another news
paper and opposr him. saying Kindly that he
wis satisfied we could discuss the great qucs-
ton at issue ,fairlyyqnd without qcrimonv. Tho
next spring established myself IN Lexington
a. lawyer. and was often visited 10y Mr.. Clay,
who generously rendered me both advice and
In 1915 there appeared in his newspaper an
article which was considered gross and incrn-
diary. and created gr"at excitement. 1t was not
written by him aud was published during his
absence and without his previous knowledge.
Threats were. unfortunately. made before ho
had an opportunity OF explaining. and he WIS
too manly 10 do SO under coercion. A meeting
Of the citizens was finally called tn take tho
matter into consideration. Twas prra"nt Capt.
Henry johnson, a brother Of the Vice. prc-i-
dent. WINS elected Chairman, and my own nans
was presented Tor Secretary. ] declined on tho
ground that. while my views wrr" wei known,
my personal RESPECT and friendship for Mr.
] Gay must prevent me from taking part III any
hostile demonstration. A. sat down. hrurl
n quiet voice behind mo shy: " b, thank
you.' And To- my utter nstonishmcnt. and.
may say, cunstornntOn-i1r knew thrrc W re-
nngry armed men surrounding him-thrr" was
Cassius NJ. Clay a. calm and unmoNci a. II he
had been in his own pnrlor H. was IN ie'hlH
health at tho time, and wrapped I'm u lnrtp
cloak. In Il few moments he changed his posi-
ton and stretched himself out on on" IT tho
Court House hrn'hos right In the middle II
his enemies. There was pnus" ana iiltt"r.
hiihcr %" Chairman or the c"i,hri"i Tom
Marshall. who took th" prin 'ipal pnri In tl"
proceedings, mad' some o'.N0 ton To- his lr'7-
curp. when. rising with thu dignity of % Roman,
subject oi discussion. that this H. the most
proper lln"" for me; hut. u ! am iniruing On
incnablc scorn l''h IN his tone and manner ~
he turn VI and lett the hail. II was the bollcst
| act perhaps. of his life.
| The subsequent mass meeting. when his o0lcp
was sri2ed. dismantlod. and its cont nt- shipped
out of the State. Is matter of history. was IN
! formed during the duyby Roniu~ Payne. Ed.
| utmost ditiirulty his family ana friends could
! dis~uade him from going down umuns tho
crowd, though h." WIS in III health at the tinn.
/ | think. however. he might have done -O with
! hedges tru courage and the very por- .ue who
! were committing violence on his property could
but admire and rcspct the hefoism,9, Of r. 4, man.
| HoBoKEN, Oct. o.