Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1838-11-14
INTERESTING LETTER.

sean contains the proceedings at the
great Wing dinner, 10 honor Of Mr..
Bell, at Paris, Tenn, on the 18th inst.
Among the letters Of distinguished men
to the COMMITTEES Of Arrangement is
the following admirable one FROM Mr..
Clay. We canno; but smile, while
reading it, to think how il must sting
Polk and Grundy. Lou. Jour.
ASHLAND, Oct. /, 1898.
GENTLEMEN :--l am honored by the
invitation, transmitted to me by you as
the Committee Of the Wings Of Henry
county, in Tenn, to dinner proposed
10 be given to the Hon. John Bell, on
tho 18th INST | should be very happy
70 be able to attend Oh such an interes-
ting occasion (. ID characteristic
Of that feroeiogs splrls 81 denuncation
aad persecution, OF which | was long
the chosen victim, 10 display its great
est venom against those who have last
incurred lts enmlty. Ii has been the
fate OLA distinguished citizen IN the
eastern part Of your State, and Of Mr..
Boil, 20 be the latest objects selected
for the vengeance ofthat spirit, and
hence all the pliials Of wrath are poured
out On their head. have been com
parativcly spared and forgotten. No
State in the Union has exhibited a no
bier Independence than Tennessee,
and the people of it, in resolving TO
tat eft
merited attacks, have shown their SEN
siblity TO faithful and eminen. services
and Just adherence to gross injustice
would gladly unite With the Wings
ofllcnry, in the intended respect TO Mr..
Bell, but duties and engagements at
home compel me reluctantly 10 decline
the acceptance of'your invitation.
Among other strange and dangerous
principles OF Government which have
been introduced within the last few
years, none is more remarkable than
the system of rewards and puushmcnts,
which has been acted upon. Devotion
10 power is the highest, and often the |
only, recommendation to Executive pa
tronage whilst to question the lallibili- |
Iy of leading Administration, IS re-
garded as the greatest crime which a
citizen can commit. Rejection by the
people OF u partizun of the Executive,
who is a candidate for office, IS a sure
to its favor. So that the most
certain way 10 get an Office is to lose
one. Numerous examples might be
given of this practice, but | will men
ion only two. A candidate tor the
Governor of Pennsylvania, on the side
Of the Administration, beng rejected
by tho people, was soon after reward
cd by high Executive Office al W ash
ngion. And when he pouted aud
in consequence of another
rejected candidate for the same Office,
ofless Jealous faith, being appointed to
a Foreign Mission, he was Quoted by
being transferred to lucrative office
in Philadelphia. The other instance
is in your own State. A Senator, who !
had lost the confidence of the people of
Tennessee, has been recently compensa-
ted by a seat in the Cabinet.
Thus, gentlemen, you see with what
contempt power treats the people. 1t
has divorced itself from them. And il
10 in the same spirit shat, by means Of
the Sub.Treasury $ hene, il seeks to
establish for itself one currency, lea
wing the people in the possession Of an.
other, aud, as II alleges an inferior cur.
rency.
You will recoilect that Mr.. Adams
Administration was bitterly denounced,
because, in single instance, it made
an appointment of Post Master at
Nashville contrary to the recommended
ton of a majority ofthe tennessee del.
egation. The gentleman appointed
was OF undoubted character, warmly
recommended and emincutly qualified
FOR the othce lie was afterwards if |
mistake not, chosen by the people May
or ofthai c,tv. Bat there was one
qualification for tie Office Of Post Mas.
ter Of Nashville which he wanted-he
was not in favor oftle late election o!
the late President OF the Unlted Statesl
Judging from the events OF the last
year, another aud better destiny awaits
our Union than that 10 which our ru-
isrs have been turryng 1t. ] congfa-
tulate you OH the ausp clouS prospect
before us. When our dellYerance is
consumated, no state can look upon its
accomplishment, with prouder satistac-
ton than Tennessee. | am with great
respect, &c. II. CLAY.
Jew 'EsPRIf.-A fellow, the other
day, sold some clothing to a Jew. AZ.
ter the sale had been concluded he said