Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1839-03-28
HENRY CLAY


Monday evening. Ii was addressed by Mr..
SARGEANr and by Mr.. PREsroN of South
Carolina. The following extract from MIR.
Preston's address, as given in the United
States Gazette, will stir the blood of all who
know him we'll. MIR. Clay deserves the en- :.
comiums he received.
MIR. Preston said il did not perhaps he
come him to speak, in this place, of men but
as The Whig flag could not DO sustained wi,b>
out hand to hold il aloft, when raised, he
must be INDUCED in remark or two uron
this subject. The flag under which we raj.
~, he said, was noble, broad and expan.
ded one, and we were proud OF il il should he
placed IN hand that is worthy of il 81 able TO
spread II forth upon the breeze The hand
Is The hand OF HENRY CLAY. To HIM and
10 no other man must our banner be en,rust.
cd IL We would see it gloriously floating a
ioi! IN proud and triumphant victory.
MIR. Clay, he said, was noble an.-He,
himself, came INTO the Senate with strong
preJudices against him. He had warmly ops
posed him long before he knew him. Ia the
senate he found himself by his side-he
watched him with suspicious eye-but his
PreJudIces had gradually given way before
me power OF truth, and from being a suspi-
cious opponent, he would frankly confess he
moi his eloquence, that was well known-it
was not the great services which he had rem
dered his country, and which must be fsmi-
mar 70 all, that won him but i, was his no
Ole nature-his fearless Support of What his
judgment told him was right, regardless of
consequences, that called forth his admira.
'lon. No man ever looked danger in The
eye with more determined, unblenchinp
countenance, when in the pursuit of truth.
or The sustainment Of right than Henry Claw.
Sgreat cheering.) This he spoke OF bis ow
knowledge. He had seen him standing az
II were, upon the very edge ola political
ghlPh, down which, apparently, single step
must plunge him. have seen him look
into the guiph with fixed yet unblenchinr
eye, land with all its consequences before him
take the step which he thought DUTY re-.
CURED. Such man is Henry Clay
(Cheers.)
have heard him utter, SAID Mr.. Preston.
IN his closet, sentiments which, had they fall :
len from the lips of one Of the ancients Of
Greece OF Rome, would have been repeated
with admiration to the present day On enc
occasion, continued Mr.. Preston, he did me
The honor 10 send for and consul! me. II
was In reference 10 step he was about 10
lake, and which will, perhaps, come 10 your
minds without more direct aIiusion. Ale,
stating what he proposed suggested wheth-
er there would not bs danger in it-wbether
such course would not iniure his own pros
poets, as well as those Of the Wing party in
general. His reply was, 81 did not send for
you TO ask what might be the effect of the
proposed movement on my prospects. but
whether il was right; HAD RATHER
BE RIGHT THAN BE president"
such sentiments as these indicate the loft.
mess OF the man, and the high purposes of
ms soul; and they should call forth the ad .
mIratIon and confidence ofihe nation. They
point 10 him as "the most worthy" to WELD
her destinies. avow myself, therefore. for
Henry Clay. will not say 1 believe tho
Wings will be defeated unless they rally as
man, 10 solid phaianx, around him and
sheIr principles. know it'll is ineyita>
BILE But iflhey do thus raIlv, their triumph
IS certain. May il be my lot to congra,u.
Iate you hereafter ON your victory, rather
Than condoie with you and mourn with the
country on your defeat.
Mr. Hoffman. Of New York, end Mr..
Wise, OF Virginia, were called for, but il
din NOT appear that they were in the room.
when Mr.. Preston mentioned the name
OF Henry Clay in conpexion with the w bip
banner there was an outburst OF feeling that
tod OF The hold which that great man Lad
on the affections of the meeting. Three
tunes three they cheered, and then ask ed for
'one more" before they alIowad the speak .
er TO proceed. Ii was gratifying occasion
aud will be productive OF good.