New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-06-13
Henry Clay.

Thank God that the day has at length come n
which no man can hope to advance his own inte'
rests by defaming aud slandering HENRY CLAY
After forty years Of almost constant and distn-
eai,hed public service-siter an active, energetic
career, brilliant, stormy and Of alternate good and
evil fonune-having outlived the appointed age Of
man, and with il the rivalres and hatreds OF his
ootemporaries-yet still vigorous IN mind and in
frame. still ardent in feeling and in patriotism
surrounded by the partner OF his lot and their
remaining children cheere1 by the revereni
love Of innumerable personal friends, and enjoying
degree Of popular affection and admiration con-
ceded 70 no other man since Washington, Mr.
CLAW, on his quiet farm at Ashland, calmly and IN
Christian faith and hope awaits his summons from
the shadowy and perishable to the perfect and
eternal His has been a long, eventiul day, OF
mingled sun and storm but the tranquil evening
has come atsJast, and it is serenely glorious with
all the stars of Heaven.
For our country's sake we regret that he has
mover been her Chief Magistrate for his own. we
have no lamentations. We have deeply felt that
after four wears Of rapacity, and carnage, aud con-
onest. and waste of blood and treasure-aiter
spending One Hundred and Fifty Millions IN wa
ging Foreign w ar and promising Fifteen Millions
more TO put an end to it-aiter having passed
through an era Of devastation, uuthrit and de
noraization-itw was eminently desirable that the
next Administration should have stood out ~ the
strongest possible contrast to It's predecessor
should be distinguished for Peace, and Frugahly,
and the announcement Of lndustry-tor the WIDE
diffusion of Morality aud Happiness instead OF
Licentiousness, Butchery and Woe. We have
felt that the rebuke deserved by the false doc
trines which and the ialser men who have been
dominant through the last four years would not be
complete unless identified with the man upon
whose unrighteous discontinue they rose to pow
or. These and similar reasons impeIed as to
unite in the call upon Mr. Clay to permit once
more the use of his name in connection with the
Presidency So many and 50 ardent were the
friends who united in this call that Mr. Clay
waived his own prepossessions aud consented that
his name should be presented. That 1t was not
accepted by the Wing National Convention, We
think few Of our Twenty Millions OF People have
truly less reason 10 regret than Mr. Clay has.
We are not Of those who consider an election to
the Presidency essential to the completeness OF
Mr.. CLAWS fame. Station did Lot make and the
lack of it cannot mar his enduring renown II was
the later Bmtus, If we mistake not, whose statue
was denied a place among Romes hlustuous
sons /: bat its absence was far more remarked
and commented on than its presence could have
been. Ii History shall but do her duty, can any
doubt that the proud dis tinction Of having most de
served the Presidency among sll those to whom
the People denied it will be accorded to Henry
Clay
We idolize no man. We do not doubt that Nj
Clay has committed errors and that the imputa
tons hurled against him Of faults OF temper o.
mistakes in Judgment have had some foundation
in truth. Ya ON the other hand while no MAJ
ever seriously doubted his Integrity or his
patriotism, we believe he OF all living men earliest
and most fully comprehended the true genius O
our Government and the true ends of Government
generally--thst he has been the most winning eX
FOUNDER aud effective champion OF that theor!
which makes Government positive and not
mere negative good--a source Of benefits an'
blessings. and not merely Of safeguards aud de
fences-ihat he prominently among the first VIII
elaborated that comprehensive policy OF lnterna
Improvement, and Industrial Protection justl
termed The AMERICAN SYSTEM, has deserved q
his country more than any Of his time Sue
is the man udely thrust aside that the winner c
three or four brilliant but iruitess victories may
called by discerning People to their highes