Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1851-11-08
A LETTER FROM THE HON. HENRY
CLAY.

Gentlemen: have the honor 10 acknowledge
the receipt. yesterday. Of the address which you
transmitted Ia me from numhrr OF gentlemen IN
the city Of New York. Emsnatng from source
o. highly respectable aud imposing, l,om friends
and ieow.cllizsns so numerous Aud intelligent
and to whom am under such great obligations.
have perused il with profound attention and DIET
erenc-. After adyrrliug 10 the present state ol
public affairs, TO the spirit adverse TO The meas
urcs Of compromise adopted during The last Con.
gress, which prevailed in certain quarters 10 the
Lecessty Of unremitiing eSerlons TO preserve our
glorious Union, and TO what has been so season
ably and well done, with so much ability, rlo-
quence. sud patriot SIN, By some ct our eminent
couutrymen, YOU invite me TO lssve, for time,
my quiet shades hereto Sppear in your great ei'
Is, and TO address my fpllow-cilgens on the ac-
tual condition aud menacing danger Of our coun-
Try.
| feel, gentlemen. with the greatest interest
and the deepest solicitude, the full force Of all
that you have expressed; and would gladly com.
ply with your wishes. and even dedicate the rem
nant Of life, the largest and best part OF which
has been spent in the public service, TO the cause
OF tue Union, if the state Of my health would al,
low me- and if | believed tina, any fresh rIer,
| tons Of mine would he useful. But ever since
the long session of the last Congress, during
which my arduous duties were greater than was
we'll able TO encounter. my health has been deli
cate and il has renamed so throughout the sum
mer. hope that il is improving but It still re-
unires the most assiduous care and enetia IN
serious apprehensions that Il | were To accept
your invitation and throw mysel! into the scenes
Of excitement incident 10 it, my strength NIGH
fail me, and my present debility nigh, be much
increase There is no place, am ully aware
where should find more ardent and enlhu.
slastc friends in one party, and more courtes,
and respect in the other, than IN the commercial
metropolis of the Union. Whilst am cons,rain
ed, with much regret, respectfully to decline the
mef ing you propose, avail myself Of the occa
sion to pre- sent some views which have taken
OF public affairs, and which | trust may be re-
! ceVpd as q substitute for any oral exhibition Of
| them, which could make before a large con-
course Of my tpllow-citzpns OF New York,
II was not supposed by the authors and sup
| portrrs OF the compromise IN The last Congress,
/ that the adoption OF the series Of measures which
composed il would secure the unanimous con-
currence Of all. Their reasonable hopes were
confurd to the great majority Of the people OF
| the United States, and their hopes have not been
disappointed. Everywhere, north. south, east
and wes, an Immense majority o! the people arc
sal'shed with, or scqniesce 10 the compromise
This may he confidently asserted IN regard To
thirteen Of the slAveholding States, and TO thir
teen il no fourteen Of the free States In a few
Of both classes Of The States, and in some par
ticular localities, dissatisfaction exists, cAhihi
ling Itself occasionally IN words of great VIC
lence aud intcmpcrance tut this feeling is.
trust where il has most prevailed, gradually yield
! ing to an pnliphipunh sense % public duty
Young man by the name OF James Martin, the sol
Littc,on Martin who ives at West Point howndes
county, NJ -sspp, Ire owner can get Il by pay
ing Tor said advertisement, said Book was found ~
the neghborhood of West Point
LtTILEION MARTIN,
Father Of said
JAS. MAR TN.
1 WestP Lowndcs county Miss. n5i-H