Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1831-06-02

THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 1881.
HENRY CLAY.

relief in contemplating the character Of I,
rRut.y GREAT MAN. HENRY CLAY IS such
MON He has all that nobleness of soul; in
danendence of spirit, integrity of heart, and
strenglh of mind, calculated TO win our es-
teem and admiration. Contrast his charac-
Ter with those of the miserable tools who are
now at work in our high places, and how ell
evated does he appear by the comparison
But we did not commence to write his pane
gyric-we intend simply to introduce to our
leaders. written to Mr.. Prentice, who has
lately published biography of MIR. Clay, one
from john Quincy Adams. and the other from
Richard Rush:
Quincy, 10Th Oct 1880.
~Geo ID. Preatiss, Lexington, Ky.
"SIR: The opinion that / entertained of
the talents and services of Mr. Clay, was
manifested to the world by the nomination
of him as Secretary Of Stat. 1t had slfea-
DIV been made known to him, at the time Of
his retirement from Congress in 1920, | then
informed him, that, in The event Of a vacancy
in the mission to Great Britain, | should deem
il nv duty to recommend to he then presi-
dent, the nomination Of him to that Office, if
it would be acceptable to him
Immediately after the Gloss Of nay admin
istration, an address was transmitted TO me
by certain citizens of New jersey. to which
returned forthwith an answer. In that pa
per, | assigned the motives which had indu-
ced me to nominate Mr.. Clay to the office
of Secretary OF State. 1t was published ia
many of the newspapers. and remains tes-
timonial from me to Mr. Clay, to which
could now add, and from which could de-
duct nothing With Mr.. Claws adminstra-
ton Of the department Of state, | was en-
tirelv satisfied. The composition of all his
official papers were creditablc to the coun
try"
The following is an extract from the paper
referred TO by Mr.. Adams. The whole com
munication is so noble, SO beauti(ul, so elo-
Guent and so just, that it deserves 10 be in
serted entire-but for the present, we only
insert that part which relates to MIR. Clay.
.'rhe other is equally worthy of the honor
in which you have associated him with me
in your letter. Upon him the foulest SLAM
ders have been showered. Long known aud
appreciated, as successfully a member of
both houses Of your national Legislature, as
the unrvaled speaker, and at the same time,
most efficient leader of debates in one Of
them;-as an able and successful ncgotiator
for your interests in war and in peace, with
foreign powers, and as a powerful candidate
for the highest Of your trusts. The depart
ment Of state Itself was station, which by
its bestowal, could confer neither profit nor
honor upon him but upon which he has shed
unfading honor, by the manner in which he
has discharged its duties. Prejudice and pas
sion have charged him with obtaining that
office by bargain and corruption. Before you,
my fellow citizens, in the presence Of oui
country and of heaven; | pronounce that
charge totally un!ounded. This tribute of
Justice is due from me to him. and seize
with pleasure the opportunity afforded me by
Ia r i. he nht
GAS 20 my motives for rendering to him
the department Of state when | did let that
man who questions them come forward Let
him then select and name the man whom. bv
his pre-eminent talent, by his splendid servi
ccs, by his ardent patriotism. By bis all en-
bracing public spirit, by his fervid eloquence
in behalf of the rights and liberties of man
kind, nv his long experience in the affairs of
the Union, foreign and domestic,--a presi-
dent Of the United States, intent only upon
the henor and welfare of his country ought
to have preferredto Henry CLAY. Let him
name the man, and .hen Judge you my fell
low citizens, of my motive"
TO the foregoing zee add a letter from Mr..
Rash.
York, Pa. Aug. "a, 1880.
"DrAR SIR:-I very muck regret that it
is ont rs my power to lend any essential aid
10 your important NOihs Il Si'dl tdNc
an interest in its success. know in truth
little of Mr.. Clay's lie that is not known to
us all
lie has been so long and SO conspicuously
before the public, that his name has become
idanti6ed with the most important measures
of the country for the last twenty years. whe
Their originating in its legislative councils, or
depending upon its executive acts well
remember, that during the war Of 1872 hav-
ing myself bad "a share in the administration
of MIR Madison during that war, though on
Nv in an humble way, we considered Mr.
Clay as the great prop of the public cause in
Congress. However eminent and useful o.
theirs light have been, he stood foremost in
ardor, in el0quence, in power TO achieve the
great ends, which the sAigencies of that pc
nod demanded. This OF itself, is no light
praise, when that body contained such men
as Lowndes, Cheves, and Calhoun, besides
others Of scarcely inferior renown.
81 fist Gecams intimately associated in pc
iticai aad personal intercourse with Mr.. Clay
IN 1926, when he assumed the duties of the
department Of Stale. Up to that perisd !
must own, that highly as J. ia common with
=. others, rated hun as a speaker, as well as for
those other commanding qualities of the
mind, that tit men TO take the head In the
business of legislative assemblies, | was mol
sure that he would display equal abilities in
the new field to which he was called Ne
yeItheless, it soon appeared 10 me, that he
..lfEa in that Eal