Delaware journal. [volume] (Wilmington [Del.]) 1827-1832, 1827-08-03
-No. 80.
MIR. OLAY's sfEEUH,
At The DINNER AT MOBILES INN, NEAR LExtNo
TON, JutY 12.

At The DINNER AT MOBILES INN, NEAR IExtNo.
TON, July 12.
L. Our distineuished Guest Henry C1ay.--The
furnace of persecution may be heated seven times
hotter, and seventy times more, he will come out
unscathed by the fire of malgnity, brighter to all
and dearer to his friends while his enemies shall
sink with the dross Of their own vile materials.
Mr. CLAY, after the above toast had been read
addressed the company as follows.
Mr.. Presirent, Friends and Fsllozy Citissns.-~
I.beg permission to offer my hearty thanks, and
to make my respectful Acknowledgements, for the
atfectonate reception which has been given me dts
ring my present visit to my old Congressional dis.
tric, and for this hospitable and honorable tesmoA
ny of your esteem and confidence. And thank you
especially for the friendly sentiments and feelings
pressed in the toast which you have just done me
the honor to drink l always had the happiness Of
knowing that enjoyed, in high degree, the att
tachment ofthat portion ofmy felIow-citizens whom
formerly Represented but should never have been
sensible of the strength and ardor Of their affection,
except for the extraordinary character Of the tines
For near two years and half have been assailed
with rancor and bitterness which have few exam.
pies. | have found myself the particular object
Of concerted and concentrated abuse and others.
thrustng themselves between you and me, have dar.
ed 10 arraign me for treachery to your interests
But my former constituents, unaffected by the Gals
umnies which have been so perseveringiy circulated
consistency ahd a noble magnanimity. The measure
of their regard and confidence has risen with, and
even surpassed that Of the malevolence, great as 1t
is, of my personal and political foes. thank you
gentlemen, who large portion Of my late cons
stituens. thank you, and every one OF them, with
all my heart, for the manly support which have
uniformly received 1t has cheefed and cohsoed
me, amidst all my severe trials and may not add
that it is honorable TO the generous hearts and ems
lghtened heads who have resolved to protect the
character Of an old friend and faithful servant?
4 The numerous manifestations OF your confidence
and attachment will be among the latest and most
treasured recollections Of my llte.--They impose
on obligations which can never be weakened or
cancelled One of these obligations is, that should
: embrace every fair opportunity to vindicate that
character which you have generously sustained,
and to evnce to you atd to the world that you have
not yielded to the impulses of blind and enthusiast
tic sentiment. feel that am, on all tit occasionss
T especially bound to vindcate myself to my former
constituents. II was as their representative; itwas
in the fulhlment of high trust which they confded
me, thatl have been nccdsed of violating the most
sacred of duties of treating their wishes with cons
/ tempt, and their interests with treacherya Nor IL
this obligation, in my conception OF It's import al az
weakened by the dissolution of the relations which
J. heretofore existed between u.s. | would instantly
resign the place hold in the councils OF the naioo
i and directly appeal to the sufrages Of my late con.
know that my foes are ofthat class whom one rising
e from the dead cannot convince, whom nothing can
8 silence, aud who wage war OF exterminaton. Oh
it the issue Of such an appeal, they would redouble
p their abuse and of you for their hatred 10
i common to US both.
l. They have compelled me so often to be the
theme of nv addresses to the people, that should
have willingly absained this festive occasion from
any alusion to this subject, but for new and mpo-
II sing form which the caumny against me has recent
. ly assumed. am again put on my deiences not OF
e any new charge nor by any new adversary uut o.
the old charges, clad in new Dress and exhibited
l. by an open and undisguised enemy The hctltious
names have been stricken from the loot OF Inc In
dictment and that of known and substantial prose-
r cuor has been voluntarily offered 1Undaunted by
e the formidable maine Of that prosecutor, VIII avail
. myself with your indulgence, OF this nj opPortu'
n ny of free and unreserved intercourse with you,
AS large number Of my late constituents to make
some observations the past and present state OF
l. the question. When evidence shall be produced
J. a, have now clear right to demand, in support Of
the accusation it will be the proper time Tor me to
l. take such notice of 1t as its nature may require.
,. In February 1895, it was my duty, rs the Rep.
resentaye of this District TO vote for some one o.
the three candidates for the Presidency, VINO "efa
8 returned to the House of Representatives. ~ mas
been established and can be further proved, tna's
before left this State the preceding tall, commute
ncated to several gentlemen Of the highest respec'
liability, my fixed determination not to vote for Gena
). Jackson The friends of Mr.. Crawford assertedto
the last that the condition of his health was such as
"a, uae him to administer the duties Of the ofbce
e thoueht otherwise, after ! reached Washington
It CITY. and visited him to satisfy myself and thought
that physical impeachment fthere were no other OBJ
g Elections ought "a prevent his election. Ahhouge
1.-THE Delegations from four States voted for hms and
/ his pretensons were zealon.ly pressed TO the veft
last moment, it has been Of late asserted, and oe-