The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1856-09-15
Address of ThOs Hart Clay, President Of Aneri.
can Council Of kentucky
TO MY COJNTRYMEN.


party in the United States, would be product
i've Of good and might tend to induce many to
give that calm reflection to the present polit.
ical condition of our beloved country which it
so imperatively demands, notwithstanding the
objections which present themselves to me,
and which are many and grave, have deter
mined, from a sense of duty, to comply with
their wishes; to appeal to the patriotism of my
fellow countrymen; and, if my warning voice
may be heard in this momentous crisis, to
urge upon them the selection of such candi-
dates for the Presidency and Vice Presidency
of the United States as can alone give perIna-
nence to our institutions, and bring peace to
our distracted country 1
Content to remain in the situation in which
Providence has placed me, have never as
pired to any political Office. I have, however,
from my position, an acquaintance with the
public men OF the United States and their po-
htical histories, which few, otherwise situated
could have obtained.
We are called upon to select between James
Buchanan, Willard Fillmore, and Col. ohm c.
Fremont for the next Presidency. As for the
last named of these gentlemen, nave been un-
able yet to learn upon what considerations his
friends base his claims. 1t is but the madness
of party spirit and sectionalism which could
attempt the elevation of such man to the
high Office to which he appears.
My father thought Buchanan weak and cor
rupt; wanting, as General jackson has it, in
moral firmness. have seen no reason to vary
my opinion from his. Mixed up, as he Is, in
the old Bargain and Corruption plot, his
card to the Telegraph newspaperin July, 1927,
in which he says q attempt not to give the
words, but the substance), "Mr. Adams has
haa al cd RI tha hv Mr. VIC
agency; Mr.. Clay has been appointed Secretary
Of State by Mr.. Adams; the people will draw
their own inferences;" his attempts to prove
in public speeches in 1874, in Pennsylvania,
that Mr.. Polk was better tariff man than Mr..
Clay, furnish such a damning record of weak
ness and corruption, that | cannot conceive
how even any Democrat Of the old line, mean
jackson Democrat, could give him his support.
Who could believe, then, that any old line
Wing, any friend of my father, would be found
enlisted IN his cause?
Whether as author or signer of that Ostend
Manifesto, he has shown an utter want of
those statesmanlike qualities which are requi-
site in a President of the United States.
The time has come when every lover of his
country should speak out boldly and fearless
ly. / shall not shrink from the duty. Too
much is at stake to tolerate silence in any one
who is informed as to the political histories of
either Mr.. Fillmore or Mr.. Buchanan. Col
Fremont has none. - s,..sa
Turn we now to Willard Fillmore. Hype-
rian to a Satyr. BY the act of Providence,
called to the Presidency Of the United States,
we see him national and conservative in all
respects; upholding the Constitution, carrying
out its compromises; attending to the inter-
ests of every section; respected both at home
and abroad. On the completion of his term,
hailed by honest Wings and honest Democrats
everywhere, with, well done, thou good and
faithful servant" &c.
Can an American public halt in its opinion
between such men ? Is slavery agitation ney-
err to be put to rest? Is squatter sovereignty
and fiIIbusterism to be tolerated by free and
enlightened Americans? Esau-like, are we
ready to sell our birth rights for a mess of
pottage !? FORBID it, Almighty God
Away with the wretched plea of available
ity. Let US do what is right, and look to God
with honest -conSciences for the result.
Tothe old line Wings of the Ashland Dis
trict / take leave to say, l honor them for
their course. In their own approving con-
sciences they already feel their reward They
want no offices, they acted for the good of
their country, and they have come nobly up to
the work No cry of availability could swerve
them. In pledging their support of Mr.. Fill
more, they do only what their old leader would
do. with all his might, could he now once
more address his country.
| write warmly, for feel deeply the impor-
lance of the crisis through which we are about
to pass. Ibelieve the "spirits Of the just made
perfect,'if they are ever permitted to look
down upon the affairs of this earth, are now
bending their approving glances upon the eff
r. IL. H. g
to elevate to the hig III offices of President and
Vice President those distinguished and trust
worthy citizens.
Look at Kansas; what has produced the
state ofthings now being enacted there Is
it not the weak and imbecile administration of
Franklin Pierce Has not James Buchanan
adopted the acts of his administration as part
of his platform? And can our abused country
submit to such another administration for four
years longer? -
Away with such miserable abortions. In
Willard Fillmore we have statesman calm
ami wise and fearless, who can still the ele-
ment of discord and advance the best interests
of our country.
Brothers Of the American party, stand to
your arms and be of good cheer! National
and conservative men throughout the land
are gathering to our standard. A few weeks,
| trust will produce such results as shall for
ever put to rest sectionalism, fillibustensm
squatter sovereignty, and every thing that shall
tend to mar theintegrity, harmony, and peace
of this glorious confederacy.
Respectfully, your ob't sery't,
.-asz THOS. H. CLAY,
Grand President of the Council of KY.
MANSFIELD, Sept. 8, 1856.
.t.se e
OF Add Sanders, editor of the Evansville