Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1843-09-07

The following letter from Henry Clay was
addressed to the Chnmbcrs0urg Clay Club
in answer to u communication requesting his
opinion upon the condition and prospects OF
the country.
ASHLAND, 25lh July, ISi3.
GENTLEMEN:-I have the honor TO ac-
knowledge the receipt OF The cOmmnnica-
ion which in behalf Of the Clay Club OI
Chambersburg, you addressed to me, inform-
ing me Of The organization of that associa-
ton, and of It's determination 10 cooperate
with similar institutions, and our Wing fel'
low citizens generally, in disseminating and
establishing sound principles of government
IN he United States. You are olso pleased
gentlemen, at the instance OF .hc club, a.
request my acquiescence in the various poml-
mai Ons which have been made of me for The
office of chief magistrate ot the United
states. ] hope the success OF the excrtions
of the club, IN the propagation and establish.
ment of correct principles, may be comnen
|uraic with It's landable and patriotic aims.
And tender IL my cordial thanks and CRATE
fnl acknow Judgements for the friendly sentI-
ncntS aud wishes which II enierialns towards
myself. nm infinitely obliged TO my fellow
citizens TOR the numerous testimonies of
their confidence and attachment, in manifest
ing their desire that ] should ill the highest
"lhce ~ their gift and whatever may be the
final result, my heart will ever be animaicd
by feelings of the llveliest gratitude. The
time has not yet arrived, ! think, when ]
ought to decide whether shall give my con
sent or not 10 the use OF my name rs n cam
didatc for the Office of President of the
United States. When il does shall give 10
all the considerations which should influence
my Judgment fall weight, and, among them.
The friendly wishes OF the Clay Club Of
ChambPrsburg.
] concur with you, gentlemen, generally.
IN The retrospect which you have presented
of the administration of public affairs, during
late years, and in the measures of policy
which ought TO guide il. II we are not u,
tcrly deceived N the theory OF free govern.
meni, the people Of the United States ought
all along to have been and should now be,
the happlest aud most prosperous people
upon the earth but our condition has been,
and continues 10 he, idr otherwise. Ii is
impossible To contemplate the administration
of The Government, during nearly the last
fifteen years, without feelings of the deepest
regrci aud bitierest modification. That long
period has been marked by rele0t'ess pro.
scripiioD, similar IN spirit, It not attended
wllh the same cffnsion Of blood, as that
winch is recorded IN Roman history to have
been pcrpetratcd by Marius aud Sylla by
reckless experiments and The overthrow OF
valuable institutions by the destruction of
the best currency in the world, and conse
qnent arrangement in all the business of so
cieiy by extensive and scaDdalous specula
,on on the par, Of public luDctlonarles Dy
rx,ravagant nnd profieaie expenditure of
the public money by attempts to subvert
the long-cherIshed policy Of the country,
under which it had cminently flourished aud
p,ospered; by relaxation IN the respect and
authority due to the law and Constitution !;
by widespread and alarming decentralization !;
by fearful growth and corrupt use OF the
power of the Executive branch Of the Gov
eminent I; aud, finally, by degree of peril
dy in the head of that branch. of which no
equal example can bn found in this or any
other age. AT the commencement OF the
administration Of the present acting Chief
Magistrate, the leaders Of our political oppo-
nenrs. with few honorable exceptions, as
slduously conr,cd and caresscd him ; tlatter.
ing and pralsing him for his violation of the
rhey marched up, in solemn colUmn, arm in
arm, along Pennsylvania Avenue, to the
Presidential Mansion, to thank and congratu-
late him for exercising Royal prerogatvc
to defeat the wishes and hopes Of the people
Men, under the abused name OF Democrats.
loudly cxmIcd IN the failure Of n measure
demanded by the urgent wants and voice,
and essential to the promotion of the inter-
IF A. 10 tnI
and corrupt will of one man, overriding the
will of II large majority of the nation. 10
the dspensa,ons OF an AlI-wse Providence.
retribullv" justice is snre to come sooner or
later The acting President, so much wooed
by political! leaders in the beginning Of his
Administrations, now, as its end approaches,
in his turn, and very much TO tier annoy.
ancc, exercises all his Establishments upon
their party. Nor Is their danger or regret
diminished By the fact, that, while their IN.
strumenis Of seduction were honeyed words,
his are The lucrative Offices Of Government.
The great political event of 1910. had an
object far more elevated and important than
that of n mere change in the high funciona
rcs Of the Nation. /, was to bring about a
radical Improvement in public policy. And
what. after that event, was the manly. liberal.
ana ph'rlUllc course Whlcn Tie defeated paIv
should have pursued? II was to have cheer.
fully acqucsced in The will of the People,
proclaimed by an unexampeh aud over
whclmi"g m"jnrl'y. They should have said ::
"lhe people disapprcve of our system.
They require sound currency OF uniform
value. They arc opposed to the Sub-Trea-
,ury. They demand a distribution Of the
proceeds oI the sales OF the public lands
among all the States. They insis, upon az
honest and economical administration OF
their public affairs. They are opposed To
the cDcrnach chmrnts Of the Executive depart
ment, and rcgnre salntary restraints upon its
power. We shnl continue, by tree discus
sion aud fair Arguments, To recommend our
measures, and Ia expose those of our poltl.
cal opponents; but they are enlllcd To u
oir trial of their system OF policy, and we
will make 10 iaciious opposition, nor throw
any unreasonable obstacles in their way
Above all, we scorn TO employ any arts To
seducc, from the path OF his duty, the man d.
who has reached his elevated station. ~ spite
of our strenuous cxerIions against him, by
the confidence which they generously rc
posed IN his honor and fdclIty." How far
the leaders Of the other purity have coniormed
to this upright and straight forward course,
passed end daily passing events sufficiently
testify. They prove that the acting Prcsl
d,,t "a Al, ,,h, Ia Ia,