Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-09-15
HENRY CLAY's SPEECH.

HENRY CLAY'S SPEECH.
! " men THIS toast was drank, III. Clay rose.
'"u a'ufessen the Company in a speech, which
occupied nearly hour in the delivery. of vbicb
we can only attempt an imperfect sketch:
He said, that he had never before felt an =;
tensely the want of those powers of eIoouence
winch had been just enormously ascribed 10 him
ne hoped however that in his plain and unaffec1 ed
language, lie might be allow ed without yioIatiog
any established usage which prevails here, to ex
press MS grateful sensibilIty excited by the senti-
ment with which be had been honoreJ. ard for ,b.
KIND and respectful consideration of him manifested
on the occasion which has brought us together. In
passing through my native State, towards which
nave ever borne, and shall continue in all viciss
tudes' 10 cherish the greatest respect and affection
| expected to be treated with its accustomed cour
tesy and private hospitality. But did moi anti,i
pa'c 'hat should be the object of such public
Gis'insuished' aud cordial manifestations of regard
In Offering you the poor and inaduuate return nj
my warm and respectful thanks, pray YOU TO be-
lieve that shall treasure I'D these tes,;n,onio.
among the most gratifying "reminiscences of INV
iie' Inc public service which have rendered.
my country, your too favorable opinion of which
mas prompted you TO exhibit these demonstra,ions
OF your esteem, has fallen far below the measure
Oh usefulness which should have been bsppv IN
nave niieu' claim for it only the humble merit
oil pure and patriotic intention. Such az i, has
n
give satisfaction 10 every section and to all the great
interests OF our country
Hhen an attempt was made TO impose unon
new State' about TO be admitted into the IJnion
restrictions incompatible as thought with her CO.
equal sovereign power, was charged in the Norib
with beng loo partial to the South. and "a HON,
friendly 70 that unfortunate condition of Slaverv
oil the evils OF which none are more sensible tbs,
| am. ''
AT another period, when believed that the i'm
uus.ry OF ihis country required some protection
against 'he selhsh and contracted legislation of
foreign powers, and to constituted certain ard
safe source ofsupply, in all exigeDcies the Chez
against me was transposed and was converted
INTO Toe OF Southern and an infatuated friend If
Northern and Western interests
mere were not wanting persons in every sec
loh OF Inc Orlon, in another stage of our history
10 accuse me with rashly contributing to the sun
port OF war, the only alternative left 10 our boncr
by The FtTseVering injustice of a foreign p,tior
These contradictory charges and perverted views
gave me no concern, because " as confident that
TINE and truth would prevail over all misconcsn
'lohs ana because they did not impesch nv
PHDhc integrity. But / confess I was not pyepared
10 eXPect the aspersions which have experiencedj
on account OF more recent discharge OF pu lie
duty. My situation on the occasion TO which
reer, was most peculiar and exiraordinsr,. mill
that OF any other American citizen. One Of The
'irse candidates Tor the presidency, presented To-
the choice oil the House of Representative. was
our 81 the question for notorious reasons nov al
mlltei Dy all. Limited as the competition was IN
ihe Other two, bad TO chosse between States.
nan long experienced at home and abroad in ~
merOus civil situations, and Soldier. brave cal
iant and successful, but mere Soldier, who slibo,l
he also mad filled several civil Offices, had quickly