Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-05-26
MIR. CLAY.
In answer to an invitation to public
dinner from his ncighbors and friends, Mr..
Clay returned the following answer:

, Clay returned the following answer
} ASHLAND, May 9th, 1912.
GENTLEMEN have had the pleasure
to receive your note, transmitting the re-
. solutions, adopted at meeting OF the cit
] izens of Lexington aud Fayette county,
convened for the purpose of making ar
engagements connected with my return
home, in consequence Of my resignation
OF the office Of Senator Of the United
J States from the State of Kentucky; in
J conformity with which, you have done
me the honor to invite me to public en-,
tanment, directed by one Of the resolu-
lions 20 be rendered 10 me.
receive, gentlemen, these testimonials
Of appreciation, confidence and affection
with great and grateful sensibiliiv. Such
proofs, emanaiing from any portion ofmy
fellow citizens of the United States, how
ever remote from my residence, would be
entitled to my particular and respectful
Acknowledgements but proceeding, as
these do, from my neighbors, the cyewt-
nesses of my conduct both in private and
public life, and who, or whose ancestors,
during period of upwards Of forty years,
have remained firm and sieadlast in their
attachment and friendship to me, they fill
me with the most agreeable and touching
emotions, and have made deep and inei'
faceabe impression on my heart. They
will, united with the testimony in my own
bosom, serve, in the retirement which !
have voluntarily sought, to cheer and
console me, during the remnant OF my
days.
am happy that my quitting the public
councils of our country, at this time, Is not
disapproved. deeply regret the state
Of general embarrassment and distress
which exists. Although conscious that |
have not contributed to produce il, no one
would have sought more eagerly to re-
store the common prosperity than should,
! it had been in my power. But, seeing
no prospect of accomplishing any good
corresponding with my wishes, thought
that might, without just censure, now
execute my long delayed purpose of re.
firing into the shades OF private life.
From these, your partlaliiy and friend.
ship for me prompt you to desire me to is
sue some future day. have seen enough
of the uncertainty Of public affairs and of
the yicissitudes of human life, to restrain
me from placing any saEgune hopes up
on such an event as that to which you
kindly alluded. But whilst ! admit that
self-ostracism is incompatible with the
duties which citizen ever lies under to
the Republic, trust that | shall be al
ways allowed, AT proper times, TO decide
whether ought to give my consent or
not, to the use Of my name in any connec.
ton whichmay be proposed for it with any
public Office, whatever il may be. When
a suitable time arrives for decision, it
ought to be governed by all existing cir
cumstances, of which the most important
would be the probable wishes OF majority
ofthose who have the power to bestow the
office. That time, think, has not yet
arrived.
| accept, gentlemen, with great plea
sure, the tender, which you have been
authorised to make to me, ola public en-
tertainmcnt; and | request you, also, to
accept my cordial thanks fer the feeling
and friendly manner in which you have
communicated the invitation. am, with
affectionate esteem and regard,
faithfully, your friend and obi.
servant. II. CLAY.
To Messrs. II. |. Bodley, Chm, +. War
field, John Brand, Benz. Gratz, Robert
Frazer, +. VI. Hickey, Louis Richard
son, J. Brennan, Alvan Stephens, r.
B. Buckner, Jr., Geo. Il. Trotter, J. F..
Leavy, John Tilford, H. T. Duncan,
Charles C. Moore and B. w. Dudley.
THE CELEBRATION AT Sr. MARY's. -
The celebration at st. Mary's, common
orativc Of the landing of the first settlers
of the colony of Maryland, under Lord
Baltimore, in 1894, took place on Tues
day, the 10th instant, agroeably to ar
engagements adopted by the Philodemic So
ciety and Faculty Of Georgetown College,
and the cooperative arrangements OF cit
liens Of this District, of Baltimore, and OF
the county Of St. Mary's. The ceebra.
uon is spoken of in the highest terms by
gentlemen who were present, for its ex-
cellent arrangement, its successful execu.
ton, and its exceeding impressveness.-
The founding Of great State is an event
well fitted 10 inspire after generations
with grateful remembrance but the no.
BILE principles in which the foundations OF
J the colony Of Maryland were laid, princi'
pies surprisingly liberal for the spirit and
examples of the age in which they had
their birth, and therefore the more to be
honored--entitled the fathers of that CON-
monwealth to the highest reverence from
their descendants, and 10 the highest need
Of gratitude and honor. The celebration,
we learn, was worthy Of such hallowed re-
collections and worthy Of the honored
men whose virtues and achievements il
was designed TO commemorate. Want Of
time and space for more particular ac-
count of the celebration restrict us to this
: brief notice to-day. We will only now
add, what it gives us great pleasure to be
able TO state, that notwithstanding the as
sem5ling Of several thousands Of persons,
male and female, by steamboats, and other
vessels from various distant parts, and the
, landing and -embarking of such mul.
ttude OF people, not the slightest accden,
occurred to disturb the enjoyment of the
day, and all, as far as we have heard
have reached home in salely.-Ndt. Int.
A man being asked if he would like %
= al