The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-03-25
DINNER TO Mr.. CLAY

OlNNEh ~ MIX. CLAY.
number of the citizens of Washington hav-
| ing determined to offer parting tribute of res.
pect to this distinguished Individual, invited
him to partake of public dinner. on the 9TH
INST. Upwards of hundred persons sat down
to the dinner. The following toast was given
Health, prosp rity, and happiness, to our
highly valued and esteemed guest and fellow
citizen, Henry Clay. Whatever the future des-
IInatIon ut his life, lie has done enough for hon
or, and need desire higher reward than the
deep seated affection and respect OF his friends
and his country
After this toast had been given, Mr.. CLAW ad.
dressed the company in Speech, from which
we make the following extract:
l deprecated the election of the present
President of the United States, because |
believed he had neither the temper, the ex-
! perience, nor the attaInments requisite to
discharge the complicated and arduous du-
ties Of Chief Magistrate. | deprecated it
still more, because his elevation, | believed,
would be the result exclusively of admra.
ton and gratitude for military service, with
out regard to indispensable civil qualifica-
tons. can neither reiIact, nor alter, nor
modify, any opinion which, on these sub
Jects, have at any time heretofore express
ed.
thought beheld in his election an aw-
full foreboding of the fate which at some
future Il pray to God, that, if it ever arrive,
It may be some far distant) day was to be-
fall this infant Republic. All past history
had Impressed on my mind this solemn APP
prehenslon, nor is it effaced or weakened
10y cotemporaneous events passing upon
our own favored continent
1t is remarkable, that at this epoch, at
the head OF the nine Independent Govern
ments established in both Americas, militia
ry officers have been placed. or have placed
themselves. Gen. Lavalle has, by military
force, suhverted the Republic of La Plata
Gen. Santa Cruz is the Chief Magistrate OF
Bolivia Col. Pinto of Chill; Gen. La Mar
of Peru; and Gen. Bolivar of Colombia
Central America, rent in pieces, and bleed
ing at every pore, from wounds inflicted by
rontending military factions, is under the
alternate sway of their chiefs. In the Gov
eminent of our nearest neighbofs, an cleo
ton, conducted according to all the require
ments of their Constitution, had terminated
with a majority Of the States in favor of
Pedraza, the civil candidate An insurrec-
ton was raised in behalf of his military RI
val, the cry not exactly of bargain, but of
corruption, was sounded; the election was
annulled, and reform effected, by pro-
| claiming Gen. Guerrero, having only mi
! nority of the States, duly elected President
The thunders from the surrounding forts,
and the acclamations Of the assembled null
titude on the fourth, told us what General
was at the head of our affairs. 1t is true,
and in this respect we are happier than
some American States, that his election has
has not been brought about by military vio-
lence. The forms of the Constitution have
yet remained inviolate.
In reasserting the opinion which | hold,
nothing is further from my purpose than to
treat with the slightest disrespect those of
my fellow-citiZens here, or elsewhere, who
may entertain opposite sentiments. The
fact of claiming and exercising the free and
independent expression of the dictates of
my own deliberate Judgment, affords the
| strongest guaranty of my full recognition
Of their corresponding privilege.
A majority of my fellow citizens, it would
seem, does not perceive the dangers which
| apprehend from the example. Believing
that they are not real, or that we have
some security against their effect which
ancient and modern Republics have not
found, that majority, in the exercise of their
nrontestibe right of suffrage, have chosen
for Chief Magistrate citizen who brings
into that high trust no qualification other
than military trinmphs. That citizen has
done Inc mnch injustice-wanton, unpro-
voked, and unatoned injustice. Ii was in
fiicted, as l must ever believe, for the
double purpose Of gratifying private resent
ment, and promoting personal ambition
When, during the late canvass, he came
forward in the public priLts, under his own
proper name, with his charge against me,
and summoned before the public tribunal
his friend and his only witness to establish
it, the anxious attention of the whole Amer
lean people was directed TO the testimony
whirh that witness might render. He
promptly obeyed the call, and testified to
what he knew. He could say nothing, and
he said nothing which cast the slightest
shade. upon my honor OF integrity. What
he did say, was the reverse of any implica-
ton of me. Then, all just and impartial
men, and MI who had faith in the magma
nimity of the accuser, believed that he
would voluntarily make public acknowl-
Judgment Of his error. How far this reason