Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1829-06-25
MR. CLAY's SPEECH
}, tss Public Dinner at FOwier's Garden

TOAST Orr distinguished guest, friend
"A neighbour, HGyRY CLAY-with in
,sassd proofs OF his worth, we delight
,engw the assurance of our con hdenee
his patriotism, talents and incorrup
aaity may health and happiness at
nd him in retirement, and grateful
,liVn do justice to bis virtues.
After the above toast was proposed,
w. CLAY rose, aud respectfully salut
40 the immense multitude that stood
B,iore him addressed them from porch
\ which, elevated some at above them,
h was situated, as follows:
| Iea-, friends and fellow citizens. that If
saId find language TO express the feelings
zach now animate me, could NOS be heard
throughout thi, vast assembly. My voice,
nee strong aud powerful, has had its vigor
npsred by delicate health and advancing age.
ya must have been separated AS base been,
,bur years past, from some of your best and
lnrest friends, with whoa, during the greater
,sof your lives, you had associated in the
sain:imate friendly intercourse: You must
rr beea trsduced AS have been, after exert.
b,sh zeal and fidelity, the utmost of your
sgrs to promote the welfare OF our couRtry:
ID you must have returned among those
Frs warm. hearted friends, and been greeted
welcomed and bonored ky them, as | have
gently been. before you could estimate the
gree Of sensibitity which now feel, or con
tsc how utterly inadequate all human Ian.
rge is TO PORTRAY the grateful emotions Of
IL Ill
|feD in other instances, since my return a
hong you. sires, tar advanced ia years, endear
Cd TO me by an interchange Of friendly office
pad sympathetic fesling, beginning more than
khrY years ago. Their sons, grown ap DUR
Pngmy absence in the public councils, accom-.
ba1ying them; and all, prompted by ardent
|fachnent, afitctionately surrounding ard
aIuting me as IT belonged to their own house.
Old. ---Conaidenng ths maltituda here assem-.
Ned, their standing and respectsbility, and
be distance which msny have come personally
ssee me, and TO testify their respect aud con.
dence. consider this day and this occasion as
he proudest OF my life The tribute. thus
endeFed by my friends, neighbours and fellow
itizens, flows spontaneously from their heacta,
$ penetra;es the inmost recess of MAE
endered in no servile spirit, il does not aim
prop,siaie one in authority Power could
OF buy or correct it. The offspring OF ei,light.
ned and independent freemen, it is addressed
beloved teilow-citizen, in private lie.
sthout office. and who can presen, nothing.
rsurn, but his hearty thanks, Ipray all of
ou, gentlemen, TO accept these. They are
Tue every one ofyou 10: the sentiments lust
Pronounced, and for the proceedings OF this
iSy And love particular expression of
mem to that portion os ny friends who. al.
hoosh had the misfortune to differ from
mem, IN the iSte contest, have hcnored me
y Their attendance here. | have 40 reprosch.
IS 10 make ,hem.-Regress have. But give,
IS have received from them, tho hand of
hiehdshp ss cordially as it is extended 10 any
sm' thends. 1t is highly gratifying 20 ms TO
'h'W That they, and thousands Of others who
70 operate with them, in producing The late
pV'tlesi change. were unaffected towards me
W Inc preJudces attempted % be excited a.
b'ms' me. entertain too high respect for
'oe ioesiimable privilege of freely exercising
'"e hdependen, Judgment, on public affairs,
y uFsw IN question the light OF any of my fell
o~ citizens 10 form and to AIT upon their opin.
ous' IN opposition to mine. The hest and
I ns,' amongst US are, at last, but weak and
.lpo'e human beings. And no man ought to
~ up MS own Judgmen', as an unerring stand.
w., oy which the correctness Of all others is
10 be tested and tried.
\ ~ was objected to the late Administration
' sa' adopted and enforced system Of rro-
.''lpllon' During the whole period of it, net
]. mary ofhser of Government, from Maine
~ LOUISIANA, within my knowledge, was dis
IT"ssso' on account of his political opinions
:. N's Wei known to the late President that
,s "Y ohcers, who he'll their places subject TO
IL rO~er OF di.mlssion, were opposed to his
$3.50 and were actively employed in
-. 'I" u DIS competitor. Yet not one was
$50. q from that cause. In the commence
Dn,., A"o early part OF his administration, sp-
4 s''eats were promiscuous;y made from all
ISM the previous canvass. And this
50 was pursued until an opposition was or.
f'NeH' which denounced all appointments
~" 's RANKS as being made for impure our.
sbs. n aware that il may be urged, that a
,ls iS was made in some of the publishers of
s;r," avs mere are about eighty Annually de
tho i''a VI these, during the four years Of
th.n~N, administration, about l2 or Is were
fror, a' Some OF the changes were made
N 81 e'gfanhealot other local considerations
For Instances one friend as substituted
tr. S " In others, one opponent for anoth
IN 80 'ersi Papers smung the mos, influential
WIN opposition, but Otherwise conducted
bnrh 0oturn, We're retained. OF the entire
yer" OF changes, not more than four or five
pe,., %sue Oh account Of the scurTilous char.
poI;,;si 'heir papers, and not because of the
rned re. 'eotlments OF the Editors. Il was dee
.nrs curious to the respect aud moral infiu
;ts, he D'e ga 'he laws should always command
'A"Sid De promulgated IN columns Of