Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-09-15
LETTER FROM HENRY CLAY.

LETTER FROM HENRY CLAY.
Clay Club in Chunibershurg, tPa) addressed
letter to MIR. Clay. dwelling upon The disastrous
political condition OF The county, and urging his
acceptance OF the nomination, made in so many
quarters with such Ell h,lsia M for the presidency
On this point Mr.. Clay says:
1.-THE time us not yet arrived think, when
ough, To decide whether shall give my consent
or not TO the use Ot my name, ms Candidate Tor
the Office of President OF lie Uned Staes.-
When il does, shat give TO all the considerations
which should Influence my judgment full weight
aud among them, the friendly wishes OF the Clay
Club of ClanIbersurg.",
lie then proceeds to give his views Of the con-
don of the country, aud his sanguine hopes OF
wing ascendancy in 1914. We copy these stir
ring renarks:
81 cnocur with you, gentlemen, generally, in
the retrospect which you have presented OF the
administration of public affairs, during late years,
aud in The measures of policy which ought to
guide it. If we are not utterly deceived in the
theory of free government, the people of the u
Uied STATES ought all along 10 have been, aud
should now he, the happiest aud most prosperous
people upon the eurlb but our condition has
been, aud continues to he, Tar Otherwise. II is
inInsslble TO contemplate The administration OF
the Government during the last fifteen years, with
ou' feelings of the deepest regret, aud bterest
NOR liicalOn. That long period has been mark
ell by relentless prescription, siuiilar in spirit, u
not amended with the same etfnsOD OF ID oOd, as
that which is recorded in Roman history to have
been i'erperated 10y Mariils aud Syla by reckless
experiments aud The overthrow of valuable lnslI-
tuiIons 10y The destruction OF The best currency
III the world, aud consequent arrangement in all
the bu ihess IN society 10y extensive aud scandu-
lous perulalinn OH The part OF public dictionaries;
ny sxlravngadi and prOtligne expenditure OF the
public mouey lIy attempts 10 subvert the long
cherished policy of the country under which IL
had emihehtly flonrished and prOspered 10y re-
laxaion ~ The respect nnd authority due To the
law and Constitution by wide spread aud alarm
ing Decentralization by n fearful growth and cor
rupt Use OF the power Of the Executive branch of
the Government aud finally, 10y degree oi per-
hdy III the head OF that branch, OF which no e.
quail example can he found in this or any other
country, IN this or any other age.
Al Tie commencement OF the administration Of
The present acting Chief Magistrate the LEADERS
oil our political opponents, with few honorable
excepuohs, hssldn0usly courled and caressed him;
flstler'ng and praisiug him tor his violation OF the
Just expectations OF "A coniidiug people. They
marched Up IN SOLEMN column, along Peunsy Iva
mia Avenue 10 the Presidents Manson to tlank
and congratulate him for exercising Royal pre-
rogave, 10 defeat the hopes and wishes VI The
people Men, under The abused name of demo-
Gratis !ondly exulted in The inilure Ut measure
demanded Ivy The urgent wants and voices, and
essential 10 the interests of The people; exued IN
Tie perveise aud corrupt will of one man over
Tulig me VIII OF Il large majority OF the nation
In The dlspelsations OF AN all-wise Providence,
rerihulIve Justice is come sooner or later.
The acting President, so much woOed by political
leaders, IN the beginning of his administration,
now, rs It's end approaches, in his turn and very
nuch To HER annoyance, exercises all his blun.
dlsh'nens upon their party. Nor is their danger
or regrets diminished 10y the fact that, whist their
Instruments 1T seduction were houied words, his
are the lucrative offices of Government.
The great poliIiral event OF 1910 had an object
lar more elevated and important tlian that OF II
mere change in the high .uncIonares Of the MT
ton. IL was to bring about a radical improve
ineI' ~ public policy Aud what, after that event.
Was The manly, liberal, aud patriotic course which,
the defeated pauy should have pursued? 1t was
TO have cheerfDy acquiesced in the will Of the
People, proclaimed by AN unexampied and ovef-
whcInlng majority. They should have said -
"Ihe people tlisapprove of our system. They
require sound currency OF uniform value. They
are opposed 10 the SUB Treasury. They demand
Distribution Of the proceeds Of lie sales OF the
pubic lands among all tie Siates. They insist
upon an honest aud economical administration OF
'fieir pubic affairs. They opposed 10 the en-
"f al Executive Department. and re-
qhhe sauary restraints upon i'll power. We shall
CONTINUE by Tree discussion aud lair arguments, to
recommend our measures, and to EXPOSE those OF
a
ihlr trial OF Their system Of poncy, and we will
make no iaciious opposition, nor throw any un
reasonable Obstacles III their way. Above all we
scofh 10 employ any arts TO seduce from the path
OF his duly, the man, who has reached his eevu-
ted station N spne of our strenuous exerlous u
against Inn, 10y The confidence which they gener-
ousl> -ep"sed m his honor aud fidelity.
How lar the leaders OF the other party have
coniornled TO this upright anG straight forward
course, past and daily passlng events sufficiently
testify. They prove that the netting President and
the parry who has assumed the name democratic,
without The least color Of tilo TO II, are now lien.
ii6ed, closely unIIed, one aud indivIsbie. II, in
the sequel, they should find him an Involvement
associate, they have nobody but themselves TO re-
proach.
The last war with Great Britain laugh, the pat.
riOc lesson, thai, during n con est with foreign
power, /. is the duty OF all parties cordially 10 IL
me hnd To give 10 our arms the greatest possible
etlec and ,igur; aud that any party, winch vio- |
laIes that principle Is sure 10 LOSE the pubic conf
dehce. Oar experience, in i season OF peace, will
trust, Ihculcate another important lesson, that
ireacliery AMI perfdy are alike deteslabe al all
times, AMI viii demonstrate sIll more clearly, that
Invaluable but TOO often neglected ruth, III public
AFFAIRS that honesty is the hest policy.
IL Is painful even 10 gnze On The picture OF the
Administrator of The General q vernmenl which |
1 have faithfully skeIched. IL would have been
HaPVy ior ihe people VI Tie Uiilled Siates, u II
We're tnee fancy piece survey. But tiieir long,
general and Intense embarrassIIenls have unior
TOO severely assured them OF lis actual
reality. 1t would hive been much more agree.
able task lo NE IL portray The PURIFY, dlsneresled
ness honor probly nj fidelity OF all in the churge
OF cur public concerns; the vision Of their
measures, aud the cons' qucni general prosperity |
OF Tie country. Blu We now know HE nature,
extent aud causes Of the public disorders, und,
what Is no less important, their remedy. The |
remedy is in The hands oil The People. Under 9TH
er forms OF government, where pubic spirit is
not elhIrely crushed 10y arbitrary power, The peo-
pie would long since have sought redress by vlo-
lent aud cOnvulslye means.
1t Is our pscuiinr good fortune TO have in the |
ballot box ren'edy, which supersedeS necessi-
~ OF resoring 10 ibenI, and which is que eff
cacious aud more certain, well rs more prace-
iuI, than the use OF the bayonet. And il affords
me indispensable pleasure 10 say To you that it is
A.... l.la..I -