The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-08-01
GRAND UNION RALLY in KENTUCKY.

national wings Maysville in Kentucky on Saturday
last 1t union barbecue, where several thousand
Kentucky feemen and several hundred Kentucky ladies
assembled in beautiful grove to consult together upon
the momentous crisis which is upon the country.
Lon Richard H. Stanton called the meeting to Order and in
rOduced Col George B. Hodge odline whig who said
he could other party in the field which stood upon
broad national and union basis but that whose candi-
dates were Buchanan and Breckenridge. When Colo
mel Hodge had concluded bis able and interesting address
Col Stanton introduced james Clay the of the Inn
mortal Harry of the West" At this announcement there
wild shout of enthusiasm and joyful welcome from
the vast multitude The ladies rose from their and
waved their handkerchief Mr. Clay forward and
addressed the meeting We regret that We must con6ne
ourselves to few passages of his mastery speech;
Mr. Clay said that he quiet farmer who had taken
but little part in public affairs He comparative
stranger in his own State. There no. half dozen
familiar faces in the great crowd before him. But he had
been eaamnated by the presshe had been denied the
right unless at the hazard of the most bitter and nag
nant personal detracton of taking that course in political
affairs which his Judgment and conscience approved. He
had been painted as monster Of political regeneration
and nhdeltyhis and the strings of his family
had been torn by the vile abuse which he had been sub
Jeced lie now appeared before them to show what
ner OF man he was 10 Justify his eowcountry the
CONSISTENCY and honor of his conduct
Mr. Clay proceeded TO say that he had blood in his
veins which did not flow in an honorable channel from
honored II not in the nature of his to
be fahess and eacherous There of that race
but had borne true and patriotic heart in his bosom An
uncle had fallen CALAMITY struggling against the savages
gallant man who believed the dark and bloody ground
with his hearts blood. brother had fallen at Buena
VISTA fighting for the honor and flag Of his country and
even when disabled and PROSTATE from many wounds
when last he still resisted and combated the enemies
of his country Last and greatest of his namegreates
that had ever been would behis father had lived
Iol dave
in the service of the republic and had imposed all who
connected with him. their highest and most sacred
duty to give thar l ei.ors to the maintenance of that
canse to which his great heart and talents were SO long
consecrated.
In the performance of this object Mr. Clay said he came
there to strike blow for the Uuion He then proceeded
to show that the banner Of the wing party had been ued
and laid upon his fathers grave
Mr. Clay then proceeded state that he had chung to the
old party in its dying he had in its prosperous moments
and when its final dissolution proclaimed he looked
around where he should 60 He felt himself in the
embarrassment in which the Sage of Marshed found
himself He had entertained opinions in favor of native
Amercansm, and had published the first articles that had
appeared in Kentucky that subject &c. hearing
that there party organized that idea, and which
at the same time proclaimed very heightened and patriotic
national objects and spirit though he entertained much
repugnance to secret societies. he persuaded to pre-
sent himself for Interrogation at the portals of of
the lodges of the socaed American order. AS the OBJ
legation of secrecy had been removed from all per-
sons in reference to that order, he felt justified in
stating what there occurred He was asked what was
his name, where he born, what religion he pro-
tessed what the religion Of his ppe and, finally,
would be not bind himself to vote for Roman
Catholic2 When this question put to him he with
drew in disgust That was no plaee-no party-for him.
What then, he I'd do2 he looked around again TO
if there not chance for the resurrection Of the
whg party. Not CLEAN of hope enlivened the gloom OF
the horizon Under these circumstances his next thought
and inquiry were in what ranks could be- in his humble
way contribute most to the maintenance of the Union and
OF national par,y2 He other place for him to
stand upon ranks of the party which alone main
an States-Whch
national and Union ground-which alone able to pre-
powerful resistance TO the sectional party whose
he believed would involve the disruption of this
confederacy
After speaking in high terms of Mr. Fillmore but show
ing that he stood no chance for an election Clay pre-
ceeded:
But he confessed If he deemed it wise and patriotic to
for Mr. Fillmore it would certainly be hard task TO
take him with the candidate for the vice presidency An
drew jackson Donelson who, besides being renegade
from his party, had quite recently been the reviler
and deamer Of Mr.. Fillmore, and of that administration
which gave Mr. Fillmore the high consideration and claims
that now accorded to him To vote for Andrew Jack
Donelson il preference 10 John O. Breckenridge
certainly hard alternative for Kentuckian. Breckiu-
ridge his townsman the of his infancy the
companion Of his boyhood his friend and intimate all
periods. Breckenridge had additional claims upon him.
When he elected General Leslie Coombs to rep
resent the Ashland district in Congress Mr. Breckenridge
had asked friend of his father how Mr. Clay would
ceve him If he should take the liberty of calling him
"As gentleman and Kentuckian," was the reply.
Mr. Breckenridge accordingly came and he 1.-THE speaker
present the interview. Mr. Breckenridge stated to
Mr. Clay that he had called to pay bis respects TO him
that, though Of the opposite political party, he bad been
chosen represent the district which he (Mr Cay) had
himself represented with much and fidelity and
he should consider hmse-young and inexperienced
wasquite incompetent 10 do justice TO the high duty he
bad assumed without the counsel and aid OF Mr. Clay and
he desired permission TO consult with him freely when he
should upon his duties and receive the aid of his
great experience and knowledge Of political affairs. Mr.
Clay much pleased with this interview Ii produced
deep impression his mind, and his regard for Mr..
Breckenridge afterward and earnest And
| expected to throw aside such and vote
ans,r exclaimed Mr.. Clay, Il would not give John @.
Breckenridge for woodsull Of Andrew Jackson Donel
sons"
In this connexion Mr. Clay referred the eloquent just
and noble euogum pronounced by Breckenridge In the
House of Representatives on the announcement of his
fathers death
Mr.. Clay then proceeded TO urge upon his old wing
friends the companions and constituents Of his father TO
rally around that banner which he had spent his life in up
hoiding-the banner of the Union He ready follow
the wing standard the Douglas followed the heart of
Bruce-as long 1t waved. But that flag longer
TO be the battlefield. IL might yet be unfurled
After death there the resurrection But ut present
there whig organization and the only party Of the
Union that Of which Buchanan and Breckenridge
were the candidates.
chanan in the charge of bargain and corruption On that
subject he proposed to take the testimony OF his own1
father and be read from Mr. Cays letter show TINT Mr.
Buchanan had conducted himself in that affair
Of truth and honor he should believe what his father said
before others Besides the evidence be had read there
other testimony bearing the point In feeling and
eloquent terms he referred the heavy weight OF that
charge against his father and how CALAMITY and bravely
he had borne it, Thank God died before his father and
now he proud TO say that there lived not the man