Washington telegraph., 1844-10-30
HENRY CLAY.

Once more. and for the last time before the peo-
pie shall decide upon his merit, do We preseIt the
character and claims of our noble candidate for
their Just and candid consideration Once more,
and for the last time, do we call upon the people
of Hampstead to swell with their voices the tri-
unphant notes of vindication. which already ming
ling ON the breeze viii long dspel forever the
dark clouds which the malevocnce of petty ambi-
ton has piled round the character of truest and
greatest statesman. Once more, and for the last
time, do we WELD humble pen in contest,
the importance of whose issue has never been
equalled, and whose consequences may be felt
long after the prcscn; generation shall be mouider
The character Of HExRr Clay needs not the
contrasting aid of hi, opponents dement's render
it worthy of admiration, for it is not only com-
paratively, but essentially and ntrinsieully noble
Meanness he scorlis and he would no stoop TO
hypocritica or unworthy arts, even TO secure his
election, than the eagle soaring towards the
couldbe tempted ear;lIward by flight of sparrows
Gifted with great natural powers, he has made
thema part of his couniry's fame by devoting them
to her service. Generous and noble, be has con
sidcred those pcwcrs but trust conferred upon
him for the promotion Of his co,mtry's glory
Firm and fearless, he has so discharged that trus;
that the efforts of his genius are mingled undyingly
with his cOuntry's fame, nor could they be can
oelled forgotten without tearing from the wreath
of that fame the brightest portion of its immortality
That such character should have had to
encounter SANDER and detractiOn is not to be won
dered at, when we remember that calumny loves
lofty mark and that there are hundreds of petty
aspirers whose only chance Of gratifying their
ambition is TO denoance the mcTitoEious and shout
hllrrah for the greatest numskuL We have indeed
wondered that the people should suffer themselves
to be so long deceived, although tho are at length
awakening 10 atre of the ilnpositions which
have been practised upon them, and have already
formed the Judgment which they win shortly ex-
press through the ballo:-box-the Judgment OF
defeat TO lis reviIcrs and JUSTICE TO HExRY Clay.
This is firm belief and it is founded upon
abiding trust in the intelligence ara virtue of
the people, for although they may have erred,
they have done so blindly, and the fault is not
theirs but rests with those who have wiifnlly de-
ceived them. Having been awakened to a true
perception of the manner in which Henry Clay
has been wronged, with the magnanrnity which
ever characterzes true greatness, they viii take
the earliest opportunity of doing him justice
There would be a moral grandeur in the election
of Henry Clay to the Presidency, which would
argue more for the durability of our republic than
any thing which has happened for years. The
long exercise of power by the leaders of one party
has caused their corruption, and led them 10 believe
that, like the king upon his throne, they can do
no wrong. The triumph Of the whig party is
necessary TO check this monarchical tendency.
and whilst this would be effectualy done by the
election Of Henry Clay, it would secure to the
country the services of one who knows all her
wants, and who has the frmness and ability TO
conduct her safely onward IN her bright and pros
porous career.
The measures advocated by Henry Clay arc
the measures which were supported by the old
democratic party-they the measures which
he has firmly and fearessly supported throughout
hrs long and brilliant pubic career-they are the
measures which experience has fully proved to be
necessary to the country's welfare, and in voting
for Henry Clay. the people not only do an act of
Justice tc their greatest statesman, and freshen
again the wreath of her fame which the defraction
of character 50 intimately woven with it has
tarilished, but they DO an act demanded by ma
,ure's first lawn act Of self-prescrva,ion and
impr r,o,ls justice to tlienselves-