Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-06-23

the laws. Has he forgotten what he told the De-
legation OF n. Hampshire when they waited upon
h,m' has ne forgotten the declaration he made
about Amos kendall.-The gross errors and abus-
is, which were practsed under that administra.
fon cannot soon DC forgotten or forgiven by an in
teiligent people. We might say with Mr. Jefter-
! son IN his Memoir on another occasion: "Sureiy
under sucn mass OF misrule aud oppression, a
people might Jnsly press for thorough reformation,
ana might even dismomnt their roug h.shod riders,
and iears Them to ,Uaik on their our, legs.'s
but, Tor the present, we leave him in the hands
Of the Editor OF the Evening Post, who strips him
OF some OF the DISCUSSES he has assumed.
From the .N. Y. f. Post.l
M. Ciay's last Dinner Speech.-We call /,
thus, not because we suppose il will be the las,
harrangue OF the sort Mr.. Clay intends to deliver
out because IT bears the latest date among those
jeremiads against the administration which he
tlrst declaims at wine table and then writes out
Tor The public press II was delivered at public
dinner IN Lexington on the 10th Of May, in an
swer to toast about his patriotism, talents and
tncorrupftotitty Mr.. Clay addressed the multi
tude from piazza He complained that his voice
was not so strong aud powerful as formerly, that
ITS vlgor was impaired by delicate health and ad.
vancing age" To the causes Of this premature
decay he wisely makes no alIusion We can as.
sure the gentleman, however, that il will require
all the mental and bodily vigour of his better days
to carry him we'll through the contest for which
he is preparing.
Mr.. Clay next proceeded 10 accept the homage
OF his assembled partisans-and mark how graci.
onsiy anu ia what kingiy style he does liz Soon
s,dering the multitude here assembled" says he,
'stheir standing and responsibility, and the dis
tance which many have come personally TO see
me, and TO testify their respect and confidence,
consider this day aud occasion as the proudest of
my life. "This tribute" he adds, ''the offspring
oil enlightened and independent freemen. is adj.
dressed TO 6eorsd in private life,
without office, and who can present nothing in re-
turn but his hearty thanks" This way of elori-
Tying ones self by Boosting before a multitude
OF the "respec" in which they hold him, and by
calling himself their "beloved fellow. citizen" has
the merit OF novelty certainly, though we cannot
say much forts delicacy. The orator then says a
word or two TO some persons opposed to him in po-
litcal questions whom he supposes to be present
In regard to these he allows that they have right
TO act upon their own opinions, and sagaciousIy
observes, that, "no man ought to set up his own
Judgment as an unerring standard by which the
correctness of all others is 10 be tested and tried
We congratulate Mr.. Clay on the elegance of his
English. The beautiful pIeonasm at the close of
this sentence, will. we doubt not, excite the envy
OF rhetoricans. Mr. Ciay's tested and tried is
nearly as good as tested and tested, or tried and
tried.
Mr.. Cay's speech is very voluminous, occupy
ing something like six close columns in news
paper. IL will not be expected, therefore, that
we should follow him through all the topics, nor
indeed is it necessary, as there are many reped-
tonscf the usual and proverbiai common places of
his dinner speeches. Some however are worth
remarking upon, as shelving the grounds upon
which the great head of the opposition places his
hostility 10 the new administration.
Mr.. Clay "regrets extremely that he feels con.
strained to disapprove of the acts of the present
cabinet. He would avoid il if he could; he per-
forms most "disagreeable" and ''painful duty
but be thinks there ia serious cause for alarm,
and his duty must be done.-He is alarmed lest
the course taken by the new administration will
introduce corruption, and Mr.. Clay is as much a.
irad OF corruption as the man in the debtors pri-
son, mentioned by Goldsmith, was afraid that the
liberties OF his country would he destroyed by a
French invasion. He says that from the course
now taking with respect to removals from public
offices, eve may expect innumerable cases of
fraud, pecula,ion and corruption" On this point
we have but one remark to make to Mr.. Clay.
Let us FIRST getthrough with DR.. Watkins and o.
thers-let us investigate all the cases Of fraud and
peculation committed under the late administra-
ton, and then we will speculate upon the proba-
9sties OF fraud and pecuation under the new.
Another objection made by MIR. Clay to the
course Of the new administration, is the appoint
ment of members of Congress to offices. These
appointments, he says, have been so numerous as
to "transcend all safe bounds, and to excite seri-
Gus apprehensions." This is really very pleasant
That Mr.. Clay, who was promoted from the
House Of Representatives to the place of Secre,a-
ry OF State, under very suspicious circumstances,
10 cay the least, should quarrel with the bestovai
OF public offices upon members Of Congress, is a
very good joke.-Among other matters, he finds
fault with the appointment of Jeromus Johnson,
Esq. as one OF the appraisers of this port. The
city of New York is very much obliged to Mr.
Clay for this kind attention to her affairs. off |
have not been misnfotfned,' says he, ga repre-.
sentative from the greatest commercial metropolis
in the United States has recently been appointed
to some inferior station by the collector OF the port
OF New York" Unfortunately, this sentence
shows that Mr.. Clay is better acquainted with the
management Of an election than with the manage
ment of public affairs. He has been Secretary of
State for four years, but has not yet learned that
the Office of Appraiser of the Customs is not con-
ferred by the Collector, but the President; and he
either did not know, chose to conceal the fact,
that MIR. Johnson was longer a member of
Congress when appointed, but that his term of SER
vice had expired, and another had been chosen in
his place.
The recall of OUR ministers to London and Co.
lomba is complained Of by Mr.. Clay. He says
that the recall was solely the ground Of their
being opposed to the election Of Gen. Jackson and
that it will cost the nation $4,000. Mr.. Clay
knows very we'll that the ground of their recall
was the notorious and utter incapability OF both As
to the $4,000, II was an expense caused by the
late admin isiratioG, in sending men unfit cl the
charge given into their hands Eighteen thou
sand dollars is too low statement; the salary
should be included along with the outfit, and we
shall have $4,000 OF the public money thrown
away and wasted, by the administration of Adams
and Clay, for the sake Of making two appoint
ments which il was thought might strengthen the
party.
MIR. Clay is not content with grumbing at the
appointment Of Mr.. Johnson the appraiser OF this
port, but condemns that of Mr.. Swartwout, on the
ground of what he calls" his association with Col
Burr"
None sees his otga, but az 5Uuh ready eye
The pendent wallet on reighbor spyp
There is story about association between Mr.
Clay and Col Burr, which has never been satis-
factorily cleared up.
Mr.. Clay declines becoming a candidate for
Congress. His health is bad. He has been ira
yelling over the country for nearly four years past
while Secretary Of State, and has neither gained