Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-08-14

sides The public dinner which was given him a,
Sanders garden, he has been invited to barbe-
cue anG dance in Woodford county, and 10 a
public dinner al Winchester in Clarke county
We publish in this days paper the invitation
addressed 10 him from Winchester, together
with his answer. He has also been invited to
public dinners at Georgetown Frankfort, and
Bardstown, but has been obliged TO decline
their acceptance.
WINCHESTER, July %, 1926.
Honorable H. CLAY:
Dear Sir: We, as committee in behalf OF
the People Of Clarke county, and town Of Win
chester, beg leave 10 offer you their cordial and
respectful salutatious upon your arrival in this
| District.
The change of political relation has not al
tered the high estimation, which they have SO
long placed upon your public services and pri.
vate worth, and they now hasten 10 tender their
oongr ulations, TO the first minister of the Re-
public, upon his arrival among them, with the
same friendship, affection, and confidence
which you have So often experienced upon your
return from the Congress of The nation while
their immediate Representative.
That portion Of your late constituents which
we on this occasion have the pleasure to repre-
sent, are anxious to see and greet You indlyid-
ually; and have directed US to invite you to par
take Of public dinner at this place on the 29th
Of this month.
In noticing the character Of the opposition
which has been waged against the admlnstra-
ton Of the General Government, and against
yourself in particular, we have felt no surprise,
for experience had taught US, that the most ex-
allied wisdom, and the purest virtues will not
protect the Government from the assault OF
faction. History proves, that the violent,
desperate, and discontinued part Of every ma
ton, united under the banners Of disappointed
ambition, will always constitute an inveterate
opposition TO the best of Governments.
| Heretofore the factions in these United
States have had the address 10 make their OPP
position plausible. Even Washington did not
escape the virulence Of party hostility. and his
opponents endeavored to dignity their opposi-
ton with the name Of principle; but the present
adversaries Of the Government seem to stand
confessed con,enders for place and power
We have the mos, lively confidence that the
good sense of the American People will Gistin-
gush between the measures Of 4 wise admins
tration, and the selfish efforts of a faction, whose
object is manifestly the qualification OF private
ambition.
That the leaders of the opposition should re-
serve and pour out upon you, the very bitterest
Of their reviings, was TO be expected. The es-
tmation in which you are held as statesman
in the two Americas, and in Europe, and the
anxiety that is felt by the friends of human
happiness and free principles throughout the
world to see you have an Efficient influence in
the American Cabinet, have made you the
chief obstacle to the success of the faction, and
! Of course YOUR destruction is their first and
main object.
| Those who dare not meet you on the arena
of honorable and true ambition, where talents
are measured, and where worth and services
are compared, have sought in vain to deprive
you of your we'll earned fame, by the base and
| detestable arts of falsehood and detraction.
You have been engaged in the discharge Of
arduous public duties. The eyes OF nation
have rested on YOU. You have stood the scru-
tiny of an inquisition erected for your condem-
nation, and the blows ofyour enemies have only
served to burnish brighter the escutcheon OF
yonr fame.
Your fellow citizens feel a pride in this tri-
umph Of political rectitude, which they wish
not to suppress. On all occasions they sympa-
thise with the victim of calumny. But when
they view the arrows of detraction levelled at
the breast ofhim, who has grown up among
them, and upon whom they rely, as upon their
own right arm, his cause is their cause, and his
success is their triumph.
Go on-persevere in your efforts for the good
and glory of the nation. If there be any place
in this world where virtue shall have the ascen-
dancy over vice-where truth shall prevail a
gainst Observation-Disclosures the real statesman and