Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-09-28
For the Courier.
IIENRYCIAY.

HENRY CLAY.
II is hard thing to draw discriminating
portrait. Blind admiration aud unqualified
praise meet you on every size. 1t strikes us
that the following sketch of Mir. Clay, taken
from "The New York Sunday morn:r news
possesses the HIGH merit OF precise and faith
fu delneaton. The distinguished features
of his character arc wildly aud strongly hit
off The characteristics attributed TO him
in the lines in italics, friend and foe will alike
admit to be his.
The writer justly says Of Mr.. Clay, that his
"temper is quick" Il is true--he could not
be an orator, if it were not so. But he might
have added that his temper, upon all great oc-
casions, when the country Is involved, has been
under absolute control Calmness in peril,
resource in difficulty, cancellation and compro-
mise upon violent fundamental sectional issues
have strongly marked his career. His whole
life does not afford one instance of an unworthy
surrender of himself to passion, when: the
great interests of the country, our nalon3l
honor, demanded calmness, self sacriice,mod-
| Grafton. In mere personal c0lLiSion-when
rudcly struck at, he is quick, but pldcabls as
quick, and "carries anger as he flint bears
| fire."
Henry Clay--Mr. Clay is now in the 63d
year Of hi sage. He is six feet high,not stout
and has avery careless appearance. Ills
limbs are very long; he has slow precise
walk, and takes lengthy strides. His COM
plexion hght--high retreating forehead, and
very thin hair, slightly grey. His mouth. and
eyeF--the former being very large, and the lat
Ter, small and grey-gige every indication OF
that genius which he is known to possess
The fire of his eyes cannot be described; but
it can be felt with tremendous power. No one
! can resist its potency. He has a great deal
II saaeity "a his manners, AID he has sssos.
rare faculty ofgaakiag erery one 10 schom he is
introduced feel easy dadfTee. There can be
no restraint in his company. He makes him.
self agreeable to an-the greatest or the
smallest; he has been a public man nearly
forty years. He entered Congress-first the
Senate, believe where he did not long remain
lat very early age,and ever since he has
filed large space in the public mind. As
Speaker Of The House Of Representatives., one Of
me most dificut, ardltouS and important sta
tjons az the gorernnleHt, he presided toith an
ability tohich has ncrer Geen approached. Il
was IN this station that his powerful genius
{ was universally acknowledged, All paid sho-
/ mare 10 him. AS an oratoT,he holds the high
4 est rank in the country. The tones of his fun
: rich, and exquisite voice, and his inlmltable
] and original manner, are facinating beyond
parallel. He is eloquent argumentive, play ful
0 aud persuasive. lie has command over both
f the feelings and judgments Of the hearers. ~
d Itrsltaift.1a3 leader in legislative BODY
a ready debater and Practical statesman, he
has never been equaled in this or believe anv
other country. Napolean was not greater as
/ a captain than is Henry Clay legislator. He
Is always ready at his pos, and no matter what
J may be sprung upon him he is prepared for it.
His dexterity is astonishing. IfhiS opponents
f toss him ever so high he invariably lights on
: his feet, and let the blows dealt at him be ever
so well directed, or even so powerful, he is
: sure to ward them off--either by his superior
: skill or strength In defence or attack he is
equally an adept-inapproachable. His mind
} is as elastic as the trunk of an elephant, it can
grasp with equal facility the mightiest or MI
nutest object as occasion requires. He unites
genius and talents, with an inerhallSti6le store
Of common sense, AHhiS faculties are anal
aJle. No man euer originated so many pub
lie measures as he has. He has the genus 10
, conceire great things. and the polcer to consu-
, mate taem;-di6ering IN this respect, from all
his cotempoTaries He IS rery bold man ard
neuer toaitS for others 10 more, or s0atcheS the
current to determine his 0lCn course; he takes
the responsibility. As the leader of great
party he ranks the mightiest; he was born to
command He is not a learned man, but suf.
ficiently so for all practical purposes, and has
knorlcGge of men and The a0ord is coaSunlafe
q His sympathies and feelings are all 9Th the
people, and he has stronger hold upon the afec
tioalS, I fr.aalg be1iers naH any man liring.-
Ofcourse too, he has violent opponents, ne.
9 cessarly Arising out of his public course in adj
vocating and opposing measures which divids
! party lines. His temper is quick; he has {
: greal deal Of sysiesnboth in griuate and p,tJli
Q affairs and has one of the best conducted plan
tations in the west; he is provefbial for skill il
!. raising good stock. This results from tina
y plain good sense for which he is so pre-exsin
I emit and which enables him to adopt himself t
e all purposes of life. All Of has great abiluie
y are of an available character He ueue
scars up into the air after intangible objects Q
: acanders IN the MAKES Of metaphysical dbstrac
y lions; he is brilliant but his briiancy guide
u and lnstructs, it does not dazzle or mislead;h
is native of Hanover Co Va. and early i
i life distinguished himself at the bar, he was
a associate counsel in the great Burr trial f
}, the defendant; was Minister at the treaty
Client, and secretary of state under Presldel
- !. Adams Ills residence is Ashland near lie;
- fington Kentucky, and he is idolized by b
=; ~ faithful and intelligent constituents.