Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1842-09-03
HENRY CLAY AGAIN IN THE
FIELD.

MT.Ilhy IS again CledTiy Ill tiic Ao1" III
the Presidency, and all the instruments
at the command Of the banking aristocra-
cy Of the country, types and presses, ed
tors md orators, are industriously en-
gngedln the slavist work Of magnify
ing his merits and manufacturing public
Sentiment, while they carefully conceal
the faults, the vices aud the uptopian
dogmas which justly render him Of all
politicians the most obnoxious 10 the
American people.
Failing signally in two attempts a
gainst Gen. Jackson--c hoked off the track
in 1886 and made to submit to comprom-
Use by tho Harrisburg Convention Of
l839-and chagrined and mortified by
the obstacles which an honest and con-
sc,cncious Executive has thrown in his
way-again lie yields to the cravings of
revenge and the promp,ings OF ambition,
and, with all his corruptions think upon
him, again he boldly fronts his country
men and courts again the hazard Of the
die.
If The vaulting aims Of Mr. Clay were
chastened by public patriotism or mslio
rated by private virtues, there would be
something dazzling in the figure which
he cuts on earth-(or no one will deny
him the possession Of an intellectual SUI
periority which makes him brill. ant even
amidst the brightest lights of the age.
But with all his genius and all his talents,
he is selfish in his purposes, un:rincipled
in his politics, and fai,hless in his friend
ships.
Still, lie is master spirit, command
ing, by the magic Of his influence, the
rising and the setting Of the sun of
whigism, and controlling, by the guld
ance Of his own hands, the political des-
TIMES Of large portion Of his fellow
citizens-and as such we will find our
selves occasionally commanded to pause
and contemplate the grandeur Of the
spectacle.
There is something animating il not
admirable in the appearance of com
mander in chief as he dashes along on his
fiery charger in the review. his brow look
ing unutterable thunder and his eagle eye
flashing forth forked lightning, while all
the little ssgods Of war" half epauietted
subalterns and aspiring prvates, bring
their fire-locks aud smaller .'fixins' to
the death threatening present. Or what
might be more soul-stirring still to hear
the hero Of the scene shout ITO BATTEE!'
and see him break of In 'sblaze of glo-
ry'' to the charge, and his little ensigns.
big sergean's and high privates cunter'ng
III desperate hel,er-skeller at his heels.
All this would be very grand and very
glorious Tor the Gene7dIissimo--b but the
imposing aspect which might be prcsen-
ted by his followers, would depend not a
little upon their numbers
tits thus, o: pretty much thus, that we
must contemplate and admire Mr.. Clay.
He is the Commander in-ch,ef of his par
ty. He is /, man ofmettle-bears proud
mien-and will appear somewhat elegant
in almost any place. When conlrasted
with the smaller fry Of wing knd-the
little ensigis and little corporals and lit
Nc guns generally Of whiggery looks
every inch hero, and the t'crooking the
hinges of the knee'' among his
followers seems rathec more becoming
than not. All these things throw arouad
Mr.. Clay sort Of grandeur which does
no; attach itself to every one, and make
him out rather a magnificent fellow
whilst his friends must depend for their
glory upon the extent Of their numbers.
We presume they are neither as few as
the sihundred men in buckram," nor as
ragged as they wear ruffl.s) as Fall
staff,s recruits who could muster only half
u shirt in the whole company, and that
said 10 be none of the whitest.
There will be one thing about the ap
contest, with Mr.. Clay as lea
der, which will give it a degree Of res
probability s:oyer and above" the COON
Skin campaign Of l84O--it will be more
intellectual and consequently less beastly.
Mr. Clay might, for political
advantage, advise and consent to the deg
radiation Of his party while he might
have cats-paws to bear the shame--yet he
ca res too much for mis- reputation TO enact
in person the character Of drunken he
70 in Hard cider Farce.-Mr. Clay glo-
res in being q marble palace gentleman,
and will have us little to say about as he
has always had as little to do with log
cabins. And instead Of attempting to
come in by ''whoop and yell' from
the honest and enthusiastic squatters Of
The west, he will depend upon the noise
less agency Of bank appliances and the
and insinuatng address Of bank
presidents, the small talk of smooth faced
merchants and the pigeon wing flourish
es of the younger sprouts Of our scrub ar
istocracy.
As democrats, DESTROYS Of the success
Of our party and the ascendency Of our
principles, we are heartily glad that Mr..
Clay is to be, in person, the Clay-whig
the democrats will have
hut little more TO do than to walk quietly