The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-02-06
Letter from Hon. Henry Clay.
TO THE UNION MEETING AT rAnRYTowN, JAN.
WAsHINsroN Jan 90 1851


WAsHINsToN, Jan. 20, 1851.
GENTLEMEN: / have received your letter invit-
ing my attendance at meeting Of the people of
Westchester county, ON the 30th instant, who are
to assemble, without respect to party, to express
their determination to abide by the compromises
of the last session of Congress, and to manifest
their devotion to the Constitution and the Union
of the United States, which it formed.
rejoice in the assemblage of all such meetings
of the people. They have done, and will continue
to do, great good. Whenever they meet, in heart,
in spirit, and in soul, ] am with them, and of them.
And If it were practicable, would be personally
present and participate in them.
Two classes of disunonists threaten our country.
One is that which is open and undisgused in favor
of separation. The other Is that which, dsowning
desire of dissolution of the Union, adopts acourse
and contends for measures and principles which
must inevitably lead to that calamitous result. OF
tho two, think the latter the more dangerous,
because it is deceptive and insidious. I hope
both will be defeated. They will be defeated
if the of the people, true to their best interests
and to their country, will discounenance and
frown down all attempts at alienation and discord
regret gentlemen, that my duties here do not
admit Of my accepting the invitation with which
you have honored me.
H. CLAY.
It will be seen that Mr.. CLAY thinks with
Mr.. WEBSTER in regard to the Union meet
ings, and deems it well enough for the citi-
zens of Westchester to convene in such assem-
blies, even though there may be ''few Dis
unionists in TarTytown." There is no more
marked element in Mr. CLAY's character than
his entire nationality; and to this as much
as to his fearlessness, his eloquence, and his
craftsmanship, he is indebted for his hosts
of friends. And this sentiment he has i'm
pressed upon the people and the politicians Of
Kentucky till they all share it with him,
value it, cherish it, cling to it part of their
being. If he had narrowed his mind to State
limits-if he had given to province what was
meant for nation--if he had always waited to
see what would be thought of his policy or his
sentiments in some Kentucky 'Tarrytown"-
he might have lived and died like Mr.. CAL
HoUN, the idol of State, but he never could
have become the admiration, the pride, and
the glory of continent.
And to the men who listen to the wise and
liberal counsels Of this brave and noble
hearted old chief-who are willing still to
tread with him in the path where he has
guided them for quarter of century-who
have faith in his incorruptible honor, his saga
cious craftsmanship, his devoted patriotism
we regret to see that some Of our northern
WING journals are applying epithets of abuse
and derision. Men who have followed Mr.
CLAY for years as the great leader of the
Wing party, and see no reason to doubt or
abandon him saoto, are stigmatised and de-
nounced by WING newspapers because they
have seen fit, with him, to sign profession of
principle and belief on what they deem para
mount topic of interest to all parties, and as in
volving the perpetuity of the Constitution and
the Union itself
We protest against these ungenerous and un-
just assaults upon WING gentlemen, who have
been guilty of no other offence than that of
agreeing with Mr.. CLAY upon the policy de-
manded by the best interests of the country, in
regard to the adjustment of the last session, and
the propriety ofrallying to its support. The at
temptin certain quarters to prescribe these men
to hunt them down like wild beasts--to fix brand
upon them-is merely an attempt to discover the
WING party, and to drive from its ranks all who
agree with MIR. CLAY, and who sympathize in
the broad, generous, national spirit in which he
has for half a century contemplated the affairs
and interests OF his country.
This attempt will not be successful. The
believers in "Tarrytown" will be compelled
finally to come into the ranks of the men who
like Mr.. CLAY, can survey nations interests
in the spirit of a national statesman.