The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1844-04-19

address.
Again. fellow.coun,rymsn. patriot and nation
4 bencfactor, welcome, thrice welcome 10 our
learts and our homes.
To this address Mr.. Clay responded IN
, speech of thrilling eloquence and great
,bili,y, occupying near Two hours III Inc
delivery, and enthralIing the attention oil
an interested and delighted auditory. The
great length of this speech and the varie' !
iv and importance of the subjects It DIS
cussed, forbid us even the attempt 10 re-
mort or sketch it althoug h we may glance
at several of its leading points. Although
Mr.. CLAY was evidently faiigued and OPP
pressed by his journey, he was ye' III .ne
finest spirits; arising doubtless from ,nI
warmth and eclat of his reception aideu
in no small measure by the news oil Tue
Wing victory in Connecticut, roeei'eu
,ba, morning. He seemed in the very oes'
mood for speech, and evinced u ny 'ne
case and buoyancy with which he ue'''ei
cd himself, aud in the exquisite touches -
hna,onr with which he occasionally emu
yened the weghtier matters Oh "'S -
course-and he gave, for the hrs' 'li';e' ~
n Charleston audience, noble
Of ,bat pified eloquence with when ne nds
90 offen electrified the Senate, or s"elleu
Tho enthusiasm of the popular assembly
Mr.. Clay began with graceful and nap.
nv Illusion TO the manner OF his recep''o"
to The grateful and honorary welcome
accorded him, without distinction OIL 'A.'a'
and attributed il n cHdl,,r rh- onJ 49,;
merit Of WS&cI our ancient civ had been
-arways distinguished. He returned his
thanks 10 the various committees, to the
throng Of citizens, and especially to the as.
semblage of fair ladies', who had united to
greet him. His qualification at his re.
cepllon was greatly enhanced by the organ
selected TO express the general feeling
the venerable and gallant soldier of the
revolution who had just and so eloquently
addressed him, and who had bestowed on
HIM need so far beyond his merits. 10
relation to the Missouri question, he had
been greatly assisted by others in lis hap.
Ply adjustment by none more ETH.
ciently than by his personal friend the la.
menled William Lowndes, whose known
wisdom, bland and amiabe manners, and
spotIess virtue did wonders in the work of
Cancellation and peace-and he declared
that IN the long course Of his own public
service, of all the statesmen with whom
he had mingled in the counsels of tho
country, he had found that ilusrious and
departed worthy 10 be "the wsest, the
Purest, the best" So too in reference TO
the Tariff compromise of 1888, there were
others largely entitled to share in whatev.
er credit it conferred on lis authors; but
this he would say that on both occasions
he was actuated only by the desire to har
monlze and perpetuate our political union,
without which our liberties, our prosperi.
~, and our greatness would be inevitably
destroyed. Mr.. Clay then alluded 10 the
occasion and the motives of his present
tour. He knew that he was accused, by
the selfish and ungenerous of making an
eiectloneering tour-but he at once denied
and desplsed the mputaiion. He had
visited the city Of New Orleans purely on
matter of business and his return home
furnished him, he thought, favorable OBJ.
Portunty, to visit the four Southern States
OF The confederacy, Alabama, Georgia, S.
Carollna, and North Carolina, in neither
Of which with the exception Of a visit 10
Mobile, last year, had he ever been before,
and which IN the ordinary course of nature
and affairs, he was never likely to see
again, On his progress hitherto, in every
;ity, town, village, hamlet and cross-road
m his route, he had been generously and
hospitality welcomed, without discrimina.
ion Of party. Under such circumstances,
lie thought he might venture without harm
o visit the land of Marion, of Sumter,
nd OF Pckens-tbat he might without
blame come TO the home Of the Rutledgcs,
he Plnckneys and the Mddletons-and /
urvey or reconnoitre, as far as his oppor !
nnlties would allow him, the ground and ,
he scenes where the venerable and cal. {
ant Chairman of the Committee and his ;
ompatriots had fought the battles of the :
evolution. 1t was said be was a candi. =
ate Tor the Presidency. He could not
eny that from the St. Johns to the banks
the Sabine, spontaneous demonstrations. n
hsought and unpromped by him, had a
cen made in his favor but he had never i
ct consented or declared 10 any one that r
was a candidate for The Presidency-at II
resent he was plain farmer, earning his
Dor by the sweat of his brow, or rather q,
the JOINT sweat Of himself and those a,
no labored for hlm-and however near =,
Re period of final decision might be. he 81
I'D reserved the right of such decision
r the proper moment and the proper oc. II
Isl, :,
Mr.. Clay then entered into frank and 81
arless exposition Of his views on the great /,
estlons of the tariff and the CURRENCY 81
said he came here TO fatter no man or
OF mcn-ihat what he would dare saw ="
the banks of the Eikhorn he would dare
7 in the Palmetto State. lie had ever :
en- IN favor of the protective policy TO a =, -
tain extent. To preserve at once the n, ~
ice and the great interests Of the coun. =, y,
, he had been active in enectinp the w
mpromise Of 1888, and although he was nv y
iiom maintaining the doctrine that any ~
ngress could bind its SUCCESSORS. the 'el
raordlpary exigcncies and state of the Gu