Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-11-23
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
THE CLAYTON FESTIVAL.

TON look place, ACCORDING W appointment, VII oa'ui
day, the 18th instant, at Wilmington. The Com
mitiee of Arrangements had secured the Odd
Fellows Hall in that city for the occasion, and
every thing was done that taste and iberalty could
do to render the festival in all respects worthy OF
those who gave it, as well as of the distinguished
citizen it was designed TO honor. The officers Sc
lected to preside on the occasion were CHARLES !.
Dupont, President and Messrs. PHILIP KEY
BOLD, E. C. STosENBERG, Major JOHN JONES, and
DIR. ROBERT McCABE, Vice Presidents. About
half-past four o'clock P. M, the company having
entered the saloon, Mr.. CLAYTON was announced
and as he passed down 10 a chair next The fresi-
dent on the occasion, all present rose to receive
him. and when he had taken his seat, expressed
their feelings in three hearty cheers. The dinner
being over, and the tables cleared, the President
announced the regular toasts, as follows
/. The President of the United States.
Presidents March.
q The memory Of that pure patriot and enlightened states
man. Zachary Taylor whose loss nation and whose
name and fame will when brass and marble shall have
decayed. lDHSe.
g. Our distinguished guest, the Hon. JOHN M CLAYTON,
Deawures vorte son. who has for himself in the Sc
nate and in the Cabinet unadDg honor and mPerishaoe re-
nown (Auh Lang Syne.
In offering this toast which received with six hearty
cheers the President said that he had been styled by his
Utica! opponents ssthe old ssger True /. that he had
long identified himself with the glorious Wing party, and by
his devotion lis principles and his earnest, unremitted
efforts their behaf, entitled himself perhaps to the name by
which his adversaes had distinguished him. He had how
ever in all his past connection with politics. received but
little and desired but lide from his party. The motives
which had actuad him in selecting his potica ah and IN
contributing his and energies 70 promote the success
the great Of policy which that faith ncucaed as the
conducive the public welfare honest dnte
r e 49, airy ard
wish TO save its priceless institutions from the dangerous
spirit and practice of those who valued the Government only
as an instrument power and cherished its liberties only to
the which they might advance by preserving hem
the ends Of personal profit glory He said was enough
for him that he had been honored his friends with the office
Of presiding at the festivities intended to compliment Della
wares nobest son. and he should bold it among the
proudest recolecons of hts Life. @
Mr.. CLAYTON then rose, and after the tumultuous
applause with which he was greeted had subsidized,
spoke as follows:
Il use language but tame and tre, my fellow-cizens
when saw that cannot find words adequate to express the
feelings which overpower at this moment come before
you a private individual without ohce, without sta
ton without power No within the sound of voice
or elsewhere expect by rendering homage to or confer
ring praise upon me- receive any thing so far as know
hereafter. am like one who has returned from
long age distant country have seen much--mucn
of which wish speak to my old companions and friends
But bring with nothing Blu. grateful heart and an hon.
est purpose. [Cheers. s1.
NV fellow zens my chief object accepting your kind
invitation to you this day to tender my thanks for
the confidence and support which, through long public life
whenever have been public station candidate for pub
lie Office has been constantly extended to me by the Of
nv native State announced before the election in Della
ware that was candidate for Office postponed this
meeting till after that election had taken place to enable
others fully understand my purpose and position. have
filled many Of the most important Offices in the gilt OF the
If that fee boindt To m
acknowledgment those who have stood by amidst all the
Of party violence which have swept the country
during the last quarter Of century am well aware that
services of mine could have cancelled, or can repay the
debt OF gratitude them yet may be permitted but
do it without emotion, to say, upon this occasion
meeting them after long separation, with what sincere
pleasure take old friends and fellow by the hand
and acknowledge the heartfelt obligations by which am and
ever shall be, bound to them. Applause.
We have passed through another ectioneeng campaign,
and for the first time in quarter Of century, the Wigs OF
Delaware have lost the power of the State which has been
transferred BY train of accidents political opponents
For the period just named, the party which have been
attached has held the legislative power of this State without
single day Of ntession within my recollection That
has gone the party entertaining directly opposite
opinions But has not gone them, and they do not bold
BY the BY which held il. lGrea applause We
held by the>w of majority Of the citizens OF Delaware
Eyes, did, They do not hold it, nor, in my ndg-
ment will they ever hold it, by the will Of majority Of the
citizens Of Delaware. No. never The Governor they
have elected is the representative Governor OF minority IN
the State The Representative TO Congress- whom hey nave
legsate for US minority representative and does
and in my Judgment WILL represent as the Wing
Representatives have proudly done, the will OF majority OF
the feemen Of the State. Applause. The Wings alone
elect that represent majority Of the people Of Della
No other party exists here that able TO do that thing
but Wing party Look the Hundreds
upon hundreds Of friends calling themselves Temperance
men, chosen strike down the party to which they had
adhered for twenty years That subject for them to
fleet upon subject upon which now choose 10 speak
And only advert the fact that have been stricken down.
we the house of friends for the purpose Of say
log that the Wing party has not been conquered by its old
ica enemies, but is strong, if not stronger than has
been for the past ten years. and that those who entertain
the sentiments that eaetan upon the great national
questions which divide the great parties OF the country
had voted according their principles and their own
PROFESSIONS should have been in majority as triumphant
The Wings Of Delaware from their origin rea
applause.
Fellow citizens did here to discuss matters OF
local interest have deviated thus far from my purpose,
impelIed by the strong feelings of the moment
have witnessed much of party strife to desire unne-
sessa any the ingredients of that bitter cup with
the entertainment Of this day. Yet feel that il my Duty
aud know that it is expected Of that should say lew
words in relation Of the stirring events which have
asaed the country during the last two years. and still con-
dnue 10 excite it. .. #...s.a H.
The advent of General Taylor power constituted new
era in the history Of the republic He nto office by the
SURFACES of the people yet he presented the first instance
President elected, with practical majority In boh
branches of the National Legislature opposed not only to
him, but 10 the principles which secured his election The
organization Of both Houses Of Congress against him,
before he had any opportunity develop the measures Of
policy upon which he intended 10 administer the Government