AN EARLY SHELL,
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HENRY CLAY AND THE PREsID5NcY-"sape M e
from mig triendsl"-The leading friends of Mr.
Clay, IN kentucky, have put forth a .'confidental
circulars" the object of which is TO '.knock the
sand" from under the feet of Con. TayIor.-
ont the friends of the latter raise a row!


Twas ever thus from childhood's hourI" &c.


1t IS a SIN and shame that great men should
continually hav their shins broken by the over
eagerness of their friends in placing the stepping
stones. We hav not room for the whole of the
circular, but we give the points.


Secret Circular We copy the following let
ter from the Cincinnati Enquirer of Monday. 1t
was forwarded to that paper by friend, at Lex
ington, Ky:


LEXINGTON, Ky, Oct. 1917.


Mr. --=: Dear Sir AS members of
the Wing party, we address you us whg 10
communicate what we believe to be correct and
we hope acceptable and useful. information, in
regard to pubic sentiment in kentucky, on the
subject of the next Presidential election.


The circular comes at once to the vaunted
"Taylor meetng'' in Kentucky. =


These meetings, generally, have been thinly
attended. have been generally gotten up by assid-
uous concert and arrange .nent, and in no instance
was the body of either party in the count es
where they wore respectively holden, in actual
attendance. They composed of some we'll
meaning Wings, some doubtful Wings, and loco
focos. Of the latter, we firmly believe that the
greater part viii desert, and arrange themselves
under the standard OF their party, whenever it is
raised, and that their main object in Dartcpa ting
in these meetings, TO SOW dissentions and dis
cord, that their party might profit by them.


As "a fair specimen of these meetings. the
circular instances the one held in Lexington, on
the 18th Octber, and another held in the neigh
boring county of Bourbon. 1t goes on to say.


We do not intend 10 deny great popularity to
Gen. Taylor. His brilliant military victories, u
belief in honor, probity and patriotism and per-
suation that he has not been fairly dealt with by
the administration of the General Government,
have rendered him favorite. A nd we 90 farther.
and slate belief that if he should obtain, in q
national Convention, the Wing noiratIon for the
Presidency, he would obtain tho of this State.
In that contingency should ourselves vote for
him-soe are his friends.


But, in the svent of that nomination being con-
ferred on Mir. Clay, are just as sure that he
would obtain The vote of this State. The great
body of the Wings in Kentucky remain firm and
unshaken IN their attachment to him and to his
principles, ard believe that considerable
number of the other party are desirous of casting
their votes for him.


The circular says of Mr.. Clay.


He has not, persuaded the remotest. wish
tdlav his again used in any doubtful contest.
If he believed that public declaration from him.
that ho would consent to the use of his
name again the candidate for President, would
promote the INlcEeSl vi tiic w Ui1 purity, OF lne
country (Which he thinks are indissolubly unit
ed y he would not hesitate TO promul gate such a
declaration. But, in the absence Of any convic-


ton TO that effect, he has deemed it most fitting
and proper in him 10 remain silent and Inactive
abstaining from all efforts to attract public atten-
,ion to himself, and leaving the current Of the
popular feeling and opinion to iss self
made channel, undstubed by him. He he has,
therefore, announced 10 the world no resolution,
whether he would accept decline nomination
for the Presidency. Ia.


The circular. fnrther, "fecls perfectly .hat
MI Clay would not consent to unless uude r
a concurrence of weighty circumstances" such
as ga manifestation Of the wishes of majority
of the nation; the continuance of his present ex-
ceIent health, "&c.
We hare considered II best that his letter should
be REGARDED as conf4entiaI. because, being thor
oughly convinced of the necessity Of the greatest
n ha rmony among all portions Of the Whig party
we desire to do nothing TO expose that harmony
to the least Jeopardy, &C., &c. s.
We are very respectfully your ob't servants,


Irsrir ComBs D. c. WIcxLIFF,
Rry1l CRs~z. B. w. DUDLEY,
Fl. II. DUNCAN, ". ROBERTSON:
~These signatures ritten in thcr own hands
the CIRCULAR printed!-Er-