The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-04-25
POLITICAL.
MR.. CLAY IN VIRGINIA.

MT. Clay arrived at Petersburg, the /" Cockade
Town" OF Virginia, on the evening Of Thursday
last, at o'clock. The Petersburg Intelligenger
Of Tuesday contains an animated account of the
reception of Mr.. Clay, from which we make a
few extracts At every depot and watering sta
ton on the road from Raleigh to Petersburg (says
that paper) crowds Of people were assembled
some to take look at the Great Man of the age,
and many to join the cars and accompany him to
Petersburg.
The day was wet and nclement but wind and
weather were not able to overcome the desire of
the people to do honor to him to whom honor was
eminently due-and when the train reached
the depot in Petersburg, thousands were found in
the midst of hard rain awaiting the arrival of the
illustrious guest Upon his arrival he was es-
corted by the military and citizens to Jarratt's
Hotel, and thence to the residence of Col. WIN. r.
Johnson, where he was received with that cordial
hospitality which the owner of the mansion knows
SO well how to dispense, and then left to his
repose
On Friday morning the rain still continued,
Ga " Providential Dispensaton," we presume the D
pious Amos Kendall will term it,) but Wing en-
thusiasm defied the elements; and at IL O'Clock
an immense crowd of citizens, with the Guards
and Dragons, assembled in the front Of the Ex-
change, whence, under the command of Chief
Marshal Pannill and his assistants, they proceed
ed to the quarters Of the guest. Mr.. Clay's APP
pearance was greeted with enthusiastic cheers,
which he acknowledged with that grace which
characterizes his every action. When Mr.. c.,
accompanied by the President of the Clay Club
and COL Johnson, had been seated in barouche
drawn by four fine horses, the procession moved
for Poplar Lawn. About this time the rain had
ceased, and as the cortege moved along the Streets
the windows were crowded by the better por-
ton of humanity" whose beautiful smiles and
waving kerchiefs testified that Harry of the
West could confidently count on the votes of
the ladies', were they necessary to his election TO
the next Presidency.
When the procession arrived at the Lawn, Mr..
Clay was conducted to rostrum, in which were
seated the officers of the Clay Club. He was
then addressed by William Robertson, Esq, who.
in short but most appropriate speech, expressed
the unmixed pleasure which his presence in Pc
tersburg gave to his friends. tea&r
We copy entire the Intelligencer's synopsis Of
Mr. Clay's reply: @
In reply, Mr.. Clay commenced by returning
his thanks for the kind terms in which he had
been presented to the assembled crowd by Mr..
Robertson and loI the cordial greetings with
which his first visit to Petersburg had been well
coined He eaid, that when about leaving his
home for New Orleans, some four months snce,
he received letter of invitation to visit Peters
Ie ~, nyhip i'm
formity with the rule he had prescribed to him
self of not deviating from the route which pre-
vous engagement obliged him to follow, he had 4
respectfully declined but learning from second
communication from his friends here, that his
Journey from Raleigh to Norfolk could as conve-
niently be performed by the way OF Petersburg
as by any other route, he had gladly availed him-
self of the opportunity thus afforded Of seeing,
for the first time this interesting portion Of his
native state R
Having gone to New Orleans on private busi- q
ness, he had taken advantage of the only oppor-
tunty which, in all probability, would ever be
afforded him, of visiting that portion OF the coun-
try comprised by Alabama, Georgia, and the
Carolinas, and of redeeming promise, sometime
since made, of visiting his friends in North Ca
rona More than two years ago, he said, he
had been invited to North Carolina, and was on
the point of accepting the invitation but learning
that his friends in that State intended at that
time to place him in nomination for the Presi-
dency, he promptly deferred the pleasure OF
visit to some future time. The Wing members
of the last Legislature having reminded MIN OF
that promise, and insisted on its fuIhime ,D ae
he had paid them visit this spring. Enoiy
where on his extended route, Mr. Clay said' ne
had been welcomed with the most cordial hosP'-
taIitv. extended to him alike by Wing and DEM
o o and it was not until he approached the
oonfnes If Virginia, his native State, that the
oO.;t IF nartv had manifested itself against him. d
IN order to get to Washington from Raleigh
| ho must travel through some part of this State,
ar turn back and he said, that those who knew
him knew full well that it was not his habit to
TURN BACK but that when he had taken his
course. he always followed it. He Thought he
might venture, without reproach, to place his
foot on his natal soil, to enjoy the birlhright, to
which, as native Of Virgina--of the Slashes OF
Hanover-he felt that he had some claim. But
(holding in his hand an extract rom the Rich