Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-07-30
POLITICAL.
henry CLAY.

~ La
1t is very apparent from the tone Of The Federal prints
throughout The Union, that the delegates TO the national
Convention will act with bnt little harmony and concert,
IN The selection of Q candidate for the Presidency to run
in opposition 10 Mr. Van Buren,. The Eastern Federal;s's
vii. vn,e for Clay, now that Mr.. Webster has declined
10 be a candidate. The Western Federalists, or ra'hG.
a large proportion Of them. vii! vote for General Har-
rison. The Southern wing OF the Opposition are gene.
rally opposed 10 either Clay or Harrison; but the imprcs-
sion is fast gaming ground. that alter Mr.. Van buren,
has taken The cream OF The Opposition at the South, tie
State Rights The remainder viii be transferred
10 the support of Mr.. Clay. With this variety OF pre-
farencps. The delegates representing the various sections
OF The Urion, will meet al The Harrisburg Convention
10 make q nonina'inn The prrpondera nee will assured
~ be in favor Of Nj Clay. He will be nominated. Har-
rIsnn. Webster, Scott and White will be thrust aside as
upavailahles. and Clay will be- brought out as the cham
pion 10 me assure strength with our present popular Ihiei
Magistrate Can any one doubt asio The result, he lie.
publican party are united 10 q man IN support Of their che
rsh.d principles. and of Mr. V. b who has displayed so
much patriotism and frmness in maintaining ond carry.
ing Them forward in despite OF an illiberal and persecut'
ing g. POSITION. On The other hand. the piebaId faction,
styling rhs mseIvfs "Whigs,' are bound together by no
other ties than opposition TO every thing Of a puier ma
ture than themselves And with such a leader as Clay
10 march them into the baule field, must be a gloomy
reflection to the brave spirits oi "Whirgory. Iojndge
of his former heroic deeds. We invite The careful attention
of our readers 10 the following graphic sketch OF his HE,
giyep by The worthy md esteemed friend nt the Demo.
cracy Of Connecticut, Judge Niles. al 4 Iste session oi
Congress. We have before published thfSa remarks ~
connection with MIR Gay S attach upon W.T. .NWs
which this is an answer. The republication at ihis time
adds new force and beauty 10 what vas considered, at
he time of lis dellrery, a production OF great menu.
lNUrsich aurora.
Mr. n. said, he owed Inc Senator something more
han an epiiaph and would honor him with a hTiti BIO.
ytophical notice Of his public life. The honorable Sc.
nstur commenced his career early, and lis dawn was
.Ilumined by bright hopes and noble aspirations. L'hc
slher asplranrs for power. his early lie was distinguish
ID by an arden, love for the people, and strong PROBES
.inns OF dc vn,inn 10 popular rights lie was q Demo
crat Of full blood a Jetiersonian Democra', a 'irict
cnnslructiunisr; a believr in the right oil instruction;
a friend of economy, and a morIa! enemy ct a National
Bank and all atlsrocrntic institutions lie talked Loudly
and e!oqnenlly about the rights OF the propie ana me
rights of the States, and denounced The fedeIaiIsts IN
all their works.
But not wIlhsranGing oil this zeal and love for the peo.
pie. it seems hat there was n the sotiom q little love Tor
sell. az We are inf"tm By q distinguished bu, eccentrlc
statesman of the Old Dominion, now no more, that the
moment he entered the halls at Congress, he flxeo ms
eves unon a certain white house I'm This city, which up.
orars TO have had q .eculiar iascinu,I"n upon his mind.
This early eminent snnn became a ruling PASSION ana
=. grew with its growth, aud strengthened win MS
strength = The Supre me object OF the Senator 8 ANN
,ion has been n Sort Of ignjs Gataus, which has led hun
on from point 10 point, from one measure 10 an"'ncI,
through political bogs and %qnngmires but II he has
sometimes sunk in The mud. he has hllherto hu 'H
good fortune to get out and on hrs teet once more
The pursuit OF his darling object has led hun 10 mount,
1o"'ed and spurred, numerous political hobbies; oil 81
which he rode very hard. and oil of which he rode down.
Without reaching ~ OUIpCl w is pursuit. "a hS'A
Tariff. the American system, internal Improve mems,
and the Bank of The United Statps-al oil these have nstn
rode down and broken down; but the latter having lhh
most bottom, the Senator has mounted again, ana !"
now riding as furiously, and with as sanguIne hopes o!
success MS al first.
With his eye steadily fixed on his object, and never
for a moment withdrawn, the Senator watched the pro-
pfess of events, and waited rather lmpauently the move.
men,s of The troubled waters OF politics; the derangc-
mpnt nf parties in Ic24 was thought 10 present a favor
able opportunity. The Senator entered upon the re
side n,ial course with high hopes and sanguine e1pec'a'
lions. The result, h"wever, showed that Wanting am
bition had OVERSIZE ppcd the bounds OF probability, as he
was not only beaten, bnt disiancPd. and driven oil NE
course the first heat. But although beaten himself, ara
thrown out. he was still plnced in a favorable position,
and in regard to the election IN The House oil hep't-
,en,n,iyes, was generally supposed to have The game
IN his own hands And here there is one point OF
resemblance in the Senator's life and my own as nc
has described il. He snys have made an able az
minent agninst The Right Of instruction. II ! nave
made an argument. he has done much more; he hes
fnrnisht d an e1ampif; and, however able the Senator
might regard his (Mr Ms argument, he was very sen
able that iIs weight and influence would be tribihE,
:nmpared with the conspicuous example OF the senator.
His Slate had instructed him 10 vote for the Western
candidate: but everything their decision, he voted Tor
he Eastern candidate. and threw himself into the "iine
safe precedenis." In his new position, ana WIN ms
rev associnie, having postponed indefinitely me "oe,ef-
ed question Of vernciiy,' he struggled n'anluiIy, out
InavailingIy, for four years, against me strong current
,cpublic opininn. This struggle terminated 10 the me
nnrabIe contest Of 1s29, IN which the Senator DID not,
is trup. take the field in his own person, but as O poll.
icaI partner with his Eastern associatr; 4 sort OF Joint
stock concern Of ride and tie, in which each put IN az
onal moieiy Of the stock in trace, with an Understand
ng that they were 10 divide the profits. But Oid iflck.
nv had too much capital i"r the hrni, when laheo, ana
,fcourse had no profits To DIVIDE.
But no, discouraged by these two defeats, the Senator
never for q moment abandoned his object, but .inlmedi'
,,elv commenced ralIyinr his broken and scattered Tor.
ces all over The country, for another contest. This CANE
IN in l-}2. when le again took the field, AGED by q pow
.rful ally, the Bank oftha u. S against the most heroic
md powerful captain Of the age. Tn" conflict w"s tre-
nen dnus. although al no time doubtful. Inc senator
md his Bank allies were beaten, routed, and driven from
he field, with The loss Of bag and baggage.
Well, now, MIR President. if il is true, as The Senator
.nys, that am politically dead, have an example IA
MS own case, that a politician may be dead and yet be
alive He has been killed off three times, and yet We
find him alive and o, his post, struggling as mHniuly as
EVER in pursuit Of The same high prize Al no iotmt'
period. perhaps. has he had such h'gn nopes 'T ~, -,
pec,ations, or deemed his prospects so bright q
eve ,be horizon appears perfectly clear, WIN seate'ty
cloud 10 obscure his vision. his oo oahs an.s y
s,;Ii y,rh him. more ardent in the Contest IMAM eve
Aner n lonF struggle Of thirty years. ne gems 10 sup
r,se Inn, The golden prize is nearly within nus reach,
raa,;,o The consequence uf a fourth dlsaPpninthheht'
bav. on several occasions heretofore. "ai"' mn y.
ba too sangnine, and have remino'o nm u" uPpeh..
oocos , often dpcpilfuI, and that pnhiic opinion IS a.
u : . "xremeIv unstable have told him that
~ chanyps had been The result OF q panic and pera'
ni,,v difficulties. broughlnpon me country by me banks
and hat they would IN oil Psopa1!i'y oe Is .'1ns'oty
y !, o.nses . hich had produced them. But do not
."ass ms n dyice will be Needed. although given in the
uopss, friendly spirit, and with the most anxious desire
~ him from The Consequences OF a fourth dlrap-
nnintmen, which might prove very serious. ;,
= WI. now. Sir, in egard 10 This fourth and last tri&i
for think this will bp the last-l might ioreteii rs
rcsul, without much hazard. but will mol do 'na'. !
viii not turn prophet. lest, like many others, shousa
be found a iaiss prophet But, Sir, have an opinion,
n settled conviction, on This subject. the result OF same
little observation and reflection on past and present
events NV deliberate opinion is, TINT the Senator viii
again be defeated. and hat be IS destined 10 su,er q
rt,,,b and last pon,ieal death. About The year leiO,
~ S.aa,o- ,s we'll az myself, will, in all probability,
be " much al leisure, when intend 10 avail myself Of bis
lind invitation. and pay him a visit amid the quie, shades
Of Ashland, where, doubt not, he will find more Teai
" -, in The tnrhulpnce of polltIcal stgNe