New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1842-08-15
VOL. III. no. HOS.
Letter from, Hyr. d,Iay.

we Ind the following excellent letter from the
great Statesman of the West III the Boston Amer
iean 1t written in reply to an invitation from
a Young Mems Committee to accept the compli-
ment Of public dinner.
| ASHLAND, August A, 1872
GEsTLEMEN-It gives me great pleasure to ac-
knowledge the receipt of your note of the 26th u.
and the paper which accompanied it, containing
| an account of the proceedings of meeting OF my
fren,ls, assembled together on our National An
niversary; and to offer an expression Of my cor
dial thanks for the testimony which is borne, in
both, OF friendship and confidence towards me-
There were not wanting persons, at distance from
Massachusetts, who construed her comparative 81
lence. as TO the extraordinary course of the Amer
lean Executive, into acquescence. knew her
bett r, and appreciated her more justly. ! knew
that it was the silence which preceded the roar of
her patriotic thunder. knew that it was impos-
sible that she should not largely share and intense
iy feel, the deep Indignation which that treacher
Gus course has excited in the heart Of every Wing,
and OF every honest man. And your ccmmunica-
tion and other concurring evidence, provc the &C
curacy OF my knowledge of her character.
l thank you for your friendly invitation to visit
Bosten. My last visit has left abiding and agree
able impressions on my memory which would rem
der its renewal highly satisfactory 1t was in au-
tumn after the passage of the Compromise Act
that timely measure of peace and harmony, whose
triple object to snatch the Protective System
from the impending destruction with which it was
menacod, BY combination of open enemies and
false friends, to preserve the Union from the dan
ger of n civil war, and to avoid the necessity Of
placing an immense military force, in hands which
was unwilling to trust, te be employed in deeds
of blood and devastation, against our own brcth-
rem, and in the bosom of our country. The
cerdiaty of my welcome, and my distinguished re-
ccption, every where that went in New Eng
land, among all classes and conditions OF my .fel-
low citizens, and especially among the manuf;.c-
turing class, manifested that the motives of my
conduct had been rightly conceived and properly
appreciated. There were few, at the epoch of
the settlement of that controversy, as there were
at another memorable epoch, when the Missouri
Question was amicably adjusted, who wished mat
tiers pushed to an extremity. could not share on
sympathze in thtt wish. | did not believe that it
was the duty Of Government to be making expert.
ments upon the tranquility and happiness of great
and free people; and least of all, experiments of
blood and carnage and disunion. believed then,
as believe now, that the day would come when
discreet exercise of the power of selfprotection,
in 1me form or other, against the foreigner, would
meet with general concurrence or acquiescence.
Bur, gentlemen, gratifying visit to Boston
would be to me, am unable to say when l shall
have that happiness, under existing circumstances.
| have prescribed to myself the rule of remaining
at home, attending to the occupation ofmy farm,
except when l am called away by business, or in
the pursuit of health. To this rule have thought
it best adhere, with this farther exception, only,
of fulfilling old engagements, the execution Of
which is insisted upon to visit some places which
L have never
Accept, gentlemen assurances Of the regard and
esteem OF your friend and obeden servant, H. CLAY.