The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-09-24
W A S H / N G I @ N.
MONDAY EVENING, SEPT. %, 1914.
GLORIOUS TENNESSEE !!

ULOhIoOO
The Wing fires in this noble State-the home
of JACKSON and the home of PoLK-where free
men know ho,o to reward true valor and patriotic
services, and hoW to put down presumption and
demagoguisn,, and trample dctation under foot
are burning with brilliancy that commands all
admiration! Notwithstanding the GREAT MASS
CONVENTIONS which had recently been held in
other parts of the State-at Knoxville Nashville
Colombia, Sommerville, Greenville, Jackson, &C.,
the mighty gathering at GAINESVILLE, on the 18th
instant, is described to have been equalled only
by the great Wing outpourng at Nashville on
the 2lst ultimo. The Wing papers declare that
it was decidedly greater, both in regard to num-
bers and pageantry, than the great Locofoco con-
vention at Nashville on the 18th ultmo.
GUsTAvUs A. HENRY, candidate for Eector at
large, and one of the most eloquent, graceful, and
powerful speakers in the Union, presided. The
principal speakers on the occasion were the Pre-
sident Of the Conven. Ion, Hon. John ]. Crttenden,
Hon. John Bell candidate for Eector at large,
Hon. E. II. Foster Hon. Spencer Jarnagn, and
Gen. Robt. l.. Caruthers.
The procession immense one, arranged
in great taste and beautiful order. The spirit
stirring description of it fills columns of the
Tennessee papers. Of course the speaking, where
such mighty minds we have named were pre-
sent, was of the very first and best order. We
can find room for but brief outline of it, as fur
nished by our friend McLEoD Of the Nashville
Republican Banner, who was one Of the Secreta-
ries Of the Convention. He says:
"The speech Of Major Henry, in opening the
Convention, was worthy of his distinguished repu-
tation. 1t was BRIEF but particularly appropriate,
pointed and effective and delivered with all that
easy flow and polished address which give such
charm to his elocution. He referred in tones that
found response in every bosom to the manifest
enthusiasm of the thousands that had come up to
this great gathering, as giving an earnest that the
Wing Standard would float in triumph in Novem
Der next; and he earnestly called upon each and
every Wing from the different quarters there re-
presented to give good account of himself at that
day. .t s4 ..
To the delegations from Kentucky he said they
on this occasion only fash Of that Wing fire
which blazes on every mountain top, and hill side,
and In every valley throughout Tennessee,
81 thousand bright banners are flaming on high,
Each bearing our watchword-To conquer or die J"
He alluded in eloquent terms TO the great Wing
leader Henry Clay-his character and services
and told the Kentucky boys that we, Wings of
Tennessee, would take him away from them, if
they did not do better for the Wbig cause than at
the recent election. Of the calumniators of that
illustrious statesman he spoke with the stern Sc
verify which their ma'ignity and fasehood de-
manded and incurred; consigning them, with
every expression of merited contempt, to
"The vile dust from whence they sprung,
Unwept, unhonored, and unsung.'
His contrast between Henry Clay and his CON-
petitor-the extraordinary genius, devoted patri-
otism, and unsurpassed public services, and COM
handing powers, as statesman and orator, of the
one-and the medocrity of talent, poverty of sp-
rr self-seeking career, of the other, undistin-
gulshed by single act that rebounds to the ben
eht OF his country, or to pure and unsulied in
dIvldual iame-hese topics were touched upon
by MAJOR Henry in most effective manner, as
was attested by repeated bursts of applause from
the crowd.
In dscharging the other duties that devove up
on the presiding officer, he was equally felicitous
always ready, dignifed, and efficient. The re,
marks with, which he introduced the different
speakers to the assemblage were particularly
happy.
His announcement of the Hon. John ]. Critten.
den, of Kentucky, was received with perfect
whirlwind of applause. Every hat of every man,
and every handkerchief of every woman and girl,
seemed to acquire vitality. How they waved =
HOW tney CnceTeu III man COuld not speak
before such an assemblage, there must be nothing
in hm-that's all.
Crittenden was himself lie spoke in his own
true natural style. He is the most pointed speak
er our country boast of. He is almost cpl
grammatic--so condensed is the vigor of thought
and the strength of the expression. They burst
from his brain, clad in armor, like Minerva from
the brain OF Jupiter,--thought, sentiment, passion,
Imagination, congregated into sentence. The
man must have lived in a world of emotion and
experience beth who could speak so.
After Mr.. Crittenden finished, the President of
the day introduced John Bell, who, upon rising,
was received with the heartiest cheers. Such
shout went up from the thousands Of hearts in