The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1844-06-06
THEODORE -FRELINGHUYsEN.

THEODORE FRELINGHUYSEN.
Mr.. FRELINGHUYsEN's Testimony to the char
acter and qualifications o HENRy CLAY
IN 1882.
A meeting was held in Essex county, New
Jersey, by the National Republican party, at
which Mr.. Frelinghuysen then Senator from
that State, was present, and made a very ell
oquent speech in favor Mr.. Clay, which was
thus epitomized in the Newark Daily Adver-
tiser, in 1892:
Mr.. Frelinghuysen, in support of the nom
nation of Mr.. Clay TO the office of Chief
Magistrate, said that he was happy in the oc-
casion that enabled him to bear this testimo-
ny to the fitness of this eminent citizen for
the station TO which so many voices were
calling him.. He was the more gratified by
this opportunity, because he had at one pc
riod entertained some doubts on the subject
but a careful investigation of Mr.. Clay's
political history, and a personal intercourse
with him for the last protracted session, had
satisfied his own mind that no man better
understood the interests of the country, nor
would pursue them with purer intentions,
than Mr.. Clay. Mr.. ~Frelinghuysen said he
took pleasure to say 10 him that he believed
him to be an upright and much injured
statesman. He was emphatically the child
ofLiberty and our free institutions. He pos
sessed no advantages in youth, but poverty
and obscurity-as himself once more elo-
quently expressed it, che was the child of
indulgence and dependence-his only herit-
age was rags and proverty." But be saw
the free open way to fame and honorable dis
t~inction, that the spirit of our happy Repub-
lie presented to all her sons-and he enter
ed the lists OF manly enterprise, and by the
energy of his genius, and the force of his
persevering efforts, rose to the very summit
of official distinction. He enjoyed the ear
ly confidence of his fellow-citizens-in the
Senate and House of Representatives OF the
United States-as a Minister abroad on a
most difficult and e%ventful embassy-and as
Secretary Of State, he has received unequiv-
ocal testimonials, that in public estimation,
he was fitted to fill any civil station in the
gift of a free and intelligent people. But
more than this-as Speaker of the House of
Representatives, it has often been said OF
MI. Clay, that he welded more influence
than any man that ever occupied that chair.
What was it, sir, that gave him such inhu-
ence? 1t could not be mere sound--for let
it be remembered, that no political body oil
men in any country, possesses more of tai
ent, intelligence and independence, than the
House of Representatives. No sir, said Mr.
Frelinghuysen, it was the weight of his deep
~ xr,+l, @lo -.oo.rIoz 49, -1.-
eminent. His whole life has been a politi-
cal schooling into its doctrines. His mind
is imbued with the very spirit of republican
liberty.
Until the late struggle for the elevation Of
General Jackson, no man filled a larger
space than Henry Clay. Every American
honeredhis talents, and none distrusted his
uprightness. As a Speaker of the House
as a most able debater in Congress-as one
ofthe representatives of his country, in the
critical negotiations with Great Britain, we
can all remember how he was admired and es.
teemed. Sir, said Mr.. F., what has been his
offence? One thing, Mr.. Chairman, be
could not do. He could not proclaim Gen
eral Jackson to be that which, in his con.
science, he knew him not 10 be, eminently
IQudIiuCu lOI the OlSCHdiSG Vi the utSH dEC
difficult duties ofPresident of these United
States. He dared to dispute and deny the
pretensions ofGeneral Jackson, and for this
he has been pursued and hunted, as if he hat
been a traiiorous viper, and the presses O
the opposition have been crowded with the
most cruel and bitter imputations. Sir,these
5 wrongs of Mr.. Clay form a strong reason fo
your countenance. Let us raise a SHIELD
around this favored son of the country, to re
pei the darts ofhis prosecutors.
Moreover, sir, said Mr.. F., the public con
, duct Of Clay entities him to our confidence
Recur for a moment to a few of his meas
ures, and you will find in them all the same
characteristic marks of a great mind looking
D with enlarged and liberal views, at their re-
f lations and results. Trace his course in the
question ofSouth American Independence
when her patriots were struggling for thai
precious boon which our fathers, by the bless
ing of Heaven had gained for us-where
stood Mr.. Clay then? Sir, he well knew
how gratefully il would cheer the hearts Of
+ our Southern friends TO learn that there
was a pulse in American bosoms that beat
high in sympathy for their cause-and he
threw the whole weight of his character, and