New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-03-10

JOTlty were MS pOnucal opponents, ano IL i
in such Senates that his great triumphs OF
the last twenty years have been mainly
achieved. In those years there have been
few great measures of public policy adopt
ed which he did not support and few finally
defeated Save by vetoes outside of Congress)
which he upheld. In the Senate of 1885,
there was large Jackson majority, but the
measures enacted, the policy promoted
by it, were those of Henry Clay. So it
has been sgaia and again; until it has be-
come so common for Mr.. Clay to speak
land truly of his side as the major
ity of the Senate and call on the
minority not to obstruct the legislation
and thwart the public will by factious re-
sistance, that the circumstance now scarce
ly excites remark, Yet a good part Of the
majority thus relied on by the Great Com
moner is made up of politicians trained
from boyhood to regard him as the emsodi-
ment of all that is pernicious and danger
GUS, and who have risen to high places by
sedulously imbuing their fellow-citizens
with the same prejudices. They would
even like to hate and oppose him still, for
consistency's sake, and to confirm their
disciples in the party faith; but they fad
they cannot oppose him without at the
same time opposing not only what is best
for their constituents, bat what, moreover,
those constituents knol0 to be best, and are
unwilling to sacrifice to party consistency
or personal hatred. And thus, even when
deadly antagonist has tenanted the White
House, thence dispensing the golden per-
suasives of station and emolument, backed
by partiwise devoted majority in both
Houses of Congress, Mr.. Clay, with moth
ing to give but reasons, and only dispir-
tied minority in either House inclined to
second him, has yet shaped the public pol
icy and guided the National bark to the
haven of prosperity and safety. This
success has been owing in part to the wis
dom and benihcence Of the measures be
has proposed, matured and advocated but
in part also to the force of his genius, his
power of persuasion, and the electric in
huence of his personal address and bear
ing. May introduce you to Mr.. Clay "
said a mutual friend to Gen. GlascOck,
Member of the House from Georgia some
fifteen years ago. mo, Sir, toon't be
introduced to Mr.. Clay" replied the stern
antagonist; "if / know him | shall be
compelled to like him, as everybody else
does"
MIR. Clay, we suppose, is destined
never to be Presidential destiny which
men as good as he have encountered without
murmuring. So with him. Yet it is hard to
think, in regard to one so qualified that he
has been excluded from that lofty station not
by his undeniable faults but by his virtues.
Had he, in connection with his great quail
ties, been cat-paced and plausible-had he
been careful to trim his sails to the popular
breeze and never speak till he was sure
that what be purposed to say would be
well received had he served his country
less and hattered his countrymen more
he, too, might have placed his name on the
roll of the Presidents of the United States.
Yet it is better as Providence has or
deredit. The missing statue of Brutus was
more remarked than the present statues OF
others equally illustrious. No special
stamp of popular approval is needed to diff
fuse and perpetuate the fame of Henry
Clay. While Liberty shall have resting
place among the crags of the Andes or
Greece rekindle on her rocky coasts one
CLEAN of her ancient glory-while Labor
shall find in wide diversity of pursuits
fuller recompense, a steadier market and
broader path to independence-while steam
boats shall pillow one tributary of the Father
of Waters or cars traverse on iron tracks
the rugged hills of the East or the yielding
prairies of the West-so long must the
great champion of Liberty in other lands
and genuine Independence in our own-ot
a varied and reciprocating Home Industry
and of Internal Improvements to facilitate
the exchange of its products-be gratefully
remembered and when at last he shall be
gathered to his fathers this epitaph may
ftly be Inscribed above his dust
Here hes
The EOBLEsT AMERICAN,
To whom bis country persstsuily refused
their highest honors.
while e. he was too sincere,
too manly csoe them.
Reader
Contrast la, lofy enduring the deepening obscurt
OF a Tyler Polk,
And be inspired 70 initiate bis glorious example