New-York daily tribune., 1843-09-01
THE TRIBUNE.
Interesting Correspondcnce-Lette from

' Chanbersburg Clay Club to the Hon HENR
CLAY, with his letter in reply. The commute
introduce with the following passage graphi
sketch Of the progress of mlsrule In the countr.
FOR a long period past:
WHY is IL si- that with Consnton OF go:esuTeA
30 admirably adapted human welfaewith resources
multiplied and e1uberant--ente,pse so
intercourse 80 rapid aud comnodious and Literature SO c
and abundant we are no, formerly prosperous ah
happy nation-proud of retrospect anc eIHng w =.
promise Of the u,ure9 Why ta, all the great
of our National Industry state OF prostfi'ion
Our soil and climate have undergone no fctine il.
,yorse our machinery for abrdins labor ana has los
product not :eEioTated our % ie's Whence is i, then
notalns IN ohe % o,ru into abeyance that the ca}
tsst finds no outlet for his means ano ie '''''s'
,yhou, employment
;nsnr,;on entire. 1t is written with great force
and spirit. Mr.. CLAY replies as follows:
A;HLAxD, July -, 1873
GENTLEMEN: have the honor to acknowledge
tbe recent of the communication which, IN Dc
half of the Clay Club Of Chambersburg, you ad-
dressed to me, informing me Of the orgari;zalioh
of thai association, and Of its determination 10
co6nerate with similar institutions and our wing
fellow citizens generally in disseminating ana es-
tablishing sound principles Of government IN inc
limited States. You are also pleased, gen'ieiheii'
at the instance OF the Club, to request my dI4u'
escence in the various nominations WHICH 'i1'
been made of me for the Office oi Cinei MAYS
tratc of the United States. | hope the success
Of the eyertions of the Club IN the propagation
and establishment of correct principles may "
commensurate with its laudabe ana patflo'io
aims. And / tender 1t my cordial lilailAs anu
grateful acknowledgements for the friendly sehti-
rnents and wishes which it contains towards my
self I am infinitely obliged to my ielow-cltIzens
for the numerous testimonies OF their commence
and attachment in maniiestlng their desire that l
should fill the highest office IN their gut; and
whatever may be the final result, my heart VIII
ever be animated by feelings OF the lvellest graft
tude. 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 can
didate for the office of President OF the united
States. When it does, shall give to all the con-
sidcratons which should influence my Judgement
full weight, and, among them, the friendly wishes
of the Clay Club Of Chambersburg.
I concur with you, gentlemen, generally, IN
the retrospect which you have presented OF inc
administration of public affairs during late years.
and in the measures of policy which ought TO
ruidc it. IF we are not utterly deceived IN the
theory of free government the people OF the Unl-
ted States ought all along TO have been and
should now be the happcst and most prosperous
pcope upon the earth; but our condition has
been and continues to be, far otherwise. 1t IS
impossible to contemplate the administration OF the
Government during nearly the last fifteen years
without feelings Of the deepest regret and bitter
est modification. That long period has been
marked by relentless prescription, similar IN spirit,
if not attended with the same efiuslon OF blood,
as that which is recorded in Roman history to
have been pcrpetrated by Marius and Sylla; by
reckless experiments and the overthrow OF valua-
bic institutions; by the destruction OF the best
currency in the world, and consequent dcrangc-
nent in all the business Of society; by extensive
and scandalous peculation on the part Of public
functionaries by extravagant and protilgatc ex
penditure OF the public money; by attempts to
subvcrt the long cherished policy Of the country
under which it had cminently fourished and pros
pcred by relaxation in the respect and authority
due to the law and Constitution; by widespread
and alarming generalization by a fearful growth
and corrupt use of the power of the Executive
branch Of Tic Government and, finally, by
degree of pegfidy in 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 ex-
ceptions, assiduously courted and carcssed HIM
fattcring and praising him for his violation of the
Just expectations Of a contiding people. They
marched up in solid column, arm IN ann, along
Pennsylvania Avenue to the Presidential mansion'
to thank and congratulate hlm tor exercising a
royal prcrogatlve to defeat the wishes and hopes
of the people. Men, under the abused name OF
Democrats, loudly exulted in the failure OF q
measure demanded by the urgent wants and voice
and essential to the promotion Of tho interests OF
the people; eXultcd in the pcrvcrse and corrupt
will of one man oyerruGng the will OF large
majority of the nation! In the tlspcnsatlons OF
an all.wisc Providence, retrbutivc justice is sure
to come sooner or later. The acting President
so much woocd by political leaders IN the begin,
ming OF his administration now, as Its end ap-
proaches, in his turn, and very much to Their an
noyancc, exercises all his Establishments upon
their party. Norris their danger or regret dlmin-
ishcd by the fact that. whilst their instruments OF
seduction were honcycd words, his arc the lucra.
tive offices of Government.
The great political event of 1910 had an OBJ.
jcct far more elevated and important than that Of
mere change IN the high functionarlcs of the
patton. 1t was TO bring about q radical improve
mcnt in public policy. And what, after that
event, was the manly, liberal, and patriotic course
which the defeated party should have pursued
1t was to have cheerfully acquiesced in the vii
of the People, proclaimed by an unexanplcd ant
overwhelming majority. They should have said
"The people disapprovc Of our system. They
require sound currency of uniform value. They
arc opposed to the Sub-Treasury. They deman,
distribution of the sales of the public land
among all the States. they insist upon an hon
est and economical administration OF their public
affairs. They are opposed TO the cncroachmcnt
of the Executive department, and require salu,a
ry restraints upon Its power. We shall continue
by free discussion and fair arguments, TO recon-