The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-05-11

Of its dis,inquish he'd members. Death suddenly len
the seat Of The great Carolinian vacant. He died
in the very act Of lifting his gigantic and heroic
ann in defence cf the native institutions OF the
country, and in defence of the constitution Mr..
Benton, who is pompously called the Father of the
Senate, has dwindled from the dignity that once
surrounded him, into a dwelling hack Of the
meanest party that this or any other nation ever
had the honor Of holding-the Niger party. 1t
seems 10 be the height Of this gentlemans am
bition to kick up a row in the Senate, and see how
much consequence he can borrow from quasi
scuffe with Mr. Foote. AS for MIR. Seward, the
world knows his history well, we can afford to
let him go. IIumbug has been the secret OF his
elevation, and humbug will be the cause of his
downfall. II will carry any man along for while,
but the faster he goes, the quicker will be his
journey; and the higher he rides, the deeper he
will fall Mr. Webster, at the most exciting period
in the history of this negro Congress- forward,
and occ upied sublime position, and pronounced
not only one Of the greatest forensic efforts in the
history of the country, but the moral effect
of that speech was unreasonable. 1t created
a sudden, universal, and nexpressble aston
ishment because nobody supposed that a
man, whose greatest achievement had hitherto
been TO make powerful speech for a Giant that
paid HIM tremendous fee, would be equal to an
emergency like that, and acqut himself with such
transcendent honor and ability. But he has come
so very near bartering away the fame he acquired
by that speech, that the public confidence which
was rapidly centring upon him, has now taken
another direction, and the dolatry of the nation is
slowly returning to its ancient idol, and Henry
Clay now regns triumphantly in the hearts of the
people. He has passed through many trying crises,
but lie has always been found equal to the occasion
No man in the country has acquitted himself
with so much honor on so many occasions
Around no other mans head have 80 many civic
laurels been hung and even now, in his old age,
when his step has lost its quick elasticity, and the
scar and yellow leaf is rustng to the first blast of
winter, the old trunk still stands firmly rooted in the
earth, for ever debi ing every thing but the last hur
ricane-death. If the nation could speak to-day,
and its voice be listened to-. il would be chorus
burst of applause and the last honor of the repub.
lie, which his brows have waited so long for, would
be accorded to the great statesman. To show the
sublimity OF his present position, ii is enough to say
that from the moment it was known that he was
chairman Of the Committee of Thirteen, all agitation
on the slavery question ceased, and the entire sub
ject became still. Not state in the Union, nor a
man in the Union, but knew and felt that Henry
Clay was the safest and greatest, and best man IN
the confederacy, for that business, for any other
We shall, from time TO time. trace the progress
of this gallery Of illustrious Americans, and speak
of its portraits and biographies and, in closing we
will say that, if it is completed well as it has be-
gun, it will be the most valuable work ever pub
lshed in this country, and will secure for its pro-
jectors and those who concerned in it, the most
enyiable fame.