Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-04-16
THE CLAY FESTIVAL.

ot the Ohled otates, ds popular speaker OF
more than ordinary parts is sometimes capable OF
leading promiscuous assembly, had very re-
markable tribute paid to his public character in
the celebration of his seuenty-third Jir1h-aay, by
his. friends in New York city on Friday last
The exigencies of public service detained Mr.
Clay himself, and most of the invited members of
Congress, from the festival Amongst the guests
were Mr.. Cooper of the Senate and Mr. Brooks
OF the House of Representatives. We are pleased
10 find, in the speeches of those gentlemen and in
the regular toasts, gratifying evidences that the
spirit OF compromise and Cancellation has become
the prominent sentiment of intelligent and consi
derate men in the North. Mr.. Cooper dweIt in
eloquent terms upon that peculiar something in
Mr.. Clay, which gives him confessedy more per-
sonal influence than any other statesman in orr
country possesses, and, attrbutng this extraordi-
nary power over the minds and hearts of other
men to his frankness, his singleness of purnose
his great aims, the conviction of which disorms
all who approach him of distrust Mr.. c. man.
tohed the fact, that even the impulsive Foote and
all such men are daily seen crowding around him
III The Senate to ask his counsel The conclu-
Sion OF Mr. Coopers remarks we cannot refrain
from quoting, for they seem to evince returning
disposition to make concessions for the sake of the
Union, In quarter from which we had scarcely
expected such wholesome sentiments:
The present session there were threats of dissolu-
Hon-there was legislative action favorable to holding
convention dangerous to the Union. Mr.. Clay saw
arss ana was prepared to meet the storm about to
ARISE lie introduced set of resolutions in January
mat was calculated to soothe the feelings OF the people
hese resolutions were preaced by speech worthy of
Inc great statesman and if these resolutions had been
accepted 1t would have led to much better state of
eeng In the nation. His patriotism, however, had its
eIect upon those congregated to hear him, and is
100 much to say that the country is saved and mainly
1tnrough the fundamentally of Henry Clay. Others
nave done their part, but to Mr. Clay belong the au-
res ne It was who taught the people know the value
OF ie mon; ne showed them the consequences that
saved It, GApplause) The beacon of liberty which
was lighted half century ago has spread the
.efs ana men are rising and asserting their rights
Inc present Congress, though dissolution would not
nave oeen alienation between the two sections of the
ION and restored good feeling. Posterty will do him
Justice and in after ages, and far distant time people
WIN 10 nm honor, and perpetuate his name! Tire
Mr. Cooper here sat down. and the company unan-
mously rose and gave him three cheers"
MIR. Brooks was called upon to respond to the
following rather remarkable sentiment:
T. CALIFORNIA, UTAH AND New MExIco-Ours by q
common acquisition One realizing than the "a
bled wealth OF Ophr-each entitled to our protection
inc same benetcent hand which extends the stronger
aConshtuton as State refuse provide for the
weaker, governments as territories.
We regret that we have not room for Mr.
Brooks address, which is even more significant
than Mr.. Cooper's. He commented, humorous
~ and with caustic severity, upon the tactics of
the Democracy in mounting the hobby of strong
pro-slavery feeling in the South and of Free Soil
ism in the North, and urged the view that it was
the policy OF the Wing party above all things to
get the slavery question settled. To which we
heartily say Amen But how to settle it, he said,
was the rub. He himself preferred to admit Ca
lforna alone, but he declared his belief that it
could not be done, because forty-fve Southern
men in the House of Representatives would pre-
vent the passage of the bill. He thought the Nor
mons of Deseret scarcely entitled to Territorial
government yet, and disked the idea of admitting
New Mexico as State, before its people had some
training He therefore protested himself in doubt
what to do, and asked his audience, who were his
constituents, under what banner he should march
and where he should go? The company respond.
ed with one voice, &c Go aouh Clan; he is safe
folzow such a 1ead." And Mr. Brooks, CONTINUING
said:
When the storm bowling, and the Ship of State is
tempest he has been the polar star on which
eyes We're always liked and, with such polar star
10 ms eye the mariner has ever safely reached his port
Tremendous cries, here, of Follow him" and cheers
Tor Clay.) |
1t all this means, that Mr.. Brooks and Mr..
cooper intend to sustain the probable result of
MIR. Clays noble eXertlons in the Senate, Joint
bill Tor the admission of California and the orpa-
nzatlon of Territorial governments, their praises
OF MIR. Clay are of some value
Amongst the letters read at the table, was one
wmch our readers will find in another column.
from Mr.. Bolts, the former representative of the
Nichnond district The letter is thoroughly cha
racterlsuc OF the writer. What he saws in honour
OF MI Clay, we cordially assent to. Tn his re-
marks upon the slavery question, there are some
truths strongly spoken but we dissent entirely
from his position that no aggressive action of the
ueherai Government could bring about rupture
of the Union. We believe, for example, that if a
law were enactedby Congress for the abolition Of
slavery in the States or of the internal
the bond of Union would be broken and OUGHT to
be broken The South could not submit without
1eeng herself unjustly oppressed and insulted
and submission with that feeling would be igno
minious degradation.
Mr.. Polk and The Wilanot Prouiso.
A second meeting, with reference to the an.
pointment of delegates to the Nashville Conven.
aoh' was held on the list instant at Columbia, in
M