New-York daily tribune., 1844-02-15
MIR. Clay among the seamen.

Though us merry anu iIec, ny Iho Siou, S1a lo''
Yet ours is the life of the green wildwood
MIR. Clay among the Seamen'
MIR. Clay was invited to visit, some days ago,
the new packet ship Wabash, Capt Stanton,
now lying at New-Orleans, and, stepping on
board found several shipmasters and citizens
awaiting him and capital collation. in readiness
He was welcomed by Capt Stanton las reported
in The Tropic) in the following appropriate
terms:
MIR. CLAY: I esteem among the proudest
events of my life the privilege now afforded me
of addressing you as my guest While ac-
knowledge the high qualification that derive
from your visit here, permit me at the same time
IN tender nv thanks for the kind and prompt
manner with which you responded to my wishes.
In behalf of myself, therefore, as well as the own
ers and those friends by whom you are surround
ed, | bid you hearty and cordial welcome on
board the Wabash 1t will not, think, be ex
pected that | should greet you in set speech,
but rather with the frank heart and the honest,
plain language of sailor. welcome you here,
sir, because YOU are recognised as the unWaver-
ing friend OF equal rights, to every occupation IN
our country [ welcome you upon this ship OF
American construction, and almost OF American
material as the true friend of American Industry,
and more especially the friend to legitimate
and adequate Protection to American industry.
The sailors (rnany Of whom are about you at
this time) bid you welcome here, because they
remember when your eloquent voice was raised
in their behalf, in our national counclis-Wheh
ITS trumpet tones rang triumphantly for 4" Free
Trade and Sailors Rights"
The ship.owne and merchants, who are ably
represented here, greet you, and IN dong 1t, they
point TO the cheering spectacle that surrounds you
in their commercial marine Here on every SIDE,
are their ships and they present to your notice
their construction, materials and appointments, as
unsurpassed by those of any other nation. They
can load these ships and can sail them from port
to port in our country individual enterprise can
accomplish every thing that is necessary IN our
commercial intercourse save the furnishing OF
noneu to consummate transactions that duty
belongs to every good government. 1t Is with
earnest and sincere pleasure that we greet you
as the great champion of a sound National Cur
rency.
-, Our beloved country may Justly be considered
as great family, whose different members are
yariously engaged; some are planters and farm
zers !; some mechanics, and merchants, and arti-
sans, others are manufacturers and sailors, with
a variety of other occupations; nevertheless, they
all combine to form one great family. And as the
parent finds his duty and interest in fostering and
protecting each child until its feeble steps become
strong by time use and habit, so it is clearly the
duty and interest Of our Government to give its
parental aid and assistance, without partiality, to
every branch of industry and every occupation in
our country.
We greet you with an honest and Just pride as
our cOuntryman, as an american citisea we ad.
lnlre you as statesman and orator, and q patriot
unsurpassed In this any other country; but
above ALL and most of all, for your steadfast and
untiinching devotion to our Union We can never
forget that when civil dscord and intestine STRIFE
kinded up and excited by passion, party spirit and
sectional jeaousies seemed tempest ready to
break asunder the chain which binds us up as a
harmonious nation, 1t was your voice that saved
us, aud that nobly and generously cried to the
angry elements, "peace," and they were stled.
AS we turn inquirlngiy to the future, our eyes
rest upon you as the great public administrators
Of all our estates; we trust all to your guidance
confidently, because we know both the compass
and the chart by which you will guide the ship
of State; we cannot mistake your principles,
your policy, or your views; they stand out on
every page of our country's history, from the first
act OF your public life; they /" frontlets
written upon your forehead" Again, sir, bid
you hearty welcome on board the ship Wabash
Mr.. Clay, evidently with surprise at being thus
addressed, and apparently without the slightest
anticipation OF 1t, addressed few words in reply,
which are substantially reported as follows:
/ had not the remotest expectation, Captain
in accepting your kind invitation to examine this
beautiful ship, that the occasion would call forth
any such speech as that which you have done me
the honor to address me, much less any speech
from me. You have disclaimed being an orator
The sentiments respecting public measures which
you have Just expressed in this cabin would do
honor to him who should pronounce them in the
halls OF Congress. You have rightly conceived
the motives, If you have exaggerated the value,
OF my public services With a truly American
heart, every beat of which has been for my coun.
try, have sought by my humble exertions to es-
tabllsh Its character, advance It's fame, and
strengthen and secure all its interests, at home
and abroad 1t seemed 10 me that 1t was the I'M
perative duty of an American Statesman to guard
and protect the interests and the welfare of his
own country, being quite sure that Foreign
powers would sodulousiy attend to theirs. This
has been the great principle which has ever
guided me IN the councils Of cur country.
thought 1t requisite that we should sustain and
encourage the exertions of our Domestic Indus
try. know that some good men have supposed
my zeal transported me too fer. There was un.
doubtedly great difficulty, at tho commencement
of the policy of Protection, in fixing precisely a
just measure. But time and age and experience,
a proper sense of equality and what is due to all
interests and to every part of the Confederacy,
and the great and gratifying progress of our do,
mestic industry, have taught me, and hope in.
culcated on others, that while the policy is to be
maintained with firmness, it should be exercised
with wisdom moderation and STA hfv