The southern press., 1851-10-24
From the South Side Democrat
Henry clay.

For some tune past, il IA Is been currently ru-
nored that Henry Clay was about tn settle his
account with nature. Newspaper paragraphs
made pathetic illusions to his falling strength
and increasing iniirmties, and II was generally
conceded that the sage OF Ashland would IN
little while be numbered among the things OF
the past. OF course, nobody dreamed that he
would ever again mingle in the fierce conflicts OF
party strife, but il was supposed he had re-
nouneed all temporal affairs, and would dedicate
the last few moments Of life TO preparation
for the final summons. For forty years, Henry
Clay has been the chief element in the calcula-
tons of intriguing politicians. Friends have
raked invention, in the hope OF devislng some
scheme by which they might accomplish his ele-
yatlon To the Presidency, and enemies have plot
ted to thwart his success. Latterly, however,
his existence has been ignored. The adherents
of Scott Webster, and Fillmore, have been
busily intriguing for the advancement Of their
respective tool, without reference to him who
once held the Wing party in the hollow Of his
hand. He is neglected, unnoticed, forgotten
How calling must this be to his proud spirit
To be buried ere life is extinct--to be rudely
jostled aside by that sycophantic train which was
wont to send up "an universal shout mt the
mention Of his name and "to strew flowers In
his way"-to see other men snatching the prize
upon WHICH lie tlau ldsIeHtu AH YES anu
for which he had toiled scores of years. To a
proud and ambitious spirit, such neglect, deser
ton and base ngratitude, must be absolutely
crushing and intolerabIe. But Henry Clay does
not yet despair. "Wilst there is life, there is
hope" whispers the evil demon that has dogged
him from the cradle to the tomb, and under
the impulse of an undying ambition, he has
burst the cerements of the grave, and leaped
again upon the arena decrepid but ardent and
eager asprant for the crown.
Like other candidates, Henry Clay enters the
lists with "letter," which letter" is meant as
bid or proposal for the Presidency. This
letter is eminently characteristic of its author.
Henry Clays entire career has been an attempt
to purchase power by subjugating the South to
the North. Not the advocate only, but the
author and prime mover has he been OF every
measure calculated TO elevate the one section
and depress the other With the same zeal he
advocated tariff to aggrandze the North, and
opposed every accession OF territory which
could strengthen the South In 1919 he pros
! trated the slave interest by his Missouri com
promise, and he completed the ruin by the ad
justment of 1851. For years he has been the
advocate of the Wilmot Proviso. On the page
of history Henry Clay will stand recorded as the
arch enemy Of slavery. But this is not all ::
and to destroy the federal republic Of America,
than all other agencies combined. His whole
career has been one continual crusade against
the Constitution The foundations of his great
American system were laid upon its ruins.
His utter disregard of all constitutional restrc-
tions, when they thwart the schemes of his am-
ambition, was illustrated by his mad attempt to
reduce the executive to n cypher by sweeping
away the power of veto The rights of the
State he has ever despised and repudiated, and
has neglected no opportunity to reduce tn ,m to
dependent provinces of Il consolidated empire.
The stern virtue of ancient Rome would have
declared Henry Clay the enemy of the republic.
His bid for the Presidency is in keeping with
his past course His lifelong warfare against
slavery and the Constitution of his country is
prosecuted with undiminshed ardor, though evil
IDENTIFY the seniie paralysis of imbecity is weak
ening the vgor of his mind. He begins his let
ter with feeling apology for the excesses of abo-
lition, excusing them on the plea of The fratly
Of human nature, and he concludes with an in
vective against Southern uLraism, as if there
were nothing in the weakness of mans nature
to extenuate the guilt of those whom wrong and
oppression have driven into extremes of excite
ment. As the operation of the compromise
measures has strengthened abolition and para.
lbLtu tut DuHtIi nt cbip
his fond anticipations have been justified by the
event; and he CO. graduates the country that all
means of resistance will henceiorth cease, be-
cause the slave interes' is now too weak to resist
He breaches the absolute supremacy of the gen.
eral government and the complete suhection
of the States and he denounces the doom of
traitors against all who under any circumstances
seek to protect their properly and their rights
against federal oppression. The States, he con
tends, are helpless vassals with no mode of de-
fence or redress which does not equally belong
to the individual subject. Such is the dying
declaration Of Henry Clay. Can it be possible
that he feels no remorse for his past transgres
sons? Does he mean that the last feeble effort
of his ralsied arm shall be a stab at ,he welfare
of the South and the existence of his country p
Is he ambitious of making for himself wind.
ing sheet Of the Constitution, and sepulchre
of the republic! Would he, in his insane am
biton, enthrone his sinking, dying body upon
the ruins of the fairest fabric of government
that mortal wisdom ever reared Perhaps even
yet he may, in the short span of remaining lfe
feel the MEETINGS Of pentential sorrow, and may
contribute some little towards compensating hia
country for the irreparabe evil he has inflicted
upon her.