The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1848-03-16
Androw Mr. President, though | cannot

to your welcome in the terms Of elo.
ouence, can ut lenst clasp your hand and
assure YOU how happy am to be once more
among my tellow-citizens of New York, and
to meet those who are intrustcd with the
high duty of directing the destinies of so great
and important city.
During the delivery of Mr.. Clay's speech,
the saloon deck yielded to the weight of the
crowd and gave way some three inches, and
the alarm was given that it was breaking
through. Many persons, in consequence, re-
treated to the lower deck. Mr.. Clay, looking
around as ifto see what was about to happen,
was. assured by the Captain Of the boat that
There WAS no danger. Well, said he, "
like always to know the ground l stand on"
Through the whole trip he seemed in excel
lent spirits, and many genial salIieS from his
Inns we're received with loud satisfaction by
those surrounding him.
After he had concluded speaking there was
a general rush to take him by the hand, but
he obtained silence by waving a splendid
bouquet, the Gift doubtless Of some fair PhiIa,
delphian, and said, I" Gentlemen, you knowI
am good deal of compromise man. ! have
compromise to propose to you, Which is,
! that instead of your coming up to shake my
!
This was unanimously agreed to, of course,
and he descended upon the main deck, ex
changing salutations with old friends or new
ones by the way. Between High Constable
| Hays and himself very playful meeting took
place and to whatever quarter of the boat
he went, he was greeted with the same hear
ty cheers which welcomed him on board at
first. Finally, after partakIng Of lunch, he
A. Il ,,,lnpn, -, .
wheel-house, he had Il fair view of the scene.
ry of the Bay on the way up
Soon after passing Fort Hamilton white
eagle was noticed flying above the boat and
following its course for some distance. Many
Of those on board of course interpreted this
as an omen of the future triumph Of the peo-
pie in the election of the Guest of the Day to
the highest station in the countrys gift.
On arriving at the City, instead of landing
at Castle Garden as had been contemplated,
the Vanderbilt was obliged by the state Of the
tide to land at pier No. 2. From there MIR
Clay, accompanied by the Common Council,
the Philadelphia Delegation and large num-
Der of citizens, marched through the muddy
streets to Castle Garden The crowd in the
streets and on the Battery was immense, and
so thick that it was difficult for the police to
make way for the procession to move. As
Mr. Clay pass d along he was greeted by
such cheers as on'y the warm enthusiasm of
spontaneous hearts can produce.
On entering Castle Garden an impressive
spectacle presented itself. The whole of that
vast area was filed with people waiting with
mpatience for his arrival. As soon as he
entered he was greeted by deafening cheers,
which were repeated until it seemed as ii the
people would not have done with these proofs
of their affection for their distinguished visit
or. At last silence was restored, when Presi-
dent Franklin spoke as follows to the Mayor
Your HONOR: l have pleasure in behal
Of the Committee Of the Common Council, to
commit to your charge, together with that Of
= this vast assemblage of our teow-citizens, the
body Of HENRY CLAY Of Kentucky.
= After the cheering had again subsidized, his
= Honor the Mayor arose and spoke In these
; terms:
Mr.. CLAY: The pleasing duty has beer
: assigned to me As the representative OF the
constituted authorities Of the City of New
Yolk, 10 tender TO you It's hospitalitics-tC
, extend to you cordial welcome.
1t is rot necessary for me-indeed, Sir, il
would not become me on an occasion like The
prcsant-to advert to your many and valued
, public services. The whole country CRATE
fully acknowledge the zeal, the devotion witt
which n whole life has been passed in uphold
= ing her interests-in defending her honor
in augmenting her prosperity and we, Sir
, citizens of the grea. Commercial Metropolis
of this Western World, rejoice that we arc
permitted to testify to you personally oul
appreciation of the worth, the talents the
craftsmanship, and the pure patriotism which
/, have combined to surround with a halo Of
imperishable glory the name of HENRY CLAY
d, Our welcome, Sir, is not mere lip service
but from the abundance Of the heart the
: mouth speaks.
We receive YOU, Sir, as the honored, the
cherished guest OF this great city. Its inhab'
itants, without reference to- creedS, or SeciS, or
pa,fieS, have come forth TO greet you, and in
> their name, Sir, with all the warmth which
words fresh from the heart can convey, bid
you WELCOME.
Mr.. CLAY then rose and replied as follows
Mr.. MAYOR: | wish could find adequate
language to express to you and this audience
The feelings Of grateful heart, the feelings
excited by this splendid and magnificent re-
ccption.
You, Sir, know very well from correspond
encc aud information which you have derived
from others, that the present visit to your great
City is an exception to the rule which
adopted, and the resolution had formed OIL
leaving home. Called thence by private and
personal affairs had prescribed TO myself as
a rule which had thought infeXible, not to
be drawn off from the direct line of my occu-
pations on any account, or upon any coca,
sion. had determined particularly to avoid
the current of public meetings, and of that
affection which had reason to suppose cX.
listed in the bosoms of numerous portion OF
my trllow-citizens, in the bosoms too, of many
of the citizens of this vast metropolis, famous
for its growth and its growing greatness, adj
mrable for the intelligence and the high
character Of its people.