New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-04-14
HENRY CLAY'S BIRTHDAY.
Annual Dinner ef the Clay Festival Associa
lion.

man Of his seventy fifth year, was comemorated on
Monday evening by a Festival at the Apollo Rooms,
which was attended by very large company Of the
true friends of Mr.. CLAY.
The rom was beautifully decorated with the banners
and notices which shone conspicously in the great
campsign of ls44 Mr.. CLAr's bust, surrounded by a
green wreath in the form Of heart amid drapery of
flags, was placed 1T the head Of the Underneath
WIS the inscription:
~ knew 10 North, South, East, West nothing
bat my County
But we reed not copy the various mottoes and sentl
mer,s mostly first uttered by Mr.. CLAY himself; they
are wen known to every adnrer OF consunate States
nsnship and unquestioned Patriotism
Dodworh's unrivaled band selected to do musical
honor TO the OCCASION and was, of course, well done
The supper, byGEoRGE ALKER well supplied and well
organized though rather late, laid for something
over 500 guests and there nearly many in al
tendance
JOSEPH l.. WHITE, Esq, presided, assist
ed by number of VcePresidents. Among the guests
were Ex-Governor JONES of Tennessee, and Hon PREsLY
living of kentucky, Mr.. PEYroE Of Virginia Rev. E.
H. CHAPrS, NJ B. BLUNT, WILLIS HALL N G. BRAD
FORD EsAsTus Books, GERARD srUryEsAsT, DANIEL
ULLMAN, Col Pryor, and others.
The company having assembled at the
tables the proceedings commenced with short invoca-
ton by Rev. E. H. CHAPLIN and then the supper That
being over,
The President gave the first regular
toas:
The l2h of ATr7, III.
The Birthday Of man who
Is not 70 a dag, bu; Sor al time"
Muse" on in the s,ly Night"
This was hailed with storm of cheers,
ILL.,, -
WIN. G. MITCHELL sang an original song,
to the tune of Dearest Mae"
Mr.. BRADFoRD then read letters of regret
from President FILLMORE; DANIEL WEBSTER secre-
tary of State VIM A. GRAHAM, Secretary OF the Navy
C. NJ CONRAD, Secretary at War the President saying
that al the other letters would be published
The President then gave the second reg
ular toast
ouyed detracto and disturbed by dreams of ambition
removed from the of political conict-animated by
noble embodiment of Democratic Wing principles"
might hail thee President with happier brow,
This toast was received with cheers in perfect
abandon. The band played q Here's to you, Harry
Clay" which was loudly cheered and encored
Mr.. BRADFORD read q letter from Mr..
CLAY, rcgreng his inability TO attend, and expressing
his gratitude to bis NewYork friends 1t was as fol-
lows:
WASHINGTON Monday, April s. 1852
GENTLEMEN: have the honor TO acknowledge the re-
cent of YOUR friendly note inviting attend the ceebra
ton of my birthday by the Clay Festival Associaon on
tbe I2b inst In the CITY of NeYork If there that
improvement in the condition of my health which you
kindly congratulate might have been possible Tor me 70
ACCEPT your invitation But am sorry say that during
The pt three months with occasional alterations there has
been material change In the state OF my health ana u Is
utterly impaccabe for to proceed to and 10
mite in the contemplated festivities OF the Eth.
The commemoration of my birthday tins and former &C.
casions chiefly confined the City OF New-York have
regarded being prompted by the hearts of ardent ard en-
thusiastc friends by their devoted attachment to and by
their and unbounded confidence never conceived
that would pass the limits of their circle or that 1t would
parake in the smallest degree of National character Our
country has been blessed by Providence with but one man
whose birthday ought to be and hope ever m be
gentlemen expression OF my profound acknowiedg
ment and my deep obligation for this distinguished and re-
newed testimony of the esteem and regard which the lay
Festival Association does the honor TO entertain. And
impoe upon the heads of all its members the blessings OF
Providence health happiness and prosperity and all other
blessings with the highest respect your true and talt
full friend. Ii. CLAY.
Messrs Bradford, White, Brewer, Wood and Carroll.
A song was sung to the air, 1.-The brave
old Oak"
The third toast was then given.
1--WE know no North no South,
No East West,
Nothing but OF. cOusr.r."
4" The hottest spo, smiling sun
Fer shed ns GENIAL rays upon,
M '''''"' ' " iMusic-" Hail Columbia"
Gov. JONES, of Tenn, (who was hailed
with loud cheers responded TO the toast well as to the
one which preceded He said GIN substance) that he
thankful that he present he was always pleased
to his countrymen in every portion OF the Union
The present occasion OF peculiar interest TO him
he was surrounded by circumstances most peasurable
vet that pleasure was mingled with melancholy vein
He this Society before in person, but had
ever been with them in heart You are not only my
friends and counirymen you are my brothers.
Have we not fought and bled together, and
have we not been ready to die together You
are here TO pay honor 10 the name and character
OF American citizen cheersI In your justice, Wis
DOM patriotism and perhaps your partialtes you have
chosen to commemorate the birthday OF an American
citizen. Who and what is hef The Millboy OF the
Sashes cheers There can be no better comment upon
our American institutions than this event. 10 thus poor
boy Of Virginia worlds now do honor lgreat cheer
ingl Mr. J. quoted the motto under the bust OF Mr.
Clay Is there not enough in his history to cal
forth the unqualified appreciation OF the world Tor
the country which raised him viii not eulo-
gize Henry Clay he needs no eulogy, The his
tory OF his century Is his Incompatible eulogy.
His fame is written upon every American
heart and will go from heart to heart u Time shall be
no more The majesty of his genns the proudness OF
his heart the ncbenes of his patriotism, great as they
are sunk before that ardent patriotism which makes
him the glory of his country and the world de has al
his country devotion without parallel since the
godlike Washington. They say he is ambitious, and
who is not None but the craven slave whom me gods
despse But who show that his ambition outstnpped
ambitious and despise man who Is not IL HENRY
CLAY had desired power, place. authority at the saer
fee of his own integrity, who does not know that
he could have been President long But he has al
ways loved his country he has been lis polar star.
When storms lowered over US where did you find this
ambitious mani Always sacrificing himself for his
country When others quailed, when Freedom quailed,
where did YOU find him In the Missouri question, in
1882 in 1850 when the whole nation convulsed he
was always first TO sacrifice himself for his country.
His services, his long years of devotion his persecu.
fl
these--tel me where is the man living or dead,
who thrice saved this naton-the who thrice IN
quarter OF a century has been called OF God to save
his countryi l would rather (said Gov - be
character of Henry Clay than TO follow the train of the
proudest conqueror who ever lived (Great cheering
have never been worshiper Of men believe in the
living and the true God but believe there is every
thing due to merit and this ground Henry Clay
has always had the undivided love Of my head and my
heart l am sure that whatever Of personal opinion