The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-22
CLAYT0N'S PLEA
A Letter to a Pine Bluff Editor.
He Is Paihsd Because of Senator
Berry's Expressions.
Copy of Letter He Wrote to the
President Elect.
His View of the Assas sination of
his Brother.
He Declares He Did oHor a Big Reward
for the Murderer OF Gen. Hind
man-Tho Robbery of the
Ballot-Box.

bdllOt-bON.
Special Dispatch to The Appeal
Pine BLUFF, Ark, Feb. 2l.-The follow
ing communication of Gen. Clayton APP
peared in this evenings Commercial:
EUREKA SPRINGS Ark, Feb. Is, 1850
c. g. Newman, Pine Bluir Ark:
know you will understand the reason
why have not answered your letter Of
February 10 sooner During the two
weeks following the death OF my brother
made no attempt whatever to answer to
correspondence. The result was that let
tiers accumulated to such an extent rs to
almost overwhclm me, but the past two or
three days have been at work trying to
clear my desk. want to again thank
YOU from the bottom of my heart for the
noble aud manly stand you have
taken in regard TO the assassna.
ton OF my brother. The last arii-
Gle you sent me from your paper was
admirable, coming as il did from Demo.
cratic standpoint All | expect OF honest
Democrats is that they may irown down
all efforts TO disguise and excuse the cuor-
nifty Of this ollense. TO do so is TO lose TO
the people Of Arkansas the valuable lesson
teaches, ms well rs to do a direct injus-
ticc TO your dear friend. let the facts be
made known though the heavens fall"
| have been exceedingly panied by the
/ expressions in the United States Senate,
/ attributed TO Senator Berry in his refer.
/ encc to my administration some twenty
years ago. in which he said. among other
| things, that rs Governor had Offered no
| reward for the assassin OF llludman, and
| attempted 10 make his assassination q
| parallel case with that OF my brother. The
| records 40 Little Rock will show that
offered 81 900 reward for his as
sassin and 500 for each person
accessory thereto and everyone knows
| that his assassination WAS not
considered 10y his friends AZ Helena a. in
any respect q political one. looked for
more manly, honest and noble stand
from Berry. especially when | remember
that my brother John went 10 Little
Rock and usrd his personal influence with
| the Republican members Of the lcgis-
luiurc to secure his frat election. After
the election was over Senator Berry went
10 him aud told him that he owed 10 q
great extent his election TO his services,
aud upon his own yoliton made the
strongest pledges Of future friendship %
him. l. this the way bee rrpays the debit
10 show YOU how unjuslly | have been
criticized los some OF these cNru-rr ! sub
init to Won the following copy ui q letter
sent To- Gen. Harrison few DAYS after my
brothers. assassination, IN response 10 d
telegram Ui coincidence from hIm
"ri>r BIurE Ak. Feb o. i.,p.
"Ilon Benjamin Harrison, Indianapolis lndi
"Dcar Gohcal-l want to thank YOU iol
your kind aud sympathetic Telegram o.
january 81. I'm day or two my brother
VIM. II. H.. and myself will send 10 th,
public through the Associated Press q iru,
aud unbiased statement Of the circum
stances leading 10 the death OF our brother
John. enclose two newspaper clippings
one from the Little Rock Gdahs, a Demo
cratic paper OF fifty years standing, ant
the other from the daily Commercial
Democratic paper Of this city, the HON,
OF our deceased brother These expires
sions are honest, and thinl
mark the commencement Of better days II
Arkansas. II this sacrifice will cause th
people OF this State 10 zee in their tru
light the cnormity Of the crimes ngains
suffrage. which heretofore have been con
I sdcrcd as trivial natter, and correct th
/. evils, then his death viii prove a publ
blessing, the contemplation OF which al
iurds us consolation. loUr truly,
POWELL CLAYTON"
You will sec from this letter that ! al
, tribute honesty Of purpose b. my Demo
, cratic opponents a. represented by th
/. Little Rock G1.oiis and your paper, an
, that when my brother anl ! ancrWar
asserted that our bru,hcrB death was
, political assassination, We did not suppo,
/, that any one would be- foolish enough I
!. infer that wc held each member Of III
I, Democratic party responsible. We q
!. tended to the state what was the fac
I. that his death was one Of the lcgItimal
!. fruits Of corrupt politics II there ha
\ boon no robbery Of hallot-huXCs
, Arkansas. my brother would
I. alive today. n be- had not bee
!. contestant Tor Mr.. Breckenridge
!, seat be- would not have been killed aud
= be- had not been a Republican, this gre
!, crime would not have disgmccd the STAT
!, These are cold facts which no man cn
deny. aud &. they 10 not bear us out IN u
, assertion that bis death was political a
, sas,inati0n then | am willing 10 COME
- that am not capable " understanding Il
!, force Of the English language. Very tru
" youfg. POWELL CLAYruS.