Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-08-04
M *. CLAY'S sP .;EGfE.
ut the dinner at Mobiles Inn, near Lcring-
ton, (Ken.) yuiy ~.

ton, (Ken) Juiy IL.
Our DISTINGUISHED GUEST, HENRY CLAY.
The furnace Of persecution may be heated seven
times hotter, and seventy times more. he will
out unscathed by the fire Of maligniy, brighter to
all and dcarer to his friends while his enemies
shall sink with the dross OF their own vile mate
rials.
Mr.. CLAY, after the above toast had been
read, addressed the company as follows:
Nh President, friends and Feiiow Citizens
Ioeg permission to offer my.hearty thanks, ,and
10 make my respectful acknowledgements, for
tkc aflectonae reception which has been given
me during my present visit to my old congress
siona district and for this hospitabe and honor
able testimony Of your esteem and confidence.
And thank you especially for the friendly SEN
timcns and feelings expressed in the toast
which YOU have just done me the honor 10
drink always had the happiness of knowing
that enjoyed, in high degree, ,.he attachment
of tha, portion of my fellow citizens whom
formerly represented bur should never have
been sensible oithe strength and ardor OF their
affection, except for the extraordinary chal ac-
ter of the times. For near two years and
hafI have been assaied with a rancouI aud
bitterness which have few examples. have
found myself the particular object OF concerted
and concentrated abuse; and Others, thrustng
themselves between you and me, have dared 10
arraign me for treachery To your. interests But
my former constituents, unaffected by the ca
lumnes which have been so perse eringly cir
culated TO my prejudice, have stood by me with
a generous constancy and noble magnanmity
The measure of their regard and confidence has
risen with, and even surpassed, that of the ma
levoence, great it is,ot my personal and polIt-
cal foes. thank you gentlemen, who are a
large portion of my late constituents. | thank
YOU, and every one of them, with all my heart,
for the manly support which 1 have uniformly
received. 1t has cheered and consoled me,
amidst all my severe trials; and may not add
that il is honorable to the generous hearts and
enlightened heads who have resolved to pro- ect
the character of an old fre I'd and a faithful
servant?
The numerous manifestations Of your conf
dence and attachment will be among the latest
aud most treasured recoec',oIs Of my life-
The impose on me obligations which can never
be weakened or cancelled. One of ofthcse OBJ
legations is, that should embrace every fair
opportunity to vindicate that character which
you have so generously sustained, and to evince
to you and to the world, that you have not yield
ed to the impulses Of blind and enthusiastic
sentiment. feel that am, all fit occasions,
especially bound to vindc0le myself to my for
mer constituents. II was as there representa-
tive; it was in the fnlhlment OF high trust,
which they confided 10 me, that have been ac-
cuscd Of violating the most sacred of duties, Of
treating their wishes with contempt, and their
interests with trea cherry Nor is this oblga-
ton, in my conception of its import, at all
weakened BY the dissolution of the relations
which here ofore existed between us. | would
instantly resign the place | mold in the councils
of the nation, and directly appeal to The suf-
frages of mv lale constituents, as a candidate
for re election. IfI did not know that my foes
are fthat class whom one rising from the dead
cannot convince, whom nothing can silence and
who wage a war of exterminatIon. On the is
sue of such an appeal, tney would redoube heir
abuse of me and Of you; for their hatred is COM
rlor 10 us both
They have compelled me so often to be the
them. of nv addresses 10 the people that should
have willingly absained on this festive occa-
sion, from any aiiusion 10 this subject, but for
anew and imposing form which the calumny
against me has recently assumed, ! am again
put on my defence, not of any new charge nor
by any new adversary; but of the old charges,
clad in u new dress, and exhibited by all open
aud undisgused enemy. The fictitious names have
been stricken from The foot of the Indictment,
and that of a known and subsi an.al prosec or
has been voluntarily offered Undaunted by
the formidable name of that prosecutor, l will
avail myself with your Indulgence, OF this fit
opportunity of free and unreserved intercourse
with you, as large number of my late constt-
uents, to make some observations on the past
and present state of the question. When evil
dence shall be produced, as | have now clear
right to demand, in support of he accusation, it
viii be the proper time for me TO take such
notice of it as It's nature may requne.
In February, 1926, it was my duty, as the
representative ofthis district ,tOvote for some one
of the three candidates for the Presidency, who
wore returned 10 the House of Representatives.
II has been established, and can be further prov
cd, that, before left this state the preceding
fall. communicated to several gentlemen OF
the highest .espectability, my fixed dciermina-
zion hot TO vote for G neral Jackson. The
friends of Mr.. Crawford asserted 10 the last,
that the CONDITION of his bealh was such as 10
enable him to administer ihe du,ies oithe office.
thought otherwise, after | reached Washing
ton, and visited him TO satisfy myself and
thought thet physical impeachment, II there we're
no other objections ought to prevent his eec
ton. Although the Delegation from four states
voted for him, and his prclentions were jealous
ly pressed 10 the very last moment, II bas been
of late asserted, and believe by some Of the
very persons VINO then warmly espoused his
cause. that his incompotoncy was so palpablc
as clearly 10 limit the choice 10 Two Of the
three returned candidates. In my view Of my
duty there was no alternative but thai which
I embraced. That | had some objections ID
Mr. Adams, | am ready freely 20 admit; bn
these did not weigh a feather in co parlsor
with the greater and insurnountab objection.
long and deliberately entertained against hi
competitor. take this occasion, with grea
satisla ion TO state, that my objections to Mr.
Adams arose chchy from apprehcnsions whlcl
have not been realized have found him at th,
bead of the general Government, able, cnlight