Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-11-29
RICHMOND, VA.
wednesday Morning, November "a, 1874

HI u Ill NJ " N u, n.
Wednesday Morning, November "a, 1s44.
THE FALLACY OF HUMAN PREDIC
TIONS
A true and impartial history OF ''the decline
and fall" of the great Wing Empire would be full
OF warning lessons 10 ambitious politicians and
iiolalrous parties. Less than a year ago, Mr.
CLAW looked with unerring gaze upon the Presi-
DENTAL chair Eclpsed in 1889 at the Harrisburg
Convention by the more lucky star OF General
Harrison he rather coldy submitted but as years
rolled on, he fell his bosom warm with he genial
brceZes OF popular favor. From every section Of
the country the incense OF his flauerers saluted
his senses. A declared him 10 be The only mar
vellons proper man" for The Presidency. True,
he had been twice before defeated by his enemies
and once BY his friends; but that was The effect oil
ISLANDER and vi,uperation which he had outllved.'
Now all rivals had humbly bowed 10 his superior
claims. and even the "villainous' Democrats were
50 much dazZled By the briancy of his talents,
the purity OF all his aspirations and his unri-
vailed popularity, that they could not make
successful ralv 10 resist his torrent-progress 10
the White House. So multiplied and unds-
guised were the supple batteries Of his follow
ers" that he fondly imagined himself 10 be be-
ing OF more than human mould--vastly superior
to all around him, and, really, monarch Of all
survey" A brief chronological summary of the
past year may not be amss II may present
useful beacons to guard future politicians from
the rocks on which their own ambition, and the
idola,ry of their friends, il too much INDUCED,
will be sure to wreck them. Buoyed up by the
swelling hopes of his long deferred elevation, and
by The brilliant pictures of victory which his
friends from every quarter, laid before his gloat-
ing vision Mr.. Clay arrived AT New Orleans
last February, 'on private business" &c was
''snocked down for speech by the thousands
who bescigcd his path His heart was too full
for a regular Speech but he gave ulterance to the
following specimen OF brief but comprehensive
eloqucncc:
"You call TO- a s. cech from Inc, tellow-ciii-
zens; il is not proper that should make speech,
and II etA not MAKE a speech. But this may say
to YOU you are engaged in a good cause-an ho-
which You are advocating tend 10 the advance
ment OF the prosperity of the Republic, and wM
eli you, thai from all QuGrters-trom the fa,tieN
corners Of Maine 10 Tie ertremea poiqts Of Lonisi-
ana. he signs Of he times are propitiouS, ami not
a Syeck obscuYcs Tie h0ri-On. Go on, THEN GO
AHEAD AND PROSPER~
At once his admirng friends caugh, up the
thrilling slrain-and even in the cold regions OF
the North, the Boston Atlas became suddenly
warmed into enthusiasm, and, sin tIice, actual
ly installed Mr.. Clay as Presiden, Sin inst one
year from this day" 9th March, lSi4) The fol-
lowing rom the Western Empire, explain, the
grand secre, of alchemy BY which Mr. Clay was
10 &c invsibly conjured away from Ashland TO
the White House:
"BAAL's PRoPHErs.-The Boston Atlas of
March 4th, 1911, has the following prophecy in
relation to Henry Clay:
"'One year from this day. the Hon. Henry
Clay, of Kentucky, will enter upon his official
duties as President Of The United States. Mr. G.
will receive the Votes oflhe following States, GER
lainly: Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connect
cut Vermont, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Della
ware, Maryland, North Carolina, Georgia Mis-
sissipp. Louisiana, Ohio Kentucky, Tennessee,
Inaiana and Michigan. These States cast 10
electoral votes. BESIDES these States, however.
there is foil an equal chance that Mr.. Clay will
receive the votes Of Maine. New York, Virginia,
Illinois and Missouri. These will increase ON
Wing vote TO 2iS. There will then only remain
four States, casting p votes; New Hampshire.
Alabama, Arkansas, and South Carolina
"'li it is the pleasure OF an all-wisc Prc.i-
dencc TO spare his life, HENRY CLAY will be
the President of the United States in Just one
year from this Gav.'
zone would suppose, that, in Puritan New
England, Il nlan could hardly have Leen found So
gooi 81 tue game Of brag. Ii shows the political
sasec;:y OF the Wing party generally; and like
wise, The Kind Of hallucination that has charmed,
like the dclusirc sorg Of the enchantrcss thou-
sands inio Inc belief that it was impossible for
any ether man 10 I've President than Henry CLAW
Tie Wing paper at Massllon, Immediately, al
ter his nomination. after predicting hs. he would
receive the vote Of more than twenty States runs
on thus: Mr.. Clay left Washington on The 18th
(May) for his residence in Ashland. where he will
remain mil his country calls him, on The 9TH Of
March next, to the White House al Washing
tom These sentences read well. trnv: but the
people have decided that they would rather he
would stay where he told Mr.. Polk 10 goat
hone, where he belongs"
Full of hope and swelling with Presidential
aspirations, Mr. Clay continued his irumpha
progress through Alabama, Georgia, Souih Ca
rolina, North Carolina and Virginia, 10 Washing
ton--'on private business bent. '-By a strange
coincidence, the Wing nominating Convention
met in Baltimore about this tine-grcaty 10 Mr.
Clay's asloni>hnl"nl, We presume, the white
robes of candidacy were thrown around his
shoulders. He thus gratefully accepts the rendered
offer "from high sense of duty" feeling himself
bound, however painful the obligation, 10 carry
out 'he desires Of a majority OF the people" in
calling him unanimously 10 the responsibilities
OF candidate. He did notdesire the office for HIM
seli-Oh, no. That was the farthc>t from mis- wish
es--bu he could not violate his duty 10 'the dear
people" who would have him and no one else
for their President. Mark the language Of his
letter Of acceptance:
"WAsHSGToS, ID May, 1911.
"Gentemen:-I have The honor TO acknowledge
the receipt OF your letter, dated yesterday at Pal
timore, communicating my nomination, BY the
National Wing Convention there assembled 10
the people of the United States, as a candidate
for the Office of President Of the United States
"ConGdcntly believing that this nomination is
in conformity with the desires of a mavrity of
he people Of The United States accept j; from
high eneof dutA and with feelings Of profound
gratitude.
~ request you, gentlemen, in announcing to
the Convention my acceptance Of the nomina-
ton, 10 express the very great satisfaction de-
rive from the unanimily with which i, mas been
made.
81 have the honor to be, with the lighes, respect,
faithfully, your friend and fellow-cizen,
II. CLAY.
"Messrs John Mcpherson Berricn. Eras,us
Root, J. Burnett, VIM. S. Archer, aud Abbot;
Lawrence &c, &c.
He returned home, his path strewcd with the
offerings OF his Jealous supporters. He couidn not
be mistaken, this time. There were TOO many
proofs of popular love and adulation meeting him
al every point. lie had been ieasicd ard toasted
as never man was before "Next 10 Washing.
ton" and superior to Jefferson, Madison and
Jackson, he had been "basely and mean
ly'' passed over before-bul, now, his brilliant
star was in the ascendant, and no ''malign inhu-
ence" could dim its splcndor. captain Tyler"
he had prostra,ed forever as dishonest man. and
traitor worse than Arnold. Jimmy Polk" was
"at home, where he belonged" and would CONT
nue. 10 remain there, under the iron keeping Of the
dictator" in spite Of the Baltimore 'swindling
Convention" andall the movements OF the people.
The poor offcc-holders under Capt TYLER were
plainly told of the decaptaton which awaited
them, and the latest places were promised TO be
showcred on the eager votaries at the shrine OF