Hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1843-1845, 1844-03-14

and interest IN fostering and protecting
each child until its feeble steps hecoma
strong by time, use and habit, so is J.
clearly the duty and interest of our
government TO give its parental aid ard
assistance, without partiality, TO ever.
branch of industry and every occupation
in our country.
We greet you with honest and Jus,
pride as our countrynian. as an Ameri-
can citizen; we admire you as a states
man and an orator. and a patriot unsur.
passed in this or any country; but above
all, and most Of all. FOR your s,eadfast
and unfiinching devotion to our Union.
we can never forget that when OWL
discord and intestine strife, kindled IN
and excited by passion, party spiri, and
sectional jealousies, seemed ,empes,
ready TO break asunder The chain which
binds us up as harmonious nation. il
was your voice that saved US, and that
nobly and generously cried to the an.
CRY elements, "peace," and they were
slilled.
AS we turn enquiringly to the future,
our eyes rest upon you ns the great
public Administrator of all our estates
we lrus. all TO your guidance confident.
~, because we know both the commas
and the chart by which you will guide
the ship Of State: we canno, mistake
your principles your policy or your
rie'os; they stand out in every page of
our coun,ry''s history, from the first ACT
OF your public life; they are as front.
lets written upon your forehead."-
Again, sir, bid you a hearty welcome
on board the shi p Wabash.
Mr. CLAY, evidently with surprise At
being thus addressed, and apparently
without the slightest anticipation Of it,
expressed few words in reply, which
we will eadeavor substantially to re-
peat:
II had not the remotest expectation,
Captain, in accepting your kind invita-
ton to examine this beautiful ship, that
the occasion would cali forth any such
speech as that which you have done me
the honor to address to me. much less
any speech from me. You have dis
claimed being an orator. The senti.
ments 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. il you have exaggerated
The value Of my public services. With,
the truly American heart, every beat Of
which has been for my country, have
sought by my humble exertions to es:
,abish its character, advance its fame,
and strengthen and secure all its inter-
ests at home and abroad.
1t seemed to me that il was the i'm.
Perailve 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
sedulously attend to theirs. This has
been the great principle which has ever
guided me in the councils Of our coun.
try, | thought il requisite that we
should sustain and encourage the exer.
tons of our domestic industry. know
that some good men have supposed my
zeal transported me too far. There
was undoubtedly great difficulty. at the
commencement OF the policy Of protec.
ton, ir fixing precisely just measure.
But time and age and experience, a
a proper sense Of equality and what is,
due TO all interests and to every part OF
the confederacy, and the grea, and graf
flying progress Of our domestic indus.
try. have taught me. and l hope incul-
Gated on others, that, whilst the policy
is to be maintained with firmness, il
should be exercised with wisdom, mod
Grafton and stability. Such are nv re.
Elections. Above all. our Government
and all our systems Of policy should be
ever administered in reference to the
preservation Of our glorious Union
that paramount and ,ranscendant object,
which is the sole guaranty Of our liber-
tv, our free institutions, and all our in
estimable privileges. And without
harmony between the parts. union may
exist in form, bu. its spirit and its vig-
or will have fled.
Rest assured, sir, that whatever may
be the vicisi,usIcs Of the remnant of nv
life. whether shall be in public OF
private station, those leading measures
Of public policy to which you have ad-.
verted, shall have my constant and
anxious attention.
| And now. Captain, with MY hearty
thanks for the kind and friendly vel.
come which has been given me on
board this fine shir-a noble specimen
Of American architecture--allow me
to express my fervent wishes that all
her voyages may be prosperous. and
tina, she may realize the fondest ex'
pec,aiions Of yourself, and OF her