Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-01-12
CLAY IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

We laid before our readers, yesterday, some
account of the honorable effhrts which are being
made, by the Wings Of South Carolina, to carry
that State for Mr.. CLAY, as against Van Buren,,
at the next Presidential! Election. The follow
ing is the admirable Address just published, by
the Committee Of the CLAY CLUB Of Charleston
CLAY CLUB.
The members Of the Clay Club Of Charleston deem
il natural and proper on their organization, 10 ad.
dress their Wing brethren throughout the State. As
The name of our association imports, we have united
ourselves for the purpose of promoting by all homo
rablc means in our power, the election President
for the mex, term, Of the eminent statesman Of the
West, HENRY CLAY. 1t is trnc that we in
minority in the Stale, but il is the singular excellence
of our republican institutions, that the right of opn-
ion and action is in every way secured 10 the mnori-
ty; and as every right implies correlave duty, we
regard it not only as privilege, but sacred duty to
express our sentiments and carry them forth into
operation in such modes as circumstances may ad-
init; besides this, South Carollnans we arc proud
TO maintain the moral influence entirely independent
Of numbers, to which state has always owed her
high standing in tho conlederacy, believing that even
Caru, jnian minority will never be without some
weight in any conJunt'oh oil interest," ana ,pof1nncc'
Ii union is strength, we are .ssuredly strong II DIS
cord is debility, then are our opponents assliredly
weak-there are Democrats " every conceVaDe
shade Of Opinon-some carry the ii,g OF irtc Hoec,
and cry, down with the custom iiouse-m"ny arc .oi
direct taxes are ready die for protection and
tariffs, the worst rather than none-sone maln,an
tie uncomfortable rights Of najorlties Others the d.
vine right of churches and consu,ons-each con-
tends for strict prlncplc-each denonnce expcdency
and insist on abstract and stringent construction
How can such men combine ?-what bands are there
10 hold then, together. We on The other hand
avoiding all disscnuon and disguise. adhere 10 the
settled compromise which IN SO vast country lHust
decide questions from time 10 time arising between
the opposite interests OF sections widely distant from
each ether, and engaged in pursuits seemingly contras
ted. Satisfied that the theory Of free trade, however
beautiful and plausible il may appear TO the phoso
pher and the phiinihroplst, can no more be carried
out by the practical statesman than the delightful
dream OF universal peace we are content TO mo !fy
and improve the protective System, so that dscrlm
native tariff shall he arranged in The manner least bur-
densonis and most advuntageoi to all portions OF
our citizens As friends of credit bu, the enemies
all sorts oil spurious money. we look TO the wisdom OF
Government for the means OF sound and adequate
currency and renounce as hollow iancy the d.
vorce between bank and state. Satisfied of the in
finite value to all Of the good name and honest char
acter o every member oil the conicderncv, we would
aid each State 10 sustain Itself and qnldate lis Just
debts by appopralg to each lis share Of the sale Of
the public lands which belong alike to all. Agreeing
thus upon important measures, we profess m unc-
qnlvoca preference for the man best qualified 10 nd-
Vocate and promote them-i preference unanimous
and enthusiastic. We have no name before us but
that of iIESRY CLAY. With him for our sole leader
our victory is certain. We shall not waste time in
setting forth lis claims TO our Jealous support,
Astounding confdence-hc who is not familiar with
them either as li!enu or Toe, knows nothing OF he
history Of his country the last half century, on
every page of which set forth his eloquence his pa
iriotisln, his wisdom.
Finally, We would urge upon friend, every
where the rropriety of Immediately organizing them
selves. We ready TO affiliate with every Clay
Club found within the State upon principles Of entire
equality, and if any considerable extension Of the sys-
ten should e effected, would suggest the advan-
taGe Of union and connection ty means OF occasional
correspondence or convention. We are not hopeless
OF success in the attempt to release beloved South
Carolina from her adhesion Van rcn, and the de-
s,ructve party Of radicals which under his lead and
that Of TIE strong deInngogue OF Missouri, who Is
more his master than his iolower threaten ruin to our
insttu., lns, and menace with the change and an
archv Of ever changing maJorlIies We cannot be-
icve that n community like ours, full of confidence IN
sur well managed banks, and defending our state
bank against the ATTACKS even of popular Governor
shall continue 10 sue for divorce between govern
ment and banks, when our own private connection OF
that sort is found worthy of defence and conlinu-
ance, nor ask for exclusively metallic currency
while sanc,oning The issue of bills in all directions,
and III every convenient amount These inconsistent
rirs VIII not long remain 10 annoy us-and our homo
| rabe pride in the Anercan name will, far more than
the convenient income derived from the public land
sales, reconcile to the distribution OF funds among
the imp ,vershed, bankrupt and reluctantly dishonest
sisters Of our great republican family.
JAMES T.. PETIGRU.
s. HENRY DICKSON,
EDWARD GAMAGE,
GEO. w. BROWN,
| JAMES SMITH COLBURN.