Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-04-21
IJGHTNING.FLASHES.

Our frlenQS, me wings, law O oo'n
their horizon at present, and the lightnins-hashes
are quick and vivid. One day the telestaP" au'
nouuces. "Ken,ucky has gone for Iay'''!-
uRo,b o Inventions have nominated MIN =
Bright is The flash, eleclrifying the explosions; ana
there follows one spontaneous" burst OF applause,
,h,, seems n nroceed from bronzed threats with
,rnmne, tongues. Another day, and YET another
nash-aBenry Clay has gone for Henry Ciay''
I'm, no shout follows quick and loud. Amaze
men. seals the lipsl The struggle was long ann
asonizing-the duty to be performed was painful
the position was embarrassing-lhe situation
was uncopgenial-the sweets OF private life were
endearius-the Elaboration was anxious-the re-
Election was deep-lhe conversations and cohsui-
,a,ions were numerous and conhdins-'he way
10 be travelled was long and arduous-lne oea'
was ominous-the issue was DUBIOUS ou' -
While House was a, the summit lis portals
were inviling-Hopes long cherished anu n''n,
ERIC bliphted, budded once asa'n-rahcy s'h,
dwel, with pleasure on Youths fond dfeam-ano
-and-Henrv Cay has gone TOR Henry Clay!
Let US pause awhile on these events we
have often asked our readers, "What Will Inc
Wings do7" They who have denounced bous
for wishing 10 stand by Clay through good and
through evil report; they who have pronounced
his course as disorganizing-wh have proclaim
ed him an interfering meddler-one who must
"rule or ruin" and who has produced discord
and confusion in their party;-will they "turn
about, and wheel about, and jump Jim Crow
when it is moi Bolts merely, but Mr.. Clay, who
steps forth and endorses Botts's Protest, and no
inmates, aye, nominates himself for The Pfesioen'
cyl Will they transfer their epilhet OF 'disofsa-
nicer and genius OF discord" TO MI. Clay9-or
will they throw up their caps and shout Hosan-
nahs 10 The immortal twain?
We have conned over Mr.. Clay's last will
and testament, in which he appoints himself
executor and legatee of all Wing @favors, with
feelings Of modification and pity. We purpose
giving a passing review Of this extraordinary
paper. MIR. Clay comes forth from his retire
ment, to correct conflicting reports in regard TO
hi, intentions with respect TO the next Presiden-
CIV. In the better days Of the Republic, the
neople we're wont in their majesty to speak
their intentions in regard to the person they
preferred 10 elevate to the high Office of Presi-
dent. The men, the great men of those days,
were passive instruments, who thought that this
office was neither to be sought nor refused.
Which of the great men of those times ever, in
an Address "To the Public" announced himself
as a candidate, aud calculated his chance of sue
cess and his availability
Mr.. Clay proceeds: "With a strong disincli-
nation to the use of my name again in conncxion
with that office, l left my residence in Deem
Der last, under the determination 10 announce to
the public, in some suitable form, my desire not
to be thought Of as a candidate" So strong, it
seems, was his Discrimination TO the Office, that
he could not stay at homo and announce il. 1t
was so exciting--it produced such a restless,
nervous sensation, that he was forced to leave
home. His "desire not to be thought of as a
candidate" produced such an effect upon his To-
connective powers, that he was forced 10 make
two trips; one from Kentucky last Summer to
Cape May, to Try the effects, the cooling effects
of sea-bathing and a 'salt-ba'h,' to calm the
ifritability, the res,lessness Of his spirit; and the
other, to throw himself again into the noise,
and hustle, and hubbub If mass assemblies,
travelling from city to city, to find some suit
able place to proclaim, "in some suitab' form"
that he could not be thought Of even. If, under
such circumstances, he had announced TO every
one he met, ii am not a candidate will not
accept the office II is my aversion-I am done
with public life- am sick unto death Of poll
tics-I shall return home TO enjoy the ease
have been a determination But it seems that
he had reserved the right to do so exclusively
to himself on reflection, and that ne thought 1t
was due to his friends TO consult with them, be-
fore he took a final and decided step. "och,
said Paddy, " faith. l determined never 10 mar
ry, and SO I left my home, and asked every girl
that | met if she would take pity upon a lone
man that didn't name to marry al all-at al,
and just marry me-"
Again, said Mr.. Clay, accordingly, within the
course of the last three months, l have had an op.
p%ortunity of conveising fully and freely with
them. Mary of them have addressed 10 me The
strongest appeals and most earnest en'reaiies, both
verbal and written, 10 dissuade me from execu-
ing my intended purpose. They represented TO
me tina, the withdrawal of my name would be IA
tai TO The success and perhaps lead TO the di'so
luton OF The party with which | have been asso.
cia,ed, nj particularly in the Tree States; and that al
no former period did there exist so great a prota
bility OF my ~clec,ion, if | would consent 10 the use
of nv name." Is there but one man in The United
States, who can by possibility keep together The
Wing party Does lis dissolution depend npon
one name, and if that name be Withdrawn, mus
|, be fatal 10 their success What will become
OF i, when he is in the grave; or is he truly sim
morlal7"
And why, particularly fatal ain The free Staiesl"
Is this a plain, open, direct bid for The Abolition
vo,e3 Has Mr.. Clay-a STAKEHOLDER himself, H.
wing In a slaveholding State, determined to
abandon the compromises OF the Constitution,
and the Constitution itself, and truckle f"r The
yoles of the fanatics OF The Nofh2 II he has
he who had prided himself hitherto upon III. bold
ness. his fearless declaration Of his principle and
action, present, past and iu,ure-lc' him pro.
claim his intention, tina, the "hcc States aud
the slave States too, may know IL.
They represented 10 me, continues Mr.. Clay,
"iha, the great States of New York and Ohio,
would, in all probability, cast their votes for me;
lhel New York would more certainly besiow her
suf ages upon me than any other candidate; lba
Ohio would give her vote 10 no candidate resid-
ing in the Slave States bu, 10 me; that there is a
better prospect than has heretofore al any time
existed, that Pennsylvania would unite with them;
that no candidate can be elected without The con-
currence oil two Of these three States, and none
could be defeated, upon whom all of Them should
he united" This is, truly, playing out The game
ofbrag, commenced by "Ihe junior embodiment
How many men did MIR. Clay tell during the last