The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1856-08-08
jas. B. CLAY SPElkS!
GRAND UNION RALLY In KENTUCKY.

lucky, on Saturday last. 1t was union barbecue,
where several thousand Kentucky freemen and sew
efal hundred Kentucky ladies assembled in beau,i-
ful grove 10 consult. together upon the inomentous
crisis which is now upon the coantrY Hon. Richard
H. Stanton called the meeting TO order and introdue-
ed Col. George B. Hodge, an old-liue whig, who
said he could see no other party the field which
stood upon broad national and union basis but ta,
whose candidates were Buchanan and Breckenridge
When Colonel Hodge had concluded his able and in
tereslng address Col. Stanton introduced Janes ..
Clay, the son Of the immortal Harry 81 the West.1
At this announcement there Arose wild shout Of
enthusiasm and joyful welcome from the vast multi
tude. The ladies rose from their seats and waved
their handkerchiels. Mr.. Clay cane forward and
addressed the meeting. We regret that must
con6ue ourselves a few passages Of lis mastery
speech;
Mr. Clay said that he was quiet farmer, who
had taken liiie part III public affairs. lie a
comparative stranger in MS own state. ] here We're
noi hall dozen familiar faces tbe great crowd
before hlm. But be had been illuminated BY The
press De had been denied the right, unless al the
hazard oi the most bitter and nallguant personal
dettacton, u taking that course in political aitafs
which his Judgment and conscience approved fie
has been painted monster OF political ter2yfr-
saion aud lnfdeity-his own and tie heafi-slfugs
OF hIs family had been torn by the vile abuse 10
which he had been subjected. He now appeared be-
fore them 10 show what ruauuer OF inau le was 10
Justify 10 his fellow counlryuen the consistency and
honor OF his condnct.
Mr.. Clay proceeded 10 say that be had no blood in
his veins which did not flow honoTab bic channel
and from an hoBored source Ii was not IN the
ture Of his TO be faithle.s and treaeherous.-
There was none OF that but had borne d true
anu patriotic heart IN his bosom. An uncle had fall
len salaHlly Struggling against The saVases al The
IlVef Kalsin. Many row present remembered Thar
gallant man who bedeHed the dark aud b0edy
grouEd with his hearts blood a brother had fallen
al baena ista, hShug tor he honor aud dag ot bis
country aud, even when disabled and pIostrate
from many wounds. Wh hen last s-eu he still resisted
aud con.batted the enemies OF hi> country Last and
greatest 81 bls naue--greate-t that bad been
ever would he-hs iather, has i3yed lor hi, coun,ry
ard Ter the Cnloa-had exhausted biz days iR the
service ot the repubiic ahd had imposed all VINO
were connected with him, their hghest aud most
sacred duly, 10 give their test eilots to the uiate
nance OF that cause 10 whlch his great heatl aud tai
ents were su long couSecraled.
IN the performance OF this object, Mr. Clay said
he came there 10 strike blow for the Union. lie
then proceeded 10 show that the banner OF the wing
party had been furied and laid upon his fathers
grave.
Mr.. Clay then proceeded to say that he had clung
10 the old party in rs dying, he had IN lis pros
Perous momeujs, and when lis final dissolution
proclaimed he looked around to see Where he should
lhe Sage OF Marshiield once found himself. He had
entertained opinions in favor ofnativeA ueFicanism,
and had published the first articles that had ever ap
peared IN Kentucky on the subject. So hearing that
there was party organized iaat idea, and which
al the tine proclaimed very high-1oHed and
patriotic national objects and spirit though he enter
talued niuch TepugnaHce to secret societies, he
persuaded 10 present hiGlseif for interrogation al the
portals nt one Of the lodges of the so-caed American
order As the obligation OF secrecy had been remov
OIL hot LII
justified in stating what there occurred. lie was
asked what was his name, where he born, what
religion hP proieesed, what the rciigtaH Of his
rrft, and finally, would he not bud himself never
10 vote for Roman Catholic When thls question
was put 10 htn he withdrew in disgust. That was
no place-no party--for him. What, then, be
to dol He looked around again TO If there
not chance for the resurrection of the whig party.
Not CLEAN oi hope enlivened the gloom OF the hor
rzoa. Under these circumstances. his next thought
and inquiry We're. in what rae Ks could he, IN his
humble way contribute most Ia the rnainteuance OF
the jpIoa aud OF national party! lie 9TH
er place tor him 10 stand upon but in ne ranks OF the
party which alone maintained an organization IN all
thr States-%h.Ch stood upon national and UnOn
ground which alone was able to present powerful
resistance 10 the sectional party whose success he
believed would involve the disruption o. this couied
eracy.
Alter speaking in high terms Of Mr. Fillmore, but
showing that he stood no chance for am election Mr.
Clay proceeded:
But he confessed, if he deemed it wise and patri-
otic to vote for Mr.. Fillmore, il would certainly be
hard task 10 take him with the candidate for the
flce Presidency, Andrew Jackson DoGel,on, who.
besides being renegade from his party. had
quite recently been the revier and drfarrr OF Mr.
Fillmore, and uf that administration which gave Mr.
Fillmore the high consideration and claims aat are
now accorded 10 hm. o vote for Andrew Jackson
Done-ou in preference to John c. Breckenridge was
certainly hard Alternative for kentuckIau. Breck-
lnrldge was his townsuan the playmate ri his in
fancy, the companion OF bis boz hood, his friend ard
intimate at all periods. BrecklnriGge had additional
claims upon him. When he was elected over gener-
al Leslie Coombs to represent the Ashland district in
Congress Mr.. Brecknridse had asked friend OF his
father how Mr.. Clay would receive him if he should
take the liberty OF calling on him. GAS gentle
man and keutuckiau," was the reply.
Ar. Breckenridge accordingly came, and he (the
speaker) was present at the interview. Mr.. Breck-
inridse stated Mr.. Clay that he had called 10 nav
his respects to bin that though Of the opposite po-
iitlca party, he had been chosen to represent the
district which he (Mr. Clay) had himself represented
with so much renown and fidelity, ard he should
consider hImseli-young and inexperienced he was
quite incompetent TO do Justice 10 Tho high duty he
had assumed without the counsel and aid OF Mr.
Clay; and he desired permission to consult with him
freely, when he shond enter upon his duties, and to
receive the aid Of his great experience and knowl-
edge of political affairs. Mr.. Clay much pleas
ed with This interview. II produced deep impress
sion his nird, and his regard for Mr. Breckenridge
was ever aiterward warm and earnest And now
am expected 10 throw aside such a man and vote Tor
Andrew jackson DoneSon. ssWhy, fellow -Kentuck-
ians," exclaimed Mr.. Clay. al would give John
C.. Breckenridge for woods-full of Andrew Jackson
DoneIson-.''
In this connection Mr. Clay referred to the eo-
quent and noble eu'ogium pronounced bv Brecken-
ridge in the House of Representatives on the an
nouncement OF his fathers death.
Mr.. Clay then proceeded to urge upon his old whg
friends, the companions and constituents of his faith
er, to rally around that banner which he had speni