Evansville weekly journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 184?-18??, 1848-06-29
From the North american. /

Lie eAtIeHe ienStn ana importance OF our
report of the proceedings OF the Convention.
IN lis last days session, made too extensive an
lnroad upon our columns to allow any thing
more than very cursory sketch of affairs at
the great Ratification Meeting-which, be-
sides, was continued into too late an hour of
the night TO permit the proper opportunity for
detailed report next morning Many able
speakers succeeded each other upon line three
stands, and many fine speeches were delivered
which we should have been glad to lay before
the public had it been possible. We were
obliged 10 hold over even the following speech
from the lips of General Leslie Combs, so pc
culiarly interesting, as coming from him, the
deeply devoted, ever trusted and ever faithful
friend of HENRY CLAY, speaking what would
naturally be considered Mr.. Clay's own senti-
ments in regard TO the nomination of General
Taylor,-and so striking for the beauty and
pathos of those remarks relating TO Mr.. Clay,
which went to the very hearts Of his auditors
Gallant, indeed, is the stag-not ''poor" but
'sequestered. >
''That from the hunters aim has taen hurt
many a hurt, in fact,-deep and envenomed
wounds, inflicted by the arrows of SANDER and
the fangs of party blood-hounds-an has fled
to the refuge of Ashland, to Fepose in peace
not to ''languish;" for this is the stag with the
lion-heart which never failed before an enemy,
and the proud antlers that were always ready
to turn at bay. No; the metaphor is only true
so far as it expresses the many, the continued.
the rancorous prosecutions which has followed
The great statesman, during long life of the
most active and devoted public service. We
will not say that the republic has been I'M
grateful to Henry Clay, because the vast major
ity of the intelligence and virtue of the coun-
try follows him to his retreat with the pro-
found respect and affection which have ever
been accorded to him; butt is true that, in the
whole history of the United States, no man
has ever served his country SO faithfully, who
has been the object of political luminosity SO
unjust, so bitter, and SO undying.
But we have no space this morning, crowd
ed as our columns are with the foreign news
to expatiate upon this theme; nor even tc
speaks, as we intended to do, and shall do Of
ten hereafter, on the character and merits o
General Taylor. Let General Combs speak.
| for US, in that brief speech, the utterance of {
warm heart, in which the tenderness of friend
ship mingles so we'll with the self-sacriGcin!
generosity ola true Whigspirit.
General Combs succeeded Mr.. Maxwell Oh
the stand, and being introduced TO the meetin!
as the long tried and trusted friend of Henry
Clay" was received with deafening slouts.
Gen. CoARs said, he had come from sicl
bed, at the request of the committee aud il
obedience TO his own sense of duty, to say
/ few words on this occasion. He would no
deserve such credit for any thing he might ut
| ter, if he did not frankly avow that the result
to which the convention had come sorely bruis
ed his heart. From earliest infancy he hat
learned to lisp with gratitude and pride the
name of Henry Clay, and had ever since beer
his near neighbor Since 1924, when his name
was, for the first time, presented for the Pres
idency, he had preferred him TO any and all 9th
er men in America, and had never, for a mo
ment, faltered in his support. His great abili
ties, long experience in public affairs, his pure
PATRIOTISM and wise craftsmanship recon-
mended him to all men; but he had been more
viIey sandered and basely abused than any
public man in the United States; and Gen. G
had desired to see the verdict of the people
emphatically recorded against his cowardiy as
sailants.
Gen c. remarked; that he had no difficult,
or hesitation in taking his position IN supper
of the nominations just made. cloud ap
) plause.) Nor did he doubt what Mr.. Cla,
would do. He had never thought Of himsel
but of his country. The lightnng's flash which
: this day bore the tidings of what you have dom
to every quarter of the Union, found the Sag
of Ashland calm and composed, and at this We
~ hour, Gen. c. doubted not, he was sleepin,
soundly under his own beloved roof, having
first offered up prayer for his country and tn
great Wing cause.
Oh! if you had seen him as have seen him
heard him as | have heard him-when pressed
by unrelenting enemies and grieved by un
grateful friends-you would not wonder at m
deep devotion to him. Old as he was, he ayow
ed himself not too old to vindicate his princi
: ciples-to stand by his friends, or to defen'
himself; he is the same brave and great-heartet
f Henry Clay STILL
Gallant old stagl you have long been cours
ed by the hunters and the hounds throug
t brake and brier, and have, at last returned Il
5 your ancient lair, to lay your yourself dow
and die. A nations tears shall bedew you
graye-a nations heart shall rear lasting mon
ument 10 your memory. History, at least
t will do you justice.
Gen. C. then remarked that he had long known
, Gen. Taylor. He had distinguished himselfil
1912, while only Captain, by bis gallant de
: fence of Fort Harrison, on the western frontier
and his late great victories in the Mexican wa
} had only fulfilled the high promises of his earl
manhood. He was honest and true as he wa
brave; and as he had never been vanquished il
Z battle, so would he never betray a trust repos
: ed in him. He knew that the personal reIa
J tions between him and Mr.. Clay had ever beef
: most kind aud friendly; and if old Virgini;
would now leave the dark regions of Locofoco
ism and stand by her gallantson, land if Geor
gia and Louisiana and other Southern States
would wheel into the Wing line in support o
their favorite candidate, he would rejoice mos
:. sincerely Let Pennsylvania do her duty, ant
she need not fear for Kentucky. Although
, H. CLAY was her first choice against the worlt
yet shehad ever been Wing State. and uoulc
stand by any good Wing He doubted no
that the Hero of Ruena Vista would SWEEP
over her mountains and valleys, and fertil,
plains, next November like whirlwind, ant