Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1842-12-08
.sfsssrs. H. Clay and T. +. Marshall.

We perceive, with regret, that the younger
Of these public men is allowing himself to bc
used, by the enemies of the elder, for the Pur-
pose of aiding TO kill him off, Atleast, he is
reported, in the democ&tic Journals Of that
quarter, as indulgihg in systematic warfare
ldgaifist the great Statesman of the West; who,y
meantime, sits quietly at home, in the calm
assurance that it is somewhat late for one, as
tried in every high and faithful service a. he,
I to have to defend his public character from
any merely individual assault. 1t is unneces-
sary for one csownedSyith public confidence
meriteG by SO many and such e4 inent services,
to regard any personal hostiliiies, and especiss
ally such unripe ones those of Mr.. Marshall; 3
of whom the country knows, aswet, little, but
by abilities more irregular still Than they are )
brilliant, and aspirations that seem to c6nsid-
er services as of no account, and public merit
as a thing to be determined altogether bya
few forensic displays and by orations rather
than series of wise and v-tuous public acts. &
Let Mr.Marsliall now say whatever he will,
he cannot-snce Mr.. Clay has donc nothing,
OF late, to forfeit his ancient character-caIcet
the lofty and the striking because just) en-
comluln, which he himself pronounced, not
very long ago, upon the great Statesman. It
was in the following terms that Dir. Mars!Yall
then spoke:
Who does not know a,M upon whom the hopes
''ot wing America are fastened, and to- whom
"does no, know the most remarkable man of this
''age-the man whose youth without the
BLESSINGS OF liberal education, the support Of
wealth or tho prop Of powerful connection; and
'who' thus naked Of all armor that Of his
own great genius, courage and unspot,ed honor,
I'm democracy, with popular ban against him.
IN democracy where the people are supreme.
sis spoken Of by men with oriental reverence
three times barred from the highest Office, he has
stiil maintained his place at the head Of minor
ity, battling with undiminshed ardor, for the
'true policy Of his country and clingng, with tho
'ameless energy of an unconquered giant, to tho
'pillars Of her constitution! His friends have
struggled with and suffered under him, without
the hope ofemolumcnt, prescribed from the hon.
'ors oil their common country. liz had no Office
'to give, no power to bestqw, no patronage 10 ex-
'icnd, no reward TO oifer." !
."They have felt it no degradation to recognize
hin. as Mey lead and leader, in a conflict ia
which they Were all sufferers, and he lie great
'es' sugeTef Of aN."
Suchis the eloquent-the historic Testimony.
we might say-whch Mr. nj. himself has 81
borne to the merits Of public man, certain
Y without his equal in the existing genera
ion, and OF whom alone in the present times
t can be said that his long career has been Of
service SO constant, Of abilities SO unrivaled,
md of public spirit little matched by al
most any thing in the feeble and corrupt po- 4
Ics OF his day, that, TO his fame, the ttular
honour of the Presidency add nothing. =
he next generation will love him but the
better, If to SO noble career the injustice of
MS living countrymen should refuse the dgni-
les, which they have lavished, in the widest
errors of popular caprice, upon men without
/ merlt--inen whose whole distinction was
he Presidency; and whom that ill-bestowcd
will be able as little TO rescue from,
he execrahon or THE contempt of postcrity,
HE IL tafmf',GHa ttnnsS etjga sibfenfes .fi,la
every high NATIONAL counsel, promptest in eve
~ personal risque or sacrifice, the best states
nan, the most eloquent orator Of his day, the
-aHying point of the highest and truest spirits
IF all who, IN his time, assisted tyranny or
leld back the wild mischiefs of popular dis
order-Richmond Wing.