Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-01-07
from the True whis.

THE ATTACKS ON MR.. CLAY.
The name and talents Of Henry Clay are Amer
can property, and what true American will no, IN
proud OF thcml That Locoiocos should assail him
is not strange. Ii is a compliment. But. that
press ycleped Wing should open upon h,m-E, Il
Bru,e2
And what is the provocaton1 MIR Clay has tal
ents, and employs them lie is an American states
man that has done some service Tie is seen nm
appreciated! He has been thought of for Presi
dent, and may be thought Of again! This las,
the great offence.
Blu, the charge is, th4t he chcrshes the nsnr,,;or
So may any American citizen, and strive for i, ton
Is II not noble AMBITION
MIR Clay, however, has not said a word. hi;
friends have said little, and most OF them nothing
yet OTHERS are in the feld-Old Iron Sides; ou
minister at Paris; the Hero of Chippewa; the LAT,
Incumbent; and the present incumbent.
The present incumbent is there by his posi,ion-
UNLESS his commiiial TO ONE TERA shall raise som,
scruples of conscience. His official organ. howeve,
has IN substance announced, that he will bv and bv
submit his policy to the American people. and in
various, not unntelligible terms, is accustomed II
assert his claims. The beauty Of it is tia, the of
hcial seems to labor under the impression, that no.
body else has right TO appear OF be brought on
the course.
MIR Clay cannot help being MIR Clay, unless he
commits suicide. Ii will not I've danied that com.
mendable ambition has prompted him onward. from
his youth, in brilliant and eminenty successful
career, that he has served his adopted State and his
country long and well; that the reputation he ha,
acquired, has been we'll earned that the American
DaOnlc hu honor;n1
such light cannot but shine; and that il is no fau
oil his, that he is eminent and influential. What
then, is his sin
lie is honest and frank. Is thnt base7 He ha.
his opinions. Who has not7 He utters them. Has
he not right The American people respec, him
Are they iooIs1 Then tell them so.
What, then. is Mr. Clays offcnding7 1t is. thu,
God has endowed him with high gifts; that he ha,
used them TO some effect; and that there are tbos,
who wish him out Of the way
We venture 10 suggest, that all these unprovok
cd, "nea!!ed for attacks upon MIR Clay. nre NOR,
than waste oil ammuniiion; that there is not t,u.
American feeling, in a true a American breast. Tim,
does not revolt at tho spectacle, and turn nvynv ~
DISCUS; that every blow, thus stricken will elevate
the man it is intended to fell and that every nsne,.
sion thus cast, will he blown back, by the bre,,b .,
popular Indignation, and stick the assnilunts.-
Whatever faults Henry Clay may huve, he fills a
large place in the respect and affections of the Anne
riean people. They know the man, they revere hi.
talents. and they love him.
In these remarks We simply discharge the duty
of an American citizen to an American statesman
to whom every American owes much, and of W bom
us compatrio,, if an American fails TO be proud
he is unworthy Of the name. II MIR Clay is n
candidate for the Presidency, it is because he can
nat help it-becanse the eyes Of the nation and the
finger Of mankind poin, 10 him as such. When
the world shall see such man, who fills so large
space in American history, Sc, osidc by parvenus
il will be time enough to wonder at the event.