Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-06-23
MR.. CLAY'S SPEECH,
III the Puotic Dinner at Fo,oier's Garden
han I6 1920

!oAsT.--OHr distinguished guest, friend ana
Ns!ghoour, HENRY CLAY--with increased proofs
o. his worth, we delight to renew the assurance
our commence in his patriotism, talents and in
SoFrupuoiIity-may health and happiness attend
10 his virtues. N''S'
Alter the above toast was proposed, Mr.. CLAW
rose rose, and respectfully salung the immense mui.
Gtude that stood before him. ADDRESSING than
from porch in which. elevated mewhat above
them, he was situated, substantially as follows:
rear, friends and fellow citizens, that if could
hhu language to express the feelings which now
animate me, could not be heard throughout this
vast assembly. My voice, once strone ap, now
sffui, has had its ygor impaired by delicate health
ana advancing age. You must have been. sapara
TED as have been, for four years past, from some
OF your best aud dearest friends, with whom dur
ing the greater part of your lives YOU had associ
eted in the most intimate friendly intercouTse
sou must have been traduced as I hare been af.
Ter exertng, with zeal and fidelity, the utmost of
your powers to promote the welfare Of our conn
try; And you must have returned, among those
same Warm-hearted friends, and been greeted and
welcomed and honored by them, as have recent-
~ been, before you could estimate the degree of
sensibility which now feel, or conceive how MT
.eriy inadequate all human language is to pour.
ray the grateful emotions of my heart. behold
gathered here, as have seen in other instances
since my return among you, sires far advanced in
years, endeared 10 me by interchange of friend.
~ Office and sympathetic feeling, beginning more
than thirty years ago. Their sons, grown IN dur.
ing my absence in the public councils, accompa
nying them: and, all prompted by ardent attach.
ment, afiectionately surrounding and saluting me
as II belonged to their own house hold-Consider-
ing the multitude here assembled, their standing
and responsibility, and the distance which many
have come personally 10 see me, and 10 testify
their respect and confidence, I consider this day
and this occasion as the proudest OF my Iife The
tribute, thus rendered by my friends. neighbours
and fellow citizens flows spontaneously from their
hears, as 1t penetrates the Utmost recess OF mine
rendered In no serVie spirit, IT does not aim 10 pro.
pitate one in authority. Power could not buy or
coerce it, The offspring of enlightened and in
dependent reemen. IL is addressedt to beloved fell
low citizen in private life, without Office and who
can present nothing, in return, but his hearty
thanks. pray all of you, gentlemen, to accept
these. They are due to every one of you for the
sentiment just pronounced, and for the proceed
ings Of this day. And owe particular express
sion OF them to that portion of my friends who al
though had the misfortune to differ from them,
IN the late contest, have hOnored me by their at
tendance here. have no reproaches 10 make
them.-Regrets have. But give, as have re.
ceived from them, the hand Of friendship as cordi.
ally as 1t is extended 10 any OF my friends. Its
highly gratifying TO 10 know that thew and
thousands of Others who co-opcrated with them in
producing the late political change, were unaffect.
ed towards me by the prejudices, attempted 10 be
excited against me. | entertain too high respect
for the nestimable privilege of freely exercising
3.
draw in question the right of any Of my fellow eli.
items TO form and TO act upon their opinions in Oh.
position to mine. The best aud wsest amongst ne
are, at last, but weak ard faIlible human beings
And no man ought TO set up ais own judgment, as
an unerring standard, by which the correctness of
ill others is TO be tested and tried.
K cannot be doubted that, with individual ex.
ceptions, the great body Of every political party
that has hitherto appeared, in this country, has
Been honost 10 its intentions and patriotic i'm its
Gins. Whole parties may have been sometimes de.
ceiyed and deluded, but, without being conscious
Of it, they no doubt sought to advance the welfare
oil the country. Where such contest has exist.
ed as that, which we have recently witnessed,
there will be prejudices the one side and predi-
detons on the other. II, during its progress we
cannot calm the passions, and permit truth and
season 10 have their undisurbed sway, we ought
Of least, alter 1t has terminated 10 own their EN-.
pre- Judging OF public men and public measures
N asprit OF candor, should strive 20 eradicate
cVeIy bias, and TO Danish from our minds every
consideration not connected with the good of our
country.
do not pretend 10 be more than other men ex
empt from the influence OF prejudice and nrediIic
ton. But declare most sincerely that have
sought, in reference 10 the present administration
and shall continue TO strive, to discard all prsiuJi
ces, and to judge its acts and measures as shey an
pear TO me TO affect the Interests Of our cotintrv
large portion Of friends and fellow. citizens
rom whom differed on the late occasion, did not
disagree with mo az TO the foreign or domestic DO
Icy OF Government. We only differed in the Sc
lection OF agents TO carry that policy into effect.
Experiences can alone determine who vas rieht. n