The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1850-09-19
"REMINISCENCES OF CONGRESS.
By CHARLES w. MARSH.
HENRY CLAY AS SPEAKER.

HENRY CLAY AS SPEAKER.
Certainly, no one ever presided over
any deliberative body, In thus country.
with more personal popularity and influ-
ence than Mr.. Clay. He governed the
House with more absoluteness than any
Speaker that preceded or followed him.
1t was a power founded upon character
and manners. Fearless, energetic, de-
cided, he swayed the timid by superior
will, and governed the bold through
sympathy. Chivalric bearing, easy ad-
dress, and warm heart, drew around
him crowds of admirers. He cultivated
what our great men too much neglect
the philosophy of manners. None
know tterthan he the wondrous power
in seeming trities; how much word, a
tone, a look can accomplish; what dlrec-
tion they give to the whole character of
opinion and conduct. There seemed
nothing constrained in his courtesy,
nothing simulated; all his manner was
simple, unaffected, ardent; if it were not
genuine, he had early arrived at the
perfection of art, and concealed the
art.
As an orator, he was unequaled, even
in an assembly that boasted of Cheves,
Of LownJes, of Forsyth, and others no
less distinguished His voice was sono-
rous and musical, falling with proper ca
dence from the highest to the lowest
tones at times, when in narrative or
description, modulated, smooth and
pie asing, like sounds of running water;
but when raised to animate and cheer,
it was as clear and spirit-stirring as the
notes of clarion, the House all the
while ringing with its melody.
Ofentlmes he left his chair to address
the House. A call Of the House would
not have brought members in m)re ca
gerly. Few, indeed, could have indulg-
ed in such frequency of speech. and re-
tanned personal ascendency. But his
influence seemed to increase III strength,
the ottener it was exerted. He had a
wonderful tact by which he judged, as
by intuition, when the subject, or the pa
tience of his audience, TIN eatencd to be
exhausted, and took care alwaysto leave
the curiosity of his hearers unsatlsfiod.
81 was a member of the House du-
! ring the war;" writes a gentleman to the
editor ofthese papers, "and was present
when Mr. Clay made his farewell speec
on resigning the Speakership. 1t was an
impressive occasion. Not only were
all the seats of members occupied, but
many Senators attended, and a large
miscellaneous crowd. The war which
! he had been most active in Fastening
and most energetic in prosecuting, he
was now commissioned with others to
close. He was the youngest of the
Commissioners, but sagacious far be-
yond his years. The hopes ofthe coun-
try, tired ola protracted struggle, grew
brighter from his appointment.
/ ''Undoubtedly, at this time, even III
his youthful age, he had no rival in pop.
ularity. His name was everywhere IA
miIar as "household words" His owr
bearing eyinced conciousness of his
favor in the country. was struck with
his appearance on this occasion. There
was fire in his eye, an elation in his
countenance, buoyancy in his whole
action, that seemed the self-conscious-
ness of coming greatness. Hope bri ght
ened, and JOY elevated his crest. A.
full of confidence, gallant bearing, anc
gratifed look, he took his seat in the
Speakers chair, his towering height even
more conspicuous than usual, | coult
not but call to mind Vernon's descrip-
ton of Henry, Prince of Wales, in
Shakespeare:
'I saw young Harry, with his beaver On,
His cuisses on his thigh esantly armed,