New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-09-11
The Clay Movement.

The unchanging, unialterDg Devotion WIN "hici
Henry Clay is regarded by the Wings OF the I mon
snd especially Of this City, honors alike its obJec
and those by whom it Is manifested Ii is tribute
20 manly frsnkness, noble daring 10 be wholly
right. such as only those who possess those quail
ties can appreciate would be likely TO offer. II
IN age when the symbols and trappngs Of power
are becoming OF palpably less and less conse
auence, il must sgnally encourage and sustain
those who tread the rugged and thorny path OF
Duty 20 see the sway of opinions and oil hearts 50
thoroughly independent of the DEGREES oil caucuses
and the sunshine Of fortune. Napoleon discrowned
won no such tributes of grateful confidence and ad'
nairation as have been profered to Henry Clay
since, in the popular estimation he was precuded
from ell hope of farther patronage or power by the
fat of the Philadelphia Convention.
Yet why precluded Conventions are not ON
nipotent-their decisions are not hnal. they are
immeasurably less potent now than they were
before Railroads, Steam Presses and the Light
ming Telegraph afforded the means Of almost in
slant INSTRUMENTATION among the whole peo-
pie OF tho Union. New Orleans and st. Louis are
practically nearer TO Boston now than New-York
was thirty years ago If the Wings OF the Union
really prefer Henry Clay for their next President
land who doubts itl) what is TO hinder prompt
and effective manifestation OF that preference,
through popular assemblages, the Press and the
Ballot-Boxe Grant that a IS late-that any
such movement should have been commenced in
June instead of September--there is but the more
reason for instantaneous action by all those who
deem action desirable. Wherever Wings believe
that Henry Clay not only should have been but
should yet be the Wing candidate for President,
let them speak out and make themselves known
TO each other. There no harm, there may
vast good result from such course if taken in the
night spirit and pursued with resolution.
But spirit of Difference is indispensable. The
object in view must be, not the defeat. but the
success, Of the Wing party, and the consequent re-
form Of our National Administration. To proclaim
that the object of the Clay movement is not the
election OF Mr.. Clay but the defeat OF Gen. Taylor
and thus the continuance Of the Polk dynasty in
the person OF the neal successor, is to ALLEVIATE and
initiate Mt least nine tenths OF the Wings through
ont the Union An appeal from the Wing Nation
al Convention to the Wing party is legitimate.
and. If properly taken can give no Just ground OF
offence An appeal from the party itself to a MI
norty Of its members urging them to array them
selves against its decisions and become the in
struments aud virtual allies Of its enemies viii not
only prove Intellectual, but will serve TO commend
the Philadelphia managers TO the confidence and
affections OF the party. We can have no part in
this.
II would be most unjust to Mr.. Clay to place
him in the position, most repugnant to him and an
a.
didate of a mere faction-to make him figure in
the Official Returns and transmit him to posterity
Is a solicitor Of votes after the mass OF voters had
left him-running behind sach candidates are
In the field even in States where he has repeated
ly run ahead of such men as Adams, Crawford
and Jackson. The fact that he was supported as
a candidate would make its way to millions who
would never hear how and when he became
SUCH and that his own wishes and feelings had
been utterly disregarded in the premises. What
ever he or others might say, there would be
thousands mean enough to suppose that he was
really candidate with his own consent, if not at
his own suggestion. No one can be entitled to
subject him 10 such imputaton.
Mature and dispsssonate reflection has but
strengthened our conviction OF the soundness of the
positions we maintained in lsi4 with reference 70
the Birney operations Of that period. We regard
the Right Of Suffrage solemn trust TO be exer-
cised Tor the public good, and of course to be exer
cised in such manner that good may be DONE
Every elector is morally bound to do whatever
may DO fairly within his power to procure the
nomination OF an unexceptionable candidate for
President, under auspices which will insure him a
chance of success, aud he is farther bound TO vote
for that one among the candidates who have such
a chance BY whose election in his deliberate judg
ment the greatest good can be secured and the
most evil prevented II can very rarely happen
that the very one among Twenty Millions " HON a
majority OF the People would prefer to all others
can be a candidate still rarer must be the occa-
sons in which any candidate can be found whose
opinions every important topic will accord pre-
cisely with those of a majority OF the People
Many voters must often be called on TO make what
is very Improperly termed "a choice between
two evils that is, they must secure part OF the
good they desire TO see effected by the postpone
ment of other objects which also appear to them
desirable. Since We are not likely to have angels
% rule over us TAT Washington,) we are obliged 70
wen Of these We must endeavor to elect the
,cst we can. The Right OF Suffrage is not
,eapon. to be used as spite, or spleen or caprice
ball dictate, bat means OF promoting the general
Welfare. We have seen the opposite theory run
ito the ground by the Liberty party, commencing
nth the reputation Of all bu, impossible candi-
stes, and ending with az utter disruption even
nth regard to such candidates. 1t Is not wonder
i that largo portion Of the Abolitionists have
rived at the conclusion that the true course is
Of 10 vote at all. But for conscientious men to do
lis is virtually to surrender the Government to |
70 unchecked control of the vensl. the vicious and
o selfseekng. We cannot regard this as the
urse dictated by lofty Integrity or enlightened
striotism.
~ GEO w. JACKSON Of Pittsburg. is the