[From the ALBANY DAILY ADVERTISER]

At the meeting at the Capitol, on Friday evening, the chairman, the Hon. John Tayler, on taking his seat, addressed the meeting in a style which went to the heart and affections of every hearer. The age, experience, public services, and venerable appearance, of the speaker, excited the undivided attention of the assembled multitude. It was emphatically the voice of the patriarch to his countrymen. He addressed the meeting substantially as follows:

FELLOW-CITIZENS –This meeting has been convened for the purpose of taking into consideration the services of De Witt Clinton as canal commissioner, and from which he has recently been removed by the legislature. Notwithstanding my advanced age and declining health, I have made an effort to mingle with you, to render praise to a man whose exalted virtue and talents not only adorn his own country, but have claimed the attention and admiration of foreign nations.

There have been various and conflicting opinions as to the original projector of the Erie Canal: speculative opinions on this subject were probably indulged at a very early period; but this is not our present inquiry.

The knowledge I possess, in relation to the agency Mr. Clinton has taken in bringing this stupendous work into successful operation, induces me to state a few facts, which, indeed, must be within the recollection of many gentlemen of this numerous meeting.

Mr. Clinton was appointed, at a very early period, one of the commissioners to explore the route of the Erie Canal, with instructions to report to the legislature the practicability and expense of accomplishing this magnificent work; and I believe it will not be doubted that this incipient step was accomplished by his influence and unremitting industry, and his continued perseverance at length procured the passage of the law, (notwithstanding the doubts of his friends and the revilings of his enemies,) making appropriations and appointing commissioners to commence and complete a work that has not been surpassed in any age or country.

Mr. Clinton was one of those commissioners, and as he was considered one of the principal instigators, as was alleged, of this visionary project, he was subjected to the most bitter reproaches that his infuriated and vindictive enemies could heap upon him; every means was resorted to, that envy and the malignant passions of man could invent, to hurl him from that exalted eminence he had so justly obtained. His project was assailed by sophistical arguments, and groundless calculations; he has himself been basely traduced as ambitious and dangerous to the liberties of his country; but he has surmounted all these difficulties, and lived to see the "big ditch," as it has been sarcastically called, nearly finished.

After all his toil, incessant anxiety and labour, it has been left for the present Legislature to complete the climax of injustice. They, on the last day of their session, outraged all the rules of justice and propriety by passing a resolution to remove him from his office of canal commissioner, which, in my humble opinion, is not only a disgrace to themselves, but disreputable to the state. I shall, gentlemen, trespass no further on your time, but I presume the subject will be more ably elucidated by those that will follow me.

After the venerable chairman had concluded his remarks, Col. James M‘Kown addressed the meeting in an energetic and forcible manner, and with great eloquence, exhibited the claims of Mr. Clinton to the gratitude of his countrymen, and pointed out the injustice which had been manifested in his wanton and unprovoked removal from office. The generous and patriotic sentiments of the speaker were warmly seconded by the enthusiasm of the audience, which burst forth in repeated and protracted cheers. The following is an imperfect sketch of his remarks.

Mr. M‘Kown said, in introducing the resolutions which he intended to offer, that he congratulated himself in being able unexpectedly to be present at a meeting of his fellow-citizens on a subject in which not only this state, but the nation at large, were so deeply interested. It was peculiarly proper that the inhabitants of Albany should express their opinion of the public services of their esteemed fellow-citizen, the Honourable De Witt Clinton, in relation to the great measure of the canal policy. But a few months since we, as citizens, assembled together to celebrate the important event of the junction of the inland seas of the west with the waters of the Hudson, to admire the successful efforts of science in mingling the waves of Erie with the tide of the Atlantic – to lay the cap-stone in this magnificent structure, which is to aggrandize our state and common country, and add to the national character by the wonderful improvements in our yet infant republic.

What heart was there on that occasion that did not fill with gratitude to the men who were instrumental in this mighty work? What hand was there that did not point to DE WITT CLINTON; and with one common impulse assist to inscribe beneath that name, on the scroll of history, PUBLIC BENEFACTOR!

Who would then have believed, that in so short a period we would have been called together on an occasion like the present, to express our sentiments of gratitude towards that benefactor, and our feelings towards those who would vainly attempt to tear away the wreath of honour?

He has been displaced from his official station by a majority of the legislature. That legislature must first erase the power of memory from the people of this country, if they would hope to make them forget the gratitude that is due to him. It is with amazement the people ask of their delegates, why is Mr. Clinton removed from the honorary station of president of the board of canal commissioners ? Not to save the public expense, for his services have been gratuitous – not because he engaged the state in a visionary and expensive scheme, for he, with those who were willing to hazard their public reputation with his, have brought it to a most successful termination.

It was to have been hoped and believed, for the honour and dignity of our state, that this littleness of malice, this virulence of party, would not at least have been manifested towards this distinguished individual, by any of the present generation, who ought so well to know his worth and public services, in the station from which he has just been displaced. Displaced by the very men too, who, while the ultimate success of the canal policy was to he tested, claimed it as a merit to oppose, and to charge him as being the very father of this stupendous undertaking.

Our venerable chairman, who has so long acted with him, has alluded to the agency and perseverance of Mr. Clinton, in originating, advancing, and after surmounting every obstacle, finally completing this stupendous work. Need more than allusion be made to those facts, to those who, living at the seat of our state government, have personally witnessed these efforts? Every man of intelligence not only in this state, but in this republic, has known and felt them. His cotemporaries have acknowledged them; posterity will appreciate them.

Within these walls most, if not all of us, have heard it alleged with apparent malicious triumph, that Mr. Clinton must stand or fall in public estimation, by the result of this measure alone. He has stood. He now stands splendidly on a towering monument of imperishable fame, which neither envy can corrode, nor malice with her darkened wings, overshadow or conceal.

Mr. chairman, said Mr. M‘Kown, the voice of this state, the sentiments of the whole of this confederated republic, as well as of those European governments, which have looked to us with an intense interest on this subject, will be heard to condemn, if not felt to despise us for this wanton injustice.

When we are reproached abroad that republics are ungrateful, and have not the magnanimity to remember, or reward their meritorious citizens, and pointed to this lamentable instance of its early truth; let us who are assembled this evening, by one united and spontaneous expression, by the resolutions we adopt, be able each, to reply to the charge with heartfelt sincerity, and say, "Thou canst not say I did it."

On Saturday, the committee appointed by the meeting of citizens of this city, waited personally upon Mr. Clinton, when Mr. James, the chairman, presented the following address:

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To the Hon. De Witt Clinton.

Albany, April 17, 1824.

SIR, – The late resolution of the legislature, which has terminated your honourable labours as president of the board of canal commissioners, and deprived our state of your invaluable services hereafter, has awakened, among all honourable men, feelings of the liveliest indignation. It could not have been expected in this enlightened age, so fruitful in improvements which tend to advance the comforts and add dignity to the character of man, that the legislature of an intelligent republic would have rewarded fourteen years of successful and disinterested efforts in promoting the prosperity and glory of the state, by this act of most base ingratitude.

Deeply sensible of the stain which this unworthy measure has affixed on the character of this state, and animated with the warmest sentiments of gratitude towards you as a distinguished public benefactor, the citizens of Albany have directed us, as their committee, to express to you their feelings on this occasion.

To you personally, the termination of your official duties can be of little moment, for injustice and ingratitude will in vain assail that reputation, whose noble and elevated structure rests on the broad foundation of a nation's prosperity. You have laboured long enough for your own glory, but far too short a time for your country.

If any circumstance could alleviate our regrets, in the loss of services so important to the honour and welfare of the state, we should derive it from the hope, that the inspiration of your genius may continue to animate your fellow-citizens to a full completion of the magnificent works which you have planned.

In behalf of the numerous meetings of our fellow-citizens, which we have the honour to represent, we tender to you our warmest thanks and liveliest sentiments of gratitude; for those invaluable services have justly acquired for you, the appellation of the "disinterested benefactor of the state of New-York."

Accept from us, individually, assurances of our great personal respect and esteem.

Signed, William James, J.H. Wendell, Isaiah Townsend, John Taylor, Elisha Jenkins, Gideon Hawley, Joseph Alexander, Israel Smith, E. Baldwin, Chandler Starr, Samuel M. Hopkins, Philip S. Parker, John Cassidy, Jabez D. Hammond, A, Conkling, James M’Kown J. Waterman, Teunis Van Vechten.

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Transcribed from the original text and html prepared by Bill Carr, last updated 5/29/99.