Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-06-16
Mr.. CLAWS SPEECH,
AZ the Public Dinner at Foriefs Garden,
Nuu f6.


renew the Of confidence in his I,aos talent
and pecuupubity-ay health and hapr" sS attend HIM In
retirement ad grateful nation do justice to ms virtues
After the above toast was proposed, Mr.. Clay rose
aud respectfully saluting the immense multitude tina,
siood before him, addressed them from aporch ir
which, elevated somewhat above them, he was situa
ted, substantially % follows
fear friends and fellow citizenis, that if coulC
find language TO express the feelings which now ami
mate me, I could not be heard throughout this vas
assembly. My voice, once strong aud powerful ha
had its vigor impaired by delicate health and advan
cling age You must have been separated us hav,
been, tor four years past from some of your best
dearest friends, with whom during the greater part
ofyour livcs you had associated in the most intimate
friendly intercourse. You must have been traduccd
as have becn after exerting with zeal and fidelity
The utmost Of powers to promote the welfare oil
our country: And you must have returned, among
those same warm hearted friends, and been greeted
and welcomed and honorcd by them, us have re-
Gently been, before you could estimate the degree oil
sensibility which now feel or conceive how utterly
inadequate all human language to portray the CRATE
full emotions of my heart. behold gathered here
as have seen in otyr instances since nv return
among you, far advanced in years, cndearcd to
me by an interchange of friendly office and sympa-
fhetic feeling beginning than thirty years ago.
Their sons, grown up during my absence in the pub
lac councils, accompanying them and all, prompted
by ardent attachment, affectionatcly surrounding and
sauting me as If belonged To their own household.
Considering the multitude here assembled, their
have come personally to me, and 10 testify their
respect aud confidence, consider this day and this
occasion as the proudcst of my lie. The tribute,
thus rendered by my friends, Deighhors and fellow
citizens, flows spontaneously from their hearts as il
penetratcs the inmost recess of mine. rendered in
no servc spirit. it does aim propitiate one in
authority. Power could not buy or cocrcc il. 'Fhc
offspring Of enlightened and independent frcemcn i,
10 addressed to beloved fellow citizen, in private
life, without office, and who present nothing in
return, but his hearty thanks pray all ofyou gen
flemen, to accept these. They due to every one
az you for the sentiment just pronouncrd and for the
proceedings of this day. And owe particular OK
preston Of them TO that portion of my friends who
although had the misfortune to differ from them in
the late contest, have honored me by thc. attendance
mere. l have no reproachcs 10 make them. Re-
s,rets have. But give. as have received from
them, the hand of friendship as cordially as it is OK
tended to anyof my friends. 1t is highly gratifying
to me to know that they, aud thousands of others
who co-operatcd with them, in producing the late
political change, were Unaffected towards me by the
preJudICcs attempted TO be excited against me. /
entertain too high respect for the nesmabe privi-
fugc of freely exercising ones independent lndg-
uent, on public affairs, to draw in question the
right of any of my fellow citizens TO form and to net
upon their opinions, IN opposition TO mine. The best
and wisest among us are at last but weak and fable
human beings. And no man ought TO set up his
own Judgment, as an unerring standard. by which
correctness of all others is to be tested and tried
IL cannot be doubted that, with individual exccp-
tons the great body of every political party that has
hitherto appeared in this country has been honest
IN It's intentions aud patriotic IN its aims. Whole
Iarties may have been sometimes deceived and delu-
ued but without being conscious of it, they no doubt
sought to advance the welfare of the country Where
euch contest has existed as that, which we have
recently witnessed, there will be preudices on the
one side and predictions on the other IT, durinr
ats progress We cannot calm the passions and permit
trnth and reason to have their undisturbed sway we
ought at least after it has terminated, to their
nrnn LII. e
III spirit OF candor, should strive 10 eradicate
every bias, and to Danish from our minds every con-
slaeration not connected with the good of our country
do not pretend to be more than other men exempt
from the influence OF prejudice aud prediction.
bot declare most sincerely, that have SOUGHT, in
reference to the present administration, and shall
continue tostrve, to discard all prcjudices, aud to
iugge lis acts and measures they appear to inc to
affect the interests of our country.
"A large portion Of my friends and fcilow-citizeus
from whom differed on the late occasion, did not
Disagree with mc As to the foreign or domestic policy
of Government. We only differed in selection Of
agents to carry that policy into effect. Experience
CHo alone determine who was right. If that policy
coD, ues TO be pursued, under the new adrninstra-
ton, tsba have cordial support from me- as if its
care had been ccniiGCd TO agents of my choice. If
on the contrary, it snail DC neglected abandoned
the friends to whom LOW refer viii be bouad by all
he obligations of patriotism ald consistency 10 I'd.
here to the policy.
March last After that day those no supported the
election Of the present Chief Magistrate were left as
lice to Judge o. the conduct Of his Administration
as those WHO opposed IL. II will be no more incouss
tent III them, it he disappoints their expectations to
Visapprove his administration, than it will be in us tn
support il, IT, disappointing ours, he should pTesrrve
the established policy of the Nation, aDt Introduce
10 new principles OF alarming te:.Jency.
They bestowed their sufrlIc5 upon the sGpposition
that the Government would be- well administered; that
public pledges would be redeemed solemn professions
be fulfilled, and 49, tights aud liberties Of the people
he protected and maintained II they shall find
themselves deceived in any Of these rcspects-should
principles avowed during the canvass be violated
during the Presidency, and new principles, of dan
geFous impagt neiher ayowed 70, anticipated by
them, be pn forth, they will have been betrayed the
distinguished individual for whom they voted will have
failed to preserve his identity, anl they will be urged
by the most sactcd Of duties to apply the proper
corrective
Government il q trust, and the officers Of Govern.
Tnent trustees And both the trust and the trus
tees are created for the benefit Of the people Off