Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1829-06-22

! Toast Our distinguished guest, friend and
neigh6or, bHraY CLAY--with increased proofs
of his worth, we delight TO renew the assurance
of our confidence in his patriotism talents and
incorrupthili'y health and happiness AT
tend him in retirement, and sratsfl ion do
justice 90 his virtues.
After the above toast was prspJ1vD MIR.
Clay rose, and respect fully salut nssfNe r. pensc
multitude that stood before him, addressed
them from porch in which, elevated sos,e.
what above them, lie was situated, subsiantia i-
ly as follows:
fear, friends and fellow. citizens, TINT if !
could find language to express the feelings
| which now animate me, I could not be heard
throughout this Asi assembly My voice, once
strong and powerful, has had lts vigor impair
ed by delicate health and advancing age. You
must have been separated IA have been, for
four years past, from some Of your beat and
| dearest friends, with whom, during the greater
part oil your lives, you had associated IN the
most infinite friendly intercourse You must
have been traduced as have been after eiert
ing. with zeal and fidelity, the utmost of your
powers 10 promote the welfare of our country
| And you mus Rave returned among those same
warm-hearied friends, and been greeted and
welcomed and honored by them as ! have re.
| Gently been, before you could estimate the de-
gree of sensibili'y which now feel, or conceive
how utterly inadequate all human language is
10 pourtray the grateful emo, ions Of my heart.
! behold gathered here, as have seen in o.
Their instances, since my return among you
sires, far advanced in years. enieared to me by
| an interchange OF friendly Offices and sympa
ihetic feeling, beginning more than thirty wears
ago Their sons grown up during my absence
~ he public councils, accompanying them
and all prompted 10y ardent attac hnenf, Rifec-
iionaiely surrounding aud saluling me as il
belonged 10 their own household. --Cunsidefing
| the multitude here assembled, the standing and
respec'abilit,, and the distance which many
| cave come personally 70 see me- md TO testify
their respect and confidence, | consider this
day and this occasion as the proudest Of my
lite. The tribute thus rendered by my friends
| peighbor. aud fellow citizens, flows sponta.
ueously from their hearts, as il penetraies the
IHmost recess OF mine. Ietdered in no servle
| spirit, il does not aim TO propi,iate one in au
,horty. Power coudnot buy or coerce il
| The offspring of enlightened aud indepeoden,
| freemen, IL is addressed to n beloved fellow
| citizen in private life without Office, and VIII,
| can present nothing in return but his hearty
thanks pray all of you, gentlemen. TO &C
| cept these. They are due 10 every one of you
tor the sentiment just pronounced, and for III,
proceedings of this day. And owe parlicu
lar expression of them to that portion OF IN,
friends who, although had The misfortune &c
differ from them. in the late contest, have hon
| ored me by their attendance here. ! have nt
reproaches TO make them Regrets lhaye. Blu
| give, as have received from them, III,
hahd OF friendship as cordially as il |.
| extended 10 any Of my f lends. II is highly
gratifying to me to know that they. and thou
sands OF t,ers that CO operated with them, IL
producing The late political change, were unaf
| fected towards me by the prejudees attempted
TO be excited against me entertain too hipi
IIespect for the inestmablc privilege Of freely
Exercising ones independent judgment on pub
lie affairs, 10 draw III question the right Of an,
my fellow citizens 10 form and to act upor
their opinions in opposition to mine. Tn,
best aud wisest amongst us are, al last, bu
weak and fallibr human beings. And no mn,
ought TO set up his own judgment as an uner
ring standard, by which the correctness Of nj
others is To be tested and tried.
II cannot he doubted that, with individua
exceptions, The great body of every poli,ica
party that has hitherto appeared ia this couu
try, has been honest in IFS intensions and pat
riotlc in its aims. Whole parties may hav
been sometimes deceived and deluded, but
without being Conscious OF il they no doub
| sought TO advance the welfare Of the country
Where such a contest has existed as that which
we have recently witnessed, there will be pre-
ljudices on the one side and predictions on th
other. Ifduring its progress, we cannot cain
the passions, and permit truth and reason I,
have their andisturbed sway, we ought nj least
after il has terminaed TO own their empire
Judging ofpubic men and public measures, il
a spirit of candor, we should strive TO eradicat
every bias, and 10 Danish from our minds owe
ny consideration not connected with the goo,
Of our country.
do not pretend TO be more than other me,
exempt from the influence oiprejudice aud pre-
dileciion. BIT declare most sincerely that
have sought in reference TO the present admin
traton. and shall continue TO strive to discar
all prejudices, and to Judge its acts and meas
ures as they appear TO me TO affect the inieres,
of our country.
A large portion of my friends and fellow Gil
izens from whom differed on the late occasion
did no. disagree with me hs to the FOREIGN O
domestic policy OF Government. We onl
differed in the selection OF agents to carry tba
policy into effect. Experience can alone de,e,
mine who was right. II that policy continue
TO be pursued, under the new administrator
, il shall have as cordial support from me. as
its care had been confided 10 agents of m
| choice. If. or the contrary, il shall be neg
Iected or abandoned, The friends 10 whom nos
refer will BE bound by all the obligations of pa,
} riotism and consistency TO adhere to the pol
cy.
. We take a new commencement from the III
, of March last. After that day those who sun
ported The election Of the present Chief Ma
gistrate were left AS free TO judge of the conduc
OF his Administration as those who opposed II
twill be no more inconsistent in them, If h
disappolns their expectations, TO disapproy
, his administration. than II will be in us TO sup
| ponit, II, disappointing ours, he should pre-
. serve the established policy Of the Nation, an
introduce no new principles Of nlarming ten
+ dency.
I They beloved me" suhfages, upon the sup
position tina, the Government would be we
administered that public pledges would b
redeemed, solemn professions be fulfilled ap
the rights and liberties of the people be pre-
: tected and maintained. Ifthey shalI find the:s
+ selves deceived in any of these respects shout
principles ayowed during the canvass be viols
: I tod d.,r,,o tho Pros ida pn..