The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1848-06-23
From the North American

From the North Americana
HENRY CLAY AND GENERAL TAYLOR.
The extreme length and importance of our
report of the proceedings of the Convention,
in its last days session, made too extensive an
inroad upon our columns to allow. any thing
more than very cursory sketch of affairs al
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 tine 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.
Gallcnt, indeed, is the stag-not .'poor" but
"sequs stered."-
"That from the hunters aim has ta'en hurt
mar hurt, in fact,-deep and envenomed
wo' ids, inflicted by the arrows of SANDER and
the fangs of party blood-hounds-and has fled
to the refuge of Ashland, to repose in peace
not to ':languish;r 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 un-
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; but it 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 SC
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 to
speaks, as we intended to do, and shall do Of
ten hereafter, on the character and merits oil
General Taylor. Let General Combs speaks
for us, in that brief speech, the utterance of a
warm heart, in which the tenderness of friend
ship mingles SO well with the self-sacrificing
generosity ola true Wing spirit.
General Combs succeeded Mr.. Maxwell on
the stand, and being introduced to the meeting
al" the Iong-tried and trusted friend of Henry
Clay" was received with deafening 81 outs.
Gen. CoMRs said, he had come from sick
bed, at the request of the committee and in
obedience to his own sense of duty, to say a
few words on this occasion. He would not
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 had
learned to lisp with gratitude and pride the
name Of Henry Clay, and had ever since been
his near neighbor. Since 1924, when his name
was, for the first time, presented for the Pres
/
er men in America, and had never, for 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
vilely slandercd and basely abused than any
public man in the United States; and Gen. C.
| had desired TO see the verdict Of the people
emphatically recorded against his cowardly as
sailants.
1 Gen. c. remarked; that he had no difficulty
or hesitation in taking his position in snppori
OF the nominations just made. loud ap.
i plause.) Nor did he doubt what Mr.. Clay
would do. He had never thought of himself
but of his country. The lightRing's flash which
this day bore the tidings of what you have done
TO every quarter of the Union, found the Sage
Of Ashland calm and composed, and at this We
4 ry hour, Gen. c. doubted not, he was sleeping
soundly under his own beloved roof, having
first offered up praye for his country and the
great Wing cause.
OH il you had seen him as have seen him
| heard him as i have heard him-when pressed
by unrelsnting enemies and grieved BY I'M
grateful friends-you would not wonder at nv
deep devotion to him. Old as he was, he avow-
ed himsel not too old to vindicate his princi
ciples--to stand by his friends. or to defend
himself; he is the same brave and great hearted
Henry Clay still.
u Gallant old stag, you have long been cours.
ed by the hunters and the hounds through
brake and brier, and have. at last, returned Il
your ancient lair, to lay your yourself down
, and die. A nations tears shall bedew YOU
= grave nations heart shall rear lasting mon
ument TO your memory. History, at least
will do you Justice.
u Gen. T.. then remarked tina he had long known
/ Gen. Taylor. He had distinguished hmsclfi in
: 1912, while only Captain, by his 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 ca RI,
manhood. He was honest aud true as he wa