Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1839-03-28

Extract from the Speech Of Hon. John Clavk, q
NeaC- York, IN the II. Of r. Of the U. States
Jan. 80, 1899.
The alliance between the wings and con-
Bervatives t0oppose the administration in It's
mad and visionary and destructive projects
is characterised as bargain and sale.
No, sir, it is an alliance Of high and noOIe
purpose, prompted by love of country ano
hatred Of executive dictation.. What was
the spectacle presented to admlring PaITlo.-
isrn in the stafe of New York, during the late
election? One on which good men might
have eazed with delightful admiration. Men
enCaSed for years in warm political conflict,
en,sr9ine from it with all the bitter feelings
which such conflicts usually engender, in
pure devotion to their country, nobly laid
upon its altar oil personal consideration, all
their party feelings, and all their political
preiudices and antipathies. 1t was peace
offering to offended liberty. The fire pat
riotism kindled the sacrifice. Its incense
has ascended, grateful to the guardian angel
of the country.
Had the conservatives stood by, indiffer-
ent spectators Of the fght-had they inactive
Nv, viewed the revolution of the Juggernaut
wheels of agrarianism, crushing beneath
their desolating weight, business, credit, in
dustry, enterprise, order, law, and morality,
they would have proved false to their prlnci-
pies, false to their country, & false to heaven.
On the great and absorbing questions pre-
scented by the executive, and which divide
and agitate the country, wings and conserva-
tiyes think alike. Thus thinking. bow can
Gucy, as IrIenuS 10 the country, AVOID unity
of action? Shall conservatives be false to
the country because Wings are true to it =!
Shall they lose sight of principles and be CO.
.vo,r-l hry vopooo Shall fhov aha n6on
publican ground because wings occupy it
Shall conservatives, travelling the high road
of republican principle, turn aside, and mad
" rush down the precipice, because wings
are fellow travellers? No sir. Conserya.
tives are pleased to act with wings when they
70 for the country, and trust they will SO
continue to act. 1t is the only mode of ope.
ration by which the great and vital interests
ofthe country can be preserved from the ruin
with which they are threatened by the party
in power. The motto of the conservative re-
publican is "principia non homines." AS
lip obedience to the call of duty, they hesita-
ted not to hurl the shafts with effect, at the
bosoms of their old comrades in arms, SO will
they keep in their CULVER, arrows reserved
for any and every party proving false to the
country.
Party, in its relentless tyranny, exacts from
DEGREES, be they right or wrong. Against
~thistyranny, conservatives will wage unceas-
ing war-as they will oppose no measures
calculated to promote the public good, be-
cause brought forward by the administration,
so will they support no measures having an
opposite tendency, because they may receive
the advocacy of the opposition.
No doubt, to the destructives, the inaction
of the Spartan cohorts would have been high
ly delightful. It was modestly asked of them
to stand by with folded arms, to submit pa
tently to denunciation and abuse, and to
look with indifference upon the wounds of
their lacerated and bleeding country Did
they consent to remain hors du combat, and
maintain an inglorious neutrality? No, sir.
They felt that the performance of a high and
Imperative duty was demanded at their
hands. At the hazard Of party outlawry,
regardless Of all personal considerations and
personal consequences, they buckled on the
Tuss1 a g.
contempt Of party discipline, as volunteer
soldiers on the side Of their country, without
bounty, or the expectation of reward, they
have enlisted for the entire war. They viii,
at all times, be found at their posts, manfully
'doing battle, until the vcndals shall be dri-
ven from Rome" Already, in the state of
New York, have they given evidence of their
helmets Of their enemies, and the enemies of
republican principles, bear ample testimony,
that they welded their battle axes with no
puny arms. The bruised casques of num-
Der Of my honorable colleagues around me,
bear gratifying proofs that they have come,
discounted, from the fight.
The motives of the Conservatives chal-
aenge and defy impeachment. Like the vir-
tue of the Roman matron, they are above
suspicion. The virtuous and the good of the
present age award to them, as posterty will
award, honesty ofpurpose, purity of inten-
tion, and unconquerable moral bravery
These remarks are especially applicable to
the Conservatives of New York. They had
every reason to believe. that they were des.
tined to meet, not only with persecution and
IreprOach, but TO pass into an almost hopeless
minority. At the extra session of congress
their stand was taken. They might have
basked in the sunshine of executive favor,
they preferred the smiles of their country
They left large majorities for lean minori-
ties. The gift Of prescience was not theirs.
The spirit of prophecy was not upon them
They could not have anticipated the results
of the New York state elections in the fall of
sS7-results as unexpected and astounding to
the wings as to the destructives. Under all
Ahe discouraging circumstances with which
they were surrounded, did they hesitate
No sir; the country demanded their aid, and
without waiting to speculate on political pro-
liabilities, or calculate upon political chan
ces, they freely, fearlessly gave it.
tits alleged that the people have been be-
trayed by the conservatives, that they have
-Prerod false 10 THAR constituents. Those of
feel that this rebuke is merited, viii Of course,
submit to it in silence. For myself and as
regards myself, most respectfully, but most
decidedly. pronounce the charge totally de.
void of truth. Gentlemen little understand
me, ifthey suppose that am capable of win
ming the affections of my constituents, to
wound them, or of gaining their confidence