Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-06-16
MR.. CLAY'S SPEECH,
At the Public Dinner at fomIer,s Garden
.h1au 16.

ToAsr.-Our distinguished guest friend nnd nciSnto
the assuranceof confidence paIosn talents
and mcorruptib'ty'nay health and happiness attend him
retirement anu grateful nation do justice to his virtues
Aftar the above toast was proposed, Mr.. Clay rose
and respectfully safutng the immense multitude thot
stood bctore him, addressed them from porch in
which, elevated somewhat above them, he situa-
ted, substantially as follows. 50
fear, friends and fellow citizens that if could
End language TO- express the feelings which now ami
mate me, could not be heard throughout this vas
assembly My voice, once strong and powerful, Ina.
had Its vgor impaired by delicate health and advan
eng age. You must have boen separated as have
been, tor four years past from of your best ant
dearest friends, with whom, during the greater par
ofyour lives, you had associated the most intimate
friendly intercourse. You must have been traducet
rs have been after exertng, with zeal and fidelity
The utmost OF your powers toproinotc the welfare
orr country: And you must have returned amons
those same warm hearted friends and been greeted
and welcomed and lonored by them, us have re
Gently been, before you could estimate the eprce
sensibtY which now feel, or conceive how u,terl,
inadequate all human language to portray the uratc
tu' emotions of my heart. behold gathered hero
as have seen in other instances since nv return
among you, far advanced in years. endeared tc
me by an interchange of friendly office and sympa-
thctic feeling, beginning than thirty years ago
Their sons grown up during my absence the pub
lie councils, accompanying them and all, prompted
ny ardent attachment, aGctionately surrounding and
sauting me if belonged to their own household
Considering the multitude here assembled, their
standing Responsibility, and the distance which MANY
nave como personally to me, and to testify their
respect aud confluence consider this day and this
occasion as the proudest of my lie. The tribute
thus rendered by my friends, neighbors and fellow
citizens, flows spontaneously from their hearts, as il
penetrates the Utmost recess of mine. rendered in
no servile spirit, 1t does not aim to proptiae one in
authority Power could not buy or coerce it. The
offspring of enlightened and independent freenen it
is addressed to beloved fellow citizen, in private
life, without office, and who present nothing in
aftrrr h,,th igI,, III
tlenlen, to accept these. They due to every one
of you for the sentiment Just pronounced and for the
proceedings of this day. And owe a particular OK.
preston OF them to that portion of my friends who
although had the misfortune differ from them in
the late contest have honorc by their attendance
here l have no reproaches to- make them Re-
grets have. But give as bnvc received from
them, the hand of friendship cordially as it is ex-
tended to any of my friends II is highly gratifying
TO me to know that they, and thousands of others
who co-operated with Them in producing the late
political change, unaffected towards me by the
preJudlces attempted to be excited against me.
entertain too high respect for the nestmable priv-
lege of freely exercising ones independent iudc-
ment, on public affairs, to draw in question the
right of any of my fellow citizens to form, and to act
upon their opinions, i'll opposition to mine. The best
and wlsest among are, at last but weak and fable
human beings. And no nun onght TO set up his
own Judgment, unerrng standard. by which
the correctness of all others be tested and tried
it cannot be doubted that with individual excep-
hitherto appeared in this country, has been honest
In tie Intentions and patriotic in it's aims, Whole
parties may have been sometimes deceived and delu-
ded, but, without being conscious Of it. they no doubt
sought to advance the welfare of the country Where
such contest has existed as that, which we have
recently witnessed there will be preiudces on the
one side and predictions the other. If during
aus progress, we cannot calm the passions, and permit
truth and reason to have their uudisnrbed SWAY we
ought ut least, after it has terminated to own their
empire. Judging of public men and public measures,
IN spirit of candor, should strive TO eradicate
every bias, and to Danish from minds every con-
slderaion not connected with the good Of our country.
do not pretend to be more than other men exempt
from the influence of prejudice and prediction.
But declare most sincerely, that / have sought, in
reference to the present administration, and shall
continue to strive, to discard all preudces. and to
Judge Its acts aud measures they appear to to
affect the interests of country.
lnrge portion of my friends and fellow citizens
from whom differed on the late occasion, did not
disagree with the foreign domestic policy
of Government. We Only differed in selection of
agents to carry that policy into effect. Experience
can alone determine who was right. If that policy
continues to be pursued, under the adninIstra-
ton, it shall have as cordial support from me, ifs
care had been conflded to agents of my choice. If,
on the contrary, shall be neglected abandoned
the friends to whom now refer WILDE bound by all
the obligations of patriotism and consistency 10 adj
here to the policy.
We take new commencement from the fourth of
March last After that day those who supported the
election of the present Chief Magistrate were left as
free to judge of the conduct of his Administration
as those who opposed it. 1t will be more inconsis
tent in them, il he disappon.s their expectations 70
disapprove his administrations than it will be in us to
support it, if disappointing ours, he should preserve
the established policy Of the Nation, and introduce
no new principles Of alarming tendency.
They bestowed their surages upon the sIlpposition
that the Government would be well administered that
public pledges would be redeemed, solemn professions
be fulfilled and the rights and liberties of the people
be protected and maintained. If they shall find
themselves deceived in any of these respectssould
principles .avowed during the canvass be violated
during the Presidency, and new principles, Of dan
gerous import, neither avowed to, anticipated By
them, be put FORTH they viii have been {tetFsyedfebe
distinguished individual for whom they voted will have
filed 10 nraserre bis identify and they will be nrGed