Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-07-31

her institutions, imhued with her principles, and ,
familiar with her history, he has ever manifested
ardent attachment to her character, and just APP
probation of her fame.
The first act of his political life was sgnalizcd
by manly support of her principles then tho prin-
ciples of tine Union and of Constitutional freedom
In the fierce conflict of parties whrch asitated the
nation in 1898; when tho spirit of Executive en-.
croachmcnt assaed the liberty of opinion, as it
now does, the two States of Virginia Il kentucky
tho mother and the daughter--the birth place
and the adopted home of Mr. Clay were seen
fighting, side by side, in the great Constitutional
strugglc-thc first sustained by the luminous
intellect OF Madison-the latter aroused and
awakened into action by the genius of the youth.
full Clay.
In 1901, Mr.. Clay first appeared upon the thea
tire of federal politics, Il Senator from Kcntucky
From that period to the present moment, his life
has been dedicated to the service of his country.
What public crisis has ever found him wantina1
When was he seen to shrink from the performance
of his duty, when any great interest of his country
was to he asserted and maintaincd2 when public
corruption was to he reached by his indignant
scowl? when the respondent spirit of tie people
required to be aroused by the earthquake voice of
his cloqucnccl His name is connected with all
the prominent measures of the Union, and his
character is identified with every leading feature of
her policy.
The views of Mr.. Clay arc limited to tho pros
perty of no particular inlerest-thcy are circurl-
scribed by sectional considcrations-His COM
prchcnsvc patriotism embraces the diversified con-
Germs of the confcderacy. With equal solicit
tudc he is in favour of protecting the industry of
the North, and of yielding to the just demands of
the South. With him the preservation of the Uni
on is cardinal principle of action; Inc holds every
interest subordinate to that great end, the cectu-
al guardianship of which is the sole security of
any and every interest. 1t was the spirit which in
1919 induced him to throw himself mediator
between the North and South-calming the waves
of acknowledging the elements of discord-and
saving the Union from obstruction by his well
known scheme of compromise on the agitating
| Missouri question. And it is the same spirit which
has induced him, within few days past, to con-
sent TO an abatement OF the demands of the manu-
tacturers, i'll order to appeasc the angry clements
of sectional strife, and to restore harmony and tram
guilty to the Union: He knows that this govern
mcnt was formed in spirit of compromise, and
that it only be sustained by the spirit of
mutual cancellation.
His principles national-not selfish They
look to the prosperity of his country; not to his
individual ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. Is there class of
Northern politicians with whom the annual disri-
| button of the surplus revenues is favoritc mca-
sure Of policy? These men receive countenance
from Nls Clay, who omits no proper opportunity
| of declaring his hostility TO scheme injurious to
the whole Union, and particularly obnoxious, be-
cause particularly detrimental, to the Southern
States. is there another class in the West who
wish TO divert the splendid National Domain from
| its legitimate purposes, and for the exclusive adj
vantage of that portion of the Union MIR. Clay,
although Western man, promptly and decsiveiy
dcnounces the attempt, an act of gross injustice
ana inc Oluer states OF the COn1cOcra
cy, at the hazard of mpairng his popularity in
section of country in which he stands most in need
of efficient friends
| But why attempt to eulogize a man whose name
| is co-cxtensive not only with the limits of this
| Union, but which has reached the classic soil of
| Greece, and the submits of the Andes,-wherever
Liberty has found a resting place and Freedom
home. His splendid eloquence-his varied services
his enthusiastic patriotism-bis pure and spotless
characterize written upon cvory page of his
country's history. Calumny has in vain endeavor-
ed to blacken his reputation; and envy has abour-
cd Intellectually to depreciate the excellence it could
| never attan-but he bids defiance to his enemies.
He stands cmnencc which their feeble
rows cannot reach. Surely, Virginia should be
proud of the fame of her gifted son, and emuous TO
secure his advancement to station which would
lose by that event none of the ustTe impaired TO
by the virtues which have until adorned the
character of its occupants. Mr. Clay's fame should
be to Virginia theme Of just pride and pleasing
reflection. She beholds in him the link which
| connects her rcnown with those days when the
master spirits of the Commonwealth placed her in
| the front ranks the con federacy.
This is the man. fellow citizens, whom re-
commend to you fit and proper candidate for
the Presidency-and we most cordially recommend
him to your sutfrages at the approaching election.
Fellow Citizens of Virginia! You arc called
upon to choose between Andrew Jackson and Mar
tin Van Buren,, on the hand, and Henry Clay
and J Ohm Sergeant on the other. Of Mr.. Sergeant,
1T only necessary TO say, that he possesses mind
scarcely inferior to that of any in the Union
"a character untainted by the breath of suspicion
and patriotism unalloycd by selfish ambition.
Contrasted with Mr.. Van Buren--the sly, insidi-
Gus unprnciplcd intriguer-whose country is cen
tired in self, and whose ambition is scarcely inferi-
| or to that Of the fallen Archangel, he occupies
| proud prc-cmincnce which challenges your admira.
ton and claims your support. We appeal, then,
with confidence, to the good sense of the people,
who, however they may sometimes be msled, will
never wilfully continue in error.
We call upon our friends in all sections of the
State TO marshal their strength, to shake off their
apathy, and, when the day of trial shall come, to
rush to the polls with undivided force. We
cannot forbcar to urge them to be active, energet
ic, and Jealous in the good causo-being deeply
impressed with the conviction of the truths cen
tanned u this address, and believing that upon the
issue of the approaching struggle, greatly depends
the purity, if not the safety of free institutions
Let it not be said that in minority, and
that all exertions will be useless. If the members
of this body had yielded to such reasoning, they
would not have abandoned their homes and bust
ness TO aid i'll the organization of the party to
which they attached. Let every do his
duty-and leave the result to that Providence in
whose hands are the destnes of nations. Having
done this, if we fail, shall have nothing with
which TO reProach ourselves, but may exclam, in
the consoatory language Of the Roman patriot,
" If Rome must fall, innocent"
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