Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-07-13
HENRY CLAY. in the early part of his pub

HENRY CLAY, In the early part of his pub
lie life, voted for proposition, which carried,
to increase the pay of members of Congress.
This vote was seized upen by, his competitor
in the succeeding canvass, and used as a
weapon of offence. On, one occasion SO a.
droitly and powerfully was it used eheot the
great statesman's earliest friends, it is related,
approached him and said hecould not support
hin, again. Mr. CLAY sesponded-"My friend,
you have your trusty rife with you-you have
tried it on many occasions, and it has never
failed you. Suppose you should attempt to
use it to-day, and it should snap would you
cast it away or pick the flint and try it again"
=. Pick Use tint ossS try Il agat" :" responded
the huntsman, sand so will try you. again,
Mr.. CLAY" When public servant, especial
IL one who has devoted the greater and better
part of his life to the public service, has
satisfied his constituents, he has entitled HIM
self to the forbearance and leniency which
Mr. CLAY experienced from the good hunts
man who differed with him upon the merits OF
the measure he supported. and all right-think-
ing men will award them to him. So long as
man is infallble and liable TO err, we cannot
expect even the greatest and most wise and
patriotic of our public men, to be free from
errors of Judgment. The best of them, sur
rounded by circumstances which appeal to
their passions, or prejudices, or ambition, may
unconsciously be warped, or led astray, upon
questions of public policy and, if this is not
of frequent occurrence, it is better to extend
to THEN the huntsmau's forgiveness, than TO
join their and your enemies in decrying
and denouncing them. Since 1888, with short
Intervals of repose, we have been connected
with the press, and have endeavored to enforce
this rule by our practice; and so long as we
continue in the position we occupy, we shall
pursue the same course. If it so happen that
we espouse one side of question involving
great public interests, and trusted public
servant, whose counsels we have ever regard
ed with respect, espouses the other, and as we
conceive makes blunder under the rule
which we have established for our guidance. it
does not follow that we are his enemy or that
we should cease to confide in him. If we, as
it is our right to do, having taken our position,
and believing it correct, proceed to maintain
it by the use of all the resources at our COM
mand, neither that trusted public servant nor
those who coincide with him in his views,
shoulu assume that our object is to bring him
or them into disfavor.
The editor of a political journal has his
duties to perform to his country. not less than
to his party. Too often he loses sight of the
former and bends all his efforts to the promo
ton of the lat er. The success of party can
afford us no great pleasure, unless principle
succeed with it. Never having sought or de-
sired political promotion--never having ex-
perienced the grovelling lust for the spoils so
common to the age-expecting always to earn
our living according to the law of Holy Writ
we shall try never to sacrifice our right of
thought, or any important principle, to sub
serve the real or imaginary interests of men
or party. If there be any who have misun-
derstood us, let them now misunderstood no
longer.