Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-06-12
MIR. CLAY's SPEECH.
p.6g, Dinner at Fo,Uier's Garden, May 10.

Ioa cIIY-with increased proofs Oh MS %or"',
b, hrss, ~ renew the assurance OF our confidence
'' q. o,trio,ism, talents and ineorrup''oihy-m
ns "a happnes attend him in retirement ana
sa'l am; ,T Atom do justice to his virtues
"a, ,ae above toast was proposed, Mr.. Clay
nd respectfully salu,ing the immense null
~ ,b,, stood before him, addressed them
y ,oreb in which, elevated somewhat a.
A'" ,bsm. he was situated, substantially as
eloSs.
p, friends and fellow-oitizen,, that il
- End language 10 express the feelings
90" COW animate me, | could not be heard
sn'' Io,, this vast assembly. NV voice, once
aus and powerful, has had its vigor impair
% w. ,le,ica,e heslih and advancing age You
" i've been separated as | have been, for
nus .,,s mast, from some of your best and
y" .s, friends, with whom, during the greater
r. your lives, you bad associated IN the
P ;,,imate friendly Intercourse. Y"u must
NV \, en- ,rsduccd as have been, after exert
%" r;b zeal add fidelity, the utmost OF your
N5, -. - promo,e the welfare of our country:
Ia rIu must have returned among t"'se
W., .1 ,,r.s ,hear,e. friends, end oeen greeted
N 80 ,,ecomed and honored by hem, as have
u. been, before you could estimate he de-
-" ~, Il ,.nsibiiity which | now feel, or conceive
5sov uusrly inadequate all hnman language is
-,r,,,v the grateful emotions Of my htari. l
Lila gathered here, as l have seen in other
;,,,,,ces since my return among you, iires lar
,l,,n;.d in years, endeared 10 me by an inter-
a,s or friendly Office and sympathetic feel
:, bssinniug more than thirty years ago.
TS,r sons, grown up during my abS'nc" IN the
,n,.ic councils, accompanying them, ana al,
Ss.o,oo,ed by ardent attachment, atfec'iona'eiy
',,,onuSine anI salu'ing me as Il | belonged
= ,r,;, osp household. Considering the mul-
fndr hrle assembled, their standing and res
,,r,abiliry, and the distance which many have
come personally TO see me, and 10 testify their
,,,nsct and confidence, consider this day and
a, occasion as the pr oudest of my life the
'.,bo,e thus rendered bv my friends, neignbors
md fellow citizens, flows spontaneously from
her hearts, as i, penetrates the inm>st recess
If nine rendered ia no servile spirit, II does
40, aim 10 propiuA,e One in authority. Power
could no, buy or coefce II. The offspring OF
enlightened aud independent freemen, u is adj
dr. SID 10 a beloyed fellow citizen, /" private
Me uuhoa, Office, and who can present NTH,
np in return, but his hearty thanks. pray all
Of yoa, gentlemen, to accept these. They are
due 20 every one Of you for the sentiment Just
and for the proceedings oil TN:
jay. Ard | owe particular expression "i
H. m TO that portion Of my sri,nds who, all
,hough had the misfortune 10 d,ifei from The n
n zoe late coI,esr, have hopored me BY their
,usndsnce here have no reproach's 10 m 1k'
hem. Regrets / have. But give, ~ hsve
rtpy-d from them, the hand OF friendship as
:srdially as il is extended TO any OF IN friends.
his hirhly gratifying to me TO Know that they,
anil thousands nr others who co-opero'ed With
lh,m, in producing The late political change,
WIRE uusffcc'ed towards me by tre prejudiees
rtrmn,ed 10 be excited against me. | en'er-
,.ir 100 high respect for the ines,isnahlf priv
k,r ogfreely exer' isine ones independen; juds-
m,n,, on public Affairs, 10 draw in question the
rsh, of any Of nv fellow citizens to form and
10 act upon their opinions, IN opposition To
mrne TIE best and wises, amongst Us are, at
las, but weak aud fallsDlr human beings. An!
no man ougnl 10 Sc, up / is own jucgmcn,, as an
~ rim; standard. by which the correctness
Of III other. is 10 Ne tested aud tried.
Il Cannot Be doubted that, with individual
sr rpil,ns the great body Of every political
pAyrhst has hitherto appeared, III his coun'' v
ha> been hoaes, in its intentions and 2s'fIo &c
in its Gins. Whole parties NAV have been
sometimes de- ICED and deiuded, but, WITHOUT
bling cuuscIpu, If i, they no dau1' sought 10
advance the welfare of he country. Where
~ h contest has existed s. that. which We
hayr recently w,iny ssed, there will be prelude e,
on lhe one side and predictions on he other.
II, during it's progress, we cannot calm the
pls>i Us, and permi truth and season 10 hase
heir uuds'uroe sway, We osgh' at least, s1'e'
II has terminated, to owu their emr're, Judg,
ing Of public men and public m, sseIes, IN D
Spui, Of candcr, We should strive 10 eraaICaIe
every bias and 10 va ish from our minds every
cOn,iderauon not connected with the good Of
1ur country
do not pretend to be more than other men
exempt from ,be,inffuencs Of prejudice and PR
Detection But | declare most sincerely ,ha'
have sought, in reference to the present ad
miuis,ralion, and shall continue 20 rive, 10
discard oil prsjudices, and 'ojndge ! = acts and
measures as they appear 10 me 10 affect the In
'eress OF our coun ry.
A large portion a.f tiny friends and fellow-citi
zens from whom d ffered OF lhe.la.e occasion,
lid nor disagree with me as 10 The foreign or
tomes ic policy Of Government. We ony
Uttered in srlec,ion Of agents to carry tina
policy lnlo effect Experirnce can alone de-