New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-04-20
From the Lexington Obsertcr.
<Iay.s sDeeCh.

Mr.. Clays speeCH'
On Monday last, agreeaby to notice. thr' LAY
addressed one Of the largest asseInolages OF peo
nle we have ever witnessed IN the courthouse
r,rd We had the pleasure to see many OF our
Wbip friends from adjoining counues' ofa"h
t;,l liz bI the announcement that the great Ken
tnckian would once more address the people upon
the state Of the Nation.
We have often heard Mr.. Clay. but must say
that never did he appear III our estimation, TO such
advantare as on this OCCASION There was
scarcely topic OF National moment that he did
not touch. and touch with clcaness and ability
that astonished even his old admirers.
Mr.. Clay commenced his speech by beautiful
Acknowledgement to all parties on his late trip to
the Southwest for the honors they had showcred
upon him, and he thought the proper place TO
make these acknowledgements was to the people
of Fayette: where he lived and to whom he SAID
he was chiefly indebted for whatever distinction
he had acquired, or whatever opportunity had
been afforded to him of doing service to his coun-
try.
His connection with the Bank bills of the b1-
ira Session-his defence of himself against the
charge of having abandoned his old views IN re-
gard to Bank-his reference to the twenty per
cent. clause in the Distribution Act-the Tariff
the Bankrupt Act-were all discussed, and all
imputatiohs upon him in regard to these several
subjects put at rest, We suppose for ever.
We regret that we cannot present to our read
crs the whole of Mr.. CIays speech; but there
was ono part of it, relating to the administration
of the patronage OF the Government, so very nm
portant as TO require that it should be published;
and we think we can present 1t IN the precise
language Of that gentleman.
After having shown that the present Admins
tration had totally abandoned the principles ana
the party which brought ii INTO power; had ldcn-
tilted itself with the Democratic party, with which
it was now one and indivisibc; and was system
atcallv ard corruptly administering the patronage
of the Government 10 buy up the people OF the
United States, or rather to buy up the Democratic
party to the support of Mr.. Tyler, MIR. Clay pro-
cccded to say, "that he had no hesitation TO cX
press his opinion, as an humble and private citi-
zcn that no man who had any feelings OF sell
respect or honor, patriotism could take or hota
any Office, the tenure of which depended ON the
Presidents will, sublectto the degrading and dis
graceful conditions which were imposed upon lis
possession and that it would be the boundcn duty
Of the next President elected, be he Wing or DEM
ocra,, to purify the public service by promptly dis
cardlng all such contaminated ncumbcnts lie
hoped there were Inany-hc knew there were
W
any such disgracelul conditions; 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 of the public patronage, to
the great Wing party of the country-wllch he
verify believed for years had embraced majority
of tic people of the United States. That party,
for upwards of fourteen years past, with the OK
ccption OF one month, had been Systematically pro-
scribcd and excluded nom all public clIploymcnts.
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 MIR. Tyler now pur
suing this practice that he is dlsnlssing men
whom he put in not only without charge, with
out 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 himself dismissed Every consideration OF
equality, of equity and of Justice demands, SAID
Mr. CLAY, that the most full and complete rcpara-
ton of the injuries done to the Wing party should
be hereafter made Nor would that be proscrp
ton. Ii would be the scvercst rcbukc OF proscrP-
ton On the contrary, to continue III office MEN,
who had been put there, by the dlsmsslon OF other
and better men, for political reasons, would be to
sanction, consummate and pcrpetuate prescription.
But if ii could be regarded as prescription, who is
to be Justly rcproached with the beginning pro-
scription III 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 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 INC amend
ment of the Constitution OF the Law, to guard
against these evils.
Mr. CLAWS noble appeal 10 the Wings III con-
cluson to stand by their cause, was, we believe,
responded to bv every Wing IN the vast crowd,
and VIC doubt if every Wing did not leave the
ground with his faith strengthened and his zeal
renewed tcn.fold in behalf of the glorious prlncl-
pies of his party, and the glorious chef who 50
noblv maintains them.
We have the qualification to assure our friends
at a distance that never was our distinguished
neichbor 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 Oft.
OREGoH-Fisher's Colonial Magazine Tor
March contains an article of some ten pages III
length which is copied into Campbell's Foreign
Magazine of April, in which the writer attempts
to establish the claim of Great Britain to the
Oregon Territory. He sums up in the following
words
The coas, was first explored and taken pos
session of by Sir Francis Drake-Brihsh. FIRST
uccuratelr surveyed and temporarily occupied by