Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-04-17
THE CLAY FESTIVAL AT NEW YORK.


guests we notice the names of the Hon JAMES
G. JONES, y. 8. Senator from Tennessee; Hon.
PRESLEY nj. EWING, Representative from Ken
lucky; Willis HALL, and N b. BLUNT
After the removal of the cloth and the announce
ment of the regular toasts, letters were read from
President FIILMoRE, Hon, DANIEL WEBSTER, Hon
@. nj. CONRAD, and other distinguished citizens who
were invited, but unable to be present We make
room for the following
WASHINGTON, MARCH TO- 1852.
GENTLEMEN: have the honor to acknowledge the re-
cept of your favor of the 18th instant inviting me to be
present the occasion of the coming celebration of the
anniversary of the birthday of Henry Clay on the 10Th of
April next in your city, by the Clay Festival Association
and beg in reply to express my sincere regret that my
fetal engagements in this city deprive me Of the
pleasure of joining you that interesting occasion
Every testimony Of respect is due the imehonored
Patriot who has shrunk from duty and avoided
sponsbty to advance the glory and prosperity of his
native country
With high regard remain, very sincerely yours,
WILLARD FILLMORE.
WASHINGTON, APRIL T. 1852.
GENTLEMEN: l received in the course of mail your
obgng letter of the 18th of March, to which circum
stances have prevented from returning earlier
swer; and obliged to say, with much regret,
that my public duties will not allow be in New York
on the 18th instant. a
You invite me, gentlemen to join your association in
commemorating the birthday of Mr. Clay You say with
becoming emphasis and warmth that your object is to
pay honor not to the partisan but to the
der tribute to party political services, but to the a
bues which characterize the patriot who in the advocacy
of his countrys cause knows North South no East
no West nothing but his country
entirely concur with you, gentlemen, in this high
cor finn hay know Mr. in fha lsof
his country for many years. and have always entertain
ed admiration for his talents and entire confidence in his
patriotism. have regarded him uniformly Of
broad national policy and quite free from the influence of
local preudices opinions feelings Your remembrance
of him at the approaching festival will be the
der and aectonate from the present state of his health
your fervent Wishes gentlemen, and mine could be gra
tifed should him restored again. in health
and strength to the public service But whatever this
respect may be designed by Providence, he viii be
of united sympathies and prayers long he shall
be spared to his country.
am, gentlemen, with high regard your friend and ODE
dent servant, DANIEL WEBSTER.
WASHINGTON, APRIL 5, 1852.
GENTLEMEN have the honor to acknowledge the re-
cept of your friendly note inviting to attend the cee
bration of my birthday by the Clay Festival Assoca
ton, the 18th instant in the city of New York If
which you kindly congratulate me- it might have been
possible for to accept your invitation. But
ry say that during the last three months with occa
siona alterations there has been material change in
the of my health and is utterly mpracticabe for
proceed to New York. and unite in the contem
plated festivities of the 18th.
The commemoraton Of my birthday, this and for
occasions chiefly confined to the city of New York.
have regarded being prompted the hearts
dent and enthusiastic friends by their devoted attach
ment to and by their generous and unbounded conf
dence never conceived that would pass the limits of
their circle that it would partake in the smallest de-
gree of national character. Our country has been
blessed by Providence with but whose birthday
ought be- and hope will be- celebrated great
nationa anniversary n all times But gentlsaen
owe On expression Of profound acknowledgment and
my deep obligation for this distinguished and renewed
testimony Of the and regard which the Clay Fest
val Association does the honor to entertain. And
mpore upon the heads Of all its members the blessings
of Providence, of health happiness and prosperity, and
oil other blessings.
am, with the highest respect, your and faithful
friend, II. CLAY.
Senator JONES, of Tennessee, responded to one
of the regular toasts His speech is thus noticed
by the New York Commercial Advertiser:
"we took full report of his address, but are COM
the pressure OF 10 very
brief synopsis. Considering how many master minds
and eloquent tongues have eulogized Henry Clay, the
task imposed upon the speaker Of slight diff
Guilty and though noble theme its successful treatment
depended much upon the heart the intellect Sena-
tor Jones brought both TO his task and the effect upon
the company eectrfying We have rarely listened
to euogstic speech which directly and warmly
to the heart, while commanding admiration an orato-
rical effort.
After adverting to the boyhood Of Henry Clay and
contrasting briefly the comparative obscury Of his origin
with the MONDAY and wide spendor Of his subss
quent career he INDUCED in outburts Of eoquence and
enthusiasm which elected round after round Of rapturous
applause, and passed to speak of the Union, amid
tumult Of approving excitement He said
Sir, have country, great and glorious country
widespread world vast universe, which the God of
nature himself has created. Nothing presents such
And sir does II not strike the mind with profound aston
shment that within the lifetime Of the distinguished in
dividua whose birthday commemorate We have had
national existence? From three millions Of poor de-
fenceless people, almost, number now twenty-five
millions. We few colonies combined within mar
limits but the world itself scarcely large
enough TO contain this wonderful American heart and
spirit. As American freeman, ask is there not
enough aye than enough in this country Of ours
to ill the largest desires Of hearsf And Is II not
astonishing is it strange is II not passing strange
is 1t not wonderful nfatuaton, that we can under any
state Of circumstances solitary moment forget that
all members Of glorious family, and oil heirs of
the glorious inheritance
firnnQ rucp