Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1839-06-28

hearted patriot and statesman, devoted to
the welfare Of The republic. ~ did not
send foe YOU" he said, in reply to Mr..
Preston's suggestion, "to ask wha, might
be the effects of the purposcd movements
on my prospects. but whether It was right.
HAD RATHER BE RIGHT THAN DE PREsI.
DENT"
Both these anecdotes illustrate strong
points in Mr.. Clay's character. It shows
a noble mind, one which only a truly good
and great man could exhibit, thus TO
conquer ones pride, and to control ones
passion, and ones interest and ambition
too, so as to make wrong, a right, BY
atonlng tor injuries inflicted from prejudice
or any other cause. How many heart
burnlngs would be soo,hed. how many
anlmosties would die vii hin mems breasts,
how many noble lives saved passions
hushed,-wrongs repenled of,--and injuries
forgiven would there BEEF thus one to
another man would vindicate themselves by
the confession of an undoubied wrong.
Blu, there is one other aud perhaps nobler
trait of character belonging to Mr.. Clay.
! mean his love Of universal lbcrtv,- now
in behalf Of South America. and anon in
defence Of the wronge1 Greek, Ito dav
tor Poland, and to morrow and always, so
to speak, for the feest freedom at home.
INec S'bi Sed toto genit,tm Sc Crederc mundo
est. The ameloration Of the condition Of
man has always been one of the promlnen,
objects of his life. His speeches from The
moment he entered upon the stage of public
life to the last made, have been dis inguished
for their enlarged and liberal sentiments
He has heart capable of feeling for the
dlstresses of all mankind and voice ever
ready TO vindcae the rights of man.
What johnson said of Garrlck, NAV say
Of Mr.. Clay with perhaps one exception in
which Mr. Clay exceled the distinguished
lrogedan. He had seen every part acted
by Garrlck performed equally well by lher
persons. but he had never seen any one
who could perform so many parts so we'll"
Mr.. Clay performs every part equally well
with others, and in one point Of character
he most certainly excels all other men in
our country. He has great,--a superior
genius, the genius of far.reaching mind
that looks beyond the days and the months
and the years that are, and forms correct
conclusions Of what the present will bring
forth years and years TO come. With
genius he has great tact and talent too
and added to this deep feeling and long
experience. The prominent fault of the
man is firmness of character, which. if it
is not the parent, is at least the brother Of
obstlnacy. would as soon attempt 10
remove mountain by an exercise of ordi.
nary faith. as | would attempt to change
the mind of Mr.. Clay when fairly made up.
10 this respect he even goes beyond the
late President of The United States, who
would sooner pluck out an eye or cut off an
arm than sacrifice an opinion, whether
right or wrong.
AS a debater, Mr.. Ciny's object seems
| to be desire TO carry his point. With
less power to fix his mind on the one great
subject before him than some other men,
he never'he less brings forward on argu.
ment and an analysis and an eloquence
which produces magic effect upon all
classes of hearers. | have SAID Mr.. Clay
has genius and talent, by which mean no
more, than that the God of Nature has
endowed him with great ability, and that
he has improved to the best advantage the
ten taleus bestowed upon him. The
prominent feature Of true genius, it seems
TO me. is an ability to carve out new and
important plans, through the execution Of
which the nation is to receive public good,
and if Mr. Clay is to be appIauded for any
one thing more than another, it is for the
great national measures by him conceived
and advocated in The Halls of Congress,
all Of them designed to benefit the people
| 81 ho t,l e Il
ever failing to confer that benefit when
put into operation. THIS power call
genius because it is the result of superior
mental gift power Of mind for which
Mr. Clay is largely indebted to Nature
and to his own industry IN curlva,ing the
works Of nature. The man who can Judge
correct of the future from the present
who with an eye of prophecy beholds, as it
were, in vision, the consequences, good or
evil, resulting from this decision in law
and from that construction of a measure OF
public policy WHO has the power to meet
the strong by argument, the timid BY
frmness, the susceptible by eloquence, =
the patriotic and well.meant multitude b,
fervent appea warning the one an(
threatening the other. such a mind il
gifted with true genius and capable OF con
ferring an immensely of good upon a state
or counrry,-especlally when serving tina
country in her national councils. Such
man has
"-On the tip Of his subdung tongue
All kinds of argument and questions deep
All replication prompt. and reason strong.
For his advantage still did wake and sleep:
To make The weeper laugh, the laughe weep
5 lie had The dialect and different skill,
Catching all passions in his craft OF will;
, That he did in the general bosom reign,
, young, Of old; aud sexes both enchanted
With all this power, Mr.. Clay is who'll
free from vanity and osten,atlon. L,k
9 most men he may have been proud of tn
Y applause bestowed upon hun in early life
. but he is beyond 1t now, and while aroun
e hlm you see a throng of inferior men who's
n pride and sef-esteem cover them like
., uarmpnt von find Mr. CLAW annarpnilv nm