The National Republican And Ohio Political Register

NATIONAL REPUBLICAN,
CINCINNATI, OHIO:
FRIDAY
MORNING,
FEBRUARY 16.

We have received a letter from a respectable old farmer in Kentucky, which confirms our previous intelligence that the cause of the people is daily gaining strength in our sister state. He says that Old Hickory is too tough, and too firmly rooted in the Clay soil of Kentucky, to be broken down. The following is the conclusion of his letter, which is inserted at the request of the writer:

"Messrs. Looker & Reynolds—As I feel myself bound to apprise you of every advantage you might derive from printing, I suggest that great profits would accrue from publishing the Laws that govern Men of Honor. No modern novel, nor even the Bible with the most approved commentary, would sell as readily at a profit here in Kentucky. For since Henry Clay has made profession of his faith in these laws, the men of honor here are anxiously enquiring for them, to make them their study and reduce them to practice. To make the practice uniform, there is much need of a printed code. If you have not the Laws, you can apply to the Secretary for the original rolls. If you could hear the violent disputings about these laws, you would at once see the necessity of a printed code. Some say that men of honor will shoot but once, as one shot will determine the guilt or innocence of the parties, provided the ball marks cap or breeches. Other some imagine that men of honor, for every insult supposed or real, are at liberty to shoot the offender out of a corn field, as did **** provided they boldly acknowledge they did the deed. Beside these fiery ordeals for men of honor, other some contend that dirks, knives and spears are instruments to be used secretly as opportunity offers. From all these and many more—different opinions of wherein honor consists, you will see the necessity of printing the Laws that govern Men of Honor.

"Our Kentucky Dandies are imitative creatures, and will follow Precedents made by Secretaries, and Secretaries made by Presidents. Some here are led by the nose *************

In printing the laws, do not forget the form of a challenge. The famous Card of Henry Clay is thought to be the best; and although it has been printed in some newspapers, a copy in a pocket volume would be more convenient.

"I would submit the following query for the solution of men of honor:—Whether it would be advisable so to amend the constitution of the United States, as to exclude from the House of Representatives the management of making Presidents contrary to the will of the people? And further to amend, so that when three or more candidates offer, the number shall be reduced according to the laws of honor to two: and that the highest of the two be President, and the other Secretary. And that any candidate refusing to be governed by these laws, should withdraw.

"This plan would prevent great mischief such as C. helping A. to the President's chair, that A. might place C. in the chair of state."

We return our thanks to our correspondent, for his friendly advice: but are unable to avail ourselves of the speculation, for want of the copy of the code he refers to. The Secretary is supposed to be very busily and specially engaged just now, in matters relating to the employment of certain newspapers; the payment of $4500 of the public money contrary to law, for a King-ly Charge to Great Britain, &c. &c. so that we do not like to intrude upon his time by applying for the "original rolls:" and the senior printer "by authority" here being a sort of a Quaker, we have not thought it worth while to ask him for them. All we can do at present, to oblige our friends in Kentucky, is to republish Clay's Card, which we think has not yet appeared "by authority," in this state. The following is a correct copy, taken from the National Intelligencer of the 31st of January, 1825:

"A CARD.—I have seen, without any other emotion than that of ineffable contempt, the abuse which has been poured upon me by a scurrilous paper, issued in this city, and by other kindred prints and persons, in regard to the Presidential Election. "The Editor of one of those prints, ushered forth in Philadelphia, called the Columbian Observer, for which I do not subscribe, and which I have not ordered, has had the impudence to transmit to me his vile paper of the 28th instant. In that number is inserted a letter, purporting to have been written from this city, on the 25th instant, by a member of the House of Representatives, belonging to the Pennsylvania Delegation. I believe it to be a forgery; but if it be genuine, I pronounce the member, whoever he may be, a base and infamous calumniator, A DASTARD, and A LIAR, and if he dare unveil himself and avow his name, I WILL hold him RESPONSIBLE, as I here admit myself to be, to all THE LAWS which govern and regulate the conduct of MEN OF HONOR.

31st January 1825.
H. CLAY."