Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-02-14

The manner of the delivery of this Address could
not be exceeded in grace, emphasis, appropriate
feeling.
Mr. CLAY received the address standing, with the
deepest attention, and then proceeded to observe
that, although it had been his habit in addressing
public bodies larger smaller, to speak extempo-
raneously, he had been induced, this occasion,
well out of profound respect to the Committee in
regard to his feeble state of health to depart from
his ordinary practice and reduce his reply to writing
He then read, in firm though somewhat feeble
voice, the following reply:
GENTLEMEN: This is among the most interesting and
gratifying days Of my fe although have been confined
to these for long time by tedious and doubtful
illness You have here, the representatives of
large and enlightened body Of ardent and devoted friends
of mine in the city of New York. to present to beau
tful and costly gold medal intended to my
public fe On face of it is engraved all the great
public measures adopted in the National Councils in
which supposed have had any conspicuous agency
and the other remarkable and likeness of
The time and the place of presentation, and the
friends who have contributed this splendid testimonial
give to it an inestimable value The time is when am
about retire forever from public life and when
not expect much longer nger here below the place
is the city of Washington the principal theatre of those
services winch have commended themselves
appreciation Throughout my public life have been
blessed, every where in the United States with
fewer true friends to whom bound by the strongest
sentiments of ratude but nowhere have they
those in the city of New York in ZEAL constancy and
fidelity, and in distinguished and various demonstrations
Of their affection and attachment Whilst one in the
ardent pursuit of public e and held up for its highest
honors it is not practicable always discriminate among
his supporters between those who bestow surages
from pure patriotic and disntercsed motives and those
who actuated by selfish ends but this occasion no
such difficulty exists You have come at much personal
inconvenience the bed of sick and afflicted friend to
present to him, in your and in the of
body Of his personal and political friends whom
you represent precious token Of your esteem and
aectonate regard That friend has not now, and
will have, any public patronage to dispense. The high
and honorable and snerested character of your motives
cannot, therefore, be questioned.
Gentlemen request you to accept yourselves and to
communicate my absent friends whom you represent
my cordial and heartfelt thanks and my grateful and pro-
found Acknowledgements for this rich tribute the sen
ments which they do the entertain towards
me. should have been most happy to have expressed
my great obligations to oil Of them personally if it had
been in my power. u tNHp
shall pass from the Jurisdiction Of my contempt
rares and Of the present generation that history and
posterity the shall deem worthy Of any record
on its pages tradition shall transmit any recollection of
to the other.
II is not within my legitimate province TO express any
opinion my public public deeds. That
Office belongs to them and shall consider my future fame
fortunate il it shall be regarded by them with small por
ton Of tho favor with which the partially Of yourselves
and your associates contemplate it,
shall appear before higher and holy tr-
buna than any earthly one, which unerrngly Judge
of the motives well the of To that tribu
nal look forward with composure and confidence that
shall be acquitted Of having been prompted in the
discharge Of my public duties, by any sord or
selfish ends been animated by any other purpose than
to promote the honor the prosperity and glory of
common country.
Medals are generally struck by the authority and paid
for out Of the public Treasury Of Government and most
frequently are intended to reward and gnalize the tr
umphs achieved in war. But that which you now so
kindly tender to my acceptance is the spontaneous offer
ing Of private citizens from their private purses for pub
lie services exclusively in the civil department shall
fondy and gratefully cherish and preserve Il whilst life
endures and transmit il my descendants under the
hope that they win receive and carefully guard it with
emotions Of lively gratitude to my New York friends as
the proudest and richest legacy that could leave them
During the delivery Of this beautiful and appro
pirate reply the most perfect silence pervaded the
chamber; every eye was fixed on the tall and CON-
mding form so long known to the public, but
respect and admiration were mingled with tender