The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-11-16
EARLY NEW YORK pOL,rlcs.
How Mr.. L.yinguton DOT INTO and Out
OF "Dlaicuity."


Pom he Autobiography Of TAHrt0S We'd
In 1918 there was disastrous split in the
Republican party Of this State, Governor
Clinton heading one faction and Mr.. var
Buren, the other. A political and personal
warfare OF unusual virulence characterized
the campaign OF that year. Mr.. Clinton,
an able and vituperative writer, as
sailed the leaders Of the opposite side
through the columns Of the New York
Columbian and the Albany Register.
William L. Marcy, then young
man, and others replied through the col.
umns OF the Albany Argus. One morning
a vehement article, highly denunciatory oil
Gov. Clinton, provoked note from the
gentleman assailed to the editor OF the
ARGUS, demanding the name OF the writer.
MI. Buel, the editor, handed the note Mr..
Van Buren,, who invited Mr.. Charles
+, Dudley, Mr.. William L. Marcy, MIR.
Ben iamin Knower, aud Judge Roger Skin
ner to his house that evening. While
they were discussing the embarrassing
question which Governor Cltnton's note
had raised, the servant brought. feter II
Livingston to the library. Mr.. Clinton was
at the time Governor Of the State, while
Messrs. Van Buren, and Livingston were
members Of the Senate. The con-
yersation. as Mr.. Livingston discover
ed. was interrupted by his appear.
ance. He said, In his usual brusque man.
ner. "You are talking secrets here, and !
have interrupted you" Mr.. Van Buren,
replied. &c oyernor Clinton has demanded
the name Of the writer OF the article in this
morning's A0us, and we we're talking oil
the peculiar awkardness OF exposing the
writer" "There Is nothing peculiar ABOUT
II" responded Mr.. Livingston, "nor need
there be any embarrassment. Send my
name 10 Mr.. Clinton. Mr.. Van Buren, re-
marked: "This Ia no occasion for trihing,
M. Livingston. You know what Mr..
Clinton means BY his demand" "Yca,
Sir" replied Mr.. Livingston, II do know,
and II Is Just what l meaF; l have long
wanted a shot at the damned rascal
Persisting in the ayowal that ne
was the writer, and in the request
that his name ehoutd be given up, they
finally yielded, aud Mt. Bael was instruct
cd accordingly. At a late hour the parties
separated. Just as the day dawned the
following morning Mr.. Van Buren, was
awakened by violent application OF his
knocker, and looking out oil bis bedroom
window, voice, which he recognized as
Mr.. Llvingston's. inquired, ais that you
Van Buren?" On receiving response IN
the affirmative, Livingston said, LET me
In" Mr.. Van Buren, threw on g wrapper,
opened the door, and showed his visitor
into the cold parlor. Mr.. Livingston said:
"What the devil were you talking about
last night when l came in 2" Mr.. Van
Buren replied: 1--WE were talking about
your attack on Governor Clinton in the
Argus" Mr.. Livingston, using q strong
expletive, rejoined: II won't stand
that! You can't your father your paintings
on me. ! had been dining out, was drunk,
and you took advantage OF me-, Ibis
rendered II necessary 10 reasaemb!e the
council OF the previous evening. the rea!
embarrassment was THE: the article had
been written by James King, a young law
yer from Orange county, who had Just OBJ
tained the consent Of William James, q
warm personal and political friend OF
Governor Clinton's, to marry bis daughter,
under pledge TO abstain from poiitics and
devote himself exclusively to his proies.
sion. And now, before the marriage was
celebrated, Mr.. King had written most
abusive attack on bis intended father in
laws intimate friend.
After much and anxious consideration,
il was decided that Mr.. knower should
call on MIR. Isaiah Townsend, a mutual
friend Of Mr.. James and Governor Clinton,
and endeayor, by stating some extenuating
circumstances, to apprise Mr.. Jamea. This,
however, was no easy task, for Mr.. James
was Of stern and implacable disposition
But Mr.. Townsend knew his man, drove
him up to Waterford, drank two or three
glasses Of gin and water, and succeeded in
smoothing over the difficulty. Mr.. Town.
send then proceeded to lay the whole mat.
ter frankly before Gov. Clinton, whose
sense OF the humorous was touched by the
awkward position in which Mr.. Living
ston's sudden beligerency had placed HE
friends, and by the extreme delicacy Of
Mr. Kings domestic relations. He good
naturedIy withdrew his note, and took no
further notice Of the subject.