Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1857-08-21
- litieal.
HON. JAMES Ii. CLAY.

The issue OF the recent Congressional
election in this district inculcates some
valuable lessons, which partisan leaders
and editors would do well to ponder and
remember. 1t argues for the people an
intelligence, a frmness Of purpose, and
discrimination between right and wrong
not accredited them by dcmagogues and
rabblerousers. Temporary excitemeuts
and appeals to the lower passions of men
may for a time warp the judgment aud
lead astray the popular mind. But there
is in the great heart of the masses an in
stinctive sense of justice and percep-
ton Of right which, on the return of tie
sober second thought, never fails to cor
rect past errors and to visit on the heads
of designing leaders just condemnation.
The wild delirlum of passion and preju-
dice may for time blind the masses to
great truths, but the storm must soon
pass, and calm reason will eventually re-
sumo her sway.
This contest has been one between
great principles sustained by national
party and the unconstitutional measures
of a personal faction. In behalf Of the
one, the sober judgment, the intelligence
and patriotism of the people have been
addressed in calm, dispassionate argu-
ment. To advance the other, the most
humiliatiug appeals to passion, partisan
animosities, and personal sympathies have
been relied upon. Upon our side the
people have been called upon to sustain
the constitution, the tribunals of the land
and the laws. Upon the other, they
have been bcsought to uphold the expo
nent of crushed faction ont Of pure
compassion, and out Of regard to old po-
litical associations.
Personal dctraction, malignant abuse,
and unlimited utilization excite for the
object sympathy rather than prejudice.
1t has been so in this case. No man
ever contended in the political arena with
such violent personal assaults, and for
less cause, than Hon. James b. CLAY.
The vocabulary Of abuse has been ex-
hausted against him. But, sustained by
conscious rectitudc of purpose, and q
firm conviction that the position he had
taken and the course he pursued was that
which would rebound to the high inter-
ests of his country, he has gone before
the people, and, bidding defiance to his
calumniators, has submitted his course
to the honest masses. Their verdict has
been one of emphatic appreciation, and
he stands to-day 50 high in the estima-
ton of his fellow-citizens that the yclls
of party hounds will not again reach his
ears. AS in the dark hour of adyersity
he despised their malignant abuse, neither
he nor his friends can in this the hour Of
his proud vind;cation respond to their
persistent detraction. He has sought no
place or Office for Office sake. But, ODE
dent to the call of the people, he has
seized their standard and borne it on to
victory despite the bitter opposition Of
personal foes. Regarding an election by
the people an endorsement of his course
by his fellow-citzens, and a verdict of
well done from the hearts of those with
whom be has acted, and with whose in
tercsts his are identified, he declined
high Office and came before the honest
masses for preferment. The people have
thrown around him mantle Of love, and
raised before him an egis of protection,
from which the shafts Of calumny must
henceforth rebound upon his slanderers.
His vindication has been complete, his
honor great, but nobly has be won his
laurels, and worthy has he proven him
self of the proud position. --Le1ington
Statesman.