The Yazoo City Whig and political register. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 183?-1840, 1839-08-23
~ CI 80 ~ RIIEI.Af.ll


The Loll0Wingis the reply of Mr. Clay 70
the address Of TIC Common Council:
iir Recorder and Eelion CBisseass
The journey, which has brought me in
the midst Of you, was undertaken TO afford
me an opportunity which had long desired,
butneYer before enjoyed, Of viewing some
of the lakes, the country bordering upon
them, the wonderful cataract in yourneigh-
borhood, and the Canadas-I had no wish,
during its performance, 10 attract public at
tention or 10 be the object fany public de-
monstrations. ! expected indeed 10 meet,
and lake great pleasure in Acknowledged
that have every where met with individual
kindness, personal respect, and friendly
consideration. But, although it smy wish
to pass on quietly without display or parade.
lam penetrated with sentiments of graft
tude for the manifestation of attachment
and confidence with which am honored IN
this beautiful city Of the likes. thank you,
most cordially thank you for them all.
Intimately connected with the strength,
the prosperity, and the Union Of our country
was that policy Of Internal improvements of
which you have expressed appreciation. The
national read and the great canal, projected
or executed by your Clinton, both having
the same object of connecting the eastern
and western portions of the Union, have
difused a spirit throughout the land which
has impelled several States to under
take the accomplishment Of most Of the pre-
sent generation. Aud after the distrbu-
ton Of the large surplus recently made from
the common treasury, but little now remains
for the general government directly to do,
on this great subject, except those works
which are intended to provide, on navigable
waters, for the security of commerce and ma
and the completion of Cumberland
Road.
have been very glad, during the voyage
upon this lake. to find that an erroneous i'm
preston had existed in my mind as TO the
of harbors. had feared that
the expenditure of public money had been
often wasteful and unnecessary upon works
on the lake shores. There are, probably, a
few instances in which itimight have been
properly avoided; but / am now fully per-
suaded that, in the general, the expendi-
lures has been necessary, wise and saluta-
~.
In sustaining the great system Of policy
to which have just adverted, was actua-
ted by the paramount desire which has In
aueneed me throughout my whole public ca
reer of preserving in all its interogatory and
Vigor our happy Union. In it's comprehen-
ded, peace, safety, free institutions and all
that constitutes the pride and hope of our
country. If we lift the veil beyond it, we
must start back with horror at the scenes of
disorder, anarchy, war and disposition
which rise up before US.
But fit be most proper and expedient to
leave the case to the several states, those
internal Improvements, within their respec-
tive limits, which the wants of society re-
quire, there is one great and lasting resource
to which think them fairly entitled. The
public domain has accomplished the objects
to which It was dedicated BY our revolution
airy fathers in satisfying the land bounties,
which were granted to the officers and sol
diers Of the war of independence, and in
contributing to the extinction ofthe nation
aldebt. 1t is in danger of being totallylost,
by loese and impTovident legislation; -and,
under the plausible pretext of beneftting
the poor, oflaying in the hands of specula-
tors, the foundation of municipalities.
have thought that the nett products of
the public domain should be equitably divi-
ded among all the states. In their hands
the fund would assist in the execution of
those great and costly works which many of
them-have undertaken, and some find it diff
fcult to complete. The withdrawal of the
fund from the danger to which it is exposed
and the corrupting influence which it exerts,
fuctuating as the fund does, from year 10
year, would scarcely be felt by general gov
eminent, in its Legitimate operations, and
would serve to improve upon it in the per-
Torrance of the necessary duty of economy
and strict accountability.
Lam happy to learn that the public mea-
sures to which, in the national councils, /
have rendered my humble support-here
have commanded your appreciation. The
first of these in time and importance was the
last war with Great Britain. Upon its eau
ses and upon its results we may look back
with entire satisfaction. In surveying this
theatre Of gallant deeds upon the lakes and
upon their shores, have felt my bosom
swell with patriotic pride. Nor can anyone
fail 10 recollect the names of Brown, and
Scott, and Porter, and Harrison, and Shelby
and Perry, and their brave comrades, who so
nobly sustained the honor and added TO the
glory Of our country. And it is most graft
fving to behold the immense augmentation
on this frontier of It's military strength and
security since the last war. The satisfaction
Whieirie derived from witnessing fhe tran