Washington telegraph., 1852-05-12
Speech of EX-GOy. Zones at the
Clay Festival.

The seventy-ffth anniversary of the birth
day of HENRY CLAY was celebrated in New
York on the 18th instant in an enthusiastic
manner by the members of the Clay Fes-
tival Association. To the second and
third regular toasts Ex-Governor JAMES G.
JONES responded in a speech, of which we
find in the Herald the following report:
| thank you most sincerely for the privilege
which | enjoy of being present on this very inter-
esting occasion. 1t always affords me pleasure
to meet with my countrymen in every part of this
widespread Union of ours; but there is something
and | scarcely know what it is-which renders
the present occasion of peculiar interest to me-
1t is, certainly one of the most interesting occa-
sions of my life. Sir, it is circumstance of the
most pleasing kind and yet that pleasure is min
gled with melancholy shade. This is the first
time it has been my fortune-yea, sir. my good
tortune-to meet you as an association. L have
never before met you in person, and yet | have
been with you in heart. Applause In
looking over the vast assembly, though | have
never seen your faces before, feel that you
not only my friends, my countrymen, American
freemen; but more than that--you are my brothers.
fGreat applause. Have we not fought together
Have we not bled together? And have we not been
willing and ready to die togethere Vehement
applausel You have assembled here, and for
whatl To pay honor to the name and to the
character of an American citizen. In all ages OF
the world-in every enlightened age of the world
in every Christian nation, it has been the habit
and custom to commemorate great and important
events connected with the character and history
of the government which was intended to cele-
brate these events You, in your judgment, in
your WISDOM in your patriotism, and perhaps IN
your partalties, have chosen to associate your
selves together for the purpose OF commemoratIng
the birthday of an American citizen. And who
is he +? and what is he "The Mill-boy of the
Slashesa" Loud cheers. Sir, what brighter
commentary (here the orator pointed to one OF
the banners representing the young Clay depart
ing from his humble home) can be written on the
character and the genius of American Institutions
than are to be found in that illustration and In
this vast multitude A boy, starting from the ut
most obscurity of life-a poor mill-boy-and null
titudes, and States, and empires-aye, and worlds
if they were-to do homage to his name lOver-
whelming applause, which lasted several minutes,
the company standing, waving their handkerchiets
and cheering vociferously. Il know turning
and quoting from the banner suspended behind
hirnl no North. no South no East, no West
nothing but my country" And is there not enough
in the history which may be traced from the state
of the humble mil-boy to the proud and glorious
height which none but angels may dare TO tread
is there not enough IN that, say, TO call iorth the
true and glorious heartfelt devotion of every
American freeman of this country, which he says
he knows alone without North or South, or East
or Weste Loud cheers.l Is there not enough
in this country to fill the largest desires OF patriotic
ambition? | come not here sir, for the purpose OF
eulogizing Henry Clay. He needs no eulogy
The history of his country for half century Is
one interminabe, undying eulogy of Henry Clay
Great applause. Tell me of the historian, and
/ honor him: but why should he attempt to write
the history of Henry Clay? 1t is written on
every American heart. 1t has glorious tradl-
ton. 1t needs no type; it shall descend from
from heart to heart, and from generation to gene
ration till time shall be no more. lApplause.I
Why. sirs let the schoolboy pick up the record OF
his country for fifty years, and scarcely will he
find a solitary page on that record in which the
name of Henry Clay does not stand out In bold
relief like some proud mountain amongst the
mere hills which surround It, But SIT, the ma
iesty of his genius the brightness OF his character
the fearlessness of his heart-what are they raised
and ennobling and terrible as they are! On, they
sink into litteness when compared to that sell
sacrificing devotion to his country winch has
marked his whole political career. lApplause,
And. sir. if there were pen bold enough TO at
tempt faithfully to sketch his character-lt there
| were faithful picture painted of him, IT will
stand out on the canvass brighter, purer, hgher,
| holier than all the rest-the man VINO darea ever
to be free; ever to be willing to sacrifice himself
and all his interests for his country and his coun
| try's honor. tGreat applause Where, S-r, Is
the man, since the days of the godike and I'M n
mortal Washington, who could dare say, when the
pride and allurements of Office power, splendoer,
| and place were presented to hlm-where is tae
man, say, since the days of Washington, who
could say. and did say, and did feel 81 would would
rather be right than be President 3" Loud
cheers Well, sir, it is the self-sacriiicing devo,
ton of the man. They say he is ambitious. And
who is not ambitious? None but the craven
slaves whom the gods despise lCheersI Am
bilious He is ambitious, and l should not love
him if he were not ambitious. Cheers But
where is the man with the record that can show
that his ambition ever outstripped his love OF
| country? He is ambitious, and every true man
and every noble man, has right to be ambitious.
! Tell me man without ambition, and to have ge-
L..uk orJ so,,l apd spirit and lrfnOr-