The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-07-16
-FPEECH v5F HENRY CLAY,
From the fredericksburg .ascn1, Jttfg41.
At HANOVER, VA

iFTor. the fredericksburg .2scnr, JtttgfFj.
After longer delay than VIC expected, we
nlmve to-day the pleasure of presenting to our
readers the speech delivered by MI, Sktf al
Taylorsville, Hanover county, on the 27S1 ult.
IL will be readewit interest by his trleaittj and
oppqnents 1t isworthy of his nigh fame as an
orator ana statesman, and contains master Tor
the serious reflection of every hover Ot'ts coun-
ntry.
The sentimeH6i;n compliment TO MIR CLAY
was received with long continued aPplsIse.-
That gentleman rose and addressed the company
substantially as fdllows:
think friends and fellow-citiScns, thai, avail
inc myself of the privilege of my long service in
the public couucile, Just adverted 10, the resolu-
tion, which have adopted, Is not unreasonable,
of leaving to v0Ny ger men, generally 5Sshe per-
Iermance of the dSJy, and the enjoyment OF the
pleasure of address ng the People an THEN Prima-
nv assemblies %fier the event which occurred
last winter at the Gpitol of PenRs5 lVaE4a, be-
heved it due to myself, to the w htg cause, and
ID the country to, announce to the PUblte, with
perfect truth and sincerity, and NitIiont any re-
serve nv fixed determination heartily tcsupport
the nomination olW illiam Henry Harrison there
made To put down all misrepresentation
have, on suitable occasions, repeated tina annun-
citation; and now eoclare my solemn conviction
that the purity and security of the prosperity of
the country imperatiyely demand the election OF
that citizen to the 5afice of Chief Magistrate OF
the United States
;sEut this oceasiefilerms an exceplenafsom the
rule which have prescribed to myself 1 have
come here to the coc..nty of my nativity in the
spirit of pilgrirn, to meet, perhaps Scr tae last
time, the companions end the descendants OF the
CONF anions of my yoath. Wherever we roam
in.yghatever climate or land cast by the
saeeidents of human HI, beyond the rnebntains
,or, beyond the ocesns n the legislat,veshalls of
the l. apitol or in tle retreats and shades.ef pri-
,vate 5fe our hearts turn with an irresistible in
sstHcb to the cherished scot which usheree as in
to existence And wet we'll with delightful as
seciaSi ons on the recollection of the streams in
which during orr Se9ioh days, we bathed, the
rfou14Saas at which S,e GSunk, the pIney fields,
1.-THE hils and the valleys where we sported, and
the fFisnds who shared t6ese enjoyments with US.
Alasl too many of tiese friends of mine have
gone whittier we must al shortly go, and the
presence here of the ssSi5 remnant left behind
sattests Goth our loss and Nlrly attachmeHt.-
I,youid greatly prefer ruy friends, to employ the
time sykch this visit affords, in friendly and VA
.niliar conversation the 3zrtues of our depaSt-
red companions, and on the scenes and adventures
of our EcEnger days; but the expectation which
s,seyals the awful state Of esr beloved country,
and the opportunities which Il have enjoyed IN ats
public councils, impose on nae the obligation ef
touching On topics less congss'ial with the feei7
ms of my heart, but possessing higher public IN
terest. I taesurc you, felles-es;5zens, however,
thai present myself before yos for no purpose
of exciting Tgejudlces, inGaRaSng passions, but
40 sueak toyou in all soberness ssd truth, and to
testifs, to the things which kppsg, or the con-
victions which | entertain, rs 2naucient friend,
who has lived long, an! whose career Is rapidly
drawing to close. Throughout az arduous life,
have endeay cred to make truth asd the good OF
our common country, the guides al my public
conduct; but in Hanover county for which
eaerish sentp1eris of respect, gratitude, and VIC
neration, above all other places, would avoid
saving any thug that / did not sincerely and
truly believe.
Why is the plough deserted, the teois of the
mechanic laid aside, and all are seen rushing to
gatherings Of the reople2 What occasions those
vast and unusual aesemblages which we behoid
in every State, and in almost every netahbor-
hood? Why those conventions of the People, at
a common centre, from all extremitics 81 this
vast Union, TO consult together upon the suffer
ings of the community, and to deliberate on the
means of deliveraDce: Why this rabid appetite
for public discussions9 What is the solution @
ttLe phenomenon, wlieh we observe, of great
nation agitated upon its whole surface, and at its
lowest depths, like the ocean when convulscd by
some terrible storm? There must be a cause,
saRli no ordinary cause
1t has been truly said, in the most memorable
document that Issued from the pen OF men,
taat.sall experience hath shown that mankind
are more disposed to suffer, while evils SUI
fcrable. than to right themselves by abolisling
the iusiss to which they are accustomed" The
recent history Of our People furnishes confrma-
ton of that truth. They are active, enterprisins
and intelligent; but are not prone to make
groundless complaints against public servants
If we now everywhere behold them in motion,
il is because they feel that the grievances under
which they are writing can be no longer tolera-
ted They feel the absolute necessity OF a change,
that no change can render their condition worse,
and that a ly change must better it. This IS the
Judgment to which they have come; this tue brief
and compendioHs logic which we daily hear
They know that, in all the dispensations of Pro