Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-04-26

This distinguished gentleman made his appearance
on Thursday evening about o'clock lie was re
ceved by salute Of cannon, but owing 10 the incle
mency Of the weather, the formates oil Il welcoming
address and reply were omitted. There were several
military companies in attendance, by whom Mr. Clay
was escorted 10 the residence OF Gel William H. John
son. where understand he put his head out OF the
window and told those who had wives TO go home and
kiss theni-hose who had none 10 GO ond get them
On Friday, procession formed in front OF Colonel
Johnson consisting OF some ten or dozen troopers,
handful of the Petersburg Guard, various committees
and perhaps Il hundred ard fifty citizens MIR. Clay
with Colonel Johnson and William Robertson, Esq
took his seat open carrage, drawn by Tour horses
and driven by very respectable citizen OF The town
The procession moved to Poplar Lawn, where Mir. c
was conducted 10 rostrum and formally welcomed
by Mr.. Robertson. We were not present nj this par,
Of the ceremony, but understand that Mr. Robertson
remarks couched in his usual eloquent language
and delivered with his accustomed elegance and grace
There possibly thousand persons pFesent-we
do not think many, and took some pains to as
certain; but, Clay friend observed to Us, gve Us
| thousand, va will not scklo about numbers. Fol-
oursef we wish that every voter in Virginia, who
could have come within the sound Of his voice, had
been there to hear this sreat man, who we have beer
long told is statesman. patriot and an orator.
The last he has been. Mr. Jefferson pronounced him
sssplendd orator" and some Of his speeches (or in
stance, that in reply Quincy during The debate or
the war question: show the highest powers Of eio
We have heard MN frequently IN the senate
of the United States, and have felt the capvaiion Of
his manner, when speaking in the tones OF persussion
and again almost trembled when his excorlang lash
was applied TO some unfortunate victim OF his ndigna-
ton But, alas, "lum fu;' the bright light OF by
gone DAYS dmmed, aud Henry Clay, deprived o! ms
once glorious voice, forgeu of his seec, and ornate
diction, cannot NOR be- called even orator.
| There were upon the rostrum various distinguished
personagcs committees Little boys, girls and old ladies'
the rest Of The company had to stand in rather IN
81
numerous attendance. We shall not undertake to give
report Of Mr.. Cays cords, but Will vonch for the ge
neral accuracy Of our sketch. We nre accustomed 10
listen public speakers with the intention If replying
and have s,ldom found our memory so deficient 10
call from them a correction; upon the present occa-
sion have compared notes with other gentlemen
who were attentive and anxious listeners.
Mr.. Clay commenced by expressing his deep sensi-
bty and gratitude for his reception IN this renown-
ed Commonwealth, renowned for her revolutionary
ACHE venens, renowned in arms, renowned IN counsel,
as the birthplace of the Father of his Coun-
try ID He had been accused of electioneering he
was eectioneerer; he had gone to New Orleans on
business and in consequence Of previous promise 10
visit Raleigh and because he had never seen Alabama,
Georgia, the Caronas, he was more induced tn do
Some two years since, he had been invited to IA
leigh, but declined from motives of delicacy because he
dersood that Convention about to be held, al
which his would be brought forward for The high
est Office in the gift of the peope-a the same t'me'
the people of Raleigh, finding that he about to vi
sit louisiana reminded him of his PROMISE and IN re-
spectful but firm tones, demanded that as man OF
honor he should discharge the obligation he had con-
tracted He felt bound TO fulfil his promise When at
Releigh he had 10 get home and through Petersburg
was his most desirable route, (2)
Mr. Clay then produced piece of paper, which APP
peared to be cut from the Richmond Enquirer, and
said, that his sold juvenile friend, Tom Rchle had
warned the Democracy against him-the rights OF hoe
ptality not TO be extended 10 him-those rights
which not refused by the Indian in his "igwam
the savage in his Forest Richie denied that he wa
born in the Slnsies of Hanorer-if not born there
where he born he asked Richie to tell hun. Is
But To speak seriously, what mpudent arrogance dc
this General Richie display in commanding the De
mocratc Party to file to the right or TO the left BY
what authority did this Auocrat issue his Ukase, or
derng the Democracy of Virginia to deny TO him,
native of the SOIL the hospitality which his ellow-c,ti
zens were willing 10 extend What did Richie say
when Martin Van Buren, travelled through large
number Of States than he, (Clay,) had vsited-Sates
too, that Van Buren, had seen before-where wss hi
condemnation then Z He surely had good right L
visit States which he had seen, as Van BureI
| had to visit those he had When Martin Val
Buren, came TO his, (Cays) home in Lexington, VIr
GINA, he begged pardon, he should have said Ken
tucky-but the beloved name OF Virginia often ESCAPED
his hps-it was the land OF his birth, the mother whom
he oyed-and there as scarce county IN the neIgh
borbood of Petersburg where he did not have dea
friends and near relations. a. He, (ClayD received
Mr. Van Buren, carried him to his own house, wheF
he stad five days The largest procession he had eve
seen IN Lexington escorted Mr. Van Buren, through III
town fIe joined in it himself. There were not les
than one hundred carriages. When Riches son ca mt
10 Lexington he invited him to dinner. lie did no
sneak of these things creditable t. h'mselt-it wa
merely the performance of duty-any negro would d.
the same BY another. Why did not General RI'ch
call mon the Democrats TO stand TO their arms wa
il the part of men Of vaor to retreat in the face OF In
enemy, Was it for V,rginians to fly even from
sConouerne Hero Z" much less should they run ava
from solitary and peaceful individual But why di
no, Richie cali upon his troops 10 expei this marauder
He was no political nrguer; whatever he did, he d.
!, opeoy he yer concealed his opinions. Tom Rchi
accused him Of want OF candor; said he not an he
nest man The character OF a candid and honest mar va
one which he made the chief desire Of his life to atta
he believed tina he deserved -certainly he had NOR
claim to !, than Richie, who, for than 30 years
had been engaged in disappearing him Call him
politicsl inirguer there was not President with
The las, thirty years, from whom he could not have OF
tanned the hig CHEST Office within his gift, if he had che
sen TO purchase by his support (5) Richie had eve
insinuated that he was an Abolitionist; he had nc
dared IN make the charge openly but he nculcated III
idea Why did not Richie publish his reply 10 tIeI
denhan, at Richmond, Indiana, and another speec