Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-08-12
From The Washington Union.

OhIDecue, WneTe SeVefhi thousand henLucky
freemen and several hundred Kentucky ladies
assembled in beautiful grove to consult to
gether upon the momentous crisis which is now
upon the country. Hon. Richard III. Stanton
called the meeting to order, and introduced
Col. George B. Hodge, an old-line Wing, who
said he could see no other party in the field
which stood upon broad national and union
basis but that whose candidates were Buch-
anan and Breckenridge. When Colonel Hodge
had concluded his able and interesting address
Col. Stanton introduced "James b. Clay, the
son Of the immortal Harry of the West. At
this announcement there rose wild shout Of
enthusiasm and Joyful welcome from the vast
multitude. The ladies rose from their seats
and waved their hankderchiefs. Mr.. Clay came
that we must conGne ourselves to a few pas
sages of his mastery speech:
"Mr. Clay said that he was quiet farmer,
who had taken but little part in public affairs.
lie 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 detrac-
ton, of taking that course in political affairs
which his judgment and conscience approved.
He had been painted as a monster of political
regeneration and infdelity-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 before 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
l u 4 ~
honorable channel and from an honored source.
1t was not in the nature of his race To be faith
less and treacherous There was none of that
race but had borne a true and patriotic heart
in his bosom. An uncle had fallen calamity
struggling against the savages at the river
Raisin. Many now present remembered that
gallant man who believed the dark and bloody
ground with his hearts blood. A brother had
fallen at Buena Vista, fighting for the honor
and flag of his country; and, even when dis
abled and PROSTATE from many wounds, when
last seen he still resisted and combatted the
enemies of his country. Last and greatest Of
his name-greatest that had ever been or ever
would be-his father, had lived for his country
and for the Union--had exhausted his days in
the service Of thes republic, and had imposed
on all who we're connected with him, as their
",
efforts to the maintenance of that cause to
which his great heart and talents were so long
consecrated.
Gin the performance of this object, Mr.. Clay
said he came there to strike one blow for the
Union. He then proceeded to show that the
banner of the Wing party had been furled and
laid upon his fathers grave.
"Mr. Clay then proceeded to state that he had
IL m, I ha al ,to lyi he had
in. its prosperous moments, and when its final
dissolution was proclaimed he looked around
to see where he should go. He felt himself in
the embarrassment in which the Sage of
Marshfed once found himself He had en-
tertained opinions in favor of native Ameri-
canism, and had published the first articles
that had ever appeared in Kentucky on that
subject. So, hearing that there was party
on that idea, and which at the same
time proclaimed very heightened and patriotic
national objects and spirit, though he enter
tanned much repugnance to secret societies, he
was persuaded to present himself FIR interro-
CATION at the portals Of one of the lod IS of the
so-called American order. AS the obligation
of secrecy had been removed from all persons
in reference to that order, he felt justified in
stating what there occurred He was asked
what was his name, where he was born, what
religion he protested, what was the religion of
his rife; and, finally, would he not bind him
self never to vote for Roman Catholic?
When this question was put to him he with
drew in disgust. That was no place-no
party-for him. What, then, was he to do?
He looked around again 10 see if there was
not chance for the resurrection of the Wing
party. Not a CLEAN of hope enlivened the
gloom of the horizon. Under these circum-
stances, his next thought and inquiry were, in
what ranks could he, in his humble way, con-
tribute most to the maintenance of the Union
and of national party? He saw no other
place for him to stand upon but in the ranks
of the party which alone maintained an or
ganization in all the States-which stood upon
national and Union ground-which alone was
able to present powerful resistance TO the
sectional party whose success he believed
would involve the disruption of this confede-
racy.
"After speaking in highterms of Mr. Fillmore,
but showing that he stood no chance for an
election,
"Mr Clay proceeded to urge upon his old
Wing friends, the companions and constitu-
ents of his father, to rally around that banner
which he had spent his life in upholding-the
DaHHtE Vi tue OulOH. ne was TeduY 10 IOl-
low the Wing 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 yet be unfurled. After death
there was the resurrection. But at present
there was no Wing organization, and the only
party of the Union was that of which Buch.
anan and Breckenridge we're the candidates.
"Mr. Clay referred to the attempt to implicate
Mr.. Buchanan in the charge of bargain 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 man of truth and honor; he should be.
lieve what his father said before Others Be.
sides the evidence he had read, there was other
testimony bearing on the same point. In feel
ing and eloquent terms he referred to the heavy
weight of that charge against his father, and
how galantly and bravely he had borne 1t.
Thank God it died before his fatherl and now
he was proud to say that there lived not the
man who would whisperit. But Mr.. Buchanan
was free from all connection with the matter.
"Mr. Clay concluded with an eloquent appeal