Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1841-08-05
From he baltimore american.

EF0W Nc DUUtMOTC sImGTtCUn.
Mr.. CLAY.-We have been permitted to
take the following extract from letter writ
ten by gentleman who has been sojourning
for some days in Washington, to his friend
in this city.
After giving an account Of visit to the
President, the writer proceeds
If you pass from the Executive Mansion
to the magnificent Capitol at tho other end of
the Avenue, you find yourself at once intro
duced to a scene of the liveliest Interest,"
The galleries of the Senate Chamber have
been crowded every day since have been
here, with an audience whose concern in what
is going forward leads them to endure
with patience even the extreme heat Of that
part Of the Chamber.
The position of Mr.. Clay as the acknowl-
edged leader ofhis party in the Senate ma
turally attracts the attention of all observers
towards him. He is, apparently, in the en-
joyment Of excellent health, and, indeed,
seems to me to be much more capable of en-
during labour and fatigue than he was sever
al years ago. / have, for many days, OBJ
served his demeanor in the Senate, and my
admiration of the greatness of his talents and
the purity of his patriotic emotions has been
greatly increased by all that have seen.-
Mr.. Clay's position is one Of heavy response
bility, and of prodigious labour. The bur
den of supporting the great measures which
his party deem necessary for the relief OF the
country has been principally thrown upon
him in the Senate. An ordinary man would
have sunk under the task. No one can APP
preciate its difficulty and ardousness without
coming here and watching, day after day, the
thousand veXatious shapes in which opposi-
ton presents itseif-the specious CARDS it as
sumes-the appeals it makes to facton-to
sectional interests-to every passion of the
soul-the pertnacty with which it contrives
means for delaying, hindering and embarras-
ried diligence with which it wages its petty
warfare against every assailable point in the
measures that are presented.
But the spirit of Henry Clay rises higher
and higher as the difficulties grow thicker
and thicker and mightier around him. His
courage and constancy keep peace with the
demands upon them. Crcscit sab pondcre cir
tus. Always in his place-always ready
always courteous to those who treat him with
ordinary courtesy-deaing in indulgence and
candour with honest doubts or real timidty
stripping demagoguesm of its guse when
ever it ventures to display itself-these are
the duties to which he dedicates himself
with untiring assiduity and with the most tri-
umphant success. With what unfailing sa-
gacity he will detect and expose the latent
purpose that turks beneath the smooth and
insinuating sophistry ofWRIGHT With
what indignant and overwhelming scorn does
he unveil the metaphysical subtlety-the
restless discontent-the disunoniZing plots
of Calhoun. Whatsoever and from whom
soevcr the attack may come, he is ever ready
TO meet 1t, and have yet to witness the en-
counter in which he has failed TO gain over
IA adv fI,a Cd ode
Iperceive that one of the northern papers
whilst admitting his great talents and the
consummate tact which he has exhibited du-
ring the present sessiOn--conplains that he
does not always display the most perfect good
temper. Mr.. Clay is unquestionably man
oil ardent mperament-qualitiess such as his
are not often found associated with tame
one. But deny that he has, at any time
given any member of the Senate just cause
to complain that he has requited courtesy and
kindness with less than courtesy and kind.
ness or that he has, in single instance
impugned the motives Of any Senator, unless
provoked by personal assault upon himself
His whole bearing is dignifed, courteous
: and even conciliatory. He repels any inva
sion of his own dignity with just and pro-
per resentment-but beyond this, am sure
it cannot be shown he has ever gone.
1t is impossible for any one to doubt tina
MIR. Clay possesses the entire confidence Of
the Wing majority in the Senate. The indie
pendent men who sit around him are his coun
sellers as he is theirs. 1t is fit that he should bt
their leader, the exponent Oftheir wishes and o
pinions, as well as of his own. Upon mos
great questions they agree with him, ant
where they do not coincide, the disagreement
am sure, is cause ofregret to all. Perfec
coincidence of opinion amongst men of indie
pendent and enlightened minds is not to b,
expected-but it is consolation to the ma
ton to know that upon the topics that now
chiefly occupy the public mind, the Whis
majority in the Senate can all vote in sole
Phalanx together. Yours, &c.