Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-06-16
RnsgY CLAY AS A pAoPakh
A Forecast Ofthe RebeIliOn-The
Wing statesman's opinion of
Zachary Taylor.

a hitherto unpublished letter from
Henry Clay, marked private and
confidential" and dated Ashland
August Is, 1S4S," and addressed to
James E. Harvey. Speaking Of
the proposed introduction Of
slavery in the newly acquired Terrific.
ries of New Mexico and California,
Mr.. Clay alludes to the fact of the
long continued supremacy of the
South in national affairs, and continues
thus:
Taking all circumstances into view
and especially seeing that the South
would yield no available privileges,
think, in a spirit of harmony and
union, that it ought magnanimously
to consent to the proposed introduc.
ton of slavery in New Mexico and
California. II it continues to oppose
it, it will, in my opinion, nevertheless,
finally prevail, and the con-
fiict, exasperated by bitter con-
tention, and mutual passions, will
either lead to dissolution ofthe Union
or deprive it Of that harmony which
can alone make the Union desirable.
1t will lead to the formation of sec.
tional and Northern party, which will,
sooner or later, take permanent and
exclusive possession ofthe government
The South, impatient under such a
prescription, would ultimately be
tempted to break off from the union
in the government of which it had no
share. | wish l could see, more
clearly than | do, how these disas
astrous consequences can be averted.
Parties are becoming more and more
pitted against each other. They will
hereafter be marked by greater vio-
lence. The Southern members of
Congress, anxious to retain and con-
ciliate the good opinion of their
constituents by contending for those
apparent rights, will not yield. They
will even. some Of them, suppress their
private opinions that they ought to
yield, in Difference to their constitu-
ents, or from desire to preserve their
popularity. | lament that | can not
see among them any who are disposed
to rise to the magnitude OF the occa.
sion, to speak boldly and fearlessly the
truth to their constituents, and sacri-
ficing themselves, if necessary, to
save the harmony if not the existence
Of the Union by the surrender Of an
empty privilege.
In the meantime the North, stimu-
lated and encouraged by the advan.
tages of the position in the controver-
sy which they occupy, smarting under
she conviction that their interests
have been sacrificed by and they
made instruments in extending what
they denominate the slave power, and
countenanced and sustained by the
moral forces derived by the course
aud the opinions of foreign nations,
will persevere and never give up the
contest. II seems to me that the only
alternatives are: First, retrocession
of New Mexico and California; or,
second, their continued exemption
from the presence of African slavery"
In subsequent portion of the letter
commenting on General Taylor's Pres
idential candidacy, Mr.. Clay says:
~ see nothing in the attempt to
elect General Taylor to animate my
zeal or to arouse my patriotism. Ire
gard it as one to construct mere per
sonal party upon the basis of military
popularity, without any known prin-
ciple of administration. For a great
part of my life have been opposed to
the elevation Of military men TO the
Presidency without knowledge or ex-
perience in civil affairs. You and /,
last year, in some correspondence on
this subject which passed between US,
entirely agreed. You went 80 far as to
say that if General Taylor were to be
the candidate you would quit the field
OF politics. He IS the merest Military
man ever offered to the American
people for that Office. He never filled
any civil station ia his life, the greater
part of which has been spent in the
camp. General jackson had filled
high civil stations, and the larger por-
ton of the life Of General Harrison
had been passed in high civil employ
ments. General Taylor has, l
think, in his numerous letters,
shown much instability. Of that you
and have both seen evidence. Such
a man, if elected, must inevitably
fall into the hands of others, and who
they will be | know not. Judging
from what ] know Of human nature,
it is to be feared they will be those
who fawn upon and fstter him most.
[ have been repeatedly asked, nay,
importuned, to volch for him as a
Wing; but | could not say more Of
him than he has himself said, and he
has again and again repudiated all
obligations tosupport Wing measures.
If l were to induce any Wings to
support him, by my public acts, and
his administration should afterWard
disappoint us, | should be justly
liable to reproaches. cannot vote
for or support either Cass or Van
Buren,. There is chance for a bet
ter administration under General
Taylor than either Of them would
give US, aud that chance may de.
termine me to vote for him. But
self respect, the consistency Of my
character and my sense of duty viii
restrain me from taking any active OIL
partisan part in the canvass. With
the views entertain, believe thai
to be my true course"
$4,000 Reward
For any case of weakness, i'll health
dyspepsia, Indigestion, nervous debili