Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-07-18
WATCHMAN 81 STATE JOURNAL.
50 IN ADVANCE, $3.50 AT THE END OF the YEAR.
MR.. CLAWS SPEECH.

the Hon. HENRY CLAY, by his fellow citizens o
Lexington, Kentucky. The Hon. GEORGE ROB
ERTsoN presided and made an address highly
complimentary to Mr.. Clay, which he closed with
the following sentiment:
HENRY CLAY Farmer of ASHLAND, Pairi-
OF and PhilnnthropiSt--the AMERICAN Statesman
and unriVulied Orator Of The Age iustrious n.
broad, beloved at home in long career of en-
inent public service, often like AriSiideS he breas
ted the raging storm of passion and delnson, aud
by offering himself n sacrifice saved the Repub-
= lie 'and now, like Cincinndius aud Washington,
having voluntarily retired to the tranquil walks of
private life, the grateful hearts of his counlrymen
will do him ample justice; but come what muy,
Kentucky tUW stand by him, aud still continue TO
cherish aud defend, as her own, the fame of son
who has emhazoned her Escutcheon with i'm
mortal renown.
Mr. CLAY rose and spoke as follows -
Mr.. PRESIDENT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
1t was given 10 our countryman, Franklin, to
bring down the lightning from Heaven. To end
BILE me to be heard by this immense multitude, |
should have 10 invoke to my aid, and 10 throw in
TO my voice. its loudest thunders As cannot do
that hope | shall he excused for such use of
my lungs as is practicable and not inconsistent
with the preservation Of my health. And feel
that II is our first duty to express our obligations
TO "a kind and bountilul Providence, for the copi
blessed our Iand-a rereshment of which it stood
much in need. For one, offer to Him my hum
BILE and dutiful thanks The Inconvenience TO us,
on this festive OCCASION is very slight while the
sum of good which these timely rains will pro-
duce is very great and encouraging.
Fellow Citizens | find myself now in stua-
ton somewhat like one in which was placed
few years ago when travelling through the State
OF Indiana, from which my friend, (Mr. Rariden, J
near me comes. ] stopped at a village contain
ing some four or five hundred inhabitants and
had scarcely alighted before | found myself sur.
rounded in the bar-room by every adult male res
ident in the place. After while, | observed Il
group consulting together in corner Of the
room, and shortly after, was diiidently approach
ell by one OF them, tall ank, lean, but sedate
and sober looking person, with long face and
high cheek bones, who, addressing me, said he
was commissioned 10y his neghbnrs to request
that would say few words to them. WHY, my
good friend, said |, should be very happy to do
any thing gratifying to yourself and your neigh
bors, but am very much atigued ana hungry and
thirsty, and do not think the occasion is exactly
suitable for speech, and wish you would ex-
cuse Inc to your friends. Well, says he Mr.. Clay,
confess thought so myself, especially us we
have no wine to offer you to drink
Now, if the worthy citizen of Indiana was right
in supposing that glass OF wine was necessary
preliminary and precedent condition TO the de-
pct one from me at this time for during the
sumpt uous repast from which we have just risen,
you offered me nothing to drink hut cold water-
excellent water, il is true, from the classic foun-
tain OF our lamented friend Mr. Maxwell, which
has so often RECALLED us celebrations of our great
anniversary. [Great laughter.1
protest against any inference of my being in
imicn to the Temperance Cause. On the con-
trary, think il an admirable cause that has done
greaI good, and will continue 10 do good us long
a. legal coercion is not employed, and it rests ex-
rnslvely upon persuasion aud its own intrinsic
merlIs.
l have great and growing repugnance 10 spea
King in the open air TO II large assenblage. But
whilst the faculty Of speech remains to me, can
never feel that repugnHnce, never feel other thar
grateful sensations, IN making my acknowledg
ments under such circumstances as those whlci
have brought us together. Not that am pre-
sumptuous as 10 believe that have been the
casion solely Of collecting this vast mutludc.-
Among the inducements cannot help thinking
that the fat white virgin heifer of my friend Mr.
bergman, that cost 5000, which has just been ser
we'd up, and the other good things which have
been SD literally spread before u.s. exerted some in
fuence in swelling this unprecedentedy large
meeting. Great laughter.
cannot but feel, Mr. President, in offering my
respectful Acknowledgements for the honor don,
me, in the eloquent address which you have jus
delivered, and in the sentiment with which you
concluded it, that your warm partially, and The
fervent friendship which has so long existed be
tween us, and the kindness Of my neighbors anC
friends around me, have prompted an exaggera
ted description, in too glowing coiors, OF my pub
lie services and my poor abilities.
seize the opportunity 10 present my heartfelt
thanks TO the whole people of Kentucky, for al
the high honors and distinguished fuvors which
have received, during long residence with them
at their hands; for the liberal patronage which
received from them in my professional pursuit
for the eminent places in which they have put me
or enabled me TO reach for the generous and un
bounded confidence which they have bestowed
upon me, at oil times; for the gallant and answer
wing fidelity and attachment with which they stoot
by me, throughout all the trials aud vlcissudes O
IN eventful and arduous life and, above all, 70
the scornful indignation with which they repealed
an infamous calnmny directed against my nam
and fame at q monentous period oil my public ca
reer. In recalling TO our memory the circumsan
ces OF that period, one cannot but be filled will
establishment at the indeiatigability with which tn
caumny was propagaed and the Jealous partisan
use to which it was applied, not only without ey
idence, but in the face of full and complete ref
utation. Under whatever deception, deusion O
Ignorance it was received elsewhere, with yot
my fir lends and neighbors, and with the good pee
pile Of Kentucky, it received no countenance; bu
IN proportion to the venom and the maeyolenc
oil It's circulation was the vgor and the magma
nlmlty with which was generously supported
Upheld by consciousness of the injustice of III
charge, should have borne myself with becon
ing fortitude, il had been abandoned by you 0
was by so large a portion of my countrymen
but to have been sustained and indicated as wa
by the people of my own State, by you who kne
me best, and whom had so many reasons TO Low
and esteem, greatly cheered and encouraged II
in my onward progress. Eternal gratitude al
thanks are due from me.
thank you friends and fellow citizens, for 20,
distinguished and enthusiastic reception OF II
this day. and for the excellence and abundance
the Barbacue that has been provided for our e.
terlanment. And thank, from The bottom
my heart, my fair countrywomen tor honoring al
gracing and adding hrancy to this occasion
their numerous attendance. If the decacy al
refinement of their sex will not allow them 10 m
in the rougher scenes of human life, we may
sure that whenever, by their presence, then slnil