Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-10-03
(Erom The New York Herald, Sept. 81
MEETING OF THE FRIENDS OF THE
HON. HENRY CLAY.


A large and enthusiastic meeting Of the friends
Of Mr.. Clay was held last evening, at Vanxhall,
in this city.
II having been announced that John NJ. Bots,
Esq, OF Richmond Va, was TO address the
friends Of Mr.. Clay, great crowd was assem-
bled, with that expectation. which continued To
increase as the hour Of meeting approached.
On the nomination OF gentleman OF The com
mi.lee, Willis Hall, Esq, was called TO The chair
and Installed by general reclamation. aud WIN
loud shouts OF applause. On motion MIR. Benz
diet Lewis was then appointed Secretary. Ihe
following address and resolutions We're then read
BY The Secretary:
REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE DEMOCRATIC CLAY WIG
COMMITTEES.
We take il that the honor OF Henry Clay is
priceless Jewel to each one OF his tried and rus
~ friends Who, when he appeals in that behalf,
could Tor moment hesitate as 10 The course 10
be pursued7 Having been subjected 10 all the
malice which the ingenuity OF pretended regard,
or The manly aud open hatred oil his foes could
invent, may We not now express, as a reasonable
hope, that he may henceorSard be let 10 his
friends?
Ii is naturally asked, What are We 10 dog
There are oteDtimes contingencies when an arm.
ed neutrality is The Course oi prudence and 81
W
now. Where there is no violation of principle,
and no one Of The traitors advanced prominently
before MS, but, ON the contrary, clear Wing nc
minaIion, made by fair, honorable means, anu IN
obedience 10 the voice oil the people, II shoulc be
our duty, as well as the work oil honest hearts, 10
support such nomination earnestly andIenifely.
We pledge ourselves unreservedly To the sup
port OF Hamilton Fish as cminenlly good, hon.
est, and true-rccognizins in his pure private
character, and his unsul.ied public career, per-
feet excmpli6cation of Democratic Clay Wing
doctrines and principles.
The same painful conviction which impclled
your first patriotic meeting 10 repudlate Inc noHi-
inalion al Philadelphia, remain without chanse.
The recent letter OF General Taylor, after re-
pealed and laborous efforts to reconcile the
Wings to his anomalous and hostile position, in
no respect, in our deliberate judgment, changes
our position towards him or his relations TO The
Wing party; aud the reaffirlnation OF his vii.
linsuesS 10 take an an,asonisica nomination
establishes forever his unhtDesS to have been TIE
nominee Of The Philadelphia Convention. None
can more sincerely regret the degraded position
in which our party has been placed than your
committee. Ii is natural and proper for those
amphibious Wings who leaned SO far toward
annexation as almost 10 go over TO The enemy,
and ut subsequent period, 10 give quasi en-
dorsemen: and wholesale support to an unne-
cessary war of aggression, 10 enforce nomina-
lion made with express reference their own To-
calities and wishes. The history OF the Whie
party is replete with bitter, sern, and undylns
lessons and teachings, wherever and whenever
availability" or "expediency" have been linked
TO the deslinies OF the period. We cannot en-
dorse 'ayailabiliy'-we cannot adopt "e1pedi
ency;" clinging 10 the old Wing platform, holding
fast 10 its eternal principles, and reserving, unsu
lied its banner, we look confidently to the futut
As neutrals, it may yet become US in tn.
phases of the contest to take part; but, mean
while, we would say to our friends here ant
elsewhere, Stand fast-maintaiH your Ola,
clubs and true Wing OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
as far as possible, harmony, and inculcate unior
among ourselves; for, be assured, that wher
availability" and "exPedency" shall have gone
10 their last and final resting place, there shall
be another resistless rally Of true Wings in be
half Of principle.
Resolved, That in the ardent attachment an
profound regard-so unfalteringly manifested TO
Henry Clay by the people, Overlapping the ma
chinery of party and of managed nominations
we have The consolation of knowing that pa
triotism is yet dear to the people, and that al
unfatering devotion to "Principle" and Fright,
in defiance of 'Availabilily" AID "Expediency,
will be sustained before the people and by tn
people.
Resolved, That preserving the same front
we adhere only to true Wing principles, 10 tn
Wing platform, and unfurling the Wing ban
ner, we can find no place there to inscribe Of
its broad and luminous folds the name of can
didale. whose sword is and has been his on
exemplar-unknown to the people as a civilian
and endorsed only by "availability.'
Resolved, As the deliberate and espresso,
conviction Of the public mind, that Henri
Clay's nomination was demanded BY the GENE
RAJ VOICE OF THE coUNTRY-and nothing Of
earth was surer than his election by an unprece
dented majority.
Resolved, That for Governor we commend
to the people Of the State Hamilton Fish-th
son Of Revolutionary Whig-himself De
mocratic Clay Wing, worthy Of all the honor
that attach TO integrity, purity and uprightnes
in his private life and public career.
Resolved, That VIC recommend 10 the friends o
Henry Clay, who are his friends Through sun
shine and through Storm" 10 hold fast TO lhei
belief in one ano;her-to act in this contest lk
men who in politics walk by sight and not b,
iaith-as behoovas those 10 whom coayirg, AaI
terry or threats are alike unheeded- 10 stand b,
member Chat Henry Clay is dearer every day.
Resolved, That we now, in closing our honor
able trust, resign il 10 The associations, clubs ani
other organizations of true Wings, to hands anc
hearts capable of determining Tor themselves lhei
own present and future course, unawed BY threats
uninfuenced by The seductions OF power, anC
ready now and al all times ito huIl defiance a
the mischievous measure, which, through selfish
ness seeks to ally the old Wing party of prnci
pies 10 man without principles.
The sentiments oil the meeting were very ar
IDENTIFY expressed al different times during the
reading OF various passages oil the above address
Al the words "Mr Clay has no right 10 with
hold his name when his country requires il" the
cheers were tremendous. Al the words 'iyour
committee has not changed its opinions" The
shouts OF appreciation were perfectly deaiening-
Another passage of The address, which WAS I'M
derslood 10 express something to the effect that
the election OF Mr.. Clay was now hopeless or i'm.
practicable, and The prosecution OF his cause un.
awaiting, was met with manifest demonstrations
Of disappointment and disapprobalion. Another
passage, which had the words "to rcpnciate the
Philadelphia nominali0n-,o remain without
change" was met by perfect hurricane and
tornado Of applause.
The address and resolutions having been read,
Wefe men put u tae Volc ny tue cndiIlnaD, anu
unanimously adopted, by reclamation. The cv-
idences OF strong, warm. and ailectunate feeling
Tor Mr.. Clay, and disappointment al the course
the election has been made to take in setting
aside the name and claims OF that ilustrious
statesman, were too genuine, too ardent, unafiec-
lei and spontaneous, 10 be mistaken; nor, On The
other hand could such enthusiasm have been
assumed by any body Of men, for il was too i'm.
pulsre, and with il the counenanceS and the
very looks OF The people bore testimony 10 The
ruth and eenuineness oil their feelings. Mr.. Bots
was now loudly called for, and he came forward.
fIereupon, The excitement, as he stood before The
people, became inlense. Enthusiastic cheering
or several minutes, kept Mr.. Bots standing
speeches. and astonishcd before the agated
crowd. Then al The moment, il was seen wha!
A thing IL is 10 be famous man! II matters
indeed, Outlines, very little, how that fame origi-
mated. There is every probability that, had not
Mr.. Bous been famous Tor having "once upon a
ime" slept in the same bed with future Presi-
lent OF the United States, there never would have
been So much curiosity and so great an anxiety