Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1901-01-10


valuable papers which are to become
the property Of the Mississippi Histor-
ical Society. They were sent by the
Hon. Thos. VI. Wade. of Tensas parish,
Louisiana. aud n member OF the legis-
lature OF that State. but . native Of
Mississippi aud n descendant Of one Of
her historic families. Que is an auto
graph letter OF Henry Clay. dated Oct
:. ise2. and addressed 10 Hon Thos. Il.
Reed. OF Mississippi. at that time attor-
ney general OF the State. and from iss5
TO ls29 one Of our United States seua-
tors Mr.. Reed was native Of ksa-'
tueky and a man Of unusual culture
and extraordinary ability. though lack
ing in personal popularity. lie landed
at hatcher in search Of his professional
fortune. but without sufficient money
TO pay drayage on his small trunk In
few years. however. he was the ae-
kno~ledged head OF the bar in that
city. and became q eouspicuous and po-
tsntial figure in Mississippi politics and
jurisprudence.
The letter Of Mr.. Clay Is intensely in
teresting. After disposing Of bust
ness matter in which he was no; reluc-
tant 10 look after his fee. he discusses
In q free and confidential way his
chances for the presidency. While no
doubt his oft-quO;ed expression was
true. that he would rather be right
than be president he very much de-
sired to be president. and died disap-
pointed man His reference 10 the
proposed action Of n Legislature recalls
a political custom Of that early day
for legislatures 10 express their prefer
ene- for the next presidency. They
were in the nature Of nominations. and
were doubtless very potential in deter
mining the anal result
The reference To his criticism Of the
conduct Of the Seminole war-a censure
of General Jacksou-revives interest
in n great congressional debate. George
POindexter was the champion ofGeneral
jackson. aud the consensus OF opinion
was that the great Kentuckian won no
lanrels in that contest In after years.
Poindexter was the most determined
enemy of his administration. The en-
tire letter of Mr.. Clay can but be re-
garded a. 4 valuable historic document.
The other paper contains list of
notes aud accounts due Harmon Blen-
nerhassett in the hands of A Whiting
for collection II is dated ''Natchez.
March 10. ls19.- On the hack is receipt
No. /. with the signature Of liar. Blen-
nerhassett-
In forwarding these interesting treas
ures to Bishop Galloway. the Hon. Mr..
Wade writes as follows: This letter
was given me by nv father. Isaac Bar
row Wade, of jefferson county. Miss,
just before his death on Jan. 10, 1891.
My father was a nephew of Mrs. Thos.
Il. Reed-Mrs- Reed was Margurate
Ross. daughter of Capt. Isaac Ross.
who came to Mississippi in 1877. and
settled on the Prospect Hill plantation
in jefferson county. lie came from
South Carolina, where he distinguished
himself under the gallant Sumpter at
the battle of the Cowpens- Mrs Reeds
first husband was n DIR. Archer, of
Port Gibson My father administered
on his estate, and some OF Mr.. Reeds
papers fell into his possession
In behalf of the Mississippi Historical
Society. Bishop Galloway makes CRATE
full acknowledgment to Mr.. Wade for
this generous and thoughtful presenta-
ton
The following is q correct copy of
Mr.. Clay's letter:
ASHLAND, Oct :, is.ss
Dear Sir-I received your obliging letter
Of the 5th ultimo. with the bill Of sxcep-
tions in the case Of Mr.. Walton inclo<ed
in il. think and hope that the Judgment
against him will he reversed upon one or
both of the second and third grounds stated
in the bill Of exceptions He may rely
upon my best exertions TO produce that re-
suit Is time at all desirable to hint IL
Is not unlikely, IL he wishes IL, that the trial
Of the writ Of error may be postponed
until the term after the next To me it
will be indifferent at which term it Is
brought on, as l shall attend both The
customary fee in the supreme court Is Eve
hundred dollars, which may be remitted to
me in whole or in part, as soon as con-
venient-
lam very highly gratifed to learn that
the use which my friends have thought
proper to make Of my name In relation to
high office meets your appreciation; and
thank you for thecandid manner in which
you have communicated the principal OBJ
lection which you think exists against me
in your State. Nothing upon earth can be
more unfounded than the imputstion TO me
of personal motives in the disapprobation
which felt il my duty to express in the
house of representatives Of the conduct Of
the Seminole war. My relations. on the
contrary. up to that hour with the distin-
guished general implicated. were of the
most amicable kind, and such as wish long
to cherish felt great reluctance in pro-
nouncing Q censure upon his conduct Moth
ing would have induced me to have done it
but deep and solemn sense OF public duty.
And now declare most sincerely that, in
looking back upon the part which l acted
on that memorable occasion, / =m utterly
unable to find or to feel even the slightest
cause of self-reprosch-
Du. ing . visit which made to Ohio in
the las. month, to attend the Federal court
IT Columbus, from all quarters and from
all parties, Learned that the disposition, in
that State, was almost unanimous to sup
port me for the next presidency. Indeed
the manifestations of ardor, in their
espousal Of my interests, were not less fer
vent than those which are made in Ken
tucky. Ny friends even assured me that
there was much reason to believe that .
nomination would be made of me at the
next session Of the legislature. A similar
measure, understand, IS in contemplation
in this and other States. OF the utility of
these Recommendations there can be no
doubt. They form so many necleui- And
their influence will be felt whether there IS
or is not . congressional caucus II such q
measure should be thought Of with you it
had better not be attempted without a
moral certainty of succesL Gov. Carroll
recently wrote me from Nashville that he
L. go