Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1843-04-27
From he LeriRssOR Observer.
MR., CLAY'S SPEECH.

ges Of people we have witnessed in the Court
House yard. We had the pleasure to see
many Of our Wing friends from adjoining
counties. drawn hither by the announcement
that the great Kentuckian would once more
address the people upon the state Of the Ma
ton.
We have often heard Mr.. Clay, but must
say that never did he appear in our estima-
ton, to such advantage as on this occasion.
There was scarcely topic of National
moment that he did not touch, and touch with
a clearness and ability that astonished even
his old admirers.
Mr.. Clay commenced his speech by beau
tiful acknowledgment to all parties on his
late trip to the Southwest for the honors
they had showered upon him, and he thought
the proper place to make eseaacknowledge-
ments was to the people Of Fayette; where
he lived and to whom he said he was chiefly
indebted for whatever distinction he had ac-
Quired, or whatever opportunity had been af-
forded to him Of doing service to his coun.
try.
His connection with the Bank bills Of the
Extra Session-his defence of himself against
the charge of having abandoned his old views
in regard to q Bank-his reference to the
twenty per cent. clause in the Distribution
Act-the Tariff-the Bankrupt Act-were
all discussed, and all imputations upon him
in regard to these several subjects put at rest,
we suppose for ever.
We regret that we cannot present to our
readers the whole of Mr.. Clay's speech but
there was one part Of it, relating to the ad-
ministration of the patronage of the Govern
ment, so very important as to require that it
should be published; and we think we can
present it in the precise language Of that gen.
tleman.
After having shown that the present Ad-
ADMINISTRATION had totally abandoned the prin-
ciples and the party which brought It into
power; had identified itself with the Demo-
cratic party, with which it was now one and
indivisible and was systematically and COR
ruptly administering the patronage of the
Government to buy up the people of the Uni. |
ted States, or rather to buy up the Democratic
party 10 the support of Mr.. Tyler, Mr.. Clay |
proceeded to say, "that he had no hesitation |
to express his opinion, as an humble and pri. !
vate citizen, that no man who had any feel. |
ings Of self respect, or honor, or patriotism,
could take or hold any Office. the tenure of
which depended on the Presidents will, SUBJ
jeet to the degrading and disgraceful condi. |
lions which were imposed upon its possession;
and that it would be the bounden duty of the |
next President elected. be he Wing or DEM
ocrat, to purify the public service by prompt |
~ discarding all such contaminated incum. |
bents. He hoped there were many-he knew
there were somehow in Office who disdain-
ed 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, that, in !
his opinion, if Wing President should be !
elected, it would be his imperative duty to
do ample justice, in the administration ofthe
public patronage, to the great Wing party
Of the country-which he verify believed for
years had embraced majority ofthe people
of the United States. That party, for up.
wards of fourteen years past, with the excep.
ton Of one month, had been systematically
prescribed and excluded from all public en-
pigments. Not only from original appoint.
ments, but when they held Office, they have
been hurled out to make way, often for I'm.
worthy persons, Of opposite politics. And so
far 10 Mr.. Tyler now pursuing this practice
that he is dismissing men whom he put in,
not only without charge, without fault, with. |
out anyspecies oftrial, but with full knowl. |
edge that the duties of their Offices have,been I
diligently, honestly and faithfully executed, |
and putting back in their places men whom
ton of equality, of equity and ofjustice de.
mands, said Mr.. Clay, tina: the most full and
complete PREPARATION of the injuries done to
the Wing party should be hereafter made
Nor would that be prescription. 1t would be
the severest rebuke Of prescription. On the
contrary, to continue in Office men, who had
been put there, by the dismission of other
and better men, for political reasons, would
be to sanction, consummate and perpetuate
prescription. But if it could be regarded as
prescription, who is to be justly reproached
with the beginning of prescription in this
country?"
"No 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 of.
fees 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 or the Law, to guard
against these evils"
Mr.. Clay's noble appeal TO the Wings in
conclusion to stand by their cause, was, we
believe, responded to by every Wing in the
vast crowd, and we doubt If every Wing cid
not leave the ground with his faith strength
ened and his zeal renewed ten.fold ia behalf
Of the glorious principles of his party, and
the glorious chief who so nobly maintains
them.
We have the qualification to assure our
friends at distance that never was our dis.
4inguished neighb0r in finer health and spir.
its, and that he assures them of his unshaken
con- sdence in the triumphant issue of the