Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1843-05-04

From 'hs Leri"gion (ky.) Observer and Reporter.
MIR. CLAWS SPEECH.
On Monday last, agreeably to notice, Mr.. Clay
addressed one OF the largest assemblaycs of peo-
pie we have ever witnessed in the Court House
yard. we had the pleasure to see MANY of our
Wing friends from adjoining counties, drawn
h,her by the announcement that the great Ken.
tuckian would once more address the people upon
the state of the Nation.
Wehave often heard Mr.. Clay but must saw that
never did he appear in our estimation to such adj
vantage on this occasion. There was scarcely
! a topic Of National moment that he did not touch.
and touch with clearness and ability that aston.
ished even his old admirers.
MIR. Clay commenced his speech by a beautiful
acknow ledgment TO all parties on his late trip to
the South west for the honvrs they had showered
upon him, and he thought the proper place make
these Acknowledgements was to the people Of Fay
cite; where he lived and to whom he said he was
| chiefly indebted for whatever distinction he had
acquired, or whatever opportunity had been af.
forded to him of doing service to his country.
His connexion with the Bank bills of the extra
session-his defence Of himself against the charge
of having abandoned his old views in relation 10 a
Bank-his reference to the twenty per cent.
clause IN the Distribution act--the Tariff--the
Bankrupt act-were all discussed, and all impu-
tations upon him in regard to these several sub.
jects put at rest, we suppose forever.
ers the whole of Mr.. Clay's speech; but there
was one part of it, relating to the administration
OF the patronage Of the Government, so very i'm.
portant as to require that it should be published,
and we think we can present it in the precise Lam
guage Of that gentleman.
After having shown that the present adminis-
iration had totally abandoned the principles and
the party which brought it into power; had iden-
tilted itself with the Democratic party, with which
it was one and indivisbe; and was SYSTEM
ltd. al
age Of the Government TO buy up the people of
the United States, rather to buy up the Demo- -
cratic party to the support of Mr.. Tyler, Mr..
Clay proceeded TO say, shat he had no hesita-
hon 10 express his opinion, as an humble and
private citizen, that no man who had any feeling
OF self-respect or honor OF patriotism could take
hOid any Office the tenure of which depended
on the Presidents will, subject to the degra-
ding and disgraceful conditions which were inn
posed upon Its possession; and that it would be
the bounden duty Of the next President elected,
be he Wing or Democrat, to purify the public SER
vice by promptly discarding all such condemned
ncumbents. He hoped there were many, he
knew there were some, now in Office, who dis
dained TO submit to any such disgraceful condi-
tons, and they ought, and he doubted not would
receive just and full consideration, and be Judged
according to their capacity, honesty and fidelity to
their country
Mr.. Clay went on further to say, shat in his
opinion, if Wing President should be elected it
in the administration Of the public patronage, to
the great Wing party Of the country--what he
verify believed for years had embraced majority
of the people of the United States. That party,
for upwards of fourteen years past the excep-
ton of one month, had been Systematically proscr =
bed and excluded from all public employments.
Not only from original appointments, but when
they held office, they have been hurled out to
! make way, often for unworthy persons, Of oppo-
site politics. And so|far is Mr.. Tyler now pur-
/ suin U that ba 10
whom he put in, not only without charge, without
Fault, without any species of trial, but with full
knowledge that the duties Of their officers have
been diligently, honestly and faithfully executed,
and putting back in their places men whom he
had himself dismissed! Every consideration of
equality, of equity and of justice demands, said
/ Mr.. Clay, that the most full and complete repa-
ratloh OF Of me injuries done to the Whig party
prescription. 1t would be the severest rebuke Of
prescription. On the contrary, to continue in of
! hce men, who have been put there, by the dis
mission OF other and better men for political rea-
sons, would be to sanction, consummate and per-
petuate prescription. But could it be regarded as
prescription, who is to be justly reproached with
| beginning prescription in this country?'
! mo man felt more profoundly than he did the
evils which were likely to grow out of struggles
for the prize of Government, with the distribution
of all its honors and Offices exclusively confined
to the successful party. He doubted whether our
system could long endure the consequences of
such struggles. But he hoped that remedy
would be hereafter found either in the amend
ment Of the Constitution the law, to guard a
ganst these evils
Mr.. Clay's noble appeal to the. Wings, in con-
cluslon, 70 stand by their cause, was, believe,
responded to by every Wing in the vast crowd,
and we doubt if every Wing did not leave the
ground with his faith strengthened, and his zeal
renewed ten-fod in behalf of the glorious princi-
Piles of bis party, and the glorious chief who so
nobly maintains them.
! We have the qualification to assure our friends
at distance, that never was our distinguished
neghbor IN finer health and spirits, and that he
! assures them of his mistaken confidence in the
triumphant issue of the great struggle which is
| shortly to come off.
! The Pan Buren, Iactics.-The supposition of
the New York Courier is not without probability
that Mr.. VAN buren, has placed all his hopes Of
success for the Presidency in carrying the cleo
ton TO the House of Representatives The Cour-
ier declares that all his measures for year past
have been taken with view to produce this result.
| Any one who looks at the meagre majority by
which Mr.. VAN buren, was elected in 1885, and
at the immense majority by which he was defeat
ed in 1910; who regards the disastrous results of
his administration and the signal condemnation
visited upon his measures of policy amy one
who considers the personal unpopularity Of the
man, his doubtful double dealing character, and
the utter impossibiity of connecting any enthus-
aSm with his narne--muSL be convinced as Mr..