The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-04-16

said to celebrate the SEVENTEEN anniversary tho
birthday of the Hon Henry Clay. The of that
distinguished statesman conspicuous as that of
any statesman of the present time He commenced at
early and has devoted fifty Of his life to
the service Of his country Whenever the country
in trouble tribuation foreign or domestic the of
the nation turned him for its safe delverance
(Cheers He has filed many important offices and in
every situation in which he was placed, he has acted
with honor to his country And no could assure his
friends before him, that every occasion when the
birthday of that distinguished man is commemorated,
he would be glad of the opportunity to do honor to one
who like Mr. Clay, had devoted himself to his country
(Long and continued cheering) The first Of the regu
lar then read and drank with full glasses and
nine long cheers and the waving of handkerchief.
l. The 18th or APRIL, I777-The birthday of Heny
Claywe gratefully celebrate its recurrence, and fondy
res of the day in renewed health and vgor with yet in
creasing honors. Musc-star spanglcd banner
The second toast was
HENRY CLAY IN ls47-" You are still all that you
have been throughout our ves-stil great-honorable
MISREPRESENTATION and wise-s first OF living men
and first in hearts-sti right and willing to DO right
rather than be Presdentst greater than President
monarch for you are still Henry Clay"
Truth Is omnipotent and public justice certain"
Music" Sing to the Oak, the Brave Old Oak"
The third
OuR CoUNrRY-As its present prosperity may justly
be ascribed to the enduring results of democratic whg
measures all its caamties could have been averted by
timely regard to the warnings and counses Of Henry
Clay.
Music Hail. Columbia"
After the vocerous applause with which the toast
received had subsidized, there many calls for Mr..
White from all parts Of the room.
Mr. WHITE then drank glass Of champagne, and
spoke as follows =
One year ago. gentlemen we assembled together as we
have now, to commemorate the occasion that seventy
years ago gave birth to who has since that time
cuped wide space in the affections of his fellewmen
a statesman. without bemishas genius and pa
triot without rival (Appause) Since that time, gen
emen-tme in her ceaseless revolutions has brought
forth many important and stirring events, that have
| given new character and complexion to the his
tory Of common country. Then the policy of the
administrations it had been Swallowed forth in the
that preceded its advent in its ncpency That
policy, | say was then yet in its incpiency What
| O he whether
for evil the detnes of the country, could
tell and no human sagacty could 9ressei whether 1ne
| Of the administration, were to become history or
whether they should be regarded as the insane
rawlings of place-seeking men rested on conjecture,
and on conjecture alone. But gentleman, time has
brought forth its fruits and what prophecy then
that in the celebrated Raleigh letter of that distinguish
ed man. whose birth assembled here to cominemo
rate he predicted that II we annexed Texas TO the
United States took it with all its burdens and draw
backs under which 1t was laboring, not the least OF
| which Who does not remember that senten-
tious sentiment that the annexation of Texas and
war with Mexico were identical" And yet how truly
men, in an assembly like this to attempt to pour
| tray the virtues and character OF Henry Clay
(Appause) From our boyhood, we are familiar with
his character and history and the repeating Of the
claim which he has his fellow man. and the services
he rendered to his country is but dling when every
mans heart is full Of gratitude cannot however al
low this occasion to escape without Offering what con-
ceve to be few necessary suggestions at the present
time The prophecies made 10y that in the canvass
Of 1884, prophecies longer, but matters OF
history. War is on us aud while glorious deeds
| have been achieved by leaders, well
common soldiers still, land is filed with
| mourning war; unrighteous in its inception, having
for its object the plundering of territory from
unoending and sister republic-[ Applause war that
not neededthat new laurels might be gathered for
our soldiers or that they might have new field
their chivalry chivalry that has been tested already
| on many felds-is on us. We need not war to test
that 1t was waged for popularity, and the nstru-
ments the administration used in its prosecution are
| what? Such instruments as are always employed by
the country in prosperity adversely to lead her arms
ed, however since that time and the names of things
have altered with them. The time was when to
| but now, in the vocabulary of the present
| time, 1t is termed - defacaton." Formerly, to
power with whom we had cause Of dispute, would
furnish one cause Of war-would have been termed
half century since wanton aggression; ana now arns
people, and punderng from that people territory WITH
out instead of being termed plumber is in this
modern vocabulary termed remuneration SAppla"ss -
While find language too strong to- express the
enomity of this do not lei me be misunderstood as
wishing detract from the achievements Of grand
military men. the soldiers who fought by them
Far from it. Yet am one of those who thought that
our army needed no proof Of their chivalry Their
brows were already covered with laurels, and no
man living could question. their bravery; While
| therefore, | say, that this originated by
the administration n resort to plunder-whle con-
denim the motives Of the war am far from casting any
country marched to the boundary the boun-
dary for the purpose Of indicating the honor of the
American arms and their own country | have alluded
to this subject briefly because the time allotted to us is
30 short and because 1t has shown the fuhment OF that
prophecy which was made by our distinguished
| leader, but which when uttered unheeded
Gentlemen ! need not detain you with any dis
QUESTION the life and services Of Henry Clay
yet there is subject which always feel bound to
call attention to- What is there, within the sound
of my voice whose ideas are limited by this hour or by
in conjunction with Henry Clay, does not look beyond
the 18th Of April lSi7 the year AZ prolonged cheer
ing) In what am about to utter claim not to speak
for any party for any set Of men, for any man
other than myself But understand it as part of wing
doctrine that every man should think what he chooses
and speak what he thinks While therefore concede to
| every Of my fclow-ctizeus the right not only
to entertain his opinions, but the right to PRO,
prerogative which extend to them, and recognize the
right Of no to dictate to me, whg, what shall
think or, thinking what shall say Therefore, avail
ing myself Of the enlarged privilege which whg faith
givcs to every man. wish to proclaim to this meeting
that in the year 'as, and in my deliberate judgment
having paid some attention to the popular mind, that
there is within tho whole ranks of the wing party
matter what pensoned party presses may proclaim to
the conrarythat there is but one man in the party
who can unite the heart and the soul Of the wing party
SO much as one, and he is Henry Clay. TREMENDOUS
cheering) know, gentlemen that there are some few
within our party who always are protesting q
warm, ardent and overlooking and consuming regard
your appeals to them to support him for the presidency
In 'ts, that it is inexpedcnt to do so there man
and now call the attention OF my feiow-citizens II
nation that possesses better qualification for the office
than him Is there man that can claim more distin-
guished patriotism than him Is there a man more
hrmly anchored In the affections of his fellowcitlzens
than him There is none. We have no man of greater
patriotism than him, and yet told by these time
serving politicians that 1t is mex pedent TO nominate
him Inexpedient for what ask the cause Of this
inexpediency, and ] demand the reason--is IL be-
| cause he Is always popular? Then, why is it in
expcdent, what Is the cause Of this inexpedency!
point these expodieDcy gentlemen TO the result OF the
canvass In 1914 If they declare 1t expedent TO nonl
mate him. because he has not sufficient popularity TO
command many votes as another man reply that
without any exception, Henry Clay received more whg
votes than did any gubcrnatona candidate in the same
year and although we see him running beyond The
strength of his party told that he will not do for
the next presidency. We get other and yet
we discard certainty for tho purpose Of finding
candidate popular. If Clay is unpopular who is II
with s Il with patriots II II with the people ut large
Is II with who wings at heart No. Who ia IL