The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1878-03-21

By WN. PETTES.

AT the close OF the long session OF
Congress, in the GUNNER Of 1910, Mr.
Clay, with many other members of that
Congress, came to the White Sulphur
Syringe in West Virginia, to spend q
few days before returning to their
homes. One morning be came into my
Office, to secure his seat in the coach
for Gayondotte, on the Ohio river. HIS
party consisted of Hon. John J. Crit
ienden, his colleague in the. senate, and
wife, Hon. VIM. c. Groves; n, c. from
kentucky, and wife, the Hon. Jas G.
Csbell Of Richmond, Mr.. Clay and his
servant man Charles. | told him l
would furnish the party With coach to
themselves and 60 with them myself.
and arrange the hours of travel and rest
to suit them (deadheadlng Is not q
modern invention, by any means.) He
expressed himself much pleased with
the arrangement, and We agreed upon
eight o'clock the next morning for o
start. At the appointed hour, l had a
fine Troy coach with tours, at the
door. The morning was lovely, the
scenery beautiful, and the conversation
of such company was Of course enter
tanning. sat and listened as become o
young man in such company
Mr.. Cabell was tho president OF the
James river and Kanawha company, on
whose turnpike road We were riding,
and strong advocate of state rights
and of the right and duty Of each state
to shape its legislation for its own,
and against the interest of their neigh
bors, and was opposed to the granting
permission to the Baltimore and Ohio
3. r. to cross the SO called pan handle,
of Virginia, to Wheeling, as it would
divert the trade from Richmond to Bal.
timore. Mr.. Clay was the well known
advocate of the American System,
which aimed to bind all the states to-
gether, and make the interest of ono the
interest of all.
Each presented the strong points of
bis case, and most of the day was spent
in dicussing this topic; both parties
waxing warm at times on this subj ct.
Mr.. Cabell was man of first rate abili.
ty and this discussion of these great
men is fresh in my mind after the lapse
of thirty seven years.
Passing by Lewisburg and the Blue
Sulphur Springs, we stopped to dine at
Crock Castle" on the summit of Big
Senell mountain, and at night reached
"Breedlors," having made fifty nine
miles over the highest spur Of tho AL
leghanies, where We stopped for the
night. Starting the next morning after
. good nights sleep and comfortable
breakfast, We crossed Cooley Noun
tain, stopping to view the wonderful
cliff known as the "haxk's nest" and
descended into the Kanawha valley. Fol
lowing along the bank of this beautiful
river We reached Charleston, the pres
ent Capitol of West Virginia, in the
evening, and there we passed our second
night.
Messers Clay and Cabell being such
good company, have almost lost sigh,
Of the rest OF the party. And as two OF
them were ladies, 1 must neglect them
no longer.
Mrs. Crittenden and Mrs. Groves were
sisters, and both very accomplished
women. Mrs. Groves informed me, that
since the duel between her husband and
Mr.. Cllley OF Maine, which resulted tat.
tally to the latter, her husband never
travelled without her, rs he did not like
to sleep in room alone, or in tho dark,
but always kept lamp burning during
the night. HIS looks were haggard and
bis manner absrracted as one not AT
peace with himself. The Harrison and
Tyler campaign was at it's height and
both he and Mr.. Crittenden took great
interest in the result. Mr.. Groves ad
dressed large meeting at g.
in the evening, and ] remember his
saying, if tho Wings were defeated he
WAS ready to shoulder q musket and
help to wrest the government from the
then dominant party. Happily no such
crises came. Mr.. Crittenden was too
we'll balanced man to allow himself
in any such extravaganza of speech, and
tho next day expressed his regret that
Mr.. Grove had made SO imprudent q
remark.
The next morning we crossed to the
west bank of the Kanawha and crossed
Coal Mountain and passed through the
Teays valley, arrived at Gayandotte in
the middle of the afternoon.
The conversation during the day was
political but Mr.. Clay took no part, doz-
ing In his seat q good deal Of the time. The
river was very low and only small boats run
ming A crowd OF passengers were at the ho-
tells waiting for boat to come down the river
and a. We drove into town one Was seen APP
preaching. A score of handkercheifs were
waving for her to land. but no tap OF the bell
followed. She was black with passengers and
no room for more. l had the coach driven
70 the top Of the bank ard got up on top Of il
and requested silence, hailed the boat and told
them, Henry Clay and party wished 10 go
down the river. The bell tapped and the boat
rounded too and approached the landing. 4
rush Of passengers now made tor the landing
when the Captain hailed the shore, and told
them he would not take any on but Mr.. Clay
and party, and he added ''he would take them
II had to throw the engines overheard"
Upon hearing this Mr.. Clay remarked II do
not know why IL Is that am always treated
with such courtesy and he related the fol-
lowing incident: Il was in New Orleans
some years ago and wanted TO come up the
river on . certain day. Blu: the only boat TO
leave was one owned in Louisville By my Bit
ter political enemies. But I went on board
with my party Of four persons and at p
one Of the owners came on board and when |
vent 20 the clerk to settle my fare. he told me
that Nj the owner on board. told him not
% take any fare from me or my party and that
was welcome to the trip" And said Mr.. {.
Il could hardly restrain my tears when
went 70 Mr.. - to thank him."
The intercourse between Mr.. Clay and his
body servant Charles WAS very polite He