Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-09-15
MIR. CLAWS LETTER.
ASHLAND, July 25th,

bersburgh, you addressed to me, informing
nae OF the organization of that association,
and of its determination to cooperate with
similar institutions, and our Wing fellow
citizens generally, in disseminating and es-
tablishing sound principles of government
in the United States. You are also pleased,
gentlemen, at the instance of the Club, to
request my acquiescence in the various nom
nations which have been made of me for
the Office of the Chief Magistrate of the u.
S. hope the success Of the exertions of
the Club, in the propagation and establish
ment of correct principles, may be common
surate with its laudable and patriotic aims.
And tender it my cordial thanks and CRATE
ful acknowledgements for the friendly senti-
ments and wishes which it entcrtains to-
wards myself l am infinitely ablged TO
my fellow citizens for the numerous tcsti-
monies of their confidence and attachement
in manifesting their desire that | should ill
the highest Office in their gift and whatcv-
er may be the final result my heart will ev-
er be animated by feelings of the liveiest
gratitude The time has not yet arrived, |
think, when ought TO decide whether |
shall give my consent or not, TO the use of
my name, as candidate for the Office of
President Of the U. S. When it does shall
give to all the considerations which should
influence my judgment full weight, and, "a
mong them, the friendly wishes Of the Clay
Club at Chambersburg.
concur with you, gentlemen, generally,
in the retrospect which you have presented
of the administration of public affairs, du-
ring late years, and in measures of policy
which ought to guide il; IL we are not ut
terly deceived in the theory Of free Govern
ment, the people of the U. s. ought all
along to have been, and should now be, the
happiest and most prosperous people upon
the earth, but our condition has been and
continues to be, far otherwise. 1t is impos-
sible to contemplate the administration Of
the government, during nearly the last Is
years, without feelings of the deepest regret
and bitterest modification. That long pc
riod has been marked by relentless proscrp-
ton, similar in spirit if not attended with
the same ehusion of blood as that which is
recorded in Roman history to have been
perpetrated by Marus and Sylla; by reck-
less experiments and the overthrow of valu-
able institutions--by the destruction of the
best currency in the woodland consequent
arrangement in all the business Of society
by extensive and scandalous speculation ON
the part of public functionarlcs by extrav-
agant und proaigate expenditure Of the pub
lie money; by attempts to subvert the long
cherished policy of the country, under
which it had eminenty hourished and pros
pered; by relaxation in the respect and au-
shortly due to the law and Constitution by
wide spread and alarming generalization
by fearful growth and corrupt use of the
power of the executive branch of the gov
eminent; and finally, by degree of peridy
ia the head of that branch, of which no
equal example can be found in this or any
other country, in this or any other age
At the commencement of the administration
of the present acting Chief Magistrate, the
leaders of our political opponents, with a
few honorable exceptions, assiduousIy court
ed and caressed him-haitering aud prais-
ing him for his violation of the Just expect
atoms of con6dng people. They march
ed up in solemn column, arm in arm, along
PENNSYLVANIA Avenue to the Presidential
mansion TO thank and congratulate him, for
exercising Royal prerogative, to defeat the
wishes aud hopes of the people. Men, I'M
der the abused name of Democrats, loudly
exulted in the failure of measure demand
ed BIZ the urgent wants and voice-and es-
seDtial to the promotion of the interests of
the people exulted in the perverse and cor
rupt will of one man, overriding the will of
large majority of the nation In the dis
pensation Of an all-wise Providence, retribu-
live Justice is sure to come sooner or later
The acting President, so much wooed by
political leaders, in the beginning of his adj
minstration, now, as its end approaches, in
his turn, and very much to their annoyance,
exercises all his Establishments upon their
party Nor is their danger or regrets d-
minished, by the fact that, whilst their in
struments of seduction we're honied words,
his are the lucrative offices of government
The great political event of 1910 had all
object far more elevated and important than
that OF mere change in the high function
aries Of the nation. 1t was to bring about
radical Improvement in public policy. And
what after that event, was the manly, liberal,
and patriotic course which the defeated par
~ should have pursued 1t was TO have
cheerlnlly acquiesced in the will of the peo-
pie, proclaimed by an unexampled and over
whelning majority. They should have said
"The people disapprove of our system
They require sound currency of uniform
value. They are opposed to the Sub Treas
ury. They demand a distribution of the
proceeds of the sales of the public lands a.
mong all the States. They insist upon an
honest and economical administration of
their public affairs. They are opposed to
the encroachments Of the executive depart
ment, and require salutary restraints upon
its power We shall continue, by free dis
cussion and fair arguments, TO recommend
our measures and 10 expose those of noliti-