Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1850-09-21
For The Baton Rouge Gasate.
Henry Clay.


IF there is anything grand and noble in
this werd--if there are any sublime and
eIevating sentiments. which rush unbidden
into the depths Of every ingenious heart
that grand and nobte coaceptio,,---those
saJiime and eterafing sentiments, must
arise, ss by magic, in that ingenious heart
at the bare mention of that name, which
stands at the head of these renarks.
HENRY CLAY,! Who needs to ask his
history! Who asks TO be pointed TO
the records of his greatness They
are embIazoned upon almost every
page of our annals, and deeply impressed
upon every willing or unwilling heart
within the bounds Of our country.
We do not essay to write his eulogy
He needs it not from us--nor is this the
time or the occasion. We but utter a
thought, which springs spontaneous in our
heart. A thought which cannot be sup
pressed.
Who believes that HENRY Cs,Ar ever
entertained in his great soul sentiment
at war with the interests of his country?
OF whom can it I've more truly said
"E'en his failiugs leaned to virtues side"
To whom have the Interest opponents so
universally accorded the tribute of a
whole.soued. anti-sectonal, purely nation
al patriotism
He has anbition-personal ambition.
What great and noble soul has not I? But
who can say that that ambition has ever
iiicited him to ride over the pfostrate
liberties Of his country? How very dif-
f1reit has been the ambition Of his heart
Three times rejected by the voice of bis
countrytnen for the highest office within
their gift, does he retire 10 the solitude OF
private life, to spend the remainder OF his
days in ulavailiug regret and melancholy,
or to plot treason against the laws Of God
and man Far from it. In his old age.
with the infirmities Of more than three
score and ten years gathering upon him,
at the call Of the wise and good Of the
nation. he buckles OH his arinor, rushes to
the scene of conflict, and with the energy
and fortittlde of his early days, battles
as he has battled before, for the safety, in-
tegrity, and glory of his country. The
same eloquent voice which in days long
gone by. awakened the echoes Of the wit
West, now rings in the council hall, and
calls as helping thing. around the great
statesmen, the wise and the patriotic Of
the nation. There he stands, unswayed
by hattery, unawed by threats, unlnoved
by obstacles with single heart and an
ron will, the grand object of his life ever
IN view. IF he Ia ultra, it is llltraism in
lie cause Of the Union. IF he In bitter
md violent. 1t is towards those who are
working the ruin of his country. Dis
trcading under foot the noxlous
weeds Of sectional strife, he looks only to
he Union. Little, miserable contentious
md snarlings, he leaves to those whose
souls are too petty to transport them be.
beyond the bounds of single State.
Before the world he stands prominent
he orator---tle Statesran--the Union
Amertcd7,--the great leader OF
hose who are truly the friends of their
proud and mighty lender
with such men as Webster and Cass as
ollowers.
Who then can look upon HENRY Clay
md not, with throbbug heart, thank God
hat he. too, is an American , Who is
here with one single virtuous impulse in
Ills heart who does not pray from his ill.,
most soul, "God bless and preserve him.
and brng his grey hairs down, in peace
aud glory TO the grave"