Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 46, Number 260, 12 September 1921 — Page 7

THE RICHMOND PALLADIUM AND SUN-TELEGRAM, RICHMOND, IND., MONDAY, SEPT. 12, 1921.

E AGE SEVEN

all ii

Eliza D. Mendenhall

by you of the sacred boon or freedom,

and set an example that "would do much good to suffering and debased humanity, and do an act altogether worthy of a great and good man." Exciting Scenes. ' An exciting scene followed the readins of the petition. The vast throng of people swayed back and forth like the waves of the sea, and the militia (or what seemed to be the militia, says Marshall Diggs), improvised for the occasion probably Clay's bodyguard from Dayton and the cavalcade from Indianapolis come to escort him thither, with a few of old Wayne's young and fiery spirits immediately advanced toward Mendenhall with bayonets converged to lift him from the 6tand, as they had previously declared they would do. "I was there and saw it all." writes Marshall Diggs, a most reputable witness, whose letter I have specific and

intact. Clay, realizing the gravity of the

situation, hastened forward, appealing in his masterly way:

"Tor God's sake, for my sake, for your sakes, forbear! Forbear, fellow citizens, forbear! " All accounts agree that this was the cry of Henry Clay the real appeal for

lLocal Club to Mark Site of

mswric siasn nere in iotz Plans Under Way to Put Up Tablet Where Henry Clay Delivered Fiery Speech in Answer to Petition of Local Friends Committee.

Action taken by the Richmond Kiwanis club to erect a tablet on the site of the famous Clay-Mendenhall episode of 1842 recalls to the mind of residents of tnis city a historic event that had considerable effect in shaping the policies of the political parties of that day. Hiram Mendenhall, a Randolph county farmer, and distinguished by

his uncompromising devotion to principle, was a member of an abolition committee sent to present a petition to Clay, asking that he free the slaves owned bv him. Eliza D. H. Mendenhall, of 27 North West Seventh street. Richmond, has written a history of the episode which covers the entire happening thoroughly. Her father. Dr. Edwin Hadley, was a first cousin of Hiram Mendenhall. Mendenhall's Biography Of Hiram Mendenhall she writes: . Hiram Mendenhall was a man of only ordinary education but with goodly presence and strong convictions. He was defeated in 18218 in his nomination for the state legislature by a rumor declaring that he had signed a petition praying that "the negro population be granted the right of suffrage, and we have in our possession a copy

of The Palladium of Aug. 23, 1838, in which he personally denies this report declaring that "first they must be pre

pared for the ballot by education. Car! Scburz has called Mendenhall

La, "peasant farmer," and he was afarr"?aer whose ancestors had their plough-

lands taxed in the Doomesday Books of

the Conqueror. He served his sense of justice as truly in homespun as his ancestors ever did in armor. The True Republican of Feb. 20, 1862, says concerning Hiram Mendenhall: "His nam will go down In history with Henry Clay in this affair. "He was a leading citizen of Randolph county, a man of radical views generally, honest and philanthropic but distinguished above all by his indomitable and uncompromising devotion to principle the very opposite of Henry Clay, the great compromiser." Clay's Opinion Henry Clay, "the great compromis

er, declared the Abolitionist served; only to fasten the evil of slavery more firmly upon the south. Meeting in open convention at "NewPort, the Indiana State Anti-Slavery society named Daniel Worth, Peter Crocker, H. H. Way and Israel Frencn to present a petition to Henry Clay at the time of his visit to Richmond, calling on him to liberate his slaves. The committee drafting this petition was to require reasons from Clay if he refused to accede to their demands. Whig circles looked upon these resolutions by the society as a "breach of hostility" and an insult to Clay. Ot temper of the people at this time Eliza Mendenhall writes: The Anti-Slavery Chronicle of Sept.. 24, 1842, said: "We hear there are great threats of violence, if the committee should attempt to present this petition." And the newspapers warned the anti-slavery people and discouraged "these disgraceful threats," as it termed them in an issue of the same

Uwlate. rW nieeontinet Aooarent.

There was a muttering of "discontent and defiance," even in good old Wayne, said the chief Whig paper. The spirit was preparing there that would have silenced a Whittier and a Garrison elsewhere the same spirit that mobbed Charles Sumner on the streets of Boston and martyred a Lovejoy. Irwin Reed, Dr. James Mendenhall. ( Hiram Mendenhall's uncle) and James Raridan, member of congress, drove in a barouche to New Paris, where they met Clay and his delegation coming on horseback from Daytou. Railroads and reputable highways were an unknown quantity at that time. During his stay in this city, Clay was a guest at the old Nixon house

afterwards known as the Huntington,

on the corner of Seventh and Main streets. The "great speech" -was de

livered where St. Mary's Community

House now stands.

Send Note to Clay. The abolition committee wishing to i learn when Clay would receive them, sent him the following note: "We, who are appointed a committee by a large convention of people to present to Henry Clay a petition signed by nearly two thousand citizens of Indiana respectfully ask him to communicate the hour that such an interview -would be most convenient." Sijrned by Daniel Worth. Peter Crocker, Hiram Mendenhall and Samuel Mitchell. The last two names were substituted by the committee instead of H. H. Way and Israel French, fihft were absent.

Hiram Mendenhall, accompanied by Samuel Mitchell, handed the note to Irwin Reed, one of the Clay committee and they were informed after sore consultation that the petition could not be received until Sunday morning at his lodgings. The plan was changed, however. This was due to Raridan, who said: "Let them present their petition," then turning to Clay, "then give them hell." Mendenhall Volunteers. The Abolition committee, which had disbanded in the meantime hurriedly got. together, and seeing it -would be difficult to reach th speaker's stand because of the crowd's temper, called for a volunteer. It was at this point tha.tHiram Mendenhall came to the front. He said: "I slowly made my way to the stand, amid j-houts and curses such as "damn him! Kill him! Shoot him!" Raridan took the petition from Mendeniiall and read it in a loud voice. Clay did not deign to touch the document. It read as follows: "We, the undersigned citizens of Indiana, in view of the declaration o rights contained in the charter of American independence; in view of that justice which is due from man to his fellow men; in view of all those noble principles, which should characterize the patriot, the philanthropist

J pectfully to unloose the heavy burden

'Clid let the oppressed, who call you master under your control go free. By doing so you would give liberty unto whom liberty is due and do no more than justice to those under your charge who have long been deprived

a life in danger. They yielded to his powerful presence and generous appeal which probably saved Hiram Mendenhall personal violence. His son, Aaron, in a letter of May 10, 1896 concerning this event says: y Clothing Ripped. "All 1 ever learned was in listening to a recital by him on his return home in the night, as they made a deep Impression upon my mind at the time then only 14 years old." The Free Labor Advocate and the Anti-Slavery Chronicle published the text of Clay's reply Oct 15. 1842. There were no stenographic reports of this speech, but the committee presenting the petition, expecting that many versions would be given, gave their full and candid statement of the transaction with as much of Clay's reply taken down from their notes as well as they could be gathered in the tumult. The Free Labor Advocate and AntiSlavery Chronicle published them Oct. 15, 1842. Describes Clay. In speaking Clay would move back and forth majestically and every time

he approached Mendenhall he would!

fling his hand in his face very near his nose. Mendenhall, say several eye witnesses, whose letters are preserved sat calmly under his tirades, not even flinching from the hand, and when the crowd would yell, "Pull him down, drag him out!" Clay would say, "Oh no, my friends, he don't know 'any better don't hurt him." Henry Clay had come on a mission of peace to Indiana, hoping to win the united Quaker vote. He proclaimed, "that the petitioners should be treated with respect and utmost propriety they have my kindnest regards." Then forgetting about this "kindest regards' he exclaimed:

"This act of presenting the petition was unworthy the dignity of an American citizen; that their motives were of the most ungenerous character; that the signers were Democrats and those a shade darked." He said that

in visiting Indianapolis he could not

dominate, should the principles in your petition be granted, extermination and blood would be the result. Yours are the revolutionary principles of Thomas Door of Rhode Island." He then enumerated his slaves. "I treat them all kindly," he said. "50 souls in all, as well clad, as well shod ag you, Mr. Mendenhall, among them a poor, old helpless women and her family. What shall I do with them? Turn them out to starve?" "Go home, go home, Mr.' Mendenhall and mind your own business! Slavery is our misfortune, not our fault, but whether our misfortune or our fault, it is none of your business. Your efforts have put back the cause of emancipation 50 years. We think in Kentucky that what the law says is property is property. Joseph Gurney (meaning Joseph John Gurney) and the society of Friends to which he belongs, sympathize with their white brethren as well as their black. They do not denounce and condemn." Concludes Speech. Clay concluded his speech with a recapitulation of the arguments in his discourse, referring to those "great principles cf freedom for which our fathers died." " And there lie all the last remains of those principles!" said Hiram Mendenhall, pointing to the roll of petition several yards long lying before him. This great speech reached New York as soon as the mails of the day could carry it, and angered the antislavery element into more effective opposition, which then as now was the pivotal state of the union. There was general lamentation for the great political chief who had thrice gone down in defeat, and great bitterness of spirit. Clay's vote was 1,294,912; Polk's jote was 1,336,196; and Birney's was 62,127. Birney's vote, cast with Clay's would have defeated the Democratic nominee. When Polk's presidency was assured the New York papers unfurled their editorial banners announcing

Police Hold Arbuckle

go through the air or water, but mustj significantly: "We are at home, Mr.

travel by land and must pass through

Richmond." ."The declaration of Rights' was not intended by those who formed that document as you interpret it.' "he said. "Thirteen of the states who formed that declaration held slaves at tha very time. "Yours is a new interpretation. Had those sentiments been understood as you understand them we should have all been slaves to this very day. There

Clay.'

During his stay here, Clay attended the Indiana Yearly meeting. He was the guest of honor at a reception at the home of Stephen B. Stanton Saturday evening, the day on which he arrived.

STUDY HOSPITAL ACTIVITIES (By Associated Press)

WEST BADEN, Ind., Sept. 12.

fs noTa man who' deplo'reTslavey j Standardization of hospital forms and

more than I do. It is not only an evil.

but a great evil. Do the abolitionists think that they know more about our business than we do, ourselves? That man is not worthy of public trust who does not regard the prejudices of. the people. Slaves Must Be Prepared. "The slaves must be prepared for freedom before they can receive that great boon. They must have moral cultivation. The society of Friends take the right stand on this question. In those states where the slaves pre-

Roscoe (Fatty) Arbuckle Roscoe (Fatty) Arbuckle. screen actor, was booked on a charge of murder last night in connection with the death of Miss Virginia Rappe, motion picture actress, who died following a party in the comedian's rooms.

records In order that a comparative

study may be made of hospital activities will be one of the principal subjects of discussion at the twenty-third annual conference of the American Hospital association which opened here today. The convention ' will continue throughout Friday. The Indiana Hospital association, of which Dr. George F. Keiper of Lafayette, Ind., is president, is host to the national association.

FOLKS LAUGH AT CORNS NOW Million Have Proved Them Needle, They Stop Them by a Touch Do you know that one method is now ending some corns for millions of people? People all around you employ it. They never let a corn pain twice. The method is Blue-jay the liquid or the plaster? It is made by a surgical dressing house of world-wide repute. A touch applies it, and the pain stops instantly. Soon the whole corn loosens and comes out. The way is gentle, scientific, sure. Once you know it, you will laugh at corns.

Get Blue-jay now apply it to-

Watch the effect on one Get Blue-jay at your drugLiquid or Plaster Bluejay : Stops Pain Instantly Ends Corns Quickly

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MAN MUST PAY PRICE TO GAIN OBJECTIVE, SAYS REV. STAMPER

The price must be paid if man Is to obtain his objective in any channel of life, according to the Rev. A. L. Stamper,pastor of the First Christian church. The Rev. Stemper preached bis first sermon as pastor of the- local church, Sunday morning. His subject was "Power." "Every man and every woman is seeking power. The merchant wants more customers to give his store more power; the farmer wants more power so that he can make two blades of grass grow where but one grew last year; the teacher wants more power over her students, so that she may influence them to study and learn: the preacher wants the power to bring more men and women unto God." The Rev. Stamper emphasized that before power came, man must make a contribution must sacrifice must pay the cost price. In the evening he preached on "Seeing Jesus." Most dramatically he pictured Jesus the Son of God, and the Son of Man.

It was a Roman custom to han beads of red coral on the cradles of infants and round their necks "to preserve and fasten their teeth."

"After Ytirar Cbfidfs Bath Mothers S&ocld 16 Sykes Comfort Powder says Nurse Soper Peekskill, N. Y. ' I am sending you the picture of a i ear little boy on

wnom 1 nave usea o 9 Kes Comfort Powder t rith wonderful results, hi my work as a nurse I i.ave

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When used daily al ter a baby's bath it keeps the skin 1 -ee from chafing, rashes, scalding a o d soreness. There if nothing like it.3 Mrs. Sadie A. Soper, Nurse, Peskskill, N. Y. The reason Sykes .Comfort Powder is successful in sucf cases is because it contains six healing, antiseptic ingredients not found :di ordinary talcums.

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