Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1843-09-16
Mr.. CLAY'S REPLY.
ASHLAND july 25th, ls43.


ASHLAND July 25th, ls43.
GENTLEMEN:--I have the honor 10 ac-
knowlege the receipt Oft the communication
which in behalf of the Clay Club of Cham
bersburg, you address to me, informing me
Of the organization Of that association, and
la REORGANIZATION 10 cooperate with sim.
,,.,, noneroiii9s, and our Wing fellow-citi
1 Tero snI, aiJ(n disseminating and estab.
, ,Iu aouiiS pNciPies of Government in
enG Li,l'eu 80" .L You are also pleased
gentlemen, at the lhtance Of The III Ib0r -
request my acquiesceAge in the var GluD' 70
limitations which have Laen 10, ,@'lo ys ne
for the office Of Chief Tnr,sir ,s'' of the
United States | hope thSsnccess of the
exertions Of the Club, in the nroparation
and establishment of correct rr;ncioles,
may be commensurate with its ladabIe and
patriotic aims. And | tender it nv cordial
thanks and grateful ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS for
the friendly sentiments and wishes which
it entertains towards myself. | am ininite-
ly obliged to my fellow citizens for the nu-
merOus testimonies Of their confidence and
attachment. in manifesting their desire that
should fill the highest Office in their gift
and whatever may be the final result, nv
heart will ever be animated by feelings of
the livelest gratitude. The nine has not
yet arrived, think, when oaght to decide
whether | shall give my consent or not to
the use of nay name, as a candidate for the
office of President of the United States
When it does, shall give to all the consid-
erations which should influence my judy
ment full weight, and, among them, the
friendly wishes of the Clay Club of Cham
bersburg.
concur with you, gentlemen, generally,
in the retrospect which you have presented
of the administration of public otfairs, du-
ring late years, and in the measures of pol
icy which ought to guide it, If we are not
utterly deceived in the theory of free Gov
ernment, the people of the United State:
ought all along to have been and should row
be, the happiest and most prosperous peo-
pie upon earth, but our condition mas been,
and continues to be far otherwise. 1t i;
impossible to contemplate the admlnistra-
ton of the Government, during nearly the
last fifteen years, without feelings OF the dee
pest regret and bitter modification. That
long period has been marked by relentless
prescription, similar in spirit, If not atten-
ded with the same effusion Of blood, as that
which is recorded in Roman history to have
been perpetrated by Marius and Silla; by
reckless experiments and the overthrow OF
valuable institutions by the destruction Of
The best currency in the world, and conse-
quently arrangement in all the business OF
society; by extensive and scandalous spec
ulation on the part of the public functiona-
ries; by extravagant and profigate expen-
diture of the public money; by attempts to
subvert the long cherished policy of the
country. under which it had eminently
fiourished and prospered; by relaxation in
respect and authority due the law and Con-
stituton; by wide spread and alarming de-
moraization, by fearful growth and cor
rupt use of the power of the Executive
branch Of the Government: and, finally, by
a degree of perhdlty in the head of that
branch, of which no equal example can be
found 10 this or any other country, in this
or anv other age. At the commencement
of the administration of the present acting
Chief Magistrate, the leaders of our politi
cal opponents, with few honorable exCep
tons, assiduously courted and caressed him
fattering and praisng him for his violation
of the Just expectations of a contiding peo
pie. They marched up, in solemn column
arm in arm, along Pennsylvania Avenue t.
the Presidential Mansion to thank and con
graduate him, for exercising Royal Pero
gatve, to defeat the hopes and wishes o
the people. Men, under the abused name
of Democrats, loudly exulted in the fail
ure of measure demanded by the urgen
wants and voice, and essential to the inter
ests, of the people; exulted in the pervers
and corrupt will of one man, overriding III
will of large majority of the nation Ii
the dispensatons of an all wise Providence
retributive Justice is sure to come soone
or later. The acting President, so niue
woed by political leaders, in the beginnin
! of his administration, now, as its end ar