Volcano weekly ledger., 1856-09-13
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Speech of
James B. Clay, the Son of the Immortal
Harry of the West"


At this announcement there arose q wild
shout of enthusiasm and joyful welcome from
the vast multitude. The ladies arose from
their seats and waved their handkerchiefs,
the men shouted to the very top of their lungs
young and old united in some of the most
earnest and tumultuous exhibition Of real
feeling we have ever witnessed Mr.. Clay
seemed to be much effected by these demon
strations. In very clear, modest and manly
tone he proceeded to address them.
We were never in our lives, more surprised
than by the speech of this gentleman. We
had been led to believe that he was person
of rather cold nature, and ordinary natural
powers Doubtless the great fame of his fa-
ther has stood in the way of the just appreci-
alton of his talents The very name he bears
his relationship to the great man of the
State-has prevented him from assuming a
prominent position in public affairs and crea-
ted against him something like jealousy in the
breasts of his fathers old friends and admir-
ers, who could not bear to see any one of the
name and lineage Of Clay attempt to follow,
at how great soever distance, in the foot
steps of their ilustrious chief These inhu-
cnces have depressed Mr. Clay's reputation
much below the measure it is justly entitled
to, and produced a dilidehce and distrust,
which some of the very people who cherish
the fame of his father with so much Jealousy
have mistaken or misrepresented as indicative
of a cold nature and intellect An this, we
are satisfied, is strikingly incorrect and unjust.
The speech delivered by Mr. Clay on Satur-
day presented the man in his true and natu-
raj character, and the effect of that speech
was proof of its sincerity.
Mr.. Clay said that he was quiet farmer,
who had taken but little part in public affairs.
He was comparative stranger in his own
State There were not half dozen familiar
faces in the great crowd before him. But he
had been illuminated by the press-he had
been denied the right, unless at the hazard of
the most bitter and malignant personal de-
traction of taking that course in political
affairs which his judgement and conscience
approved. He had been painted as a mons
ter ofpolitical tergversate on and infdelty-
his own and the heart strings of his family
had been torn by the vile abuse to which he
had been subjected He now appeared be-
fore them to show what manner of man he
was, to Justify to his fellow countrymen the
consistency and honor of his conduct.
Mr. Clay proceeded to say that he had no
blood in his veins which did not flow in an
honorable channel and from an honored source.
1t was not in the nature of his race to be
faithless and treacherous. There was none
of that race but had borne true and patri-
otic heart in his BOSOM An uncle had fallen
gallantly struggling against the savages at
the River Raisin. Many now present re-
membered that gallant man who bedewed the
dark and bloody ground with his hearts
blood. A brother had fallen at Buena Vista,
fighting for the honor and hagof his country,
aud, even when disabled and PROSTATE from
many wounds, when last seen he still resisted