The Whig Standard

CLAY CLUBS NO 1

It is plain that the Whigs, with all their high hopes, are indulging in no day-dreams of glory. The formation of Clay Clubs, in almost every portion of our wide-spread Union, gives earnest of a preparation for resolute action, which is not, and cannot be mistaken. The taunts and jeers with which our opponents pointed a little while since at the "general apathy" which pervaded the Whig ranks, have been changed into harsh complaint, and bitter upbraiding at the indications, everywhere prevalent, of the determination of the Whigs to enter upon the approaching Presidential campaign with the same system, improved by experience, which led them to victory in the election of 1840. In this, we need no better assurance that we are right, than the constantly reiterated assertion of our adversaries that we are wrong. They, with all their lofty pretensions of confidence in the people, are manifestly fearful of any appeals to their understanding, and seek to influence their decisions by the degrading appliances of party, passion, and prejudice. We, with a full conviction of their integrity, and a sincere reliance upon their intelligence to perceive and acknowledge the magnitude of truth, appeal directly to their reason. Our opponents desire to enter upon the coming contest by simply passing the watchword of the leaders along the filled ranks of the party; we, on the contrary, would unite those whom we call upon to do battle; with the justice of the cause for which they are about to contend. They denounce the meetings of the people in their primary assemblies, and characterize these gatherings as "senseless mummeries," and "bacchanalian orgies;" we hail them as glorious signs of popular regeneration, and happy omens of the final ascendency of pure Democracy. They say to their blinded followers, "thus runs the edict of the party;" we say to the people, "come, let us reason together."