The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-10-11
MR.. CLAWS SERVICES TO HIS COUNTRY.


AT the period of the Missouri question, 1919,
when The slave question had excited the Union
TO madness--when conflicting passions appeared
irreconcilab'e, and dissolution and civil war APP
peared ineviiable-Mr. Clay brought about the
compromise which restored peace and harmony.
The admission was then universal that he had
| succeeded where all had failed, and he was hail
ed as the Savior of the Union. This man is now
pursued, and has been pursued for twenty years,
| for giving preference % Mr. Adams over Gen.
Jackson, with the most unrelenting and rancorous
traducton-his opinions perverted and misrepre-
sented, his honor assailed, his public conduct lm-
puted to corrupt motives, himself held up as a
| perjurer, blackleg murderer, and an unprin-
ciPled mercenary, who had bartered his constitu-
ents, his constituency, his country and his oath,
| for the Office of Secretary of Slate. The authors
| OF these charges are the most profgate partisans
| and tools, who are nsensbe to shame, and alive
only to the lowest instincts which find place in
the human breast yet are there thousands OF
upright citizens, carried away by party spirit, who
believe these charges against such man, illus
trious for such services, preferred against him by
| a perjured scoundrel like Amos Kendall, and re-
iterated by associates worthy to follow such a
leader-men who have schooled their minds and
| consciences to believe any thing and every thing
which has a tendency to promote their party OBJ
jects for the time.
Again: In 1885, the Union was in more ex-
IRENE jeopardy than in 1919. The tariff and null
LITIGATION controversy had come to crisis South
Carolina was ready to detach herself from the
Union, and President Jackson TO march $4,000
men to reduce her to submission: The country
saw no hope of pacific adjustment, and regarded
civil war as inevitable. Even John Randolph
was hopeless of an accommodation, and although
long personal enemy to Henry Clay, magnani-
mously said Cat Buckingham CONTINUOUSLY "that
there was but one man who could save the Union,
and he believed he would!" That man was
Henry Clay, and he fulfilled Mr.. Randolph's con.
ception of his influence and patriotism, and full
filled it with wisdom and address SO admirable az
not merely to avert the danger, but to reconcile
all parties to his measure of compromise. This
was tho proudest era Of Mr.. Clays illustrous
life, when nation hailed him second time as
the saviour Of it's peace and integrity John RAN
dolph in the Senate chamber gave expression to
the nations feelings, when (then OF the brink Of
the grave) he received all other Senators sitting,
but rose to receive Mr.. Clay alone. Partisan ma
Lightly for time covered under the universal
sentiment of gratitude and admiration which fill
ed the popular mind. Even the trumvirate Of
Kendall, Blair, and Richie, ceased temporarily
to pursue Mr. Clay with their vtuperations and
suspended their favorte vocation of tearing cha
racter to pieces, afraid to incur the rebuke of a
nation then warm with gratitude for Mr.. CLAWS
inappreciable services!
But time obliterated the public sense Of what
the American people owed Mr.. Clay. The ha-
tired of Andrew Jackson and the service Of fac
ton required him again to be assailed, and for
long years we have seen him as he was from
1925 to 1888 daily assailed by hundreds of
presses. The trumvirae led off in the new
chase to hunt down this great man, whose fame
created envy, and whose character, services, and
talents were too elevated and conspicuous not to
excite the hatred of the naevolent.
10 what unparalleled and indecent lengths Of
personal abuse, uncharitable imputaton, and mis-
representation of Mr.. Clay's opnons and conduct
they have proceeded, volumes could not relate,
nor can any just man have seen without loathiDg
the attempt Of these calumnators to dim Mr.
Clay's reputation with the slime of their foul and
licentious tongues.
Of all the States of this Union, South Carolina
owes most to Henry Clay, for it was he, and he
only who saved her from being drag ,oned into
submission. His mastery policy aud patriotic
devotion saved the blood of her sons from stain
ing her fields, and the heads of her more distin-
guished citizens from falling under the axe of the
executioner. South Carolina is too proud, how.
ever, to acknowledge the obligation, and Mr.. Clay
is no where more intensely hated than there but
let us do the public men of that State the Justice
" ooy HdI Nli. OldyJ IL ViolcHLly oppOSeu IL not
abused sandered, and reviled after the fashion of
the triumvrate Of Blair, Kendall, and Richie /!
lie is opposed on principle, but his abilities are
| confessed, and none are there found to assail his
honor and his character! We hear nothing of
the bargain and corruption from the manly and
hlgh-toned press Of South Carolina! He who
would IN that generous, however mistaken Com
monwealth, stigmatize Henry Clay as Sabbath
breaker, as cheat at cards, as perjurer as
murderer, (for having fought duel as Swiss
who had sold himself and his country, would be
regarded as libcller and common defamer, capa-
BILE of slandering Aristdes, and denying the vir-
tue of Cato.
How much South Carolina owes Mr.. Clay, if
she will not acknowledge, history wil-that his
tory in whose pages Henry Clay will live and
be revered by unborn generations, when his base
revilers will no longer be able to deface, in sin
gle mind, the image of his great services to his
country.-Richmond Wing.
SINGULAR PHENoMENoN-The Key West
Light of the the l4th ult, gives the follow
inn Ito init IF ~ -