Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-07-27
RECOLLECTIoss or HENRY CLAY
HTS PresidenttaI Race with James
X. Polk, of Tennessee


h. Polk, Of Tennessee
Correspondence Cincinnati Commercial
Memory this beautiful evening takes
me back to the days of 1914, when the
memorable Presidential race occurred
between the great statesman of Ken
lucky, Henry Clay, and James &, Polk,
Of Tennessee. Mr.. Clay, it will be re.
collected by all old time politicians. was
very 10th to make the race, and for a
long time withstood the earnest petitions
for his consent from all parts of the
country. As dernier resort commit
tee of prominent and influential Wings
was selected, and these gentlemen called
on Mr.. Clay to urge him to be the candi-
date Of the good old Wing party of that
day.
Cincinnati was selected as the meeting
place. The plan was to meet Mr.. Clay
as he was returning to his home at Ash.
land, KY, on the adjournment of the
United States Senate. At that day the
Cincinnati Atlas was published in this
city Started by the well known Nathan
Guilford), and edited by Thomas B.
Stevenson, of Kentucky, a brilliant
writer and a warm friend of Mr.. CLAY
The editorial room of the atlas was Sc
lected as the scene of the conference.
Being connected with the paper, hap.
pened to be in the room at the time. Mr..
Clay and the committee met, and had
the honor to hear the arguments of the
committeeman and the grand and noble
response of the great orator. 1t was a
memorable event in my life.
The gentlemen who composed the
committee, chosen as they were from
different States of the Union, celebrated
for their talents and political influence,
| and enthusiastic in their desire to secure
the great orator and statesman as the
candidate of the Wing party, made
earnest and eloquent appeals to Mr..
Clay for his consent. l regret that l
cannot give the names of the gentlemen
composing the committee, as l have long
since lost my memoranda. But well
recollect the scene. "Old Harry" sat in
Mr.. Stevenson's hickory-withe editorial
chair, with his long legs stretched on to
table. listening intently to the different
arguments from each member, as they
made their strong appeals, and evidently
waiting nervOusly and anxiously to
make his answering speech.
When the last man ended his argu.
ment the old statesman quickly unwOund
his tall form from the chair, and stood
erect in the majesty of his person. He
| commenced in a nervous, quivering
voice, thus: Gentlemen, it is useless. |
can not he your candidate. Worn out
with the cares and vicissitUdes of public
life, strongly desire rest" One of the
committee here jumped to the floor and
said: "Mr. Clay"-"NO, no." said Mr..
Clay, sit is useless to argue with me- |
have made my resolve, and nothing can
swerve me from it." He then walked
| the floor of the room from end to end,
and gave his reasons in a speech that
even Demosthenes and Cicero might have
envied for its intense OratOry and
splendid imagery The burden of it was
that he wished to devote the remainder
of his life to what he called the great
question of the day-the colonization
cause. 1t was a scene grand beyond com
| parisOn-one which l would not have
had left out of my life for worlds
The meeting ended, and that night Mr..
Clay left for his home at Ashland. The
| committee, however, would not cease
their efforts. They followed him to his
home, and recollect Mr.. Stevenson in.
formed me afterward that he accompa.
MED the party, and that the night follow.
ing Mr. Clays arrival at home the com.
mittee made another effort for his con.
sent, pleading all night long, andsat last,
at nearly the dawn of the next day, the
cold man eloquent gave his reluctant
| consent.
He made the race. History gives the
result. His much inferior opponent,
James K. Polk, won the race, and one OF
the greatest men America ever produced
was relegated to private life.
| | well recOllect one of the ending
scenes of that Presidential race. In con.
sequence of the old-time way of getting
the news in that day, the results in the
different States were not learned with
the marvellous swiftness now in vogue.
The States had all been returned but
One-the great State of New York with
| its forty two electoral votes was still
! "Out." Upon the result in that State
| turned the success or defeat of Mr.. Clay.
The AtlGS Office was then situated on
the lower side of Third street, between
Walnut and Sycamore, opposite (W. II.
IL I'LL uAs WAC POob
Here, in the afternoon, vast crowd of
people had assembled to await the news
from New York. For hours they stood
almost breathless with expectation, and
anon the great majority of them were
staunch Wings GLORIOUS old party;
some of them would yell out, ''Hurrah
for Harry ClayP We had then
instead of telegraphs and tele-
phones as now, horseback couriers
to meet the stage coach some
miles out of the city, riding for his life
with the news. The crowd stood ex-
pectant- the courier, on his swift horse,
appeared up Third street, sweeping to-
ward the crowd before the post office.
AS the courier appeared in their midst,
swinging his cap and relating his news,
the stiffness of death ensued. Ali what
shock Harry Clay aoGs defeated !
New York had given her forty-two votes
to James X. Polkl" Then what rage
among the disappointed Wings with ex.
pressions such as: "To the devil with
the abolitionitssP* On New York p
etc.
The people dispersed and returned
sadly to their homes, and thai was the
last scene in Cincinnati of the political
history of grand Old Harry CLAW.