Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1842-03-10
y olttIiRaI'..
From the Baltimore 44me,ifaa
Dir. cLAY,s EsIeEAIIoM

We publish helowIahe letter Of this
distinguished Statesman resigning his seat
III the Senate olthe tinted States.
For . long period The public life Of Mr
CLAY has been blended With the Pubic
history Of the eouatfy. His political
principles the hmanations 81 sound IN.
ffave hpen forIned with -al PedaeHee
analogous ID tle frapkness and decisive
energY5With Vhith they have been7 IN ain
tanned. BN Throhg hout his loag career,
exhibiting almost every variety Of yicls
silude be hasNeFer been found enaclihg
The IdemagogusR or swerving from his
course 10 any way 10 secure adsantages
ior himself BY asacrlHce ofGuty. w h4t-
ever may be lhe faults Mhich bis lraIiidal
opponents impute 10 him, eyen Thy can;
not @ithoTd The id a.is.ion fhst let his po-
gltion BE- where j. nighs. theK always
knew where 10 End Mm-that bfs bear
ia 2 was manly and above disaimulatlen-s
that his view whether 10 their esliHa,
lion erroneous or not, were large and
#eofBptehensive--and that the ability and
'eIpquknce with which be mslntslned.
The n we're quidkcned BY 4. more msgnaR.
idpeus spirit than THAI Of . mere selfish
ambition.
Since Mr.. CLAYIbecame promine nj in
The public service be has seen The princi.
ples IF policy for which ha coniendedI a,
one period in the ascendaney1 and al
another overruled. Let The two periods
be compared togetheI-the comparison
may furnish some criterion for rational
Judgment upon men and meAsuress
If We take the lsstthirfy YEARS inclpd-
ing The war ofIsl2 tbe party sith WHICH
MT CLAY acted, and Of which be was =
disiing uished leader continued ID power
until The accession Of Gen. JACKSON in
1928. With The policy Of Na9oual
Bank "a Protective System in behalf Of
American industry and domestic re-
sources, and sjqdicious system Of inter-
nal improvements. he vas fiden1ihed-
andthsse constituted The leading features
Eof me national policy antlI they were all
changed By Gen. JACKSON Under the
influence Of this policy and by means
- il, the public debt, largely augmented
var, was paid of 10 the last dollar
lntry was restored from the dis
oich ensu< al .be close Of hos
condition Of high prosperity
Currency vase established On frm
easis and was SO admirably arranged that
Ia better currency probably never existed
Tin any country. Such ~as the general
tresuIt Of ;he policy which prevailed
when MIR. CLAY had influence in lhe
public councils.
What the condition Of things has beer
since. I'VE. need not Jay Most persons
are sRsre Of it-ihey cannot escape ,ht
knowledge Of i, il they would: Theter
i fi6Ie8resliiies Of power abused, Of govern
ment perverted. Of errors persisted il
WAN infatuated recklessness-are upon u
nov, with aA The fearful concomitants >
disorder, distress, ftorturing uncertainty
and gloomy fofebodingsi To therulers .
The las. twelve years Or 50. active 70 de
s,roy without The will to reconstruct. III
fdeersHo f beni6cefst system Nhteh wis
statesmen nDatured and which The conn
n try bospered undeE--to+thsm .hs reApon
sibiIisy belongs Of nation's grievances.
ii Bui we shall 90 mo further. with thi
contrast. "a sesisting the onward pro
I. gress or mIsrule, Mr.. CIay has exerie,
himself with J patriotism and energy wit
| which lhe country Is familiar. Wis posi-
Il lion lone was like that Of one eontendin
against hope, YET be baied not 10 splri
nor striving. -
7 IN his ineffectua. eforts 70 stay y
hand Of the destroyer be performed a
worthy a service, il %. 80 successful.
when be toiled ID build up The sysler