Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-12-27
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Mr.. CLAY-A MASON AND ANTf-MASON.
| A very remarkable suppeness has come over Mr.
Clay lis old age All his veteran opinions which en-
crusled hun like old armor shed as snake sfened
skin aud caes OF the last year. and ont hardened fede-
raj dragon of quarter of century shows himself OF
sudden nbght-eyed. lubrcaling youth; his complex
and mure apparently changed by the fresh varnish
in whichhe has dressed h,msef Attention has been
drawn heetofore 10 the changed aspect which this out
side CONVERSION has given t, Mr. Clay towards his Ia
vorle AMERICAN System. But there is another point,
almost involving his personal identity, IN winch IT
would Mr. Clay supposes the throwing oil his old
slough will have the effect OF making another man oil
him.
Mr.. Clay from his first appearance on the public
stage has lad the ambition Of figuring IN orders In
early tmesin Kentucky the order OF ireemssonry was,
in lis mysterious magnliicence, great attraction 10
men seeking distinction. Mr.. Clay then made hIn-
self one o: Is grand dlgnltaries lie was Inc orator
that sonndr The glory Of the renowned society which
consecru Solomon temple. He was most consPi-
cuous figure all its public demonstrations, While II
was calculated to advance his ambitious aspirations or
his vanity. In all the parades which astonsheo the
backwoodsnn's wondering eye, when visiting Lexing.
ton, the first great city of The west Mr. lay tall and
gaze socitint person was mos. Conspicuous on nun,
oratr, showered the ribands ana badges
Of the ORDER Ind these VITA gorgeous apron covered
with pictured implements he never used, and dotted
with the a!ls6ng eye like peacock tan, mace nm
as magnitircn. in full costume as prince oil ASA,
where the ord,r had is birth. Mr. Clay wore The hon
ors of ROYAL ,rh Hason-whch, one OF The fraternity
tells US is SIX trrees THIS superior elevation could
only be attained by great proficiency IN the craft; lno
yet Mr.. Clayn late letter, preiends he IS snch
bunger such novice, that he could not now enter
common lodge!
We have two letters of Mr. Clay to the anti Masons,
al two different ,ras which will show how differently
Mr. Clay thought and felt in regard to the order t.
which he belonged, at two ePochs IN winch ms per-
sona interests seemed 10 him 20 have changed his re-
- he
,ellthe anti-Naso,s what he thought of Masonry: 81
compliance my art ,cih yur demand, 'ooud amount
IN an admission thet indiciuat sentiment on Tie s"sct
Of .Nasonry trmeda proper consideration IN regulating
The exercise Of the electric franchise IN respect 10 cDees
of the Ftdsrai Government Iean make such ad,ais-
sion" Then, contempt for anti Masonry was Nr.
Claws cue. This is but little disguised throughout the
whole letter, which nolds naughty tone scarcely de-
corous the class of citizens to whom II was addressed
But, in the Harrisburg Convention, The anti Masons
made themselves felt against his nomination; and now
he wants their votes He has, therefore, written ano-
ther Letter. conceived in very different spirit de be.
gins By apologizing for having been Mason VI
became Mason early life, from youthful curiosity
and social disposition" Poor young lad !! lie was
seduced By the Of the lodge, BY playing on
his "you,hfu curiosity and social disposition poor
young wanton he suffered in variety OF ways from
this singular temperament. But how long did he re-
main in this mysterious connection, which ne says
he never had any taste ior:' According 10 his
now account, he served much longer time in his
apprenticeship, than the law requires of man to
serve in the militia, TO obtain discharge with all
the honors of citizen solder Fortyhve years
relieves man from militia service Mr.. Clay says,
nineteen years ago. he retired from the duties OF the
Lodge "Rttirement from tie Lodge, our readers will
remark, is an Abandonment of The Society Mr.
Clay, then, was nearly fifty years of age before his
youtfui curiosity and social disposition were salts
fed Now, what parcon he expect upon his plea
of nonage and. being taken in by the Masons under
fit of juvenile ndiscretion, when we find our lad Of
fifty blazing in all the rbaDds and tinse til signs and