The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1843-09-19
HENRY CLAY.

~ aNA4S"hE nv AAN ~aS'aA-
Of The memoir Of this iIlus,rious Statesman,
appended 10 the collection Of his Speeches
recently published by GREELY s. McEL-
RAru, OF New York;
We have thus recorded the prominent
public services Of HENRY Clay, with an
historical sketch of his country, Just sufIi
cieni to render them intellIgble. He per
sonal biography has been len untouched:
bot it viii readily he seen that those noble
qualities Of mind and heart which have made
So glorious his public life, mus, have inves.
ted his domestic relations With the highest
charms. lie bears about him that sures,
mark Of greatness, tho power Of beng
great in litile things = of lending TO the
most common incidents Of life o dignity
which stamps them with the heroisn vi bis
personal character. In pubic life, be is
the greatest Ststesman Of this age. HIS
eIoaaeHce, wnh ~hich The nation 10 most
familiar, is ~ fac, one Of the slightest ele.
menis Of his fame ia deeper source than
this, resisiiess as II Is, must be sought the
secret Of that power which has rested The
Nation upon has arm, and interviewer his
principles with The very Ganesork OF her
policy, All lhc impulses OF his hear,--
the Instincts OF bis naggr--are those Of
Statesman. No crisis, however sudden or
fearful, sufprises or d,sarms hun. Ia the
most pcrl!oas emergencies. when ron the
counsel or decision OF an hour hangs the
fate Of his country fot years, his lofty mind
moves with nc Sc me Botarnted strength 50
in the mes; TRIVIAL concerns la the beau.
iliul words u " oopswoRTH, we may des
CTbe him as one
Whose poxsTs sle6 gound haa il tie common
strife,
Or mild concerns, Of ordinaty life
A constant Influences, peculiar grace
Bot who. Il called upon 10 face
SOaIe awful m0Hieut, 10 which heaven has iotnet
Grea, issues. good o. bad, Tor human kind,
Is happy IS a ovrr-i attireJ
With sudden brightness, like man inspired
AID through he heat Of the conflict keeps the
law
10 calnness made, and secs What he loreslR.'
r Ia all his public hfe Dir. CLAY has ewing
/, ed lirm reliance upon great and enduring
+ principles: and 10 this, perhaps, may be
) found one chief secret oil has power anc
Q foresight. A fundamental truth 10 always
b stronger than any man and by building
faith and firm reliance upon II the man shall
/. receive a porhon OF ITS strength, and see
}. through the mids,s OF the hour, the fulur,
J. to which Il leads. The confidence Of Mr.
e CLAY IN tho leading political principle
which have formed the rule uf all his lon,
; public life, has sprung from o firm faith II
o their permanent truth, and not from tina
Il blind devotion 10 q rule, merely because
le 10 abstract, which belongs, sometimes, /
le men Who have something Of greatness i
O. them, bot who lack the essential wisdot
il. TO profit by experience. Though FIRM /
4" maintaining the rights Of each portion ,
ii. the State, he never allows passionate an
ne blind defence Of them to plunge the Who'll
~ INTO disaster and rula. lie feels tina, n
es principles 90 which our government, is ba
on ed, have a high worth--nol only Of then
at selves, bu, for the sake Of the supersiru1
or lure Of happiness aud glory we have erecte
oC upon them and the safety OF this he is n
willing TO peril 10 their fruIlless defence.
on lie has none Of the zssl Of thai lgnora
Ii worshipper who dug beneath the ruins
So ibe Ephesian temple for the fuel on whi,
he il rested, to feed the 1amc upon ITS altar
not Though he has ever proved himself zat
lac Gus defender OF the rights OF man, In
lhe countries and conditions, he never see
lad the destruction Of established order,
val gardIess Of tho happiness Of those mr.
nearly concerned nor even in the assert,
no Of Right would he deem II well to tramp
ent with ruthless violence, upon al the instli
Let tons which might stand 10 bis way, a
rush hcadlong to the cod, like the cam
,di. ball,
Shauefing that il mag reach, and shatteri
the what 1t reaches
the Ills democratic principles therefore
ile dent and spontaneous as they are, are te
pered By deep reverence for the p3ru
arc neut reason Of the State, and profound
cry gard for The well being Of his fellows.
o Is his aspirations are 10 build Up, not To Il
do8a--.o create, %. to destroy All /