The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-07-10
HENRY CLAY.
London. June IL. 1889.

Il was not long since remarked nv an eminent
viewer Of the character Of Lard Chsthan, that hr true
test OF great insaiha', al least which must deier-
mne his place Ia the highest order OF great mei'--s
his having been IN advance Of hts sgr Ihis ihs
acute aud lhllosophc observer, II Is which decades
whether mt he has carried iofwaid the grand plan
81 human niIru.s neni has coniornfd his views aud
Adapted his conduct 10 the exIsiug circumstances ~
soc .,y, or changed hem 10 better rs eudition
has hem OF the hghi, Of The void, ur only re-.
n,eied the borrow ed rays Of iormer mnares. aud 81
IN The same shade, ard the same twilight, or ~ The
dawn wuh The rest oi his generation u this test
be- applied 10 the history al Mr. CLAWS public career
we inink there be hesilsluu ~ sssgnins hun
place IN the highest order Of great M. oi HIS aye
lie came pnhllc life 1T an age so early, that the
Whole current vi his thDaghts aud m.diiatons has me-
cessaTly set towards the ofgialon and execution Of
measures important 10 the adv nr eineni Of sociey--
No parton 81 his public service, either legislator
or ~ the Calumet exhibits HIM conenttd With nen "
following the ordinary routine OF the dsy. Gifted by
nature with "decp and original WISDOM he has
sought, M every position IN which he has been placed
10 improve the science the theory the piacce VI what
ever department of government Committed TO his
ch~rge. tn m'd like HIS The doctrine OF "let well
enough alone'-'he gtohie doctrine Of men v no. con-
scnis vi their own hopeless medlocftv, arc afraid TO
advance step teyond those who have gone before
thctn--had no charms. What his ssgscity painted
as an Improvement, he would not reject brca, 90 Il
might be looked upon as irnovaon. and thus we hnd
his whole public career illustrated hy series OF ex-
ions whose brlancy only exceeded by their perfect
success Upon many Of these his associates
--even those whose spirit and PATRIOTISM were most
nearly allied 10 his ow,--have, NJ fist. doubled the
txp.dency ii,einess Of his conc eplIous-but the
triumphant On, rgy 18th which he ever pr ssed them
iuto practca elect and the success which they have
been uniformly attended e,luce, at onre, the poaer Of
hrs sway over The minds of men. aud the lar rearhg
wisdom III his profound aud inventive genus There
NAV he other stalesinsiMr, Claws contemporaries
whose habits have led them the formation oi node
At Reasoning more metaphysical aid subtle. CALHOUN
may excel hnn IN the fstuy Of genealzng aud rrduc-
ing every question VI pu:lic policy, like problem in
Algebra. 10 sone gwen rule. NRiGHr may surp,ss
hun IN the power conceal the sbsurdry Of his p,npo-
sons or veil the wckedness of his purposes. by 30
phstry lahonously conlnvrd and decel,fnIly hidden.
But these 'riiuphs OF ulnd-lf they deserve To be so
distinguished look TO no practca result They are
The expednts ui the haurign,he abuses Of the hlgh
faculties Which are desecraed To produce them. II
Mr.. Clay had deemed ohJcc, worthy the ambition
of a true statesman he might have wandered IN The
speculative field. with a certainty of gathering
whatever fruits it would afford Bat he has cho sen
better and a useful part, He has bent the powers
OF his mud to The practical labos OF Statesman, aud
page nf his counry's history, during his Connection
with H. unlil Il may be SAID. declared OF
Kindred genus. that he has only shed upon the aye
Ia ahlch he belongs the illumination Of a more ad.
ranc.d civilization and inspired philosophy, hut
has anticipated the acton Of generation tia,
to succeed HIM. .