The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1856-10-03
ADDRESS OF COL. THos H. CLAY.

we puOlish from the Lexington Observer
an address from the eldest son of old Harry
OF the West, to his countrymen. In laying il
before the public the Observer SAYS:
at speaks for itself, and will be read with
pleasure by every friend of MIard Fillmore
Owing TO the fact that the author of this
communication was the eldest of Henry Claws
sons, he enjoved his confidence in very great
| degree, and his opinions upon certain ques.
tions con ected with the history of the great
statesman are worthy Of particular attention. y
To My COunirymen.-Urged by friends
from different quarters, who believe that an
address, put forth by me, as the eldest son of
the founder of the Wing party in the United
States, would be productive of good, and
might tend to induce many to give that calm
reflection to the present polit cal 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 determined from
q sense Of duty, to comply with their wishes;
Ia appeal to the patriotism of my fellow
countrymrn and, If my warning voice NAV be
heard IN this momentOus crisis, TO urge upon
them the selection of such candidates for the
Presidency and Vice Presidency of the United
States, as can alone give permauence to our
institutions, and bring peace TO our distracted
country.
Content to remain in the situation in which
Providence has placed me, have never aspir-
ed to any political Office. have, however,
from my position, an acquaintance with the
public men of the United States and their
political histories, which few, otherwise 'situ-
ated, could have obtained.
We are called upon to select between
James Buchanan, MiIard Fillmore, and Col
John G. Fremont, for the next Presidency
As for the last named of these gentlemen, |
have been unable yet to learn upon what
considerations his friends base his claims. 1t
is but the madness of party spirit and section
asm which could attempt the elevation of
such man to the high office to which he
aspires.
My father thought Buchanan weak and
corrupt; wanting, as Gen. Jackson has it, in
moral 6rmness. have seen no reason to
vary my opinion from his. Mixed up MS he is,
in the old "Bargain and CORRUPTION" plot his
card to the Telegraph newspaper in July,
1927, in which he says, Il attempt not to give
the words, but the substanceD "Mr. Adams
has been elected to the Presidency by Mr..
clay's agency; Mr. Clay h been appointed
Secretary of State by Mr. Adams; the people
will draw their own inIerencps;" his attempts
TO prove in public speeches in 1874, in Penn.
sylvania, that Mr.. Polk was a better Tariff
man than Mr.. Clay, furnish such a damning
record of weakness 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 oe found enlisted in his
cause?
Whether as author or signer of the Ostend
Manifesto, he has shown an utter want of
those statesmanIike qualities which are re-
qusite in President of the United States.
The time has come, when every lover OF his
country should speak out boldly and fear
lpssly. shall not shrink from the duty
Too much is at stake, to tolerate silence in
any one, who s informed rs to the political
histories of either Mr.. Fillmore or Mr. Buch-
anan. Col. Fremont has none.
Turn we now to alIlard Fillmore. Hype-
rion to Satyr BY the act of Providence,
called to the Presidency of the United States,
"
respects;-upholding the Constitution, carry
ing out its compromises; attending to the
interests of every section; respected both ut
home and abroad. On the completion of his
term, hailed by honest Wings and honest
Democrats everywhere, with swell done thou
good and faithful servant" &c.
Can an American public halt in its opinion
between such men? Is Slavery Agitation
never to be put to rest' Is Squatter Sover-
eighty and Filibusterism to be tolerated by
free and enlightened Americans? Esau like,
are we ready to sell our birth rights for n
mess of pottage? Forbid it Almighty God!
Away with the wretched plea of availabi.
ty Let us do what is right and look to God
with honest conscienres for the result
TO the old line Wings of the Ashland
District, | take leave to say, honor them for
their course In their own approving con
sciences, they already feel their reward. They
want no Offices they have acted for the good
of their country, and they have come nobly
up to the work. Mo- cry of availability could
swerve them. In piedging their support of
Mr.. Fillmore 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 i'm
porance of the crisis through which we are
to pass. believe 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 gances upon the
efforts of the friends of Fillmore and Donel-
son, to elevate to the high offices OF President
and Vice President those distinguished and
trustworthy citizens.
Look at Kansas; what has caused the state
of things now being enacted there! Is it not
the weak and imbccile administration of
franklin Pierce? Has not James Buchanan
adopted the acts of his administration as part
of his platform? And can our abused coun
try submit to such another administration for
four years longer!
Away with such miserable abortions. In
Millard Fillmore we have statesman calm,
and wise, and fearless, who can still the ele-
ments of discord and advance the best inter-
ests 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
forever put to rest, sectionalism, Filllbuster-
ism, Squatter Sovereignty, and every thing
that shall tend to mar the integrity, harmony
and peace of this glorious confedeTncy.
Respectfully your ob't. serv't,
THOS. II. CLAY,
Grand President OF the Council OF Ky.
Mansfield, Sept. 9th, 1856.
Voluntary STARVATION. We notice in a
Charleston paper, that one T. j. Evans, Esq,