Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1842-10-24
NH. CLAY-ABOI.TTIOS.

s""e account oil Nlr. Clay's reception by the eli,
ems oil Indianapolis and by he immense crowd of pecpe
attracted to that place by Mr. C's late visit from the adj
Jo'ns oties, as well from other parts Of Indana-so
numerous as to defy computation. Mr.. Clay was well
co'"s " 'V Noble, in behalf of the people of Indiana:
u "n'h ne replied, In speech characterized by that
"""oe'u' ao'''y and eoquence which, by their rare
cohoha'oh' eh'i'ic hun to be regarded as the wisest
statesman as well as the most powerful Orator os ~.
age lie deseaned (says the Journal,) witt, crea,
plainness, but with thrilling interest, upon the m,,,.
'i"' questions oi pubic policy which now agiia,e tho
public mind-atarih national currency the di.,,;h,
ton Of the proceeds of the public lands modification If
the veto power, and economical administration of IN,
government. lie conrased the creeds Of the ,wocrca,
parties in the United States and called upon the pcoplc
by all they held dear and sacred to ponder careful,
y the great questions which divide them and to think
and To act for tn emseyes, in view of their own we,ro
and happiness and the prosperity and glory of their be-
loved country. The close of his speech was eloouent
and sublime and must have made deep and abiding
impression upon the mind and heart Of every lover of
his country The vast multitude was then success
svcy addressed by Senator Crillcnten and Gov Met,
calf of Ky, and by Senator White and Smith of Indiana
Mr. Clay returned to Ashland on the next day.
An incident occurred while Mr.. Clay was in the town
of Richmond ndiana which deserves more mail ~,
notice than was taken of ii By the brief tract FINN, III,
Dayton Journal in our last paper When Mr.. Clsy
had concluded lis speech the former place. "a commit:
tee Of Lococo Abo tonisls as they are STYLED in tho
Record" printed there, appeared beiure him. and prt
scented him with petition, asking him liberate ls
savesone third Of the sgncrs being negroes, who's.
cross marks were made in due FORM The petition NAG
presented by named Mendtnhal who rpsiles
near settlement Of blacks in Randolph county, OndN
In reply TO this petition, Mr.. Clay exhibited his usual
courtesy, combined with his uniform candor and boldness
IN The avowal Of his opinions. 1.-The time Of presenting
the petition, he thought was out of place He was
private Citizen and invited guest of the people. An
helr urgent solicitations he had come to receive the hcs
palitcs Of the citizens Of Indiana. and he thought thar
decent respect for his feelings for the feelings Of hes
friends, and for their characters as citizens of the
State to which he had been invited, Should have india
ced them 10 have withheld the presentation of his pe,-
ton at that time In the course Of his reply TO the OF
gan of the committee, Mr. Clay remarked that his ne
grocs we'll clad well shol as sleek and fat
and (pointing his finger significantly at A!endcnha he
believed they honest he any of this ass
ciates in the petition. The "Recordo adds after
speaking about half an hour to Mr. Mcndenhall who
wrihed under his casligation if on bed Of
GOALS s had more of ,hegaows look about him than any
T. l
advised him 20 home and attend to his own bust ness
and lie had any means to spare, bsiow them upon the
poor in his own neghborhood. = Before dsnssiny the
petitioners, Mr.. Clay said he had one proposition to
make to Mr. Mcn1enha and through him 10 his assn
ciales 1t this: He Lad about fifty slaves Of the
aggregate value Of about fifteen thousand dollars. l.,
MIR. Marshall those who signed the petition would
raise this sum Of fifteen thousand dollars, or secure its
payment Tor the benefit Of the Slaves should e,nan.ira,c
them, he would then give an answer to their petition"
This, however, these fanatics will never do Their
philanthropy is very vehement while it them moth,
ing but hard words; but let them be required cvince
by hard dollars and the hollowness of their profess
sions will be discovered. Address to them the
searching question, ''hor much do you love Cu1cc?" 10
be tested BY the amount of their benoacons and they
will fall away from the Abolition ranks fast leaves
drop under the influence Of the antumnal blasts. Mr.
Clay knew that they would finch, when the pocket.
nerve touched-it was hitting them precisely "on
the raw
But Why didMr. Mcndenha and his associaesapprpach
Mr.. Clay, rather than all other men, with this insol,rt
petton If the petition sprung from other feeling
than one OF generous philanthropy, seeking to confer
boon upon oppressed race, why Mr. Clay. Of all
the Shareholders present. alone honoed with this DE-,
mand! Why Messrs. Crenden and Mctcae.
and other Kent ucky Shareholders moi embraced in il
1t was manes,ly because Mr.. Clay is regarded tie
Wing candidate for the Presidency, that he was sclcce
ted rom his crowd offricnds-and the fact that he
thus selected renders equally obvious that the purpose
of the petitioners nsdious was insolent that
ii embarrass and injure Mr.. c. and no, to procure
the eman patton Of his slaycsevery way, I'VE doubt not,
more comfortably situated, and happier nineteen
twenehs OF the Southern slaves are than their anxious
sympathlzers. But, if this Mendenlall's purpose,
he at the close of the interview, in the predlcanent
of the who 10 the shcaring and came away
shorn. He ought to have known Mr. Clay well enough
to be that he disdains conceal his opinions
any suhect-tha he wears his heart upon his sleeve for
DAVIS 10 peck al" Perhaps, however, he not sno-
rant of Mr. Cays candor and fearlessness and it may
have been because he knew that Mr.. c. would ayow
his utter deesiaton of the Aboli;ionists and their
schemes even though he in the heart Of State in
which slavery is not recognized, and whose citizens are
naturally to that institution, that the Fanatics
thus approached him, in order, if possible counter
act by arraying all the Aboli,ionis,s against him. the
anticipated influence Of his visit upon public opinion III
Indiana. BE their motive what it rnay however, we
do not regret that the occurred. If 1boitons,ms
to be topic Of discussion in the Presidential cam