Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1883-02-17


ed that confidence without change
or shadow to the present hour. She
has with an abiding faith sustained
you amidst all the fierce and bitter
conflicts of party, confidently look
ing forward to the day now reaching
its meridian splendor-when your
name would kindle its just enthusi-
asm in every patriotic bosom and all
sections of this vast country hail
you as the hope of this great Re-
public.
The invitation was declined for
the reason set forth in his reply:
WASHINGTON, d. c., !
May lst, 1874 !
Gentlemen:
l feel greatly battered, honored,
and obliged by the invitation which
you have transmitted to me to visit
Berkeley county and partake of its
hospitality, and by the friendly sen.
timents which accompany it. feel,
with gratitude, and acknowledge
with pleasure, my great obligations
to Berkeley, for its uniform and ar
dent attachment and confidence for
me; and l should be most happy,
under other circumstances, TO meet
and exchange friendly salutations
with my fellow citizens of that coun-
ty; but considerations, both of a
public and private nature, in my
judgment, require of me hereafter
to avoid attendance upon large as
semblages of my fellow citizens and
| hope that the determination, to
which | have come, on that subject,
will command the appreciation of
you, gentlemen, and of those whom
you represent. SO numerous and
constant are my occupations and SO
frequent have been the invitations
which | have received, and am still
receiving to public assemblages that
l am compelled to be much briefer,
in my replies, than 1 could wish to
be.
pray you gentlemen to accept
yourselves and tender to those whom
you represent my respectful and
grateful Acknowledgements. l am
with great respect,
Your friend and obedient servant,
III. CLAY.
Mr.. Clay's second visit to the
county of Berkeley was in January
1913. He was then going to Wash
ington to argue a case before the
Supreme Court of the United States.
Having some days to spare, he de-
termined to spend a short time in
this county, with a friend. The
presidential question was then agita-
ting the public mind, and it had not
then been determined whether the
nominee of the Wing party would be
General Taylor or himself. The
private mansion at which he stopped
was freely opened to all his friends
and there are many now living
amongst us,who will remember with
delight, the wonderful power and
fascination of his conversation, when
in unrestrained intercourse with his
friends.
He spoke with his characteristic
frankness and freedom of the pend
ing Presidential canvass made no
secret either of his work or of his ex
pectation of receiving the nomina
tion of the approaching Wing con-
vention read a correspondence
between himself and Gen. L. Taylor
embracing several letters in which
the old hero of Buena Vista whilst
freely conceding the superior party
claims of Mr.. Clay to the nomina-
ton, and expressing his individual
wishes that he might receive it, de-
clares that he had had no agency
whatever in having his name pre-
sented in competition with Mr..
Clay's, yet with modest firmness
stated, that it was not his business
to interfere with the progress OF
public sentiment, and the convention
must be left free to make its selec-
ton in the best interests OF the
party and country.
The writer of this has never known
Mr.. Clay to be more joyous and
cheerful than upon the occasion of
this last visit to the county OF Ber-
kelley. He felt indeed that he was
in the house of his friends. He
seemed eager to promote universal
enjoyment around him. He encour-
aged the dance, music-caressed the
children, told amusing anecdotes to
the ladies and when in his graver
moments, he retired to the library,
and there, surrounded by many of
our citizens, portrayed the characters
Of our leading public men and expa-
tiated upon what he deemed the
true policy of the Government, all
felt that they were in the presence of
a patriot, orator and statesman, OF
whom the country might indeed be
justly proud.
l have pondered over the inquiry,
How was it that this bold and I'M
equalled leader of a great party,
this noblest type of American man
hood, this most prominent orator,
patriot and statesman of his day,
could never reach the goal OF his
lofty and honorable ambition-the
- go