New-York daily tribune., 1846-01-14
THE TRIBUNE.
Cassius NJ. Clay.

rss 10 US occasion oil deep and peculiar interest
1,u uas deep for the feelings there expressed and
,nsvered bore witness TO the truth of our belief,
h., the sense of right not dead bu, only sleepeth
IN this nation A man who is manly enough to
.npeal TO it will be answered in feeling, at least if
mt in action and while there is life there Is hope.
Those who 30 rapturousy welcomed one who had
sealed his faith by deeds Of devotion, must yet ac
knowledge in their breasts the germs Of like noble
ness.
1t was an occasion of peculiar interest, such as we
have not had occasion to feel since in childish years,
we saw Lafayette welcomed by a grateful people.
Even childhood well understood that the gratitude
then expressed was no; much for the aid which
had been received as for the motives and feelings
with which it given. The nation rushed out
as one man to thank Lafayette that he had been
able amid the prejudces and indulgences Of high
rank in the old regime OF society, to understand the
grea, principles which were about to create new
form and answer manlike with love, service, and
contempt OF selfish interests TO the voice OF Human
ty, demanding its rights Our freedom would have
been achieved without Lafayette but ii was happi-
ness and blessing to number the young French no.
bleman as the champion of American independence,
and 10 know that he had given the prime of his life
10 our cause because it the cause OF justice.
With similar feelings of joy, pride and hope we
welcome Cassus NJ. Clay, man who has, IN like
manner freed himself from the Prejudices OF his po
siton disregarded selfish considerations, and quit
ting the easy path in which he might have walked
to station in The sight Of and such external dis
tinct:ons as his State and Nation readily confer on
men SO born and bred, and with such abilities,
chose rather an interest in their souls, and the hon.
ors history will not fail 10 award TO the man
who enrols his name and elevates his life for the
ossse of right aud those universal principles whose
recognition can alone secure the destiny
without which he cannot be happy, but which he is
continually sacrificing for the impure worship OF
idols Yea, in this country, more than in the old
Palestine do they give their children to the fire in
honor of Moloch, and sell the ark conided to them
BY the Most High for shekels Of gold and of silver
Partly |, was the sense of this position which
Mr. Clay holds, man who esieems his
own individual convictions of right than
local interests or partial political schemes, that
gave him such enthusiastic welcome on
Monday night from the very hearts of the audi
epce but still more that his honor is at this mo-
nent identified with the liberty of the press, which
has been nsulted and infringed in him. About this
there can be in fact but one opinion. In vain Ken
lucky calls meetings states reasons, gives names OF
her own to what has been done. The rest OF the
world knows very well what has been DONE and
will call it by but one name. Regardless OF this
ostrich mode of defence the world has laughed and
scofed at the act of people protesting to be free
and defenders of freedom, and the recording An
gel has written down the deed as a lawless act OF
violence and tyranny from which the man is happy
who can call himself pure.
With the usual rhetoric of the wrong side, the
spologsts for this act of mob violence have wished
@iujure Mr.. Clay by the epithets of hotheaded,
visionary fanatcal." But, if any have believed
that such could apply TO man so clear sighted as 10
hsobects and the way of achieving them, the mis-
IKE must have been corrected on Monday night
Whoever saw Mr. Clay that night, saw in him man
Of deep and strong nature. thoroughly in earnest,
who had well considered his ground, and saw that
Aough OPEN as the noble must be, to new views and
convictions vet mis- direction is taken and the i'm
provemeut to be made will not be 10 turn aside, but
psxpedile and widen his course in that direction
Mr. Clay is Young thank Heaven young enough
Dpromise long career OF great thoughts and hon
cradle deeds But STILL to those who esteem youth
unpardonable fault, and one that renders lncaPa
BE of counsel, we would say tina, he is at the age
wben a man is capable of great thoughts aud great
deeds il ever. His is not character that will ever
grow old; it is no, capable OF petty and short
sighted prudence, but can only be guided by large
wisdom which is more young than old, for 1t has
within itself the springs of perpetual youth, and
which being far sighted and prophetical joins ever
With the Progress party without waiting till 1t be
obviously in the ascendant.
Mr.. Clay has eloqueace, but only from the SOUL
He does no, possess the art Of oratory, as an art
Before he gets warmed he is TOO slow and breaks
his sentences too much. His transitions are not
made with skill nor is the structure Of his speech
3 whole symmetrical yet throughout, his grasp is
hrn upon his subject, and all the words are laden with
the electricity Of strong mind and generous nature.
When ne begins TO glow, and his deep mellow eye
nus With Light, the speech mclts and glows TOO and
hen able to impress upon the hearer the full effect
Of hrm conviction, conceived with impassoned en-
ergy. His often rugged and harsh emphasis flashes
and sparkes tnen, and feel tha, there is in the
iurnace stream mofron-iron.fortress of the nations
and victor of the seas worth far more. in stress OF
storm than all the gold and gems of rhetoric.
The great principle that he who wrongs one
wrongs all. and that no part can be wounded with
ou endangering the whole, was the healthy root OF
Nj. cay's speech. The report does not do justice
he turn of expression in some parts which were
nos' Characteristic These, indeed depended much
oa The tones and looks of the speaker. We should
speak Of them as full OF robust and honely sinceri
" oignifed by the heart Of the gentleman, heart
100 secure of its respect for the rights OF others 10
hesd any Of the usual in,erposinons. His good-hu
mo'ed sarcasm on occasion of several vulgar inter
was very pleasant and easily at those times
Hlsai be recognized in him the Of heroic
q nature. who only show himself adequately
une Of interruption and ofobstaSle- If that be all
%a wanted. we shall surely see him wholly ;
sne'e VIII be no lack of American occasions to call
oU''ae Greek fire We want them ail,-,he Grecian
Anee' Who feel god.like thirst for immortal glory,
ana % develop the peculiar nowers with which the