Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1845-01-03
.uroDhy and Epitaph OF Henry Clay
nv HON. J, M. NILES.

D ..;n ~ repeal the first twelve sections OF
POsI Jnnost act, Mr.. Clay undertook to display
h Ell. o. Of his wit on Mr.. Niles, which is re-
P'''0 mr.. cLAY's REMARKS.
Il. CLAW said that, in some remarks he
w.. n,ade tie other day in relation to the SUBJ
pau I.nrv. he had taken occasion to say that it
'e"' I,,d. dead, dead, like any other nalefac.
"aS ,Sa, had been hung, drawn, and quartered.
oI tn""norable senator from Connecticut Mr..
t, 81 had said. in reply, that he did not un-
i.rstand that triple kind of death; thl' one
'.,b was sufficient but denied that it was
go even once killed. Why, the senator
Wolf was dead. but he did not know it; and
MI g .)shouId not be at all astohshed if he
a,o 10 get up in his place and deny it, as he
10 before done the death of the sub-treasury.
pn, sir. the gentleman is dead (said Mr.. C.)
D.,ri,hstanding; it is true, he is not buried
", Int will he on the 18th of March, 1885,
~ ooitaph is written: Here lies the body
,f--.-, Il will not name him, Mr..
p,.sidpnt, that would be supplementary, la
nsotpd by his friends, especially his political
tionds! He acted as postmaster at Hartford,
Eom whence he was translated to the Senate,
who're his career, though short, waa not less
t,;IIiant and distinguished. When instruc-
.;oro came from his own State, he had the
6rmness and manly Independence ofcharacter
- not I'D and denounce the measure as unwor-
,br of the Legislature, and to read long and
"sborato argument against the right of in
emotion. He was finally voted out of the
Senate nv the wing legislature. Peace to his
remains; there let him rest "
Mr.. NILEs's REPLY.
Mr.. Niles, after some remarks on the pro-
cosed amendment, said: Before l take my
.p.t. Mr., President, | must notice some per-
email remarks Of the senator from Kentucky,
sfNr. Clay.1 which heard with surprise, as
bad supposed that the account between him
and myself vas balanced, at least for the pre-
sent session. He has, however, seen fit to
men it under circumstances somewhat uney-
npcted, and it remains for ne 10 endeavor to
balance it again.
Mr.. n. said he owed the senator something
more than an epitaph, and would honor him
with brief biographical notice of his public
life. The honorable senator commenced his
career early, and its dawn was ilIumined by
might hopes and noble aspirations. Like
DINER dSIIlIdu tOI I'O"FIS I!iS cary lllt VI dS
distinguished by an ardent love for the PEG.
pie, and strong professions of devotion 10 pn.
nnar rights. He was democrat Of full blood:
JpfprSonlan democrats; a strict construction
list believer in the ii hit Of instruction; 4
friend of economy, and a mortal en-my of a
national bank and all aristncratic institutions
4 H. talked loudly and eloquentIy about the
rights ofIhe people and the rights of the Stat~s
and denounced the federalsts and all their
works.
But notwithstanding all this zeal and love
for the people, it would seem that there wa;
al the bottom little love for self: as we are
informed by distinguished but eccentric
statesman Of the Old Dominion, now no more
that the moment he entered the halls of Con
gress he fixed his eyes upon certain white
house in this city, which appears TO have had
a prcnIi If fascination on his .nn.l. TnIS ear
ly sHntl!nen' soon brc.,hI" Il ruiing pas sion
and grew with rs growth. aud strengthened
Vita ITS Strrngth.' This supreme oh
! ct IT the senator's ambition h Is been sor
s OF snis f't"ux, Which has ted him on frou
#pont Ia point, from one measure to another
througr political Dogs AMI quaglnires; but i
he has sometimes sunk into the mud, he ha:
hitherto had the good fortune to get out. an
OH his feet once more. The pursuit of his
darIIn! object has led him t. mount, boote,
AMI Spu;red, numerous political hobbies al
OF "nI"n he rode very hard, and all Of whic
he rode down, without reaching the object G
his pursuit. A high tariff, the American syS
Nt'm, internal improvements. and B NIX Of tn
United Sthtes-all these have been rode dow
and broken down; but the latter having tn
most bottom, the senator has mounted agar
and is now riding as furiously, and with quit
as Sanguine hopes of success, as a; first.
With his eyes steadily fixed on his objec
aud never for moment withdrawn, the SEM
tor watched the progress ofpvents, anu waite
rather impatiPntIy the movements Of the trout
led waters Of politics. The arrangement {
parties in 1924, was thought to present a ia
VortbIe opportunity. The senator enteaed up
en- the Presidents course with high hopes an
Sangune expectations. The result, hnWPve
Showed that vauiting ambition had oVersteE
ped the bounds Of probability, Hs he was nc
only beaten but diStanced, aud driven of tn
course the first heat. But although beate
himself, and thrown out, he was still place
IN favorable position; and 10 regard to the {
lection in the House OF Representatives wa
generally supposed to have the game in hi
own hands. And here there is one point {
resemblance in the senator's life and my owr
as he has described it. He says have mad
an able argument against the right of instrut
t!On' If have made an argument, he ha
Gone much more; he has furnished an exam
pr; and however the senator may regard h
Nh N.'s) argument, he was very sensibI
hat Its weight and influence would be trif1in
compared with the conspicuous example
The senator. His State had instructed him
Vote for the western candidate; but overrulin
heir decision, he voted for the eastern cand
GATE, and threvs himself into the slime Of sal
pFecedents."
In this new position, and with his associa
having postponed indefinitely the " deferre
custom Of veracity," he struggled mrnfull
out unavailingy, for four years against tt
strong current Of public opinion. The stru!
gte terminated in the memorable contest
1873, in which the senator did not, it is tru
AXE the field in person, bnt, as political PAL