Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1843-10-05
rLoauEsr rRibtTE no MIR. CLAY.

services OF henry Clay, with an histCricai sKetch
OF his country, just sufficient 10 render them in
tellgble. Ills personal biography has been left
untouched, but it will readily be seen that these
noble qualities Of mind and heart, which have
made so glorious his public life, must have in
vested his domestic relations with the highest
charms. He bears about him that surest mark Of
greatness, the power OF being "great in little
things" Of lending to the most common Incl
dents of life dignity which stamps them with
the hefoisth Of his personal character. In public
lifs he is the greatest statesman OF his age. Ills
eloquencc, with which the nation is most familiar,
is in fact one of the slightest elements of his
fame in u deeper source than this, resstless as
1t is, must be sought the secret OF that power
which has rested the nation upon his arm and in
terwVYen his principles with the very framework
of her policy. All the impulses Of his heart
the instincts of his nature--are those of States
surprises or disarms him. In the most perilous
emergencies, when upon the counsel or decision
Of an hour hangs the fate Of his country for years,
his lofty mind moves with the undaunted
strength as i'm the most trivial concerns. In the
words Of Wordsworth, we may describe him ds
one,
Whose powers shed round him in the strife,
Or mild concerns, Of ordinary life,
constant influence, peculiar grace;
But who, if called upon to face
Some awful moment, to which heaven has joined
Great issues, good or bad, for human kind,
Is happy as lovcr-is alfred
With such brightness, like a inspired;
And through the heat Of conflict keeps the law
In camncss made, and secs what he forcsaw.'
In all his public life Mr.. Clay has evinced
hrm reliance upon great and enduring principles {:
and In this, perhaps, may be found one chief Sc
cret OF his power and foresight. fundamental
truth Is always stronger than any man and by
building faith and firm reliance upon il the man
Snail receive portion of its strength, and see,
through the mis,s of the hour. The future to which
It leads. The confidence of Mr.. Clay in the
leading political principles which have formed
the rule OF all his long public life, has sprung
from irm faith in their permanent truth, and not
from that blind devotion 10 rule, merely because
1t Is abstract. which belongs, sometimes, to men
VINO have something of greatness in them, but
who lack the essential wisdom to profit by eSpe-
rience. Though firm in maintaining the rights Of
each portion Of the State, he never allows a pas
sonate and blind defence of them to plunge the
whole into disaster and ruin. He feels that the
principles on which our government is based have
nigh worth, not only OF themselves, but for the
sake OF the superstructure OF happiness and glory
we have erected upon them and the safety of
this he Us not willing to peril in their fruitless de-
renee. tie has none of the zeal of that ignorant
worshipper who dug beneath the ruins OF the
Ephesan temple for the fuel on which it rested,
to Iced the flame upon its affairs. Though he has
ever proved himself Jealous defender of the
rights of man, in all countries and conditions he
never seeks the destruction Of established Order
regardless of the happiness Of those most nearly
concerned nor even in the assertion of right
would he deem it well 10 trampie, with ruthless
violence, upon all the institutions which might
stand in his way, and rush headlong 10 the end,
like the cannon bali,
Shattering that it may rcach aud shatcrng what il
reachcs,'
20 Ills democratic principles, therefore, ardent and
spontaneous as they are, tempered by deep
reverence Tor the permanent reason Of the State,
and profound regard for the well being of his
fellows. All his aspirations are to build up moi
TO tear down-to create, not TO destroy. All the
safeguards then, which the sound wisdom of the
people, trIunphng and establishing law over
tina; OF transient Impulse, has thrown about indi-
Fdual rights, he reverences, and, SO long as they
Seem tn be needed, seeks 20 preserve. Like
Schlller's Wallenstein, while he knows that the
Eight of destruction is straight and swift, he feels
That,
-" the road the human being travels,
That on which BLESSINGS come and CO. both follow
The rivers course, tile valleys playful windngs,
Curves round the cornfield and the hill of vines,
iionorng the holy bonds of propcrty."*
MIR. Clay has always been the proud champion
OF that political party which maintains the true
purpose OF civil government to be, not merely the
prevention of wrong, but the establishment OF
rIght-not merely 10 define and punish Offences
good TO- those who live beneath it's beniTnan,
sway. His public life has been consecrated to
the development of this great principle and il
MS EFFORTS seem not yet to have been attended
with full success, they have been oftenlimes OF
saving service to the country; and the eye OF
ROPE sees IN them the germ Of power whc,
shall yet work itself free from all crushing Gala
NIFTY and accomplish the great end for which j,
was hfst put forth. lie is one Of those great men
whose influence, even when unseen and despised
is poten! and controlling. The spirit of his life
mas wrought even more than his active efforts ;
ana, lar more than any other statesman among
us ne has thus given strength to those principles
OF PuoHc policy which alone conduct nations 10
,ne hoi9ht OF prosperity. The value of his pub.
Tic services can only be worthily set forth when
candor Shall have made a faithful record Of his
I'ie ana MS acts: and Just in proportion as tina,
record is incomplete, will this great friend of man
RInd 90 deifauded OF honor. 1t were rash and
uDwise 10 ask that his own age should riub,lv
esteem and fully reward them. But, as in the
old religion the lightning made sacred the object
upon which 1t fell, so even does Death hal
low The victim whom he strikes. Future genera
Mons VIII not lose sight of his worth those
words OF wisdom which, uttered by his living
voice, iall too unheedeJ upon our hearts, shall
come from his tomb with power as from holy
pace Tor " such IS the power of DISPENSING
blessings, which Providence has attached 10 the
truly great and good, that they cannot even die
without advantage TO their fellow-creatures for
death ronsecrates their example; and the wisdom
which might have been sighted at the council
taoie, becomes oracular from the shrine"
Colcridges Translation.