Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-04-07

| Mr.. CLAy.-A correspondent OF tne P0rtianq
Daily Advertiser of the 3Oth ult. makes some very
sensible remarks on the present ~mbarrassments
of the CoMbIxArroS, and the views of Messrs.
Calhoun and Tan Buren. The subjoined Just and
eloquent remarks, extracted from his commun-
cation, will excite in the breast of every true
American, emotions responsive to those of the
writer:
The name of Henry Clay is callingu up among
us ten thousand pleasing recOllcctons. There is
a magic in the very name, associations with
the grandeur of the Republic, with liberty her.
self, and with almost every political incident
that does US honor.
There is gush of patriotism in recalling his
great and meritOrious services. Even the Jackson
party speak of him as gallant sacrificed citizen.
who, not bending enough to the spirit of the
times, has lost his lustre for the moment, vet
they look upon him as '.banished Roman, -
whose return the people will, by and by, hail with
triumph and reclamation. 1t is impossible to
trace the history of this great statesman, his ge-
MUS peering through obscurity, his triumphant
support Of South American Independence, and
of the Greeks, the prominent spot he occupies
OH every leaf of American enterprise, without
being reminded of Plutarch's statesmen and he
roes. 1t is vain to strive to put down, and to
keep down such men. The Deity never created
them to be trampled over by mere clods with
out particle of inspiration about them.--
While he is only Henry Clay. tue eyes of the
whole nation are turned upon him. He is thought
more of, talked of more, than all the butterflies
that are now fluttering about the Capital. He
does not stir from home Mountaineering with the
admiration and the patriotic tributes of thous-
ands. His late visit to New Orleans; the crowds
who flocked on the banks of the Mississippi to
get sight of him; the triumpha. entertainments
given him; the warm hearted generous enthusi-
asm of those who know him; all demonstrate the
depth of that regard which the American people
entertain for him.
-esoeSe9eo
Mr.. Clay arrived at Frankfort on the 25thult.
on his return home from New Orleans.
-ase5eeeese
1t is stated in the New York Evening Journal
that in the course of two years upwards of eight
hundred persons were committed to Jail in New
ark y. ]. greater proportion of whom for sums
less than four dollars, in many instances for sums
less than two dollars, and in one instance man
was committed for seventy-fve cents. and kept
in close confinement for a long period The fol-
lowing extract given in the same print from
the ESSAYS of Howard, who was confined
for sixteen years for debt in the New York Jail,
will fully illustrate the horrors of this barbarous
law.
He saws. "the Jail of New York is dreadful
place, and many a time, when, through the CRATES
of my prison window, l have watched the last
rays of the setting sun as they silded some neig
boring spirc, | have wondered that any man
could find it in his heart to put fellow-being In
Jail for debt.
II have, at last, given up the hope of liberty
blessed liberty. l can hardly write the word
without dropping tear at the recollection OF the
Joyous DAYS of liberty that are gone forever. an
sad when l think now they have fled away like
dream, and that neither |, nor my creditors
can ever recall them.
when l entered the walls of this terribl,
: Jail, in which. amid the rafting of chains | an
writing this impertinent story of my life, | wa:
Young, in good health, blest with awife whom
adored, and as fine boy as ever smiled In The
face of father.
..The boy is dead-and my wife is no more
She was indeed a most excellent woman. but sh'
was wounded to the soul by the horrors OF oul
ituation-her spirit wasbroken down, and she
with the infant that caused her sickness, died II
child-bed. in Jail shortly after my Imprisonment