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UNION, THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS T II E GUARDIANS OF OUB LIBEUTT.
jyyi MM
TIILUSDAV, Jt'LY 23. 1812.
Ao. 1 134.
31K. CLAY SPEECH.
At great CUj festival, given si Lex.
ington, Ky. a lie 8th of Jane, ledge
Robertson, who presided, offered th fol
lowing sentiment, which 1m prefaced with
appropriate remarks:
HKNIT CM T-Tm a.tiW P.j,U
m rkdmllrfUt Us Sotarc.ai tmtmm,
mi vrittUti IktUr a Ik Jf. Utr-
ah', baUvrd i la a sang career of
hhmM pi service, aiea, baa Ane'tAa,
ba breaatsd the raetag aicsi af passi
dalasiaa, ad bv tTiig lulf a sacoH.-,
asved be Baaaa'wi sad m-w, ha Cinciaa Im
a .4 v iiUMfiM, bavMg talaatarily retired to
Kentucky, for 1 ih ligh honor and
dutinguuhed favors which I baft receiv
ed daring along residence with them, at
their huuii; for the liberal patrensge
which I ram ted horn them ta my pro
fessional part uiu for iht eminent places io
which they have pat me, or enabled me
to reach; for the generous and cnbounded
ccr.fi J -are which ihev hare bestowed op
en me, at all timet; for the gallant and
uawavering fidelity and attachment with
which they aloud bj me,throughoot all Uie
trial and vicissitude of aa at eatful and
arduous life; and shove all, for th scornful
indignation with which they repelled an in
fun out calumny directed gainst my name
and f.m at a momentous period of my pub-
th ue" atM f antaia tela, Ida trehfei
kaarta T hie etra anil d bias ata Le career. In recallin j to our memory the
i aH .mi ., f eireomataneef of that period, one cannot
ait4, aa fcf bir, iba Umm m a aa aba
a awaha acr eacitaaa wah
tol raao.
After the evidenrea of fetltnf which
thia aeatimeut elieited had aubaided, Mr.
Clay rote and epoke aa folio wt: .
Mr. frtiUimt, LUUt 4 CnOtmnu
It waa rivea to oar eoaa'ryman,
hut be filled with aa toniahment at the to
detauctlitr with which the calumny waa
propagated and the aealoua partisan' oie
to which it was applied, not only without
evidence, but in the face of a full and
complete rtfuuUon. Under whatever
deception, deluaioa or ignorance, it waa
received e Me where, with you, oiy fnenda
and neighbor, and with the food people
Franklin, ta brinj down the Iiihtninir of Kentucky, it received no countenance;
from Heaven. To enable me to be beard , but in proportion to the venom and the ma
by thia immenne multitude, I ahould have levotenre of its circulation waa tha vigor
. . .i t i
to tavoae vn my aia, ana io mrow into sou ui magnanimuy
mr voice, its loudeat thunder. Aa I . renerootlr auDoorted.
rannot do that, I nope I aluu oe excused aumanea ot tne tnjuauea oi tna cnarge,
for such a aaa of my longs aa is practice- I should have borne myself with becom
ble and not inconsistent with the preer-'ing fortitude, if I had been abandoned by
ration of my health. And I reel that it you as I was by ao urge a portion or my
right to expect, I forgive my enemies,
and hope tltey may live to obuiath for
gtveaecs of their owabearts.
It would neither be fitting avor is it my
parpose to pas jodgmeat on all the acta
of my public life; but 1 bepa I shall bo
excuaed for one or two obaervstioss.
which tha occasion sppears to me to ao
thoriie. -
1 never but once changed -my opinion
on any great measure of National policy
or any great principle of eonstroeuna of
tna national Uonatitatwa. la early life,
on deliberate conf ide ration, 1 adopted the
principles of interpreting the Federal
Constitution which had been so ably dc
voloped and enforced by Mr. Madison in
his memorable report to the Virginia Le
gislature, and to them, as 1 onderttood
them, I have conatantly adhered. Unoa
die question coming np ia the Senate of
tna united Mates to recharter the first
Bank of the United Ststes, thirty years
sgo, 1 opposed the recharter, upon con
victions which I honestly entertained.
The experience of the War, which abort
ly followed the condition into which the
currency of the eoontry vu thrown, with
out a Bank, and, I may bow add, later
and more tiisastroua ei penence. cod vinc-
jed me I was wrong. 1 publicly stated
iih which I was to my constituents in a speech at Lexing-
Upheld by a con- j ton. (that which l had made in the llonae
oi representatives or the United States
not. having been reported,) my reaaons
lor mat change, and they are presented
in the archives of the country. I appeal
is our first duly to express our obligations eonntrymen; but to hare been sustained , to that record: and lam willing to be
to a kind and bountiful Providence, for and vindicated as 1 was by the people or judged now and hereafter by their, validi
the conious and reneral showers with
whicA he has jurt bleased our land a re
fresh men! of which it stood much in need.
For one, 1 offer to Him humble and du
tiful thanks. The inconvenience to as,
ea this festive orcassion, ia aery slight,
while the sum of good which these time
ly rains will produce is very great and
encouraging.
Fellow Citizens, 1 find myself now ia
a situation somewhat like one in which
I was placed a few years sro when tra-
elling through the State of Indiana, from
my owa State, by yon who knew me best.
and whom I had ao many reasons to love
andeiteem, greatly cheered and encou
raged me in my onward progress. Eter
oal gratitude and thanks are due from
me.
I thank you, friends and fellow citizens,
for your distinguished and enthnstastie
reception of me this day, and for tha ex
cellence and abundance of tha Barbacue
that has been provided for our entertain
ment. And I thank, from the bottom
of my heart, my fair country women, for
rhich mr friend f Mr. Rariden.J near me honoring and gracing and adding bril
comes, i stopped at a village containing liancy to the occasion by their numerous
some four or five hundred inhabitants, attendance. If the delicacy and refine
and had scarcely alighted before I found ' ment of their sex will not allow them to
myself surrounded in the bar-room by J mix ia the rougher scenes of homsa life.
every adult male resident in the place.
Jitter a while, I observed a group consult
ing together in one corner of the room,
and shortly after, 1 was diffidently sp-
I' troached by one of them, a tall, lank,
can, but sedate and sober looking person,
with a long fare and high cheek bones,
who, adJreaaing me, said he was com
missioned by his neighbors to request
that I would say a few words to them.
Why, my good friend, ssid 1, 1 should be
y
I do not advert to the fact of this sol
itsry iostsncs of change of opinion as
implying sny personal merit, but because
it is a fact I will, however, say tbst 1
think il very perilous io the atiliy of an
public man to make frequent changes of
opinion, or say ensngs but opoa giounos
so sufficient snd pslpabls that the public
esn clssily see snd spprove them. .If we
eould look through a window into the
human breast, and tkeia dscoer the
eaases which led to changes of rpinion,
they might be mads without hstaid. Bai
it is impossible to penetrate the human
heart, sad distingaish between the sinister
and boossi motives which prompt it. Any
publie man that changes hi opinion, ones
we mar be sura that whenever, by their, deltberslrty formed and promutrsted, an
pretence, their smiles and approbations der ether circumsiaaaes than tbnsa which
are bestowed, it is no ordinary occurrence.' I have stated, draws around him distrust.
Their presence is si wits an absolute gna impairs the public confidence, snd lessens
ranty of order, decorum and respect. I bis espaciiy to serve hie country,
take the greatest pleasure in bearing testi- 'I will take ibis occasion now to say.
mony to their value and their virtue. I thst I am, sad have been long sans
have ever found in them true and steadfast
friends, generously sympathizing in dis
tress, and, by their courageous fortitude
in bearing it themselves, encouraging as
And wo all
vr k,nn ia iU m ihinr mtifvine to' to imitate their examples.
yourself and yoor neighbors, but I am ve-1 know and remember how as in 1840, they
ry much fatigued and hungry and thirsty, can powerlully aid a great and gooa cause
and I do not think the occasion is exact
ly suitable for a speech, snd I wish you
rould excuse me to your friends. ell.
without any departure from the propriety
or dignity of their sex.
In looking bsck upon my origin sna
4 " I .
S. Mr rnnfV.a I thought so ' prorress through Itie, l nave peat reason
If, especially aa we have no wine to to be thankful. My father died in 1781,
vuer
was
was a
Jf the worthy citizen of Indiana
"fn ruDDOsini that a class of wine
was a neojry preiiminary and a pre
eedent con,;;r . ., delivery of a
peech, youtre no just right to expect
..w.h UIC . ti.ia time: mr aurina: mo
fisd. that it would have been wiser and
mora politic in me t bsve declined ac
cepting the rffiee of See'eury of State ia
1823. Not that my mouses wers not ss
pure sad patriotic as ever .carried any
man into public life. Not that the cal
umny which was applied to the laet wss
not ss grots snd ss unfounded si any that
wss erer propagated., fllere somebody
cried out ibai Mr (,'artrr Beverly, who
hsd beea msde the organ of announcing
it. bd reremly boms testimony elite be
ing unfounded Mr. Clay ssid it was
Hue that he bad voluntarily borne such
testimony. I want no testimony here
here here, repsstedly touching Ins
heart, smidst iremsndous cheers, here is
the best of all witnesses of my innocrnce.
Not that valued friends, and highly es
ter me J opponents did nt unite in urging
my scceptsnce of the office Not that
the administration of Mr Adams will not,
I sincerely believe, sdvantageously com
pate with thai of any of his predecessors,
in econoirtv, our'tv. 'prudence and wis-
leaving me an infant of too tender years
to retain any recollection of his smiles or
endearments. My surviving parent re
moved to this State In 1792, leaving me,
a boy of fifteen years of sge, in the office
of the 11 ight Court of Chancery, in the
city of Richmond, without a guardian,
umptuous rem-t r tioh have without pecuniary means of support, to
J'ist risen, y.u ofcj mf nothing to drink ' steer my course as I might or could. A
but eold wateijcriicnt water, it is 'neglected education was improved by my
true, from the claa foun(irt 0f our la- own irregular exertions, without the be
rnented friend Mr. Maxwell, which has nefit of systematic instructions. I atmli
si often regaled ns on celebrations of our.ed law principally in the office of a la-
great anniversary. fGreat laughter! menied friend, the late Gov. Brooke,! dom. Not that Mr Adams was htmIf
I protest sgainst sny inference of my j then Attorney General of Virginia, and; wsnting in sny of those high qualifiea
being inimical to the Temperance Causa, also under the auspices of the vener- tions snd upright and. patriotic intentions
On the contrary, 1 think it an admirable , able and lamented Chancellor Wythe, which were anited io the office. Of that
cause that has 'done great good, and will for whom I had acted as an amanuensis, extraordinary man. of' rare and varied
continue to do good as long as legI coer- j I obtained a license to practise the pro-! MUinments,' whatever diversity of opin
ion may xsi aa io nia rrceni course in
the House ol Representatives, (and C4n
lor obi gr me to say that there are some
thiegs in it which 1 deeply regret.) it is
with no less tiutb than pleasure that I de
rlre that, during the whole period of his
administration, annoyed, assailed and aa
saultsd ss it was. no roan eould haseshe w
cionts not employed, and it rests exclu-. ression from the Judges ot the Court or
sively upon persuasion and its own intrin- j Appeal of Virginia, and established my
sic merits. self in Lexington in 1797, without pat-
I have a great and growing repugnance , rons, without the favor or countenance
Io speaking in the open air to a larije as-1 of the great or opulent, without the means
semhlage. But whilst the faculty of: of paying my weekly board, and in the
speech remains to me, I can never feci that ' midst of a Bar uncommonly distinguished
rcp-ifnance. ne.-er feel other than rrate-! by eminent members. I tememher how
fd sensations, in making my acknnwledg i comfortable I thought I should be if I a more devoted aitschment to ths Union,
ments under such circumstances as those ! could make 100 Virginia money per. and all its great interests, a mors ardent
which have brought us together. Not year, and with what delight I received desire faithfully to discharge bis ohol
that I am so presumptuous as to believe) the first fifteen shilling fee. My hopes' duty, or brought to his aid mors useful
that I hava hn h nrrlm nlplr nfi were more than realized. I immediately! experience snd knowledge than he did.
collecting the vast multitude. Among: rushed into succcasful and lucrative prac- 1 never transacted buines with any man,! value, iheir cares, their responsibilities.
the inducements, I cannot hi-lp thinking; tice. in my Ms, with more ease, satisfaction , their ceasrleis duties. Tht eeiimateof
, thai the fat white virgin heifer of my In 1833 or 4, when I was absent from and advantage than I did with that most their worth, in a personal point of view.
After a harried ad bad sapper, the old
geatlcaiaa eat dawa by me, eel wUhoat
hearts g my aaas, bat aaderstiedieg thst
I was treat Ktoisrky. remarked tbst fee
had lour sas in that State, and that bs
wss ry sorry il ey wrre divided ta po
luics, two beiegfer Adsms sad two foi
Jscksoa; be wished Ibey were all for
kea. Wbyf I etked bia. Brest) se.
be said, that fellow Clsy sad Adaas bad
ebe d Jarksea out of the Presidency.
Hs yea ever sera say evideaee my old
friead, ssid I, of ibsl? No, be xej tied,
aoa. aad be asmed to see none. Bat,
I observed, locking bia direeily snd
steadily ia ib lace, aeppose Mr Clsy
ere to cose bete and assure yea, epa
Lis honor, that it was all a vilo calumay,
aad not a w id ol Uuih ia it, would yoa
betiava biat No, replied the old gea-
tleaaa promptly and eapbatically. , 1
said to hint, ia conclusion, will yen be
good eaoogii to sbow me la bsd. sad bid
bimgoud eight. Th next meraing, bas
ing. In the interval, learned sy rsme, be
csae to m full of s polos is, but I at ones
rut him at his ease by assuring htm that
did aot feel in ihe slightest drgtee bait
or eusnded wub him.
Mr President. I have been sensed of
stbbition. olirn serosed of snibitioe. I
believe, hooeser. thst ay sceusers will
be generally found to be political oppo
nents, or the friends el ssp'usnts ia wbois
wsy l wss supposed to stand, and it wss
thought, therefore, aeeessary to shove me
aside. I del my enemies to point as
say set or instance of my life, io which 1
bsve sooibi the attsinment of etuee by
dishonorable or nnworthy means. Did
1 display inordinate ambition, when,
andsr the administration of Mr.Madisoa.
I declined a foreign mission of the first
grsde, and aa Esseotive Department.
both of watch he successively kindly
tendered to met When, ander tbst ol
bta sareessor, Mr. Monroe, I wss first
unportuned (ss no one knows better ihsa
thst sterling old patriot, Jonathan Roberts,
now ihrestrned, ss the pipers tell a
with an expulsion from sn office which
ss never filled with more honesty and
uprightness, because be declines to be. a
servile instrument, to accept a Secretary
ship, snd was afierwsrda offered a tartt
llancht ol all the Foretcn missions! A
the epoch of the election ol 1823, 1 brieve
.ra a a . .
no one doubted at w asnington mat, u i
had fait it my duly I vots for Gen. J.ck
son, be would bsve invited ma to take
chares of a Department And such an
doubtedly Mr. Crsfrd would would
have done, if he had been sleeted. When
the Ilarriiburg Convention assembled,!
th general expectation wss that the
nomination would be gien to me. It
wss givea to the lamented Harrison. Did
1 exhibit extraordinary ambition when,
cheerfully acquiescing, 1 threw my sell
into the csovas and made every exertion
in my power to insure its success! Wa
it evidence of unehastened ambition in
me to resign, as I recently did, my teat
in the Senate to resign the Dictatorship,
with which my enemiea had so kindly
invested me, and come home to the quiet
walks of private life!
Bull am ambitious because some of
my countrymen hae seen fit to saoeiate
my name with the auccetiion for the
Presidential office. I)o those who prefer
the chsrge know what 1 have done, or
not done, in connexion with that object!
Have they given themselves the trouble
to inquire st a!) into any agency of mine
in respect to h! I biee not. It is a
subject which I approach with all the
dchcacy which belongs to it, and with a
due regard to the dignity of the exal ed
station; but on which I shall, at ilia same
lime, speak to you, my friends and neigh
bors, w ithout reserve, and with the utmost
Candor.
I have prompted none of those move
ments among ihe people of which we
have seen accounts. As far aa I am con
cerned, ihsy sre altog' ther spontsneous,
and not only without concert with me.
but most generally without any sort of
prsvious knowledge on my part. Thai
I am thankful snd grateful profoundly
grateful for these manifestations of confi
dence and attachment. I will not conceal
or deny. But I have been, and mean to
sremain, a passive, -if not indtflerent
pectator. I hae reached a time ol lile,
and seen enough of high official stations
t) enable me justly to appreciate their
sketch of the exist! tt of tbe asps. '
taSeled prvepervy f tbo celry. Da t
a feeetat savvey, ws behold e!ti(siesi
exweeea. the art eeoistrg, tee fca
pab'ie entece exkibtiir g tranquil,,
tr, -eeetcetaent snd bepptaess. - Aad ,
if we descend iito paiiiejaf. we have
the ee rcskhle coaicmj'LlA of a people
Hlf well, tsrd iisistf luly in value,
arises when it ought to be salted. Tbst
period has oot. as I think, yet arrised.
VYfcee it does, an tatfwrual serves of the
whole etvaod skesld be takea, tha state
of publie epinioa properly evnetderee,;! the oooatry iaprvd. er pcei-!e
asd ans a pevaoatl eonditK. ht steal .tuny aad sxuby eaployed. sae to
sad iaullceal, ly exsained and ;
weiibed. In lbs aeaocacing n eewrse ,
f eoaduct for a) self, it t ba'dlf aeeesl
sary leteaaik thst it te no pan of ay
purpoae to eoadeae, of express asy
opieioa wnaevr upon moss peptuar t net in a rir anu siuuy oegee;are a
moveacat which hae beea te, r ey. u.ootb nviestratisiai. aaikei for a:l .
ay be eonteapliler!, in tespert U the the surj tus pr-di-eiiohs of ea ledustry.
aezt election ol a Presides! t-f .he Uaiicd ianeaverable flks snd Leids bross(
states. 'and gsabollmg pa ten iboosaadbill sad
If io have srmd my enantry deiieg a plains, covert d with rich snd verdant .
lng series of years, with fewest Zealand graaes; oar cities exi ended, andwbola.
anshakea fidelity. in aeasen of peac and sd-aies prigBf up, aa it were, by a f
war, at borne and abroad, ia ihe Legists chtiiVmrct; wtij sptns inrreastd snd m'
Use Hall and ia an Executive Depsri-'eressieft oor iBie, foreiia and eot-
meat. if ta bsve labored most sedulously wise, swelling and fully oceoptet; ihe h- ,
io avert the embarrassment and distress .vers oa oar ineri auiaa ed Lv the p-r- ,
which new overspread this Union; and j peia-l thunder and lif hinieg of countless
wbea they cme, to bav exerted mysell j steaasosis; tae ctirreacy sound and abna
aazionsly, attbe Ex-ra Session, and at dent: ihe pubue avbtol twa wars nearly t
this, ta devise betling remedies; if to bsve jreiiet mea; sna. to r;ssi sil. ibe publie
desired to intredsee economy snd reform Iresiary oeiflowii; embarrassing Ce
...... " I . . f J . i : . .
ia tne general acmintsiraunn. eurian cnor ga. supj-na oi uaaiion, ret f,
mens Executive power, snd amply pro- i to select the tdjecie which sbsl be liber '
aide, at tha asms lime, for the wants of aied from the impost. If the term of ,
the Goysrnmenl snd the wsnie of the seven years were to be selected, of the
reepie by a lana wnicn wenia give it'greaies rrneperny men mie people
revenue and them protection: if te hvo have enjoyed, since the establishment f '
earaeatly aoegbi to establish she bright .their present Coosiuuiion, it would be .
but too rare example of s party in porr, 'exseily thst period of sstea years wbi k t
faitbiul to tta promises and plec!gea made immneisteiy loiiowea me passage ot iba
when oat of power if these riee, iTsnff of ISSI.
exertions and endesvme justify the seen- And thst period embraced the whole ,
sstion or ambition, I must plead guilty wrm w tna aureiniatraiion oi air. j ba
friend Mr. Berryman, that cost 800,
which ha jt been served up, and the
other'good things which have been so li
tberally sprr'nil before us, exerted some
Influence fn swelling this unprecedented
ly Urge meeting. fGreat laughter.
1 I I cannot but foel. Mr. President, tn of
Tering my respectful acknowledgments
for the honor done me, h ihe eloquent
ldresa which yoa have just delivered,
Vl in the sentiment with which you
excluded it, that If your warm partiality,
nl fervent friendship which has ao long
exited between ws, and the kindness of
Wyneighbors and friends around me, have
prompted an exaggerated dnsc-iption, in
o giowmg colors, or my p.iblic
cea ana mr iMinr ahiliiiH. . . J
... , i
I eeixe ttvartnnity to preier
ervi-
rtnnity to present my
whole people ol
the county of Pavntte. at the Olympian able and indefat'gable tentleman aa 1're
Springs, without any knowledge or pro-j anient of ih Uered States. And I will
vious consent, I was brought forward as a. add, that more harmony never prevailed
candidate and elected to the General As j in sny Cabinet than in hie.
sembly of this State. I served in that body But my error, in accepting the office,
several years, nnd was then tiansferred to j aross out of my underrating the power oi
the Senate, and afterwards to the House , detraction sad the force of ignorance, and
of Representatives of the United States.
I will not dwell on the subsequent events
of my political life, or enumerate the of
fices which I have filled. During my
public career, I have had bitter, implaca
ble, reckless enemies. But if I have been
the object of misrepresentation .and un
meritnd calumny, no man has been belov
ed or honored by more devoted, faithful
and enthusiastic friends. 1 have no re
pr( iches none to make towards my
country, which has distinguished and ele
vate! mo far beyomid what I had any
abiding, with too sure a confidence, io the
conscious integrity snd uprightness of my
own mntivci. Of that ignorance, I had
a remarkable and laughable example na
an occasion, which 1 will relate. 1 was
travelling, ia IS28. through, I believe it
wss Spotsylvsnia county in Virginia, on
my return in Wahinton, in company
with some young fririide. We halted ai
night at a Uvern. kept by aa aged en
dentin, who. I Quickly perceived, from
ths disorder and confusion
io the chsrge.
I have wished the good opinion of the
world: but I defy ihe most malignant of my
enemies to shew that 1 have sncmpted to
gain it by any low or grovelling arts, by
sny mean or unworthy sacrifices, by tha
violation of any of the ebliritions of ho
anr. or by a brrach of any of the duties
which I owed to my eouatry.
1 tutn. Sir, from tbess personal sllu
siona and reminisceneies, to the vastly
more importaal sobjret of the present aa
lusl condition of this country. If ihry
eould ever be justifiable or excusable, it
would be on suth an oeeaiion se this,
whsa 1 am addressing those to whom 1
aa bouad by so many intimate and friend
ly ties.-
la speaking ef the present state of tha
country, it will be necessary for ma ta
ouch with freedom and independence
upon the past as well ss the present, snd
upon the conduct, spirit snd principles of
parlies. Io doing this, I sssure my de
mocrstie brsthsra snd (sllow citizrns, of
whom I am told there are many here pres
ent, (and I tender them my entdial thanks
for the honor done me by their stteo
dsnee here this day, wih ss much since
nty,snd gratitude aa it they agreed with
me in political sentiment.) thst nothing is
farther from my intention than to y on
single world that ought to wound tasir
feeling or gave offence to them. But sore
ly, if there ever wrre a period in ihe pro
gress of any I'eopie when all were called
upon, with firmness and candor, to consi
der thoroughly the present postoie of
publie snd priste affairs, snd deliberate'
ly to inquire into the esusra snd terns
die of thin onprnpitioua state of things.
we have armed at thai period in th Un
ited Saiee. And. il ever a People stood
bound by th htcheai dunes to them
selves snd to their prosperity, to sacrifice
npon the ltr of their coimtiy, cherished
prejudices snd party predilections and an
lipathies, we sre now called upon to make
thai sacrifice, if necessary.
Wtui is our actual condition! It is one
of unexampled distress and embarrass
ment, as tiniverssl as it is intense, prevad-
ing tna wrote community, and sparirg
nunc. Property of ail kinds, and every
where, fallen snd falling in value; sggri
cultural prolines of every description at the
most reduced prices; money unsound and
at the same lima scarce, snd becoming
more scarce by preparation s, of doubtful
and uncerif in issue, io increase its eooiid
nsss; all tha departments of business in
active and stagnant; exchangee extrava
gantly high snd constantly fluctuating;
credit, public and ptivate, at the lowest
ebb, and confidence lost; and a feeling of
general derangement and depression. And
what darktns the gloom which hangs
over the country, no one en discern sny
termination of this sad state of things nor
see in the future sny glimpses of light or
hope.
Is not this s faithful, atthoiigh appall
ing picture of the United States tn 1842!
ble of doubtful issue, with political eppo-' I appeal to all present, Whigs snd Depo
nents, much less with political friends. I cuts. Ladies snd Gentlemen, to esy if it
Thai I should Uel greatly honored by a, be st all too high colored,
call from a majority of the people of this Now let us see hat waa our teal
country, to the highest office in their condition only the abort time of ten
gift, 1 shall not denv; nor, if my health years ago. 1 had occasion, in February
were oreterved. mtiht 1 feel at liberty toj 1832, in the Senate of the United Sta'es,
would rrstrsin me from seeking to fill
any one, the highest ol them, in a scram
dec! n a summons so authoritativs and
commanding. But I declare, most sol
emnly, thst 1 have not, op to this moment.
when I wasdrleoding tle American Svs
tem sgainst the la e Col. Ilayne, of South
Carolina, to describe it: and 1 refer to
determined whether I will consent to this description ss evidence or wbst I be
the use of my name or not aa a candidate Iteved to be ihe aiate of the country at
for ihe Chief Magistracy. That is a that time. That it conformed to the
grae question, wmcn should be tieeiaen truin ot his casr, a appeal sua wn
by all attainable lights, which, I think,
is not accessary yet to be decided, snd a
deeision of which I reserve to myself, as
n which reigned, idsi
ha I not the bppiicss U b.v a wife. Jar a esn resena it, until the peuod
dsnee to those now present. On thst
occasion, among fiber things, I said:
Q. Adams, which his been so injuadr
abused! . ,
The enn'rsst in the s'S's of the eonw ,
try, attbe two periods ol 1832 aad 18?,
is most remaikatita and aiarllmr. Who
lbs precipitated as from tbst great height
or enviable prosperity dona to the low
set depths of pecuniary embarrassment.!
no foreign foe has invaded and desolsied
the eoeatry. We bsve bad neither fa
mine nor earthquakes. That there exists
a eaase iheta can be nodoubt; and I ibink '
it equally clear ihat the cause, wbateveg
it may be, must be a general one; for ao
thing but a general cause could kaa pro.
dneed sued wide-spieid ruin, and every
her w behold be same- or similar ef
fects, snd every interest sUVcted, every
section of the Union suffering, all de
scriptions of produce snd property da
pressed ia value. And whilst I endeavor
to find oal thai cause, and to Irtc to iheir
trueeource ih disastrous efhet which
w wimes and feel, and lament, I en '
treat th Democratic portion of my ao
dianc, especially, foli.ten with patience
and candor, and. dismissing for a moment
party biasses and prt judiee. to daeid
with impartiality and ia a apirit of genu
ine patriotism. '
Il ha been (aid by those in high an "
tbority, thai the People sre to blame and
not the Government; and iht the disires-'
ses of the country have proceeded from;
peculation and orirading. The people '
have been evsn reproached for expecting'
loo moch from Government, and not rely ' 1
ing sufficiently upon their own exertion.
And they bava been reminded that tha '
higlieat duty of the Government is io lake
ear of itself, leaving ihe People to shift
for themselves as well as they can. Ac
cordingly we have seen the Goternment
retreating from ihe storm which H will be
seen, in Ihe sequ, itself ereated. and '
taking shelter under the Sub Treasury. '
That there hse som speculation and
overtrading, may b ime; but all have not J
speculated and overtraded; whilst thedis
tress reaches, if not in the sains degree,
ihe cautious and ths prudn, snd ss
ell as iba enterprising snd adven o
rus. The error of ih argument consist
in mistaking the effect for the eaue,
Hhai produced the overtrsding! What "
was ihe can of pecultion! How
ere the people tempted, to ab.ndon ihe
industrious and secure pursuits of life,
and embark in dnuhilul and perilous, but
srducingsnter prizes! Thai is ihe impor
tant question.
Now, fellow cii;zens, l-tak npon rav
self to allow that he people have been
farlrss to blam than lb Go eminent,
and that whatever of error they cnnwuii-
ted, waa the na ural and inevitable conse
quence atf thaunie policy ol iheir ru-
lera. To tha action of government is main- '
ly to be aerbed the disorders, embarrass
men l and lisrees which all have now ao
much reason to deplorp. And, io be yet
more specific, I think they are fairly to bo '
atiriouieil to ihe action ol the Executive
biancb ol the Federal Government.
Tries li-cis or events, alt hannenins? .
about Uie same lime, if their immediate
effects are duly ennsii'ered. will sfftrd
a eleer and saiislaetoiy solution of nil the
pecuniary evila which now unhappily af.
fiiei this country. '
The first was the veo of the i charter
of the Bank of the Untied Suiea. Tha
second was t e removal of he deposit '
of the United Statrifrooi that Bnk te lo
cal banka. And the third waa the refusal
of the President ol ibe Unt'ed States, by
an arbitrary stretch al power, to aanetion
the passage of the Land B IL Thesa
svents all occurred in qmek necesstan,'
-i
I have now tn perform the mora 1832-33, and eaeh of them di par
pleasing tak of exhibiting an impetfect Uculat consideration. . . -
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