Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1855-07-18

A Son Of Henry Clay on Know-Nothingism.
A son of Henry Clay, at present the pro-
prietor of the old family mansion, has been
taking the stump against the new Amerl-
can" organization. The Kentucky Statesnea
says that q great interest was manifested 70
hear the first political speech of the son OF SO
renowned an orator as Henry Clay, anu ia
yery large concourse of citizens attended tne
meeting. The speech is given as follows.
THE next gentlemen who took the stand was
M- lanes b. Clay, who, as we have already
marked. is the son of the great statesmen,
a,d has succeeded to the paternal estate OF
Ashland
Mr.. Clay said that this WIS his first effort
at public speech, and nothing less than the
profound interest which he felt in the great
Questions at issue, could induce him to appear
on this occasion. Never before had such ex-
traordinary, ss1ch alarming, such novel ques-
tions been presented for the political consid-
Grafton of the American people. His appre-
tensions were aroused In view of them, and
he sometimes trembled for the fate of the
country. The idea that this government was
to be taken into the keeping of a secret po-
litical, oath-bound organization, which set up
unconstitutional test-oaths and the members
of which were bound to each other by the
most terrible obligations was to him most
alarming, and should in his judgment, arouse
the apprchensions of every patriotic man In
the whole country. $50
Mr.. Clay denied that the platform put forth
by the late Know-Nothing Convention at
Philadelphia, was the real platform of the par
ty-party did l call them, said he; no, they
are not party in any proper acceptation OF
the term Parties have, heretofore, been
open, public and above board; but this is a
Il II. afs<
which is seeking after the political power of
the country, by ways and means unknown to
the law, and in palpable disregard of the long
established usages of the people and the histo
ry of the Government 1t sought political
power, not by open aud fair means, but by
secret plottings cabalistic passwords by signs
and grips, unknown to the people at large,
and in palpable violation of the whole spirit
and genius of the Government.
s. No. said he, the true platform Of this ex-
sraordnary organization is to be found in
their oatls and ritual There were to be
found the things which they were sworn to do
and carry out and looking into these oaths
and the ritual, he found that their objects
were to strike at the citizens of foreign birth.
at the immigration from other countries, to
disfranchise, degrade and disgrace them, by
depriving them not only of the right to Amer
icanize themselves, but by cutting them off
from the rights of hospitality and humanity
They also sought to disfranchise and degrade
another cless of our citizens, whether native
born or foreign, on account of their religious
opinions, in plain violation of the Constitution
of the couHtry, and regardless of the plainest
dictates of justice and humanity.
Mr.. Clay said that, rather than submit any
extended remarks of his own on these subjects,
aie had chosen to collate the expressed and
authentic opinions of the old fathers of the
republics and he read extensively from the
writings of Washington, of Jefferson, of Mad
sson. of jackson, of Quincy and others.
He concluded his happy effort by saying
chat, though the old Wing party, with which
me had always acted, was broken and dispers-
ed, yet he appeared there of the rear
guard of that once powerful and great party
and in that capacity be protested against this
new secret organization, fraught with dan.
ger to his country and its liberties; and he
called upon all the old liners of the Wing par
sy to join him in the protest