Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1830-10-07


ETtrdct Of an address dciieersd Jr Mr.. Siorrs
al Wh'tesb0roagh, NJ L. on The .4nnirersary
Of Independence.
"HENGy Clay is the son OF a country cler-
gyman. lie was left at an early age with no
inh, ritaucc. BY the pc yer OF extraordinary
genius, without the advantage of the carly
cultivation OF education, and by the natural
force Of a vigorous and comprehensive under
standing, he has risen from obscurity, with
ont the adventurous aid OF family pnrcntage,
TO the first rank among The Statesmen Of the
age. When ! look 10 his friendless and un-
protected youth, and his whole line Of co.,
duct, and reflect how highly and Justly he
has been distins pushed for his ardent love OF
liberty-bis Incorporating hostility to iy
~ranny-his devotion 10 The Constitution oi
bis Country-his manly defence Of her invad-
ed rights-his fearless and untiiing efforts in
the cause Of freedom every where-and his
jealous estimation Of inte gritty and honor in
pubic and private life, | feel a sense OF humi.
llation and shame for my country, that a &c
nerous and grateful people have not indig.
nantly silenced the calumniators Of such a
man. | consider it one OF the most fortunate
circumstances Of my life, for which | am in
dcbted to your kindness, that | have had the
opportunity, IN the station you have confer
red upon me, Of seeing and knowing ssme-
thing for myself Of this accomplished orator
and statesman. have seen him, wiaom ma
ny yet living knew only as a friendless boy,
presiding over the deliberations Of the House
Of Representatives. with a dignity which cle.
waited the character s. honored The institutions
of his country, and an impartiality which ex-
torted universal confidence. | had scarcely
taken my seat in the House ia the fist term
oi public service with which you honsred me,
when heard him pleading the cause Of The
Constitution aud civil liberties Of his coun-
trymen, against the lawlcss violence, the
,~aslness aud madness OF military usuipatioa.
| have seen him since under the suffering Of
pain, and when his friends would have rath-
or expected TO find him on a sick bed, sup
p~licaiing the pubic councils in the cause Of
South American Independence against the
cautious policy OF the Government, and while
every eye was aExiousiy fixed on his pale
conference, and the breathiess silence WHICH
reryaded the House, confessed the power Of
his eloquence and the lofty sentiments with
which he inspired every heart, ! saw the very
arteries of his temples swell as he invoked
their love and liberty and their hatred Of in
tolerance and tyranny-as he implored their
cheering support in the cause OF human free
dom, and prophctically I'm folded the future
glory and happiness OF his country. Yet he
is new marked out as the chief victim of a
persecution SO relentless, persevcring and
vindictive, that it seems to have wanted n
more genial forn Of government only, to
have brought him to the seaficld or the bal
berts. He had firmness to maintain has prin-
cipics, and disdain to bow down and worship
the military idol Of q party 1t is for this that
be has been denounced; 1t is for this that he
has been caluraBiated-it is for this that be
has been openly assailed and secretly defam
ed 10 the whispers OF the firsside; and it is
for this, that he is to be immelated-If he
could be SO insensihle 10 public opinion, and
so unmiadful OF his whole public life, as TO
| have supported the military candidate for the
Presidency, the name of Henry Clay had
then been furnished, his honor had then
been stained, and he would have been set
! downln the history Of his country, as a recre-
ant 10 his principles and fame.p
MISTAKES OF THE PREss-It sometimes
happens that an error marked in the proof
| sheet is made a worse error by the correetor;
of this we have recently had an example
which is worth noticing: Reading the proof
Of the interesting anecdotes OF the late oc
Gu rrences in Paris, by a correspondent OF
the London Herald, we came TO this passage
in the humorous account Of the eabrioiet
driver)-"He lost his head aud charged the
gen d'armes en- arriere with his miserable old
horse" "Lost bis head r. we exclaimed,
show could he charge the gen d'armes them
Roy,-"it's so in the copy sir.'' "No matter,
il is certainly wrong And we dashed ont
The word head and wrote mind, very legiLly
in the margin, thinking it rather more rea