The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1848-03-16

MIR. Clay in Newly rSS.

A more brilliant day for the ceremonies
attendant upon the visit of HENRY CLAY
10 our City could not have been desired
The air was clear and elastic, the skies bright
and the waters of the Bay as smooth as in
Summer Nature seemed TO have deckcd
herself in holiday attire to welcome the Illus.
trfous statesman to the Commercial Metropo
lis Of the Union.
The splendid and spacious Steamer C.
VANDERBILT had been kindly placed at the
disposal Of the Common Council by Capt.
Vanderbilt for the occasion. She had
been newly painted and refitted for tile sea-
son just commencing, and by her beauty ana
the convenience Of her arrangements, was
well adapted for the service to which she
was now appropriated
The Committee having in charge the duty
of meeting Mr.. CLAY at Auboy and con
Quoting him to the City, had contemplated
being accompanied by some two hundred
invited guests, but so great was the desire to
see the City's Illustrious Visitor that at leas'
six hundred persons obtained tickets, and
only the impossbility of making room for q
larger number prevented q much more crowd
ed attendance. Among those present were
the members Of the Common Council, and
many eminent citizens both in public and
private life, Ali seemed filled with that en-
thusiastc attachment to Mr.. Clay which he
of all men, has the power OF calling forth and
securing. As the Vanderbilt put off she
was loudly cherred by the multitude assem-
bled on the wharf, and the passengers of one
or two boats that she met in the passage down
the Bay manifested the same sympathy IN the
purpose Of the excursion.
Ths boat arrived at Amboy at about II l-2
o'clock, and as soon as the cars arrived, the
Committee proceeded on shore to receive Mr..
c ay, with the Philadelphia Delegation. and
escort him on board. When he appeared,
the air was rent with shouts, which were re-
peated as he passed amid the crowd, quietly
bowling his response to the warm expressions
of those around him. lie appeared in ex-
cellent health, and bore himself erect, witt!
all the vlgor Of a young man. His form ha.
lost little OF its apparent strength, and hi
features retain the same ma ,ly and noble
graciousneSs which so truly expresses the
character Of the man. He WAS cond lcted t.
the upper saloon of the Vanderbilt. where
MORTON MCMICHAEL, Esq. on behal of the
Philadelphia Committee resigned him into
the care of our City Council, in the following
address,
Mr.. PRESIDENT: The Committee VI ich
speaks through me have come hither in the
behalf of the people of PhiladelpI,;a, to Ira MS
fer to your care the lustriouS citizen, who,
for some days past, has been our honored
guest He came among us in no public ca
pacity, and on no public mission, not expect
ing any Of the qualifications and enioyments
which there may be in loud and earnest eX-
pressions of the general regard. He came,
rather anxious to avoid all. ceremony and
parade, and desiring only to meet his old IA
mliar friends in the old familiar way. In
this desire, it is scarcely necessary for me to
say, it was impossible that he should be graf,
ihed All hearts spontaneously rebeI'ed
against such n purpose. The whole people
Of Philadel phia, animated by one comu!on
impulse of affection, poured forth into the
streets, thronged the roofs and windows of the
houses, till they presented such spectacle a.
was never seen before. You would have SAID
those roofs and windows spoke, there were
there so many greedy eyes, so many faces
lighted up with joy, to bid welcome to HENRY
CLAY
So it was the next day, so it was all the
days that he WAS among us. 50 constant 50
tireless, so enthusiastic were the wellmeant
kindnesses of our people, that | for one was
tally overwhelmed and exhausted. Those
OVERLOOKING marks of love were such, indeed,
as few but Henry Clay could have elected ;
nay, they we're such as hardly any, save him.
self could have endured They "ame, TOO
from deeper feeling, than party motives they
sprung from those beautiful Instincts of cur
sinn,ual nature, which prompt admiral on
for whatever is truly great and noble and ex-
ALL in man They showed that men love
and reverence those who lift themselves above
the meanness ami n&rrowness to which less
gifted and elevated natures are prone, and
showed that in so doing all must deeply and
truly love and reverence HENRY CLAY
Yes, reverence him as one whose tongue was
never tainted with tasehoool, nor his soul
stained with sha nc
Nor was it the members of his own party
alone who thus arose 10 do him honor, but the
members of all parties. All looked to him
all turned to hiin--al were irresstjbly drawn
to him as to one before whom Nature herself
could stand up and say to the world, This
is MANw
We should feel a deep pain in thus scpara
ting from one we 80 love, but under view
Of the cordial invitation which you have eX
tended to him, and the general desire Of all
sour citizens to have him among you, we feel
that you are entitled to some portion Of that
pleasure which his presence everywhere be-
slows. We resign him TO YOU in full conf
dencc that you will welcome him as no man
could be welcomed but HENRY CLAYH'
Mr.. McMichaers speech was interrupted by
frequent applause, and was warmly responded
to at the close.
When silence was restored Hon. MoRRIs
FRANKLIN, President of the Board of Alder
men, turned TO Mr.. Clay and addressed him
rs follows
HOn behalf of the Common Council of our
City and of the assembled thousands, who are
now awaiting your arrival in anxious expec-
+nt;nn / an the hnnnrnd Instrument Of ten