New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1842-11-26
THE TRlBU NE.
mr.. c,ay.,. Life and Speeches.

p,,lhomme, from Linens we'll known picture;
.. A view of his Birthplace in Hanover GO. va.
1rey engraved on steel by Gimbrede;
8. A Memoir Of Henry Clay, written expressly
tor this work, and extending through 2oo pages
! III, in tho main accurate and glowing, and not
erpassed by any rival Memoir.
l. The Speeches of Henry Clay, from 1910 to
400 Inclusive, commencing with his career as
s,.,qsrnan, and closing with his remarks at Pub
=. Dinner given him on his retirement from office
:, the acce sion of Gen Jackson TO the Presidency
! These fll some $50 pages.
] This volume thus closes epoch in Mr.. Clay's
aIo.,rious career. After few years retirement,
l.. was again elected to the u S. Senate, APP
,.ored in that body in Dec. 1881, and was soon
4 n,oDaiaently engaged in the exciting and momen-
.or. discussions on the Bank Recharter, the Ia
IL the Public Lands, SC. &c. His Speeches on
I hose subjects, as also on the Removal of the De-
,,,ites, the ub-Treasury, sc. and those deliv
cred at the two last sessions, will fill the second
4 ard concluding volume.
4 Each speech is prefaced with paragraph in
due type, briefly narrating the circumstances un-
5,r which it was delivered and often closed with
few lines recording the fate of the pending Pro-
! po,i,on The typographical execution and aP-
oearanco are excellent, the binding appropriate,
and the whole reflects much credit on the enter
Prise and skill Of the publisher.
The ability of the writer Of the Memoir and the
manner in which he has fulfilled his task, will best
3b. determined by an extract. The following is
Z tho conclusion of his biography of Mr.. Clay:
We have thus recorded the prominent public
Services of HENRY CLAY, with an historical
A,se,ch Of his country, Just sufficient render them
an.lligi.le His personal biography has been left
Untouched; but it will readily be seen that those
liable qualities of mind and heart which have made
5Y glorious his public life must have invested his
#tsnestc relations with the highest charms. Fl,
ears about him that surest mark of greatness, the
cover of being great in little things Of lending
10 the most common incidents of life dignity
which stamps them with the heroism Of his per
ona character. In public life, he is the greatest
salesman of his age. His eloquence, with which
he nation is most familiar, is in fact one of the
slightest elements of his fame: in deeper source
Than this resistless as il is must be sought the Sc
ere, Of that power which has rested the nation upon
his arm, and interviewer his principles with the |
vary framework of her policy. All the impulses |
Of his heart the instincts of his nature, are those
of statesman. No crisis, however sudden or |
fearful surprises or disarms him. In the most |
penIous emergencies when upon tho counsel or
decision Of an hour hangs tho fate or his country
oryears. his lofty mind moves with the same IN
haunted strength as in the most trivial concerns
5lpbe beautiful words of Wordsworth, we may
describe him one
Whose powers shed round him in the common strife,
4 Or mild concerns, OF ordinary lie,
A constant influence. a peculiar grace
q But who, if called upon To face
some awful moment, 70 which Heaven mia has joined
I Great issues, good or bad for human KIND,
lshappy as a lover-is alfred
With sudden brightness, like man Inspired .'a
4 And through the heat of conflict keeps the law
| In calulness made, and sees what he ioresaw
ain all his public life Mr.. CLAY has evinced
inn reliance upon great and enduring principles
nd in this. perhaps, may be found one chief secret
4 bis power and foresight. A fundamental truth
,,lwavs stronger than any man; and by building
i.hh aud firm reliance upon it tho man shall re-
csNe portion of it's strength, and see, through
1 the msls of the hour the future to which 1t leads
The confidence of Mr.. CLAY in the leading pollt-
/ rslprincipes which have formed the rule OF all
bis long public life has sprung from q firm faith in
their permanent truth, and not from that blind de-
o,ion to aluie merely becauseit is abstract which
Belongs sometimes to men who have something OF
na,ness in them, bat who lack the essential
wisdom to profit by experience. Though firm in
nsin,ainng the rights of each portion of the State
never allows passionate and blind defence OF
hem TO plunge the whole into disaster and RUN.
Hs feels that the principles on which our govern
! cent is based have high worth-not only of
/ ssmselyes but for the sake of the suPcrstructure
1 Happiness and glory we have erected upon
! an and the safety of this he IS not willing TO
] Nil in their fruitless defence. He has none OF
H,, m nQ
ssah the ruins of the Ephesian temple for the
ial on which it rested to feed the flame upon its
stars. Though he has ever proved himself
aslous defender of the rights of man. in all coun.
mes and conditions, he never seeks the destruction
4 established order, regardless of the happiness
q those most nearly concerned; nor even in the
assertion Of Right would he deem it well to
aanple with ruthless violence upon all the insti-
a.ions which might stand in his way, and rush
sadiong to the end, like the cannon bail,
Scattering that may reach, and SCATTERING wsatit
/ His democratic principles, therefore, ardent
Ind spontaneous as they are, are tempered by
seep reverence for the permanent reason OF the
sisie and profound regard for the wel-seing OF
ss fellows. All his aspirations are to bald up,
so' TO tear down-to create, not to destroy. All
NE safeguards then, which the sound wisdom OF
Tue people, triumphing and establishing law
oses that of transient impulse, has thrown about
Lad!yldual rights, he rcverences, and, 90 long as
saey seem TO be needed, seeks to preserve. Like
ssseaiLLERs Wallen.teins while he knows that the
night of destruction is straight and swift, he feels
that,
e-s,he road the human being travels
That on which BLEssIss comes and goes doth follow
The rivers course, the valleys playful windings
Curves round the cornseld and the hill Of vines
{ liopa,ng the holy bounds OF Properly
4 "Mr. CLAY has always been the proud cham
pon Of that political party which maiotains the