Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-08-01
BY THE STEAM BOAT,

Mr.. CLAY's SPEEcH. BY the Fulton
Seam Boat me, we received the very able
and interesting speech delivered by Mr.. clay,
at the public dinner given him on the 18th IN
stant, al Mobiles Inn, near Lex ng'on, Ken
lucky. The great length of he speecl,-it
cupies four closely printed columns of the NJ
tionnl Journal and the late hour at which il
was re o;eiyed, pre- cludcs the poss bit, of our
spreading il before our readers IN this DAYS
paper. We very much regret that we cannot
publish the speech, and must content oursel, es
with copying the concluding part only.
81 rejoice again and again, that the contest
has at last assumed its present pra teal form.
Here ofore, malignant whispers md dak sur
m,ses have been clandestinely crculatcd, or
openly or unblushngly uttered by rreepons Bile
agents. They were borne upon the wfnds, ,nrd
like them were invisible and intong Bile. NJ
rcspons bic man ood forN ard 20 sustain them,
with his ackno ycdged authority. They have
al last local habitat on and "A name. Gener-
al jackson has now thrown oil the mask, and
comes conessedIy forth from behind his con-
cealed batteries, publicly to accuse and con
yi"' me. We stand confronted before the
American people. Pr"nouncing the charges.
as | ggain do, destitute Of all foundation, and
gross asperS ons, whether olandcs' nelv or
openly issued from the halls of the Capitol, the
"a >ons of'h Hermitage, or b. press, b, pen,
or by tongue; and safely resting on nv con-
scous integrity, ! dempnd tho witness, and
await he event With fearless confideuce.
TIE issue . fl'rl' oned. The imputed Of
fen"e does not comprehend single friend, but
he collective bod of mY friends in ongress ;
and il accuse them Of offering, and me with
sanction ng corrupt propositions, derogating
from honour and in violation of the most sacred
of duties. The charge his been made after
two years deliberaton. General ia RI son has
voluntarily IA en- his position, and without
pro, Ocaflon. In yot'n9 against him as Presl-
dent Of the United States, gave him no ;ist
cause of offence. IeXerCIsed no more than my
indispu'able privilege, as, on ii subsequent oc-
cason, of which have never compa ned, he
exercised his in voting against me as Secretary
Of State. HadI voted for hm, l must have
gon counter TO every fixed principle of my
p-tblic life. believed liim incompetent, and
his election fraught with danger At this early
period Of the Republic, keeping steadily in
view the dangers which had overturned every
other Free State, believed it TO be essential
to the lasting preservation of our liberties, that
a man, devoid Of civil talents, and oferiog no
recommendation but one founded on military
service, should not be selected TO administer
the Government. I believe so yet; and | shall
consider the days of The Commonwealth num-
bered, when an opposite principle is establish
ed. / believed, md still believe, that now,
when our institutions are in comparative in
fancy, is the time to establish the great prin-
cple, that military qualification alone is not
sufficient title to the Presidency. If we start
.,..t,s L.. .~rl. - l.
piness, and glory. IL we stumble in setting
out, we shall fall as others have fallen before
us, and fall without even claim to the re-
grets or sympathes Of mankind.
have never done Gen. Jackson, knowing
ly, any injustice. have taken pleasure, on
every proper occasion, TO bestow on him mer-
tied praise for the glorious issue of the battle
Of New Orleans No American citizen enjoyed
higher satisfa ction than did with the event.
l heard it for the first time on the Boulevards
Of Paris; and eagerly perused the details Of
the actions, withthe anxious hope that should
find tha, the gallant militia of my own State
had avenged, on the banks of the Mississippi,
the blood which they had so freely split on the
disastrous field of Rasin. That hope was not
then grati6ed; and although had the n,orti
ticaiion TO read the official statement that they
had ingloriously Fed, I was nevertheless thank
iOt Hc suN'eS- VI i've HTiliS Ot country (,
md fell grateful to him who had most contrib
uted 10 he G., ,er memorable victory. This con-
cession is not no" made for the purpose of con-
ciliating the favor or mitigating the wrath Of
Gen, Jackson. He has created an impossible
barrier between us, and would scorn to ac-
cept any favor at his hands. thank my God
that HE has endowed me with soul incapable
Of apprehension from the anger Of any being
but h mself
have, as your Representatives, freely ex-
amincd, and in my deliberate Judgment, justly
condemned the conduct Of Gen. Jackson in
some Of our Indian wars. ! believed, and yet
believe him, TO have trampled upon The Consti-
tuition Of his country, and 10 tr'e violated the
principles Of humanity Entertaining these
opinions, did not and could nnt vote for him.
owe you, my friends and fellow citizens,
many apologies for this long interruption Of the
festivities Of the day. hope that my desire
TO vindcate their honored object, and TO salts
fy you that he is not altogether -unworthy OF
them, will be deemed suific
Throughout the whole Of this speech, there
runs a vein Of impassioned eloqucnce, elected
undoubtedly by the feelings Of the speaker
who wasevidently wrought Upon by the cir.
cumstances under which il was delivered. We