Jasper Banner, Volume 3, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 October 1856 — Letter from Mrs. Clay. [ARTICLE]

Letter from Mrs. Clay.

The malicious and wicked falsehoods which have been circulated to iiyure Mr. James B. Clay, one of which we heard repeated by Mr. Coi.fax on Saturday last: “that he [Mr. Clay] had for his private benefit, manufactured his father’s house into canes, and sold them, and that he was mean enough to sell his father’s bones for buttons,” has so outraged the feelings of his aged mother that she has been compelled, over her own signature, to publish a refutation of these calumnies: September 8, 1850. To Judge Thomas A. Marshall and James O. Harrison, Esq , Gentlemen— *

Having seen from time to time, the most abusive and unjust attacks made upon my son, James B. Clay, in the Louisville Journal, I had hoped that among the many who have professed to be the friends of the father, might be found some willing and anxious to vindicate the son, knowing as many of them must know the injustice and untruths contained in those attacks. But as such hopes appear to be fruitless, repugnant as it is to me to appear in any way before the public 1 feel that it is a duty that I owe to the memory of my husband, to say to you. his Executors, and through you to the public, that the charges made against my »on James are utterly false; that he possessed the love, respect, and confidence of his father, and was ever to both his father and myself a most affectionate and dutiful son; always endeavoring to alleviate our sorrows and add to our happiness. His father took his advice in the making of his last will, and at all times advised and consulted freely and affectionately with him, having confidence in his love, integrity and judgment. He was not with his father at the time of his death, it being the expressed desire of his father, knowing the condition of his family—in a distant State—upon a new place,among strangers, his wife in feeble health, herself but lately bereaved of a father, that he should not leave them and go to him. He was present at his father’s funeral directing the mournful preparations and offering words of consolation and of comfort to his widowed mother.

It was my husband’s desire and hope that his son James should be the possessor of Ashland, and altho’ it had been my intention to reside at Ashland during my lifetime, yet partly owing to the tumbling, ruinous condition of the house, through one of you, Mr. James O. Harrison, I begged my son to come and purchase the place. I have only to add,gentleman, that I make this statement to you without the knowledge of my son James, and to regret once more that I should have been drawn forth from the privacy and seclusion in which I nad hoped to pass the brief remnant of my life. Yours, very truly,

LUCRETIA CLAY.