Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-09-20
Frcm lie .i;qniisogjon.l
CHARACTER OF HENRY CLAY.
ATTRIBUTED 70 DANIEL. WEBSTER.
ESSAY 40. 1,-(Rrpcr,Ic,rIo>.l


Mr.. Clay hts been candidate for the Presi-
dency from The moment 81 his return iio;a En-.
rope al the close oil the las; war. up 10 the pre-
sen, time, now period Of six and twenty years.
Twice or thrice has he gone IL the polls, an.
once with the whole support 81 the party TO w!ici;
he belonged. That he will continue - he 4 can
diatc TIL success or death cstingnshes such =
condition, no one acquainted with his character
and his ndomitabc ambition can doubt. Let H.
do Mr. Clay justice; let rs commend his virtues,
and applaud his talents; let lis praise him Tor all
in him that is praisewor,ar: and this the more
checrluv a. we DO not intend Ia exionuafe hi,.
political faults and l!.- fatal Consequences al his
political condgct in ISL Wi,hou, muci liera-
turc, or any great extent Of general knowledge, lie
has strong understanding, nov good deal cul-
l;yaied bv habits Ill business A good person. a
fine voice an attractive and commanding man
ncr, fit him cminenily for pnblic debate: and he
loves Ia a lamentatlc excess, what he cycelS in.
His irritable temper brooks no contradiction and
BIZ far ionder of invee;iye and retoTi, than OF the
influences Of soft persuasion, neither friend nor foe,
who opposes him in debate can expect quarter.
Indeed on these occasions he treats his friends
worse than his foes for, Will. he looks upon
the latter as enemies in lawful war. he regards
the former as icbelliouS subjects who deserve no
mercy To precise logic, or cool reasoning he
has little pfc;cncc; but for The illustration and
enforcement of general principles, his resources
are respectable, and The skill with which ne uses
them cvinces both aG!oilnesS ard practice He
has other important qualities ui distinguished
leader in popular assemblies. He is bold, fear
less, ready ardent, and when DISCONTINUED and
oyelthrown. as he often is even in n good causr,
by his imprudcncc and excess he can retire.
beating such note OF retreat nevertheless. as
still seems 10 have al air OF triumph IN H. ES-
cessivcly fond Of admiration, ;s public orator,
ard consequently studying effect more than Il
wise man should. he cannot, and never could,
lorero loke or a sarcasm, which should bring
applausc from the gallery, though al the
sa me time il should plant a dagger, or create
ytLyt,s 1MMEprcA ru.f, i'll anoiher's heart. The
natural result ut This temper has been fully shown.
While no man, in his speeches. gains more gen
cral applause, no man intlicts 81 much private
main. so deep-seatcd 4 dislike in the bosom Of his
adversarics.
The history of Mr.. Clay's opinions, since
1906. and Of his steady enthusiastically in their
objects, though far from steady in their means
must hereafter form topics OF discussion. The
position in which he has now chosen 10 place
himself, and the hostiliiies which he has COM
mcnccd, render This absolutely necessary, for the
purposes of lawful defence. x! present, we con
line ourselves 10 the occurrences in 80 and 10.
Mr.. CLAY was candidate for the nomination
of President al the Harrisburg Convention in
December 1899. His sanguine and ardent TEN
peramcrt would no, suffer him 10 indulge in The
least appreciation OF defeat No friend nor Ill
his friends together could persuade him thai
General Harrison or General Scot, would he
more likely THAI himself 10 succeed against MIR
Van Buren,. He would not believe ibid mol
believe t-,iocs net believe il now NJ this mo-
,ncnt, he is perfectly convinced, that il he had
been nominated, liz would have been elected; and
the defeat oil his nomination he lmpuies 10 ircache
~ and fraud There are those who preferred
another candidate and whom, for that reason
alone. nc chooses 10 consider and denounce Is
enemies and traitors. whom he has since pursued
and will pursue, til lhey 20 10 their graves, Of
lac ia his, with imylacable resentment Ele has
an iron memory for injuries and ne i like Other
men who hate without cause. a sort Of con
sciouSness thai they themselves aIe wrong, and
that they have no cause 10 hate. only leads them
10 hate the more \ conscience, accusing iisel
of unjust resentmcnts, often seeks 10 quiet lis owr
panss bv increasing esaSpcration.
As To Mr.. Clay's apparently graceful with
lrawal from the controversy. Tor the sake OF har
mony, and the letter produced and read on ih'
occasion. thcfc was nothing in ell this hui show
Mr. Claws friends rcver gave Zip their pcrsis
tence their perlinacy their adherence Ito rs,
the parliamentary phrase 10 Mr. Claws nomina
ton Till he was beaten, thoroughly beaten, ire
| coyerably beaten, in the Convention. And, then
an attempt was made, adroit enough but sncl
rs deceived nobody, 10 turn his defeat into with
drawa
But from that disappointment, Mr.. Clay
wounded spirit has never recovered. He soon al
forwards, indeed, endcavored 10 make the best 0
il; 10 support Gen Harrisor's election, ard Il
! place himself in the line OF succession next 10 IN
General, who had declared his intention of servin;
one term only.
| .DanieI Webster WE eupno.e