New-York tribune., 1886-08-01

whites who were much better class Oh men III
Kentucky than in the cotton states; Dut all the
strongest forces of society. as well as the grea.
numerical majority were arrayed against him. and
it is n, figure of speech to say that he babltua'Y
took the stump at the peril of his life. After
his duel with Wlckl.ne he resolved to waste no
rore time in such affairs, but announced
that he should always defend himself II
attacked A duel might result in but little
or no bodily harm, but reconnter with me
meant death to one or the other party
Ir lie appears rather truculent hero, whose
story has the IIomerc relish for hand-to-hand
conflicts and gaping wounds. 1t must be remem-
bcreA that in the swashbuckcr politics of Ken
tucky before the war 10 other sort of hero had a
chance to appear at all. An anti slavery agltator
who was always ready for "A personal " difficulty"
who could back his opinions with pair ol reNo!-
yers. who would rot take the lie who could not he
frightened who could pit one mob against another,
and who in extreme cases, was prepared to rip his
advcrsarys bowels ont, was n species OF apostle
which the slave party regarded with equal
astonishment and respect. Wien Clay started an
anti-slave7y newspaper ut Lexington. called The
True dmnican he pat the establishment ut once
upon a warfooting. al selected tor my Office
brick building. aud lined the out side doors with
sheet iron to prevent it being burned. purchased
two brass four-pounder cannon at Cincinnati' ana
placed Them loaded with shot and nails on tah'e
breast high: had folding doors secured with
chain which could open upon the mob, and give
play TO my cannon. | furnished my oilce WIN
Mexican lanccs and n limited number OF guns
There were six eight persons who stood ready 10
defend me. If defeated they were to esrape by
trap-door in the roof; and ] had placed keg OF
Ter, with a match which could set OIL ana
blow up the Office and all my invaders; ana ms
should most certainly have dono IN case oil inc
last extremity" The press captured by mob
and shipped to Cincinnati but the paper continued
to appear. being edited in Lexington and printed
on the Ohio side of the
After dcncuncinr the annexation OF Texas Clay
10 the surprise of his Northern friends. volunteered
for the Mexican war. He says that he did this
because he felt that military distinction. in tight
ing state like Kentucky. was important for his
political career. HIS hopes however. were dis
APPOINTED for he was taken prisoner without seeing
battle and was not released until the close of the
war He was captain in Colonel humphrey
Marshali's regiment Another captain IN the same
command was the Colonels cousin, Thomas r.
Marshall one of Clay's bitterest political enemies
Some anecdotes Of the feud between them give us
a curious idea Of the discipline maintained in the
American camps zone evening" says Clay,
" when was officer of the dly. and the guardtent
was full of soldiers for several offences, especially
drunkenness Tom came in also drunk. Iinnc-
diaely reported hlm to the Colonel, who took no
notice of it. So. returning to the guard on horse
back said in loud tone. that all the regiment
could hear 1t: Officer of the guard, Captain Mar
shal, has entered the camp drunk. contrary to
Orders As he is allowed to 60 unpunshed TO his
tent order You to discharge all the prisoners as
| intend to enforce so far rs have the power,
equal Justice i'll this camp so the prisoners were
released Colonel Marshall took 10 notice of It
and there was not force enough IN his power 10
have punished Inc. ! thus became more than ever
popular with the regiment" In another passage
Clay remarks that Colonel Humphrey M'rshall
VIVA q an a,niable gentleman" He must have been
if he stood that Many years ateIwfrd Clay made
n paralcl exhibition of military insuhordnation.
when. being 1t the time a Major General OF volun-
teers. he delivered public speech IN Washington
roundly denouncing the policy of Mr. LincoIns
Administration with respect to slavery ana dccIar-
ing that he would never draw his sword whlIe
slavery was protected III the rebel States. The
truth is that Clay was much too independent to
he a useful subordinate in any line OF HE W no
ever rode with him uust ride behind.
On the slavery question lie quarrcled equally with
the Southern leaders and with the Northern alb
clifton cranks" He wished 20 put an end TO the
institution of slavery by constitutional state
action. and his view of State rights was not always
distinrnishablc trom hat OF the Calhoun school.
He had no strong attachments to party; after
acting with political organization while II seemed
TO hlin harmonious with his principles, lie would
not hesitate TO do his best to break II to pieces II
tnat seemed to him cxpedlent for the moment lie
began as Wing and congratulated hnoth lew
wears later that he had killed the Wing party OF
Kentucky forever. He supported Henry Clay IN
ls4I. making impassioned speeches for HIM at the
North, here it was thought that his imprudencc
insured Clay's defeat. Complaints OF TINS hlnn
led toa falling out both with the Wing party and
with its distinguished leader and ia ISIS he was
one Of the chief spirits in preventing Clays re
nomination and causing the party to take MP
General Taylor. After TaylOr'- election he acted
with the Democrats, supporting John {. Breck-
inridee for Congress against RoLert i. Lctchcr
but in 1896 he canvasscd The North for Fremont.
Abraham Lincoln one of his audience AT
Springfield. H.. and tattcred myself" he says,
" when Lincoln listened 10 my animated appeals for
liberty for more than two hours that sowed
there seed which in due time bore irut.' In $50.
in n published letter, he took pains to separate
himself from the " Radical AbolitionIsts," and to
denOnncc any illegal interference with slavery
but al the same time he was dlssatIsiod with Mr..
Scwarl's unconditional Unionsm and believed
lIat since tHc VIII nid dl'"uJ NIit""'iD "'"hO"
out in Kansas to make all slave or free States the
nation had a right TO destroy slavery means of
seif-prescrvatiOn. He supported Lincoln and
during the war was often classcd with the Radical
wing Of the Republican party. In ISL he joined
the Democrats; but he acted again with the
Republicans in the Blaine campaign Of 1854,
holding that the Southern states having now been
restored to legitimate sei-rule, the principal
duty of "A patriot WAS TO confront the danger Of
a Solid South by All equally Solid North. Keeping
party ties so loose, General Clay has naturally
been called eccentric in his politics; but those who
will take the trouble TO read his speeches viii see
IL at lie has 60 yerned his conduct by certain lines
quite clear to hun though thev may hayo escaped
the notice of others
IJo ,roe o,ro;,+oJ M;pia,.r ia Pueaia IN IScI