Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1841-10-28
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INNluHIIsi: 0lIQRER ~ aSAa
IVNCilHUHG. OOTORER -. ssa
HENRY &HIs TkADUCERs

vice, 10 his country than Mr.. Clay; anl vel, STA, .
To say, not one has been villfed and sand.r.a
We see, indeed the highest honors showered - III,
the heads OF ind y,duals who point, in ,her M.
i,,cal career, 10 no single act which will depul,
hem with their countiy's history, or can.e thei,
na to be remembered with gratitude by poster,
"; While lie whose whole career has been signalix, al
by lie toic devotion his native land" TO The nm.
motion of hose honor and interests he ha. been
ever willing to sacrifice his individual promotion.
and Curtius-like, to throw himself # need be- iuto
the gulf. denounced in terms applicable only Ia
traitor! And these denunc,atious not nnlIequep,Iv
fall from The lips of men who are utterly incap,bls
ofappreciAtins the lofty grandeur Of his char acter
OF who. approaching II, "hste that cxcellene.
they ca"uol reach" There is no page # our na,u.
raj history Ir the last thirty years. upon which
the name OF IL nry Clay is not intellectually stampede
and wherever IL is found, it is seen in connection
with some great quest on ofpubc policy with which
the ighs, he honor, the Interests and he indep.n.
derce ol his unlry are intimately ass, ciatef; aud
in every instance, Without solitary exception, he 10
precisely in the position which patriotic soIic,uds
for the fare of the nation would naturally place
him. ]. some If his opinions he may have been
judgment srat and pass the sentence Of condem-
nation upon hm. But il he has erred, his error
has never proceeded from the pe,verson Of splen-
did intellect by The seductive whsperings Of tower.
ing ambition. leading him asray from that course
which he believed 10 be right, in order TO chime in
with the current Unpopular opinion and prejudice,
thai he might be borne smoothly and safely upon
lis bosom TO the Ing hest power. No: he has dis
claimed that uuck'ing and time serving policy, TO
which, had he been base enough to stoop, lie would
long SINCE have reached that proud emincnce,
upon which his enemies aege his eyes have ever
been nlently fixed. But IN r.achinghat position, by
such base means, he would have lost that seIrespect
without which the hig est iIonO,s are as "dust in
the balance" and forfeited til at glowing admiration
which fires The hearts of his rienis and which 10
based upon thorough conviction Of his superiority
To tl.ose low acts by winch reptiles are sometimes
enabled to crawl oa helghtlo which the eagle i. IN
able TO That noble sentiment, "Ihad rather
be right than 10 be Presidents" characteristic Of
the man, and furnishes key to his whole con duct.
which not surprised 10 see is puzzle to ihoss
who look upon success rs the only true measure Of
desert. That MI Clay would be gratifed by such
token Of national graiii ude his election 10 tho
IiesluChcN "nulu ID no one can uOuOl would
be less than mortal, if he were ind ffereut
upon such theme. But ambiIiou s he may be
f the honor. would ch,fy prize his election a.
means Of conf ring benefit upon his country, and
no as reward for his previous labors. He might
have purchased popularity long ago, # he would
have consented to abandon his cherished pfincip
for the sake oil uilicc. But sooner than renounco
lten he will consent iorego thai hi gh distinct ion.
He is not nsensble TO The satisfaction which we'll
earned popaa,ty affords I" every public man, how
obscure however elevated his office; but. his
whole public life a'tesis that he holds in utter
scorn that s'fi o popularity which is purchased by
asurrender OF all just clam TO il, in The concealment
Of his opInon, aud 10 the abandonment Of principle.
J lie can say 10 those who reproach him W it'll great
anbiion, while they exult at his failure tain s
object, the great Lord Mansfield once said, upon
the fl OF the British Parliament, in reply t. "a
BILE Lord who had assaed him IN like manner: "lf
" the noble Lord means ly popularity the applause
" bestowed by ailer-ages on good and vrluous ac-
" tons, have been long struggling in that race
" what purpose ail-nyins time can alone determine;
:" but he means that mushroom popularity. ~hr. /
- is raised without and lost vi lhout crime.
" is much mistaken. Il defy the noble Lord to
pohl our "a single aCllon IN my lie here the popu-
" li,y Of The times had the smallest Influence
- my determinations. | thank Col, | have a
more permanent and steady ru e for my conduct
the Dictates Of my own breast. Those who have
foreg ne tina, rule aud given up their minds TO the
slavery Of every popular impulse, sincerely pity;
Il pity them still more # VANITY leads them 10 mis-
" take the Shouts of "A mob for the trumpet Of fame.
" Experience might inform them that macy
d" who have been saluted by the buzzas ola crowd
&C day, have received their exec alton the
"nex'; and many, who, by the popularity
/ of their times, have been held up as spot =
= less patriots, have nevertheless appeared on
/ " The historians page, when nuth has ui-
"ly. Why then the noble Lid think am
ambitious OF present popula,ily-iha, ec,o Of folly.
" and shadow uG renuwu!'
Among Mr.. Gays present assaiants we regret
TO say. we fluid the names Of men whom We had ne
yer expected to see employed in that self degrading
occupauon--men who have Co operated with him
sldency III $3.50 when she then Wing party of the
Union assembled. by lis deegau $. IN convention at
Hanisbure-men who manifested de p chagrin, and
one OF whom, II IS sad, Wept when the nomination
fell upon ahot her ustriuus cit zen over " hose
timely grave nation mourns-men, who after that
nomination, omitted suitable opportunity OF
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