Sisseton Posten. [volume] (Effington, Sud Dakota [S.D.]) 1902-19??, 1910-07-28
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The Political Trip That Henry
Clay Cut Short.
hls Farewell Tour Of tho Old WhIq
States Was Suddenly Ended by
tho JocuIar Reproof Of Judge
Polndexter.
BY E. J. EDWARDS.


The other day I told the anecdota
Of how Henry Clay. a few days prior
to his retirement as secretary Of state
under President John Quincy Adams.
turned one of his worst villifiers into
one Of his staunchest supporters The
late Judge William Henry Hunt, who
was secretary of the navy in Presi-
dent Garfleld's cabinet. ia my authori-
ty for to-day's story OF the political
trip that Henry Clay cut short
you may remember reading that
after Mr. Clay was defeated for the
presidency in 1874 by James X. Polk,
he decided to retire permanently from
public life" said Judge Hunt But
It seemed to him that he should make
a sort Of farewell tour, visiting his
friends in the old Whig states, thank
Ing them for their support, bidding
them good-by, and telling them that
he proposed to spend his remaining
days as a sage In his beautiful coun-
try home In Kentucky
well, he took that farewell tour,
and among other places that he visit.
ed was New Orleans. He had a warm
Whig friend there in Charles M. Con-
rad. who afterwards became F1llmore's
secretary of war Mr.. Conrad's planta-
tion home was not far from that Of
Gen. Zachary Taylor, who succeeded
Polk in the Whit House. To his home
Mr.. Conrad invited Mr. Clay to spend
a few days, and. perhaps as added In
ducements to Mr.. Clay, Mr. Conrad
stated that he expected his daughter
back in a few days and that Mr. Clay
would also have opportunity to meet
one Of his colleagues in the senate,
Judge Poindexter of Mississippi.
"But no sooner had he mentioned
Judge Poindexter's name than he real
ized that the Judge and Mr.. Clay were
not friends They looked alike and
had been friends, but some political
quarrel had parted them. Mr. Clay.
seeing Mr.. Conrad's embarrassment,
came gallantly to the rescue. IT
would give me the greatest possible
pleasure to meet Judge Poindexter in
your home he said, then and there
accepting Mr. Conrad's invitation
"A few days after Mr. Clay's arrival
at the Conrad plantation. the bride,
with her husband. returned and upon
the Same steamboat with them came
Judge Poindexter. Mr. Clay was intro
duced to the bride. He looked first at
her and then at her mother Charm
N hriA hn a n
made q profound bow, what can | say
10 you in the presence of such a moth
er as you have? Then he added rs
he glanced in the direction of his old
enemy: And I sincerely congratulate
you that you have been so fortunate
to have as a travelling companion for
n brief distance one of the grandest
intellects, and one Of the most charm
ing gentlemen ! have ever met from
the south-Judge Poindexter'
There was nothing for the Judge TO
30 after that but melt. which he did
little while the two men become so
intimate that they were Joking with
each other.
"A few evenings later Mr. Clay he
gan expatiatng upon the beauty Of
domestic life such as that which Mr..
Conrad enjoyed. adding that he
thought it was the duty and privilege
of every man who had a charming
home to spend all the time his public
and professional duties would permit
with his family.
"'There you go again. .ne same old
Harry of the West. preaching what
you don't practice laughed Judge
Poindexter, as he lay stretched out on
a sofa
"'You should make yourself n little
more clear, Judge Poindexter. so that
may not be embarrassed smilingly
retorted Mr.. Clay.
"'Why, you old scoundrel,' ex-
claimed the Judge, you come down
here to preach domestcity to US, and
you haven't seen your own home or
family for six months. Go practice
what you preach
Mr.. Clay thought moment.
You have me there, SENATOR he
said slowly, you have me there, and
declare | believe TIL accept your ad.
vice, although really have been on .
political mission. Yes. I'll start home
day after tomorrow
And he did" ended Judge Hunt
{Copyright, 1909, by e. J. Edwsrdal