The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1843-05-09
From tAe Lexington lRy.l IHieiiiseHeer.
MIR. CLAY'S SPEECH.

distinguished fellow citizen, delivered on
Monday last, would have been written oct
! for the press. We have been disappointed
however, in this, and Uus, contec: cuTsel!,
and our readers must ne satisfied with the
imperfect sketch We shGn &c able TO Pee.
sent from recollection.
The AdniuIslralion-the Bank-Tariii
-. Dlsiribution-.lim limitation OF Executive
power, and the Bankrupt law, we're the top
les upon which he dwelI. lie spoke oil
the open bribery aud corruption now prac.
tised, and more shamelessly ayowed by the
administration ia the distribution OF the
patronage of the Government, with the &C.
knowledged and boosted purpose of secur'
ing TO the support OF The Administration
one Of the great parties Of the country
MIR. Tyler had tried one, aud found II
clad 10 the armor Of truth aud Justice
true TO itself end the couniry-iWpFegna
bic TO all assaults, either upon its virtue or
It's patrotism-neiIher TO DO awed by the
trowns, nor seduced BY the promises oil
power. Fooled IN this, he was now exert.
ing all the vast patronage oil his Office 10
buy up the Democratic party to his support
Mr.. Clay thought that, however unprnci'
pied leaders might be disposed TO bargain
and barter away their principles for the
sake Of office, the great mass of the party
would scoru the efforts made to bride /. am.
lie said that he had no hesI,atioa TO
/ express his opinion, as an bLMble and pr.
! sate citizen, that no man, who had any
/ feelings OF self respect or honor or patriot.
ism, could take or hold any Office. the TO
nure of which depended on the Presidents
will, subject to the degrading aud disgrace.
( tul conditions which were imposed upon us
possession aud that il would be the bound
en- duty Of the mex, President elected, be he
Wing or Democrat, TO purify the public
service by promptly discardlns all such
contaminated lncumbeu,s. lie hoped there
we're macy, he knew there we're snme, now
IN office, who Gisd1ined 10 submit 10 any
such disgreceful conditions, and hey ought,
aud he doubted not, would receive just and
j foil consideration, and be judged according
TO their capacity, honesty aud fidelity to
their country"
10 connection with this subject Of Gov.
ernment patronage, Mr. Clay took occasion
TO speak of the fact. that, Cor the past fifteen
years, the Wings had been almost entirely
excluded from all participation in the honors
and emolumen,s Of office. He said, "thet,
10 hi opinion, il Wing President should
be elected, i, would be hts imperative duty
10 do ample justice, 10 the administration OF
the public patronage, TO The great Wing
party OF the coun,ry-what be verify be.
lieved for years had embraced majority Of
the people Of the United States. That par.
", for upwards Of fourteen years past,
with The exception Of one month, had been
Systematically prescribed and excluded from
all public empoymeuts. Not only from
original appointments, but, when they held
office, they have been hurled on, 10 make
way, often FOR unworthy persons, OF oppo
site politics. And so far is Mr.. Tyler uow
pursuing this practice that he is dsmissing
men whom he put in, not only without
charge, without fault, without any species
Of trial, but with full knowledge that The
duties Of their offices have been diligently,
honestly and faithfully executed, and putting
back in their places men whom he had him.
sell dismissed Every consideration Of
equality, Of equity and Of justice demands,
said Mr.. Cily, that the mos, fd!i an com.
pictc PREPARATION OF ,bo injuries done 10 tie
Wing party should be hereafter made. Nor
would that be prescription. 1t would be
the severcst rebnke Of prescription On
the contrary to continue IN office men who
had been put there BY the d,sDlssIon Of 9th
er and better men, for political reasons,
would be TO sanction, consummate and per
petuate prescription. Bot If It could be
regarded as prescription, Nho is TO be inst-
y reproached with beginning prescription
IN this country"
Z i" No nan felt more profoundly than he did the
evils which were likely 10 grow out Of struggles
for the PRIZE Of Government, with the distribution
Of ali its honors aud offices exclusively confined
10 the su ,cessful party. lie doubted whether our
system could long endure the consequences OF
uch struggles. Bot he hoped that a remedy
would be hereafter found, either IN tho amend.
mcnt of the Constitution or the Law 10 guard
against those evils 4"
Sir. Clay eueredat some length into The
history Of the efforts of the Wigs, during
the Extra Session, TO restore the currency
&c the country inihc establishment Of Ma.
linnaI Bank. There is one circumstance
connected with tina, history that has been
generally tess understood, aud more arAs..
~ misrepresented than any other. We
refer to tie lG!h section Of the second
Bank Blil--lis character and the cause Of
rs adoption. This was explained BIZ Mr..
Clay IN a clear lucid and eu.irc!y oa,lslacio.
~ manner. The section Itself reads thus
"And the said directors may als9 establish one
or more competent offices Of discount and deuos.
te in any territory or district Of the T. States.
and in any State, with the assent Of such State
aud when established The SAID Offices shall not 10
removed o. withdraw By the said directors prior
TO the expiration Of tho charter without the pre-.
/ vious assent Of Congress Provided, in respect
to any State which shall not at the first session
Of the Legislature thereof held after the p1ssag
Of this act, by resolution or other usual Legisia.
tive yroeeediag Internationally assent or dissent
TO tho establishment Of such Office or Offices with.
IN il, the assent Of the said State shall thereafter
be presumed and provided, neyerthcess that