Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-07-27
From The Kentucky Statesman. July TO-
Son of Henry Clay on the
Stump.
HIS FIRST EFFORT.


Yesterday was great day in this city. II
being court day great many people from
the country were in the city. 1t had prcv
ously been announced that Mr. James u.
Beck, one Of the most distinguished and able
lawyers ia our city, and Mr. James D. Clay.
son Of the Sage of Ashland and owner Of
the old family scat, would address the people
on the political topics Of the day. There
was a great anxiety TO hear both gentlemen.
and at the appointed hour the court house
was filed to everything.
MIR. Beck spoke first. lie has always
been Wing, though a man Of independent
thought and action. lie spoke for two hours.
and made one Of the most able and efficient
arguments against Know Noihingism that
we have listened to during the present con-
test.
His speech Throughout, was powerful, ar
gumentativc, convincing, conclusive, and
told with tremendous effect upon his audi
ence.
The next gentleman who took the stand
was Mr.. James y. Clay, who, as we already
have remarked, IS the son of the great states
man, aud has succeeded to the paternal es ate
/ of Ashland
Mr. Clay said that this was his first effort
/ Of public speech, and nothing less than
the profound interest which he felt in the
/ great question at issue, could induce him to
appear on this occasion. Never before had
such extraordinary, such alarming, such
novel questions been presented for the poll
teal consideration of the American people.
I His apprehensiuns were aroused in view of
them, and he sometimes irembled for the fate
Of his country. The idea that this Govern
L.. a. e.. 4
secret, political, 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 apprehensio1s Of every
patriotic man IN the whole country.
Mr.. Clay denied that the platform nut
torih by The late Know Nothing Convention
at Philadelphia was the real platform of the
pariy-parg, did called them, said he; no,
they are not party in any proper accopta-
ton OF the tern Parties have heretofore
been open, pubic aud above board but tins
Is a secret, oath-bousd, political organiza-
ton, which IS seeking after the political
power OF the country by waysyand means
unknown to the law, and IN 2alrahle disre.
gard Of the long established ,saces of the
people and the history Of the 20, rnment 49,
Ii sought political power, not by uyen and
fair means, but 10y secret plottngs, by -ab,l.
istic passwords, by signs and grips, unkn,wr
10 the people at large, and IN palpable vlol,~
ton Of the whole spirit and genius Of th'
government
No, ID he, the tru platform Of this OK
lraordnary organization is TO be found II
their oaihs and ritual. There were to b.
found the things which they were sworn &
do and to carry ont and looking into thes
oaihs and the ritual, he found that their Oh
lecis were 90 strike ut the citizen of ioroig
J brth at The immigrants from other conntrie.
20 d.slanchise, degrade and disgrace then
by depryng them not only Of the right {
AmcrlcanIze themselves, but By culun
them oil from the rights OF hospitality an
humanity. They also sought to di-ifanch
iso and degrade another class Of out citz
ems, whether native born or foreign, on ac
= count Of their religious opinions IN plal
violation Of the Constitution Of the country
: and regardless Of the plainest dictates [
justice and humanity.
Mr.. Clay said that rather than submit an
) extended remarks Of his own on these sub
Jecls he bad chosen to collate the espresso
and authentic opinions Of the old fathers c
the republic and be read extensively frol
r the writings Of Washington. Of jefferson
b OF Madison, of Quincy and others
: lie concluded hls happy effort by sayn
that though the old Wing party, with whic
he had always acted, was broken and d.,
5 persed, yet he appeared as one of the ol
p rear guard of that once powerful and gre'
party, and IN that capacity he protested q
gaiust this new sccrec. organization, q
! iraught with danger to his country aud d
i liberties and he called upon al The o
: liners Of the Wing party 10 JOIN him IN d
protest.