New-York daily tribune., 1844-02-14

welfare, the public opinion and his own aeciala-
t;ons had authorized the country to believe ne
would not do. 1t is that he preferred to adhere
to his faith rather than bend to the purpose OF a
versatile Chief Magistrate whom no man cou.u
believe because no man could find hun twice III
the same opinion; who, IN the lntoxcatlon ol
sudden preferrnent fancied himself clothed WIN
q heavenly mission, Of which the chief purpose
as far as we can gather it from his acts, was 10
disband and discard his first friends and Proiong
his unhappy power, through the aid OF 'le"
combinations which were not possible consistent,
" with any theory of fidelity to the trust lnPiiea
in bis election.
For these offences, chiefly, has Mr.. Clay been
denounced. The denunciation will scarcely rui-
e the serenity Of his temper. lie yet Survives
TRANQUIL in the privacy of Ashland, where each
hour of his life brings him more content than
whole century Of the mawklsf sycophaucy when
trails after the King OF Shreds and Patches IN the
White House.
Among all other classes OF political adversarles
Mr. Clay is treated as q generous opponent. NO
one impu:es to him conceament Of opinion, or
ambiguity IN relation to anypublc measure lhere
needs no proclamation TO announce the exact issue
nut in controversy, when Mr.. 'Clay's name is
Inscribed upon our flag. In those letters will be
read the whole Wing formula of doctrine 60
back 70 1916 and follow his mple history up
from that day-then say if he has retracted one
sentiment OF public duty, renounc ed one matured
opinion of what is necessary to the public good.
while the tide Of changing events has swept the
most conspicuous of his advers aries along It's
heavy current into every latitude of doctrine, 1t
has swept by him, fast anchored on the rock OF
his political faith, and finds HIM to-day the same
champion OF popular night that l found him when
he stood by MIR. Madison the sturdiest OF his sup
porlers They call him Fed'.rast. Even the
ancient Priests of that Faith, now refulgent in
the robes OF the New Democracy, brand him with
that epithet as the most poignant opprobrlum
they can heap upon his name. We may truly
say Mr.. Clay's demscracy is not of the COM
plexion which they profess. But 1t Is the democ-
racy of him they hated most when living, they
most affect to praise when dead-thc Democracy
of Madison Such is the Democracy of the
Wings.
It is an Improbable contention which dwels
merely upon names. we may permit our oppo-
nents to assume what disguise, in this sort, may
best answer the stratagem of their war We look
to things rather than TO this baube of name.
In the hope to secure fundamental good to pre-
sent and future generations, by curbing the per-
nicous extravaganza of Executive authority,
pushed as by late precedent ii has been. TO the
unwholesome verge of monarchcal power by
giving its appropriate scope to the Representative
principle; and, above ALL by securing the Will of
the People, expressed in their Legislature against
the caprces Of Presidents or the faction of Par
ties-we resume our array and throw ourselves
upon the arbitrament of the Nation. Contending
for these, and for system of measures long pro-
claimed and thoroughly understood, we desire to
be known by that appellatlon which is iIlustreus
in the annals of Constitutional Liberty, on both
shores of the Atlantic, as indicating the friends of
PRIVILEGE in opposition to the friends of PRERo-
cAr1vE Such are the Wings who are now ga
thering for the strife of 1874.
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