New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-07-19
son OF HENRY CLAY ON THE STUMP
HIS FIRST EFFORT.

From The hentuekp Stafesmon, July TO-
Yesterday great Gay in this city. IL being
court day great many people from the country
in the city, II bad previously been announced that
Mr.. James b. Beck, one OF the most distinguished and
able lawyers in our city, and Dir. James b. Clay
of the Sage OF Ashland and owner of the old family
seat would address the people the political topics
of the day. There great anxiety TO hear both
gentlemen and at the appointed hour the court house
was filled TO OVERLOOKING
MIR. Beck spoke first. He has always been a Wing,
though man of Independent thought and action. He
spoke for two hours, and made one of the most able
and efficient are umenis against Kno Nothir gsm that
we have listened to during the present contest
His speech throughout was powerful, arg umentative
convincing conclusive and told with tremendous ef
fect upon his audience.
The next gentleman who took the stand was Mr..
james u. Clay, who, already have remarked, is
the son of the great statesman, and succeeded TO
the p8erDal estate of Ashland.
Mr. Clay said that this his first effort OF public
syet CHI and nothing LEES than the profound interest
which he felt in the great question a, ISSUE could in-
duce him TO appear this occasion. Never before
had such extraordinary, such alarming, such novel
questions been presented for the political consideration
Of the American people. His apprehensons were
aroused in view of them and he sometimes trembled
for the fate of his country. The idea that this Gov
eminent 10 be taken into the keeping of secret,
POLITICAL oath bopnd organization, which set up
constitutional st-oahs and the members of which
were bound TO each other by the most terrible obga-
tiops was TO him most alarming, and should, in his
udg menf, the spprehensloDs OF every patriotic
man in the whole country.
Mr.. Clay denied that the platform put forth by the
late Know Nothing Convention at Philadelphia was
tie real platform of the party-pary, did call them,
said be; no, they not party in any proper accep
tation of the term Parties have heretofore been OPEN
public and above board; but this Is a secret, oath
bound political organization, which is seeking after
the political power of the country by ways and
unknown to the law aud in papabl- disregard of the
longstabshed usages OF the people and the history
of the government. 1t sought political power, not by
open and fair means but by secret plongs by cabsl-
Isle passwords, by signs aud grips, unknown to the
people at large, anc III violation of the whole
81 hit and genius of the government.
No. said he, the true platform of this extraordinary
organization is to be found in their oaths and ritual.
There were 10 be found the things which they were
sw orn 10 do and carry OUT and looking into these
to strke at the citizen OF foreign BIRTH at the immi-
giants from other countries, to dsfranchise degrade
and disgrace them, by depryng them not only of the
rig ht 10 Amercanze themselves but by cutting them
off from the rights Of pitality and humanity They
also sought to dsfranchse and degrade another class
of citizens, whether natve-born foreign on
count Of their religious opinions in plain violation Of
the Constitution of the country, and regardless of the
PLANE ST dictates of justice and humanity.
MIR. Clay said that rather than submit any extended
remarks OF bis own these subjects be had chosen to
coate the expressed and authentic opinions Of the old
fathers of tie repubIci and he read extensively from
the writings of Washington, of Jefferson, of Madison,
OF Quincy and others.
lie concluded his happy effort by saying that though
the old Wing party, with which he had always acted
broken and dispersed yet he appeared as one of
party end in that capacity lie protested against this
new secret organization, as faught with danger his
country and its beriies and he called upon all the
old liners Of the Wing party TO join him in the protest.