Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1844-05-02
From the Petersburg htclligcnccr.
MIR. CLAY'S VISIT TO PETERSBURG.

4 duty which feel ourself utterly incompetent
properly TO discharge. "A
To give account of the scenes which were
enacted in Petersburg during Mr. Clay's short ,
Visit 10 us-to describe the JOY which illumiued .
The faces OF the thousands VITO were assembled
10 welcome him to oui town--and to tell OF the
enthusiasm which his presence excited wherever
nc Went, would require a pen as vigorous our
own is feeble.
Mr. Clay left the beautiful and ho,ptable city
OF Raleigh on Thursday morning, accompanied,
by large concourse of People, and arrived in
Petersburg at half past 8 o'clock, p. NJ. of that
day. AT every Depot and water Station on the
road crowds OF people were ssembed--some to
take a look a. the Great Man of the Aye, and .
many to join the Cars and accompany him to |
Petersburg.
The day was wet and Indictment, but wind and
weather were not able to overcome tho desire of
the People to do honor to him whom honor was |,
so eminently due-and when the Train reached !
the Depot In Petersburg, thousands were found
IN the midst ct hard rain awaiting the arrival of
the illustrous guest. salute from Cant Gar
lands Artillery announced the arrival of the
Cars. The Independent Grays, tho Petersburg
Guards, Capt. Rambaut, and the Dragons under
the command of Lieut.. Bell, were drawn up on
the squa4, and saluted Mr. Clay as he passed
from the Cars TO the Hotel of Mr. Jarrau which
was splendidly illuminated from the garre. to the
cellar.
AT the Hotel Mr. Clay wa. received by the
an apartment in which refreshments were proyid-
ed. After the fatigues of long and tedious
journey had been somewhat relieved by those
.'creature comforts" which the tired and hungry
know so well how to appreciate, Mr. Clay was
conducted to Carriage, and escorted by the Mi
litary and Citizens, al the head of whom the
splendid Old Point Band were
"All the while blowing martial Sounds"
to the residence of COL VIM n. Johnson, where
he was received with that cordial hospitality
which tho owner of the Mansion knows SO well
how to dispense, and then lief, to his repose
The streets of the Town were well lighted
and Wing houses generally presented a blaze OF
light-while Locotoco ,enemsnts looked as dark
and gloomy as their own political prospects.
FRIDAY MORNING.
The rain still continued, ga" Providen,ial Dis
pensation, we presume the pious Amos Kendall
Will term it,) but Wing enthusiasm deGed the
elements; and at o'clock an immense crowd
oil ci'izens with the " Guards" and "Drauoons,"
assembled In front of the Exchange, whence.
under the command of Chief Marshal Panniil
and his assistants, they proceeded to the quarters
OF the Guest Mr. Clay's appearance was greet
ed with enthusiastic cheers, which he acknowledge
cd with that grace which characterizes his eveTv
action. When Mr. &. accompanied by the Pre-
sdent of the Clay Club and Col. Johnson had
been seated in a Barouche drawn by four fine
horses, the property OF our Jealous Whr Towns
man MT Henry Davis, the procession, in the order
'''".iShou III thursday paper, moved Tor Pop
lar Lawn About this time the rain had ceased
and as the corege moved along the streets, the
windows were crowded by the "better portion of
humanity" whose beautiful smiles and waving
kerchlets testified that Harry of the West5
could confidently count the votes OF the La
uies, were they necessary TO his election, TO the
next Presidency.
Arrived at Poplar Lawn, Mr. Clay was con-
Quoted to rostrum, in which were seated the Off
GERS OF The Clay Club: He was then addressed
I'M PFh,
~ WIN. hoDertson' Esq, who in a short but
most appropriate speech, expressed the unmixed
pleasure which MIR Clay presence in Petersburg
gave to his friends.
In reply, Mr. Clay commenced by returning hi.
THANKS for the kind terms in which he had Been
presented 10 the assembled crowd bv Mr. Roberf-
son, and for the cordial greetings with which his
hrst visit to Petersburg had been welcomed. He
SAID that when about leaving his home for New
orleans, some four months SINCE he received
Ietter OF invitation to visit Petersburg, from his
friends in this town, which, in conformity with
the rule he had prescribed 10 himself Of not de-
Vlat'ng IRON the route winch a previous engage
ment Obliged him TO follow, he had respectfuIIv
declined but learning from second comuuni-
cdtion from his friends here, that his journey from
Raleigh to Norfolk could as conveniently be
performed by the way of Petersburg as by any
other route lie had gladly awaited himself Of the
opportunity thus afforded of seeing, for the first
tiine, THIS interesting portion of his native State
Having gone TO New Orleans on private BUSH
por'unity, which, in all probability, would ever
be afforded him, of visiting that portion of the
country comprised by Alabama, Georgia and the
CarolInas, and of redeeminga promise, some time
since made, of visiting his friends in North Ca
rroilna. More than two years ago, he said. he
had been invited 10 N. Carolina, and was on the
point OF accepting the invitation, but learning
mat his friends In that State, intended at that
time, to place him in nomination for the Prcsi-
dency' he promptly deferred the pleasure Of
WISH TO some future time The Wing members
of the last Legislature having reminded him Of
that promise, and insisted on its fulflment, he
had paid them Il visit this spring. Every where
on his extended route, Mr. Clay said, he had been
welcomed with the most cordial hospitality, ex-
tended TO him alike by Wing and Democrat, and
u was not until lie approached the confines OF
virginia, his native State, that the spirit of party
had manifested Itself against him.
In order TO get to w ashngion from Raleigh, he
must travel through some part of this State, or
turn back, and he said, tina, those who knew him
knew full well that it was not his habit 10
TURN BACK; but that when he had taken his
course, he always followed it. He thought he
might venture, without reproach to place his foot
on his natal SOIL 10 enjoy the birhrighi, to which
az native of Nirgiua--of the Slashes of Hano
ver--he felt that he had some claim. Bus (hold-
ing In his hand extract from the Richmond
Enquirer of Tuesday last) he was startled TO
find that his OLD Juvenile Friend, Mr. Tow
RiTcHrE, would deny 10 him the hospitality
which, even the Savage in his wigwam, would
extend 10 the stranger.
Mr. Clay kere read TO the audience portion Of
the article from the Enquirer, advising the DEMo-
CRAZY OF Petersburg TO avoid his presence, and
by their conduct TO rebuke him for daring TO vis,
their town; and he followed the reading with
commentary Of such whitening sarcasm and rJi-