The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1846-12-01
PRESENTATION OF THE CLAY
VASE.

PKES Elm TAI Ot HE CLA
VASE.
The Lexington Ky.) Observer ofIhe 14il
instant, contains an account Of The presenta-
ton 10 Mr.. Clay OF the magnificent vase
which had been procured 10 be made by the
ladies ofTenncssee. as a present for him.
The Observer describes the vase as having
been wrought with exquisite tazte, under the
dire ction OF Messrs. Gowdy & Peabody of
Nashville. 1t has OH it classic devices and in
scriptons suited 10 its subject, and admirably
adapted as a companion to the beautiful vase
which had previously been presented TO Mr..
Clay by the Gold and Silver Smiths of New
York. DR.. McNary distinguished citizen
of Nashville, accompanied by his son Henry,
was charged by the ladies' Of Tennessee with
the Office Of presenting the vase TO Mr.. Clay.
This gentleman, DESTROYS TO avoid any unnec-
essary display, in the delivery ofrhe vase, in
vted some thirty gentlemen to dine with Mr..
McNairy and witness the ceremony. Just
before going 10 dinner, DIR. McNairy rose and
addressed MIR. Clay in an appropriate and
very eloquent specch.-To which Mr.. Clay
| replied follows;
DIR. McNsry; Ii is no ordinary occurrence,
nor any common mission, that honois me by
your presence. To be depuled, as you have
been, by large circle OF Tennessee ladies TO
bear the fiatering sentiments toward me.
which you have just so eloquently expressed,
and to deliver TO me the precious testimonial
Of their inestimabs respect aud regard, which
you have brought. is proud incident in my
life, ever to be remembered with feelings oil
profound gratitude and delight.
Ny obligation to those ladies is net the less
for the high opinion Of me, which they do me
| the hanor IN enferfain hacaueo | feel entiyelv
conscious that owe it more TO their gener
Gus pariiality than TO any merits possess, or
TO the value Of any public services which
have been able to render.
Ii, indeed. their kind feelings i'll relation 10
the issue Of the last Presidential election had
been sratiied, | have no doubt that we should
have avoided some OF those public measures
so pregnant with The evils of our country, 10
which you have advcrted. We should have
preserved. undisturbed. and without any haZ-
ard, peace with all the world, have had no
unhappy war with a neiS hboring sister Re-
public, and, consequently, no deplorable
waste of human life. Of which that which has
been sacrificed or impaired in an insaubrious
climate, is far greater and moro lamentablc
than " hat has been lost in the glorious achiev-
mcnts of \ brave army, commanded by skill
full aud gallant General.
We should have saved the millions Of treas
ure which that unnecessary war has and will
cost-an immense amount-sufficient 10 i'm
prove every useful harbor on the lakes, on
the ocean. on the Gulf Of Mexico, and in the
interior, and TO remove distractions TO navi-
, CATION in all the great rivers in the United
States.
We should not have subverted patriotic
system of domestic protection, fostering the
industry of our own people and the interests
of own country. the great benefits oil
,. which have been practically demonstrated by
experience, for the visionary promises Of an
alien policy Of free trade, fostering the indus
Try of foreign people and the interests OF T or
: eisn Countries, which has brought, in its
train, disaster and ruin 10 every Nation that
has had the temerty to try it. The beneii
Cial Tariff of 842 which raised both The Peo-
pie and the Government Of the United States
out Of condition of distress and embanass-
mcni, bordering ON bankruptcy, 10 a state oil
high financial and general prosperity. would
4 now be standing in the statute book, instead,
Of the fatal Tariff Of 1876, whose calamitous
effects will, ! apprehend. s.oner or later, be
$ certainly realized.
i All this, and more of hat has since occur
d red, 10 the Public Councils, was foretold, pri-
: or TO that election. 1t was denied, disbeliev-
?. ed, or unheeded; and we now realize the I'M
n fortunate consequences. But, both philOso-
: ply and patriotism enjoin, that we should
t not indulge in unavailine regrets, at the incn-
: rable past. As part of history in which il is
embodied, we may derive from it instructive
$ lessons foi our future guidance, and we ought
# to redoublc our exertions to prevent their be-
: ing unproitably lost.
| receive with the greatest pleasutc, the
splendid and magnificent vase Of silver. which
: the Ladies oi'Tennessee, whom you represent,
: have charged you to pl esent 10 me. Wrought
X by American artists, rendered by my fair
countrywomen, and brought TO me by an ever
faithful, ardent and distinguished friend. il
comes with a triple title, to my grateful DC
n ceptance. request you to convey TO those
h ladies respectful and cordial assurances ofmy
= warm and heartfelt thanks and acknowledg-
n nents. Tell them will carefully preserve,
Y during life. and transmit TO my defendants,
G an unfa1ine recollection of their signal and
J. generous manifestations OF attachment and
d confidence. And tell them, also, that my fer
J. vent prayers shall be offered up for their hap
o piness and prosperity. and shall be united
with theirs, that they may live TO behold our
! Country emerged from the dark clouds,
= which encompass il. aud once more. as in
: better lines, standing out. IA bright and cheer
ing example. the moral and political guide,