Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1848-04-20

on the occasion Of the French jubilee\
celebration, last Thursday evening,
had his residence brilliantly illumina-
ted in Georgetown, in which, the 10.
Of himself and family were as manifest
to the beholder, as it is my pleasure t.
record this pleasing incident, in the
republican representative of the "Old
Tenth Legion" The Valley may
well boast of two such representatives
as Messrs. Mason and Mcdowell.
Your distinguished Senator, J. NJ.
Mason, delivered speech of noble
and patriotic sentiment, this week.
He goes, as a Senator Of the cold
Dominion" should 60, for his country,
which is always right; but if, unfortu-
natey, she should be wrong, he is still
for his country. Mr.. Mason is pow
erful Geba'er, and his remarks cut pref
~ deep at the opposition, for their par
ricida. course against the United States;
the Mexican advocates in the Senate
did not admire the speech, but the
Americans did.
No news from the Court Martial in
Mexico, this week. VIVA. we have
bad is bad enough, in all conscience,
and we shall be disappointed, and a.
greeably so, if anything but disagreea-
bic news will be received The whole
proceedings should be silenced forth
with, and the officers ordered home, or
to their respective commands.
As the time approaches for the Bal
timore Convention to assemble, the
people should be engaged in sending
their best republicans to the county
and district conventions, so that the
wisest and most experienced of the
party may BE- sent on to vote for Presi-
dent and Vice President. Shenando.
ah will do her duty, and make good
selection, that will command large
ma ority, have no doubt.
Yours, FED.
Mr.. Clay's Letter.-The reader will
find, in to-day's paper, the letter Of
HENRY CLAY, declaring himself can
dida'e for the presidency at the ensu-
ing election, with a portion of the COM
men,s of the editor of the Union upon
The same.
That this determination ofMr. CLAY
TO save his party from utter ruin, by
blind devotion to a man who has no
fixed principles, and who will make
no pledges as to his future course,
will be hailed with joy, by all good
and true Wings, land particularly those
of the north, we presume will be dis
puted by no one who has witnessed
his enthusiastic reception wherever he
has been recently travelling for his
heaHh!
We certainly ought not 20 doubt the
truth of what Mr.. CLAY says of him
self; yet, we cannot help associating,
in j"x:aposi'ion, and as seemingly in
congruous, to say the least, his "unaf:
iected desire to continue in private
life" with his tip to Cape May, last
summer, for the purpose of bathing in
salt water-his more recent visits TO
the northern cities, Immediately after
his grea, Lexington anti war Wi;mot.
Proviso speech and resolutions-and,
last of all, the letter now before U.S.
1t may be, however, notwithstanding
our inability to reconcile these things,
tha, the Wings can perceive perGec,
congenIali'y and consistency in Them.
Indeed, our Wing friends can, with
most wonderful facility and plausible
ness, reconcile the most opposite ex-
trenes, TO accomplish certain purposes.
If Mr.. c. really desired $50 continue
in private life" why did he throw him
self in the way o. temptation? Why
did he, in his Lexington speech, lay
such an enticing bait for the '.tree
&ates?" and why did he, subsequent
~, visit those same States, making
speeches, feasting, and kissing forty
thousand women
Despite Mr.. CLAWS modest decla-
ration to the contrary, the conviction is
irresi>,lbly carried to the minds of all
but his enthusiastic worshipers, that
he has most inor,linate hankering af-
ter the honors and emoluments, pomp