Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1856-08-14

" Clay-tbat IT was oetter 10 De rlgnt
than to be President. He had clung to the
old party In its dying, as he had in its
prosperous moments, and when its final
dissolution was procla med he looked a
round to see where he should 90. He felt
himself in the embarrassment in which
the Sage of Marshheld once found HIM
self. He had entertained opinions III favor
of native Amercanism, and had publish
ed the first articles that had ever appeared
in Kentucky on that subject. So, hearing
that there was a party e-~anized, on that
idea, and which at the same time proclaim
ed very hightoned and patriotic national
objects and spirit, though he entertain
ed much repugnance to secret societies, he
was pursuaded to present himself for inter
rogation at the portals of one of the lodges
Of the so-called American order AS the
obligation of the secrecy had been remov-
ed from all persons in reference to that or
der, he felt justified in stating what there
occurred. He was asked what was his
name, where he was born, what religion he
proiessed, what was the religion Of his
rife; and, finally, would he bind himself
never to vote for Catholic? When this
question was put to him he Withdrew i'll
disgust. That was no place--no party for
him. What, then, was he to do? He look
ed around again to see if there was not a
chan &c for the resurrection of the whiC par
ty. Not n CLEAN Of hope enlivened the
gloom of the horizon. Under these cir
cumstances his next thought and enquiry
were. in what ranks could he, in his hum
bic way, contribute most to the mainta-
nance of the Union and of a national party ?
He saw no other place for him to stand
upon; but in the ranks of the party which
alone maintained an organization in all the
Stales--Which stood upon the national AMI
Union ground--which alone was able to
present a powerful resistance to the sec
tional party, whose success he believed
would involve the disruption of this con
federacy. On this point, he read Mr.. Fill
more's Albany speech, the spirit of which
he greatly applauded He should act in
the spirit of that address, and give his vote
TO the party which presented the best pros
poets of success against this pestilent and
dangerous sectional movement. He could
see only the democratic party the power to
defeat this party, and he should therefore
give his cordial support to Buchanan and
Brcckinridge
Mr.. Clay spoke Of Mr.. Fillmore with
great respect. as his fathers and his own
friend, but considered the undertaking to
elect him as utterly hopeless. He then
contrasted Brecklnridgc with Donelson,
and said he would not give the former for a
woods full of the latter.
Mr.. Clay then proceeded to urge upon
his old whig friends, the companions and
constituents of his father, to rally around
that banner which he had spent his life IN
was ready to follow the whig standard as
the Douglas followed the heart of Bruce
as long as it waved. But that FLAG was no
longer to be seen on the battle field. 1t
might vet be unfurlcd. After death there
was the resurrection. But at present there
was no whig organization, and the only
party of the Union was that of which Bu-
chanan and Breckenridge were the candi-
dates
Mr.. Clay referred to the attempt 20 i'm
plicate Mr.. Buchanan in the charge of bar
gain and corruption. On that subject he
proposed to take the testimony of his own
father, and he read from Mr. Clay's letter
to show that Mr.. Buchanan had conducted
himself IN that affair as a man of truth and
honor, he should believe what his father
said before others. Besides the evidence
he had read, there was other testimony
bearing on the same point. In feeling and
eloquent terms he referred to the heavy
weight of that charge against his father,
and how gallantly and bravely he had
borne it. Thank God it died before his
father; and now, he was proud to say that
there lived net the man who would whisper
it. But Mr. Buchanan was free from all
connection with the matter
Mr.. Clay concluded with an eloquent
appeal TO his f.llow.ri lzcnS, especially old
line wings, to give their cordial support to
to the Union ticket-to Buchanan and
Breckinridge."
Mr.. Clay was followed by Hanson L.
Penn, Of Ohio, another oldline whig, who
presided at the last wing State Convention
held in Ohio, and was on the whig elcctor
al ticket in 1852 He spoke strongly in
behalf of the democratic ticket. Mr. Penn
was followed by other old line whig speak
ers, all advocating Buchanan and Breckin-
III ,.a nc H. o,..I..l lo.,.,. Al