Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1841-11-04

You obtdirni servant,
EPllRAlM II. FOSTER.

ErnRAlM II. FOSTER.
CLAY FESTIVAL Letter from Er-Scndtor
Foster, ~ Icnatsscc.--Fhe Lexington (ky) lntel-
gcucer says: "a Although The d'nner ~ honor oi
distinguished fellow ct zen declined, lave
been KINDLY furnished with the following leltcr ior
publication, CONTAINING just sentiments aud pattl-
ole views worthy alike ol The writer aud o The
cislon:'
NASHVILLE, SErr. 3Dh, 1sil.
GENTLEMEN: acknowledge, with my unteig ued
thanks or the COM llncnl. your note OF the 81 in
stant. In,ilug me 10 attend IA festival To be gvcn,n
your v,elny on the 7th of next month, aud 10 JOIN
my "kentucky friends IN expressions OF confidence
and regard Tot the ptc-emnrn, services rendered by
the Hon. Henry Clay, 10 The great Wing cause oi
America, DUNG the recenl session Of Congress
II know my heat anghl, m, zeal IN support Of
he cause and The principles you propose chiefly 10
honor by your festival, had its origin IN the mos
solemn aud ratnotIc CONVICTIONS. Recon- unto
ward vents, uuhnpply calculated oimpcde II
ncui the onward march oi ,hat cause aud the spec
dy operation II Que Of It's mos, vital principles, IN
spne, rlhc, Than abdle, NY ardo,. My motto is,
that ''nothng done while any Thug remains
To be douc." The pleasure. therefore, of par
TIC patng with You on an occasion proper
Ia itself, aud AT tie same lime, full Of justice 10
the IRE mueui" claims ot Il great aud distinguish
ed ublic servant, would not suffer to my.
sell by any coz mon place apology; and react ok
eagerly cmb,ace. But tue opportunity snils aud
he necessities that plead my absence from your
meeting do not deny me hmple leisure II drop n
passing tribute To the character aud fearless sp M
III your lustrlnus guest.
For more than llnily years past, the history Of
Mr.. Gays lite Is conspcnousy incrwoven IN al
most every page oi his counIy's history; mud nj
lhougA II has accorded with the dlctatcs Il my hum
bic judgo,edt, to differ with him on some Of the
eenal topics that have divided The public attention,
ayr never hecss, ever cotcitan,d for hun, person.
,lly sentiments II profound ad nrali0n In the cnd,
when these exciting questions we've settled ~ au-
rrr4rded by others al lai gieater magnitude, and
diversity of uplninn or determination changed the
relations of turner polren associates, | found my
sell, wilh u great multitude of my ancient friends,
4, i,g Al ms side. and successfully struggling
with party, manly headed and sustained by inc I'M
eonque,,be encfgIes of Iis eminent aud Truly gifted
m,nd. In hls honorable alIi'n moie nn,e-
stunned intercourse has satisfied NE Of the purity u
his poilllchl iiie; and do not any hnger hesitate
IN subst iIbtug those extraordinary and unfvaed
virtues which gave hun the env.ble emInence II
Is now / ! fUt n. ~ enjoy.
Honest OF purpose, aud yet not more honest than
determined, NJ. Clay soolns bolh sub,c,luge aud
an preirinng defeat 10 duphcny, he
boldly encounters his adversary in an open field.
lie ptactccs thai itankn which others only boast,
and his iirnuess, bordering on the extreme OF tina
necessary virtue, ~ seldom persuaded TO yield
tempotIse; although II might be, that a timely aP.
pca,,nre Of submission would purchase the success
of an enter. rise. Such conceive him To be-thr
man you design 10 honor by your irstiVal--a cllI-
zcn destined To be ilnsttiuns II the annals OF
lhr Republic. II had been bolter perhaps, Tor linn.
sell aud HE Country, lie had early learned 10
ceaI an excess 0l honorable emotion, winch alone
has hitherto checked his hig career; better by far,
Tor hat same county, II the people would happily
resolve IN lhcr selections for exalted stations 10 pass
hv The faults OF an ingenious nature, Il Iretrr
man for the acts 81 his life, rather than take another
On unified professions. In the one way we have
security which seldom fails us-n The other. there
hes not unircIurniiy beneath n plausible surface,
hidden pun pose oil ambition, which kisses bnl 10 Le.
tray, and then belrays without u blush. Under
government like ouis, where the national tab &c liter
all, rests upon popular confidence and affection, cx.
pies oil tie Latter kind destroy The pubic temper,
and the chances Of success IN great puiIli
rsl experiment. Aud It, unfortunately, the history
of The day IN which we 1--we, may be supposed to
uulod precedent, closely ally ng rself with these
pctuCious examples nay we not indulge conn
deu, hope, thai an intelligent ard sell governing
people vail, dues ason detect the alarming abuse
and the -nal punishment ol lis guilty authors,
correct The evil winch stfikes ~ The root Of our Zee
instI uuons. tender 10 the assembly that shall
suiound Your festive boards the saluldtous o DIS
lant friend, Who w!lh them III eail and sentiment,
aud yourseiys individually, assurances oi The SIN
c,ie aud nuquale regard Of
Dear Sfs, yours, truly,
EPHRAIM II. FOSTER.
70 the COMMITTEE OF InyatIon.