Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-08-08
mr. nv,,ocpaTlC ASSOCIATION


TIE DEMOCRATIC ASSOCIATION
Hold most interesting meeting on ri"ay
NIGH, last, z. ". Hughes, Esq, delivered an
address whose chaste aud striking language
valuable "reminiscences and capital mt; were
received with cordial appreciation:
MIR. HUGHES alluded 10 lie pretended coHn
dance Of the Wings of carrying the electo"'
arising from their belief that the personal '.pu
,a,ion of their candidate is sufficient 10 eieo'
him. II, he asked, a splendid persoha' lep 1I;
t,on-if universal admiration for shining .iua'.
,;cs were Sufficient to elect a man TO Inc fresf
dencv whose chances were ever superior "
,bo.c of Henry Clay in 1912 Whore was
ihere ever man whose brilliant personal qua
lilies. whose towering talents, VIII SC MOVING
cop,iyating oratory, ever kindled SUCH ''oa far
enthusiastic admiration for HIM Us ~, ~ s.;.nds
Henry Clay in the last campaign e 49,,
went mad with love and admlra'on -,
| they fought for him as they wouio iia'c lug"
for father. brother, or most iasc'aa.m5
.wsetbear,-they felt every blow that was give"
him as # il had been dealt upon 'he'r own
nersops In their intense affection LOT hi'p,
,bey could tolerate no ccnsure, tney couio "ea'
with patience no opposition. Even ms opp
feel,nes uf admiration and respect, ana "hen'
cornnellcd by duty, they struck at his nooie per
son. they struck with sorrow. In dissec'ihg ms
character before the people, while they poin'eu
ont with regret the mournlul effects nus long
course of political derelction had produceo'
they would silenty admire the noble anu oeau'
,;,nl features which SO much distinguished Nun
from h;s fellow men. As this admiration oil
Henry CLAW overlcaped all p,rty lines, SO II re
e.. ed n he con6ued 10 States or latitudes. Inc
nl,o,er If Missouri and the manufacturer oil
Massachusetts. forgot their antagonism on Inc
Questions of the Tariff and Annexation IN
their common enthusiasm for Henry Clay,
in the turning desire they felt in common
ma, hi, malcoiess :naG, whatever ms iaul,S,
wha,eyer his e-rors-lha, HENaY Clay should D..
,heir President The SoG;hein Planter "ouiu
rot unlieouen,ly acknowledge his haired oil the
protective policy as pleudicidl 10 Inc luteress 81
the South bur declare his Willingness, neVef.he-
less 10 BE- sadded with il for the sake ui having
Henry Clay-lhe state sman, who hlled 50 large
a space in The ;nind OF The world--%hose gfeas
name woud shed sucn ustre upon the ins'iiu-
lions OF our country, as the President OF the
Republic The eeiing OF Gen, Taylor when We
wrote 10 Mr.. lnaersoll, in the day Of hls hnnltny
ina, he would prefer seeing Nj Clay President
I'll.
whole Wing party in ls44. There vas not one
OF heir many distinguished men, who was no
ready 10 immediate forever, al his own noTes
aud chances for the Pre- siteEcy, upon The al ar oil
Henry Clay; and yet all thus enthusiasm, sucn
as no man had ever before enlisted in his behalf
ayaied the Wing parry nothing. Even win NE
brilliant reputation Of Henry Clay, with all the
admiration which he had excited and meried,
with fame that was WORLDWIDE. with gifts ana
talents uneq uaed and Unprecedented, with all
The 10 Isl fascinating attributes that can attach "
sieai name, 10 rely upon Tor success, the w mug
parry failed sadly failed, 10 tie Campaign oil "a
the whole country admired, but Inc majority re
fused TO trust Henry Clay; moi hat they touoIeo
ms talents or questioned his patriotism, ouI De-
cause they had no confidence in The principles
which he embodied" or he parry which ne I'D
His br:gh, and shining qualities were tried IN
he crucbe OF an enlightened pubic opinion
and fuund 10 be drnss. He was weighed in The
balances and found wanliug; not wanting IN
lhuse rare qualities which attract the gddy multi
iudc and attach them 10 The Interests oil lhe':
pusseSsor; bui waiting in lhuse rareI quaiiile'
which an intelligent pevpie iequite in ann VINO
| rules al the mead OF their affairs.
Il is true that The Wing parry boldly and hon
esly proclaimed their principles in the last ca M
palsn and advocated them WrA a yea and aoil
inv ina, would have done honor 10 any cause Or
parry; but they knew the people too well 10 hope
10 gam popularity Tor lhe principles and s'akef
their whole chance OF success upon The brilliant
personal tributes OF .neir candidate. They leaned
upon broken reed. The American people mad
learned telnfe, il not, they have learned since,
iha! n7odest man is as worthy OF public trust as
private confidence. Their proud Guliah with
his siieriDG armour could hold no contest with
him VIII 4 ,ffideu, Of himself but confident OIL
The Justice OF his cause, went .oth TO meet The u
champion. And lie unpteteDd'ng David Of
1874 he of whom his Ihonshiless opponents
ASKED IN derison, who is This James H. Polk 3"
has proved himself The eloryof our Israel. Ills
brilliant administration has rehecict luslre
upon lhe Institutions Of his country which they
mad never worn before; and the invidiuus ques-
lion Who i, James K Polk 2'wi!i nov receive
tor answer IN lne carrcis Ct Paris il The cottages
81 GERMANY, 10 the hamlrts o. Poland, wherever
the sacred name OF Liberty has worshppers,
| 4. /, he Pf.s,1enL Of the GREAT REPUBLIC
| The rudest man vas exalted, and IN his exal'a.
| lion has elevated The charac e. OF his country. and
| gained ioI himself renoWn that viii die ONLY
| with mat couniy's history. The naughty man
| was ahased, and even those who were loudesi 10
| his praises and wafmes in their love, now an
swei The eniehies which he sends up 10 Them
from The depths oil his retirement, with cold indii
| terence or poin'ed neglect Such was The late Of
| The erea, man OF 1914, o him whum praises were
| sung in songs, and proclaimed by ali The EN-
| oienis which The most eIravagdnt popular phTea-
| sy could invent He who thought 10 b. elect
by acc!amaion and who would have BEEN Sc
eIec ed, if The prope had allowed themselves Il
pursue the impulses Of their feelings rather than
he SOBER suggestions OF their judgment, is now
deserted even by those who most so!emnly and
| most earnes ~ plpdged their faith, for him first
for him last Tor him all the time.
The lesson Taught by the election OF "A vii
prove prof able AMI salu'aIy through all time 10
come. |, taught that the people, the sovereign
people, in choosing their President, seek serpon
and not master, faithful agent In execute thell
will, and not an arbitrary dictator 10 control it,
The spirit of Democracy is a proud spirit which
acknowledges no man worthy 10 govern The PEG
pie, and which will ndsna nty and contempluous.
ly lrown upon him VINO presuGlas 10 assert claims
10 that office which no man ran merit, and innXs
IL bring honor IL tina, station which even The pures
men defie. II was not the proud pharisee whc
boaSled his snperilrily 10 other men, but the hum
BILE publican who dost not so much as lii his
eyes 10 Heaven, bu, smoie upon his breast in
conscious UNIV ouhincss, that WAS honoled in the
parable 1t is only in The s2iii! Of The humble
publican that a Jealous aud proud Democracy
can be approached w,Ib success. Ii is only with
he man whose polricai principles Inspire him
with reverence for The people and with difiidence
OF his capacityto serve them properly that The
Democratic heart can sympahise. II is only
such man whom a. Intelligent people will no.
nor. Eiish pretensia:.s 10 talents, wide extend
ed lame AID gaIlan: exploits, are, in the eyes Of
an enlightened Democracy, only SO many dis
qualifications Tor cliice; because they puff up The
officer with seli-impot;aIce, and lead him 10 for.
gel that he is the servant and, therefore, the
least OF all the people. Such is the lessen 10 be
earol from The last presidential eleciion-an Ell, c.
zion which told more Tor The capacity CT The pco-
pie tor seli.government than all the great events
OF the country. l. TAUGHT that this leading repnb.
Inc oil the earth preferred for lis president mo.
des man Of The people, who had ever been falh-
tul 10 his political PRINCIPLES, to a man OF trans
cendaol ralens and great reputation who held his
own will superior 10 iha. Il The people, and
whose ambition had made him recreani 10 his
early faith I.taush, that il is nor bil,ian. deeds
and extraordinary achievements, but poilica or.