Washington telegraph., 1846-12-23
rnE CLAYNAsE.

" mn A"V WH"HiiH ihsttee'ihr "NN'A"s
Of the presentation Of the "clay Vase" in
the Lexington Observer Of the lilh of No.
vembef:
On Thursday last we were present and
witnessed at Ashland. one of the most gra.
lifting scenes which We ever attended
The Mhig Ladies of Tennessee had pro.
cured 10 be made a mosi costly, superb aud
magnificent Vase. 10 b. presented to Mr..
Car, II was wrought with exquisite art,
under the direction, I'VE understand, Of two
gentlemen Of great TASTE and Judgment,
Messrs. Gowdy X Peabody, nj Nashville,
with classic devices aud Inscriptions, suit.
ed 10 is subject, aud admirably adapted as
a companion TO the beautiful Vase which
had previously been presented 10 Mr. Clay
by the Gold and Silver Smiths OF New
York. DR.. McNairy. a distinguished oili
zen al Nashville, accompanied by his sou
Henry. was ehurged BY the Ladies' OF Ten.
nessee. with the office al presenting the
Vase To Mr.. Clay. This gentleman, de.
sifbns 10 avoid unnecessary public display,
in The delivery Of the Nase, Invited some
lhirlY gentlemen 10 dine with Dr. McNaify
and wnness the cefemoay. Just before
going 10 dinner, DR.. MaNairy rose aud ad.
dressed Vic. Clay a. follows:
Nm. AY:-l'hal grateful eonsumma.
lion-so recently denied to your unry',lled
meliis--would hayd saved u tho expense
aud suffering Of a war into which Exeei.
iife aalfpalion has uHhappilY plunged the
county. It would hase Iebuked Iarlieh
aud crushed thai reckless spirit OF innufa
lian. wihh has at lad rashly oyerihrown
maYui tao most aneienl anl successful
usages u Goyernmeni, and lriumphaul.y
substituted The visionary ani dangenu.
experiment Of pafiY iaf well tried am
lung established mahiias aipoliey. Il would
hate Hisa|tai anl elevated or national
character abroad whilst Al hamr, il wonii
hase protected aul encouraged the indus.
ify oi unf artisans, and labnrers, and -.
cured prosperous stability in all 'hc diver.
sued interests ol gfeal all growing peo
ple.
Il lhoss ol onr failaa .eilfeg. whose
misguided confidence has deprived Us a
taasa blessings, shall repenl an incauiian#
decision. and turn by limrs IA the "Icscue,
il may br well tor d, all. aud well lor ,insr
Wal inIsi soon .l.-rrl ihihis g1udly plIl.
tira! heritage. Bui .hnuli Ihr evil con
linur aud Increase, u will be Your cuyiable
consolation 10 know that yfu are at least
guiiIirss. luPub.ir aud IN pri,ale lie your
hands haze been itarlessly uphllcd in
solemn warning 10 your counlymrn ul
cyefy party. aud your unbccded prophecies
have, mo.l Of them, already ended ia his.
tory. The balance must be fulfilled sooner
OF later, aud then, ii n1i heiorr, Just pos
lrfily will crown with undyins applause The
mcmoiy OF a statesman who wa. ever tore
most 81 the breach, when the Constitution
wa, a..ailrtl, aud. who, nobly prclcrrIng
his dliy 10 the lust or the alurcmcuis Of
power, ririuousy proclaimed, in the face oi
a lcmpod,ine world, that be would 'rlttrr
BE- right hm be President
wait ON y0u to day as The organ OF fair
anl honofei constituency. nm, sir ia
shot the representative of large circle
of Indies, clilens Of Tennessee, who, in
imitation Of the mothers Of the Revolution
-sand insopanbly allied under every
vicissilude, with the great parry in our
country. whose principle aud political name
date their American birth from the begin.
ming oi the war that redeemed our free
DOM Some Of these, rich in the rccollcc
'ions ofcyents, have been from hrs, to last,
the living Witnesses OF your il'u-trinus ca.
feer. Others. less advanced ia years, have
studied with delight the records which
chronicle your fame; aud all unite in a sen.
limrut of profound yeueation for patriot,
who, with the mind 10 conceive and courage
10 execute the seyercsl councils Of wisdom,
has, in the midst ol a lime.scning genera.
ton, uniformly spurnel all political dcccp.
ton, and proved himself ever more lrle to
bis country than To the whispering' Of gully
ambition. IN the better days OF the republic,
and before the dcspolic influence Of party
had disciplined the hearts Of men to deed.
OF fatal devotion, The voice OF a thinking
and self Judging people would. in return Tor
such exalted patriotism, have long since
awarded YOU, with acclamalion, the last
and highest honors OF The Nation.
| am charged, sir, by NY lair constituents,
To bear you these faithful concentrations,
and at the same lime, to present you in
their nnmes with This beautiful aud splen.
did vase ofpnre silver, wrought by ANERI.
Can hand, and rich in American embIeins.
fbey pray you accept aud treasure il as
a small but sincere token Of their deep and
unlcigned ycuemlion oiyour character, and
their gratitude lor all the great and signal
services yoL havo rendered your country.
Happy. sir, in the commission which
brings US together aud OF The opportunity 1t
gives mr to express the personal iecAngs Of
an old and constant friend, you will indulge
me, know. until add Tor myself lervcnl
hope that you still may be spared to rs for