Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1841-11-04
Hs- ~ Me- T~s .ss-.

HENRY CLAY.
Mr.. Clay 10 Am IN the 63I year Of bis
ago. He Is six iesi high. rot s,ops. and
fsa GNpry esceiessxppeafaneo. .fiiecon-
eleSisD Is light. 81 rsire4sihs fy<P6ead /.
ND very tina h>ir. slighdS ese& His
Esep,h al syes< the iogner beink very
ls1ke, -s>A ia ielier small md grey. give
every ~indicaii6n Of thai genius be 10
known TO possess The IRE Of bis eye
cannot be described; bal a. csR be lei,
iihirensadoss povsH No one Can re-
sist hs potency. fe has great deal Of
fsossity "a BIS manners, aud be has .
npss Fpfs fsrsdty Sl nskina every oss 70
whom he Is introduced feel easy add
fffee. There can be no RESTRAINT in his
company. He makes himself agreeable
70 al, the greatest or The smallest. he
has been a public man near forty years.
He entered Congress. first the SeoAie,
believe, where be did not long remain.
al . very early age !; and ever since he
has SLED large space in the public mind.
As SPeaker o: tie House OF Repfeseo.
tsiives. ors Of The mos, difficult, srduous.
and important stations in the Govern
mems. he presided with an ability which
has never been approached. Il vas in
this station that bis powerful. genius va.
universally acknowledged. ALI paid hon
age 10 IL. As IN orator he holds the
highest rank IN the country. The tones
Of his full, rich. exquisite voice, and his
iinimitabie and origioal manneF. are fss-
Chatting beyond parallel. He is eloquent.
argumentaiive, playful. add persuasive
He has command over both the feelings
and judgments Of his bsarsrs- As q le.
gislator. q leader in legislative body, q
ready debaier. aud practical statesman, he
has never been equalIed in this. or I be-
iieve any other country. Napoleon wa,
cot greater as captain than 10 Henry
Clay rs legislator. lie 10 always ready
at bis post; aud no matter what may
spring upon him, he is prepared for it,
His dexteriiy Is astonishing. IL bis op-
lpooents toss him ever so high, be inva
riably lights on bis feet; and le, the blow,
dealt at him be ever so well directed, OF
ever so powerful. be is sure TO ward them
Oh, either By bis superior skill or strength
In defence or attack he is equally sn sdep
I--inapproachabie. His mud is as elias.
tic as the trunk Of an elephant; /: car
grasp with equal facility the mightiesl Of
ninuiest objects as the occasion requires
de uniies genius and talents with an ia.
texhaustible store Of common senss. AL
hts faculties are available. No man eves
Ioriginaisd 50 many great public MEASURE,
as be has. He has the genius to con.
Ieeive great things and the power to con.
summate them differing in this respec
from all his contemporaries. He is 4
very bcld man, and never waits for other.
TO move, or watches the current 20 deter
mine his own course be takes the 70.
lsponsibility. As the leader Of a grea
Iparty, he ranks the mishtest-he wa.
born TO command. He is rot a learned
imam, but sufficiently 50 for all praetica
purposes, and hia knowledge Of men anC
the world IS consummaie. His sympa,
thles and feelings are all with tie people
aud he has stronger told upon their az
leciious, I firmly believe. than any mar
living. or course. too. he has violen
opponents; necessarily arising out OF hi,
public course in advocating and opposing
measures which divide partY lines. Ri,
temper IS quick;he has great deal Of sys
TEN both Ia public and private affairs. snt
mas one Of the best conducted plantation
in the whole West. This results from
that plain good sense, for which be is 90
Pre-eminen,, and which enables him Ia
adapt himself TO all the purposes OF life.
All OF his great abilities are or an avaiIa.
ole character. He never scars up in The
arr atler intangible objects, nor WandeTI
70 the mszes me,aFhy steal distractions
he Is brilliant, but bis brilliancy guides
and instrucis, il does not dazzle OF mis-.
lead.