The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-07-16

was regarded as necessary to their peculiar institution. Mir. Clay. return ing from a tour of the Southern States. on reaching Raleigh, N. C.. addressed a letter to the National Intelligencer. dated April IT, proclaiming bis oppo- sition to the annexation of Texas. MT. Parker's telegraphic dispatch did not create more surprise than did the let ter of MT. Clay. A day or two after his letter was received Mir. Clay ar rived in Washing, and was waited on hold the letter from publication until after the meeting of the Whig Con- vention, which met in Baltimore on the 1st of May, 1S44. This MT. Clay re- fused to do in so emphatic a manner that Mir. Gales returned to the office and said MT. Clay had treated him like a schoolboy." MT. Seaton said he would see him that afternoon. Mir. Seaton returned from his interview with MT. Clay. hardly less annoyed than Mir. Gales by Mir. C1ay's persist ence in the publication of the letter. After consultation with Mir. Gales. was sent to request Mir. Clay's permis- sion to withhold the letter from publi- cation for forty-eight hours.
 In the meanwhile the Hon. Reverdy Johnson. and the Hon. Wiley P. Man gum. had been sent for. In the hope that their influence with Mir. Clay would induce him to withhold the letter from publication until the adjournment of the Convention at Baltimore
 I called on MT. Clay at the residence of MT William A, Bradley. then May or of Washington, on Maryland Ave- nue, near the corner of Seventh Street. I found MT. Clay alone in the parlor, and told him I had come from Messrs. Gales and Seaton to request his per- mission to withhold the publication of his letter for forty-eight hours.
 Nor thundered MT. Clay. Tell Messrs. Gales and seaton If my letter is not published tomorrow morning in The National Inteiligencer, I win send 1t to my friends. Messrs. Blair and Reyes, for publicat ton in The Globe"
 MT. Clay's manner was so vehement as to startle me. observing which he laid his hand kindly on my shoulder, and said: N
 My son, have been so annoyed and worried I can hardly contain myself. ."
 I returned to the ofice and informed Mir. Gales of the result of my visit. He simply said: That ends Mir. Clay, Take the letter and hand it to Captain Moore and tell him this is to appear to- morrow morning."
 On the morning of the 27th Of April. 1S44. MT. Clay's letter appeared In the National Intelligencer. and created al- most as much excitement as Judge Par ker's telegram to the Democratic Con vention.
 The Convention mot at Baltimore on the 1st of May, and the Hon. Watkins Leigh made q most eloquent speech in nominating Mir. Clay for the Presiden- cy. and before he had finished his speech the Convention rose en masse and nominated MT. Clay by acclama- tion.
 MT. Van Buren and Mir. Clay were warm personal friends. Their opinions on the annexation of Texas were the same. and 1t was agreed between them, while MT Van Buren was on a visit to Mir. Clay at Ashland. that they should each write letter giving their views in opposition to the annexation of Texas, which should appear in the National Intelligencer and The Globe, the organs of the two parties. At the time this agreement was made the nomination of MT. Van Buren was re- garded as certain, but in consequence of some political movements in the Democratic Party, James K. Polk re- ceived the nomination.
 The election of MT. Clay was regard ed as certain, but the publication of his