The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-09-08
HENRY CLAY DEMONSTRATION.
The Ashlanders, The SlashcrS, The Clay
Clubs, &c., &C., &c., in the Field
DOMINATION OF
HEN r Y @ l. A Y
WILLARD FILLMORE.

Pursuant to notice published in the daily papers
The trends and adherents of Henry Clay, of Ash
lahd assembled last evening, en- nlQSse, at Vauxha
Garden, in the Bowery, for the purpose of taking
INTO consideration what was proper 10 be done by
them in the ensuing Presidential election; feeling
that under the present state of the political world,
they cannot, with consistency, abandon their old
chief, and vote for the nominee of the wing Ma
tonal Conventlon-the hero of Buena Vista. On
arriving at the place of meeting, our reporters
found 1t and the adjoining neighbourhood in a
state of great commotion, and large flag waving
across the entrance of Vauxhall. In addition to
this, there was brass band playing NEST Justify,
" Here's to you, Harry Clay" and other favorite
Clay-whig airs, such as have been played at the
Clay celebrations in this city regularly every year,
since the election Of MIR. James K Polk to the
Presidency in the year, AID, 1874 The Interior
OF the room in which the meeting was held, was
decorated with various flags and banners, and at
the time appointed, was filled with large and
enthusiastic assemblage OF Clay men of all ages
from the young aspirant to political honors, of six
teen, to the aged and veteran Willis Hall, the par
tioular personal friend of Mr.. Clay. At fair
estimate, the number of persons present was be-
tween four and five thousands but to gauge by the
strength of their lungs and the heartiness with
which they applauded, whenever MIR. Clay's name
was mentioned, it might be supposed that there
was double that number in attendance. After
the meeting in the large room was organised, it
was found insufficient to contain all present, and
another meeting was arranged IN the spacious
garden attached to the premises, which was cha
racteiIsed by the same enthusiasm for Mr.. Clay
as that which marked the one inside.
The Hon Willis Hall was elected to preside.
Mir. HALL then spoke as follows Fellow ctize
am requested on behalf Of my associates to return
you thanks for the honor you have conferred them
on this occasion. They are deeply sens Bile, that in
nominating them to sit and preside over thi. meeting
you have intended to indicate that you have con-
fdence in the sternness of their political principles
that they of honor and deserve to be honored
For myself fellow citizens, know not what Language
is appropriate and sufficient to acknowledge the
honor which elyou have done me, in plac ing in
the situation which now hold If our great chief
tremendous applause, waving of hats, &c. which
lasted for some minuteD-. 1t is with pain and
modification that ! am obliged to say, that very
large portion Of brethren Of the wing party differ
from us on this occasion. They condemn course
as hostile in naming political father for the office
Of chief MAGISTRATE. (Great applause) They CON
denim us as proceeding irregulary and hostility
the best interests Of the wing party regret that
such should be the feeling. l regret that the WING
in masses for Henry Clay Cheers. {" No we don't
g Hurrah for Taylor ~ " Put him out,n and some
noise Fellow-ctizens, this interruption no
dis urbance to me- / am pleased to hear my fellow
citizens express themselves freely this and other
subjects but We claim the right for ourselves
and win express ourselves freely too. applause
and cheers and cries of yes.' and loud too] Yes
fellow zens, POI ton OF our brethren-I will not
speak hsrshly or unkndly-do think that we are pro-
We should go for General Taylor. Ono no"
from thousand persons9 No, no! my fellow
citizens, we cannot go for General Taylor (Cries of
never To do so, would be but incurring poll.
tcal DEATH and better for to raise and
the 80 of
the motive 1t is not because think we can elect
MIR Clay, that We have embarked in this course No,
this Is rather the forlorn hope of the nation and
called upon to say something in of the
course We have taken, and therefore | shall briefly
touch on some Of the reasons which we think will
justify us in the course we are now taking We think
not bound by the nomination of the Philadel.
pha convention (no, no. no) and for various reasons,
and among them some Of the most prominent are that
that convention has nominated a candidate for the
support of the wing party who says that he will not be
the candidate or exponent of the principles of that
party bright, right) Fellow citizens. allow to
speak calmly and Familiarity with you, for few
ments We are the wing party We sent our dele
gates to Philadelphia for the purpose of nominating
represe NATIVE Of our party-an exponent of the
principles of that party Where do those delegates
get their authority to nominate man who has said
he would not be the exponent Of our principles
(Thats fact-Geod-Southern dictationD No. we
all know that the authority Of an agent is COM
principals. We all know that an agent cannot
bind his constituent beyond the power granted to
him. We all know that if employ agent
to buy horse for US, he cannot compel US to
purchase ship. do not say that General Taylor
may not be right in his position as o. party cand
date not here to agtate the question of the ne
cessity Of party but party is the only way by which
the sense Of people be asoertained and free
government can exist without party-without it they
or takes the position that he will not be the candidate
of any party In this he may be right but where did
that convention get authority to nominate such
man Did you authorize that convention to dissolve
the whig party Ne. They have, therefore, gone be-
yond their authority in nominating man who said
he would not be the exponent Of whg pri ncples and
VI therefore, by he I'M in tio Of
that convention. Another have for reject
ing this nomination is, that we know not what Gen.
Taylor s principles are. His friends very fond of
comparing his position to that of George Washington
(isses) Gentlemen, there is not the remotest COM
rarson between them. (No MOI General Washing
was taken from cvA life and made general Of
armies. After the war, in which he displayed talents
civil as well as military he elected President of
the convention that formed the constitution; and no
man in our country had been familiar with our
government, no man was more familiar with every
question that was discussed in that convention and
his opinions were known to all the people-almost to
every man in the nation Where, them is the resem-
blance between General Taylor and General Wash
lutely Again: General Taylor has never, by
preccrt or pratice, developed his views ON yuolic
Questions. What has he said to indicate
them! Nothing Fellow citizens s this popular CO.
vernment' Is this Is government of the people!
this government belonging to the people, and are
they alone to control M Tell me- In the name of hea-
them how you can control it if you do not know
the principles Of the man you vote for. | ask you
do you vote for principles! Now the only wsy known
to our institutions, and to all popular
which the people can control their governments
Is by knowing the principles of the they vote for
government If this is to be carried OUT Is 1t not
insult to the people, to propose q who refuses tc
tell us one iota OF his principles how he will
duct the government In of his election Is that
the way you 90 when you appoint agent! When
you appoint man to act for you, do you not know
what he is going to dos Well, fellow citizens, the
given for this extraordinary conduct is adding
insult to injury What Is the truth! That IL is mpo
little for him to declare his principles, because by not
doing he may get the votes Of parties who would
not vote for him If he declared themthat the peopl,
may be deceived In thinking that his opinions
way, when in fact they another. was goi pg Il
ask you, as we contrasted the conduct of Genera
Taylor with General Washington, to contrast 1t with
that of another man. There Is man, and al
love him. (iere there was outbust Of applause
which was absolutely terrifying. 1t could not appa.
i.nty be repressed nd for several min
During the excitement, the following song dstri
buted among the asssembage:-)
TUNs-Dearesf Mae.
Nnxy "a fyo l..s...