The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1829-09-10
From the Amsricsn Monthly Magazine
Mr.. CLAY.

than is furnished in the case ofhim, whose
name we have placed at the head ofthis ar.
ticle. In the FIVE and twenty years during
which NJ. Clay has been occupied in pub
lie Offices, there has never been moment
in which 30 great portion Of public respect
and regard has seemed to attachfo him, as
at the present when party calumny and
parlH clamor have driven him snd his
associates in the executive government Of
our country, from their stations, When
The third rate men, whom clrcpms'aDc Dces
and fortune have placed IN power, as one is
almost tempted to think, by way OF a jest
upon our elective systems, sha have pass
ed away, leaving no more trick than the
slightest cloud leaves n, the SLY over which
il passes, the name Of Mr.. Cla, will be con
nected with memorials of taent and evi-
dences of patriotism which will embody his
name und character in the history Of his
country.
1t is not our purpose, howtver, 10 pass
encoDiums on this distinguished man, nor
Is il even onr object to endeaver 10 attract
public attention towards hih.-The last
purpose, indeed, would be quiiesuperfiuous.
In this part Of the country. certnlnly, we
hesitate not to say that he is al this moment,
an object Of higher and more general re
gard than any other public man. Admire
ton for his talents and respect for his prin-
cples are accompanied, very generally,
. throughout New England at least. with the
Conviction that he has suffered great lnjus
tice. and most unmertcd abuse. The time
may come, or it may not. when 1t shall be
deemed proper to give expression, IN the
most effectual manner, 10 these sentiments
ofattachment. But in the mean time, the
truth that they exist, deep and strong, 'stoo
obvious for any thing but falsehood or folly
20 deny Mr.. Clay has himself not fire
quently visited New England. lie has
been seen BY but few Of her citizens ;and on
this account. mainly, we have thought few
observations in regard to him might not be
unacc ceptable to our readers.
In personal appearance, Mr.. G. is rather
above the ordinary height. well made, tho
somewhat slender, and Of q striking and
manly carriage and department. lie may
now be, we suppose, SIS years Of age. For
the last six or seven years, his health has
been delicate, and occasionally feeble; but
recently il is understood 10 have improved.
and now to give promise of entire resto-
ration and confirmation. In his ordinary
intercourse, Mr. C.. is social accessible and
Interesting. The frankness Of his charac
Ter oycrhows his manners md in social as
well as public life, he has found sometimes.
that generosity and unslispecting conli
dence have betrayed him into The power of
men Of more cunning than principle, more
selfshness than honor. lie possesses the
true spirit Of conve ersation. II is not with
him.an occasion for set and formal speech;
nor yet one confined to intcrrog atnrcs and
answers on mere topics Of course He con
veraes with ease and propriety; bis discourse
is sufficiently sweet and volublc.' and it
indicates at the same time, a man of sense
and character; using that word in its sense
Of individuality. His information is various
and general. especially in relation 10 mat
ters Of business and politics with more of
learning and Of literature, than the nature
Of his education and the e,nployments of his |
1ife would lead us to expect.
Mr.. G.. went early from Virginia TO Ken
tucky To follow his fortune in the new and
opening world Of the West His profes
sion was the law;a profession which no,
only sharpens the intellect, and strength
ems the understanding, but, by the stimulus
Of constantly present md active compe
Si,lon. a. we'll as by its conDrxion with the
means Of political advancement, in a gov
ernment like ours, naturally awnkens in ar, |
dent minds, strong paintings OF ambition |
Nr Clay reached immediately a high |
ata anding in his profession. and found him |
self also at aD early period a member Of the |
Lerislature of the State. From the chair
Of the popular branch Of that body, he was
elected a Senator Of the u. States 10 lSlO.
# we err not in the date. He remained not
long in this situation. percoiving. no doubt
that the Capitol had another thentre better
fitted for the part which he was likely 10
act. He resigned his seat in the Senate.
we believe, afler having filed il but sin
N'e session. and was returned a member Of
ihe National House Of Representatives.
from the Lexington District II is an oc
currcnce without a parallel, that the. first
dav he took his seat in the House hc,was
e'ec ted it's speaker. The event ju>@6ed
fhis confidence in advance. He flied a
choir, in which. before or since Sedgw,ck
And Trnmblll, Macon and Cheves have sat,
with ali ability il may now well be, the
pronaesf hope Of any successor to equal.
For thorough and exact knowledge Of par
liameptsry usag &c and the rules ofthe house,
for clearness Of perception. and prompts
eude cf decision, il would be presumptaons,
We suppose, TO expect soon to see h's Spe
rior. When having been ont of Congress
ne returned To it again in 1898, two thirds
ofthe members concnrred in placing him
once more in the char, although the Speak
er of the preceding Congress. Mr.. p. p.
Barbour. was candidate against him.
Though its Speaker. Mr.. c. wss accus-
toned to bear mart. in the debates OF the
house. on al occasions Of leading interest.
II is not our purpose TO speak ofthe degree
of ab;li,v mnuifes,ed bv thcse speec hes