Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-05-13
CLAY AND FAC. TAYLOR.

The mentIOn OF Gen. Iayior's hanlc N
with the Presidency, seems to
have revived in the hearts of the Democrats
Inc most ardent affection and regard for the
illusirous "Harry Of the West" Yes, they
tell US. ''ihis is the way in which Henry
Clay is deserted by his friends; they want
more available candidate. All the talents and
services Of Clay are at once forgotten, for the
new military idol they are falling down TO
worship
Such are, in substance, the comments Of
the devotees Of Polk, as they behold, and in
wardly trernble al the manifestations Of pop
uar affection for the Hero Of the Rio Grande.
Just so they talked when Harrison was the
Wing candidate. Henry Clay has been de-
serted then! The noble old fellow had been
cast ASIDE for "superannuaied granny. -
A splendid statesman was forced from the
track TO make room for "petiicoat hero.o
The Wings are deserving Clay They have
no occasion for magnificent talents like Lis!
All they want is an available candidate -
Such was then the hypocrItical whining OF 4
crocodile press, and such is the name to
which hey are pitching their melodious voices
now.
Well, the campaign was fought. The
available candidate" proved himself nag Of
the very fieeiest kind, and So completely DIS
tanced "kinderhook," that his proprletors have
condemned him 10 pass the remainder OF his
days in the green pastures OF his native
county. -Four years passed away. The
deserted Henry Clay was the Wing candidate,
and from Maine TO Texas, his ..fanhless
friends" rallied in solid phalanx, and begrt
him with hearts as warm andtrue as ever beat
with love and loyalty to mortal man. Where
were his Democratic sympathlzers them
Where their admiration Of his illustrlous
craftsmanship Where their tributes to his
patriotic and chivalrous spirit2 Do they recol-
lect that contest, that memorable year, in
which from morn to night, from day to day,
from mouth 10 mouth, a party press hunted
him down with the most INSCRIPTIONS and
malignant personal assaults and raductlons
ever employed against an American states
mani Do they remember the story Of "bar-
gain and corruption" the outeries of ode
bauchee, gambler, ""duelistl" Ifthey have
forgotten them, the recollection has no, pass
ed from the minds Of he American people
History will record them with her impartial
pen upon enduring tablets. Let them be con-
tent with the victory they have achieved, and
forbear from adding 10 the mountain of
the insult Of their affected sympathy for his
fate.
No doubt, these triumphant hunters would
like another opportunity of hurting their shafts,
stepped in poison, a, the same illustrous OBJ
Let Henry Clay be brought forward, and we
should see them in full cry again. Then, all
their sympalhes would be with "Old lack +"
ka., sb,.,, Il hN,
fully TO their lords and masters, the People
They need not be disturbed les, the Wings
should forget Henry Clay. He has too often
exhibited his reverence for the popular will
TO indulge envy at any iavors which his coun-
try may bestow upon another of her sons
Office is only valuable in his eyes as it affords
the means Of establishing those principles with
the success Of which he believes the prosperi-
ty and happiness of his country indlssolubly
identified. We need not say how heartily we
should rejoice 10 see him in the Presidency.
But our Joy would be for his country rather
than himself. The addition of His En-
ceLieacy" could never increase the claims 10
immortality Of that simple and sublime name,
"HENRG CLAY" Speak that name, and
wherever genius, eloquence, craftsmanship
and patriotism are reverenced, the chords Of
every human heart will leap 10 music at the
sound. Write ii upon his monument, and it
will need no other epitaph, TO make his mem
ory eternal, and bring nation, as mourning
pilgrims, 10 his shrine.
In truth, if personal attachment could die.
tale our courage in regard to a candidate for
the Presidency, we would be glad to see Hen
~ Clay the Wing standard bearer from now
ill the day Of his death, even should he live
TO the age Of Methuselah. But he himself,
uninfuenced by any selfish ambition, desires
the triumph Of the cause above that Of any in
divdual. If, therefore, the people indicate
their wish to establish his principles in the
person Of one whose ilustrious claims upon
public gratitude have been requited with in
difference and insult by the government, none
will yield more readily 10 their decision than
Henry Clay. even suppoS:ng we do not believe
that he would consent upon any terms 10 be
candidate for the next Presidency. Our adj
ministraiion friends may as well prepare them
selves, first as last, to uncork the yals Of
their wrath upon the head of the Hero of the
Rio Grande. They may find him more
dangerous customer than Gen. Harrison
The old charges OF cowardice and grannyism
cannot be even pretended against him. The
retiicos, banner must be suffered to sleep in
its nglerious grave. Asa candidate, he will
be invulnerable. As President, his sagacity
aud hrmness will laugh to scorn the frowns
or the seductions of political intriguers. And
deeply as we may regret the loss Of Henry
Clay from the councils Of his country, we
may, in the election Of General Taylor, adopt
the language OF great Irish orator, and de.
clare, that the loss Of Clay, would have been
irreparable, but that, ike the alternate lustre
Of the twin consultations, when he sank be-
meath the horizon, he left brother lumnary
10 irradiate the hemisphere.-Ri Richmond Re
publican.