The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-07-26


most burning dsys in New York II Ia sry
eessonbowever has saved the crops ych wero rrsdy
TO perish but for the timely arrival of the w.
Opinions In England or rEenry CLAW
From the London Times July i2I
Henry Clsy, whose death took place st Washington on
the 10Th ut belonged to the second gueraon of Ame
rican statesmen but he may be ranked a,uonsgt tho
first class of American worlnes ani ghlc hi. country
wiz deserycdiy pay the highest honors "a hi, memory
the world In that new hemisphere where so little Is
old or venerable Mr. Clay seemed close Of his long
life to be invested with something of antique
and 10 represent tho spirit Of wiser and age
transmitted to himself from the founders IL the American
commonwealth For whatever democratic institutions
may have done for tho United States they appa
rrn' failed to perpeuato or reproduce that lofty chrac
ter for political principle and personal dignity whioh gave
the er American statesmen their place in history
Mr. Ciry however, may bc classcd with them aud his
desh coe the epoch to which those great cizens be-
iongad
Mr. Clay born on the 10th Of Aprii I7yp. in
HaDovc county, Virginia, consequently only three
years after the Declaration Of Independence, and
In the State which was to produce some of the first
champions ana Govprnors OF the American confedcra
tion is life includes the whole era of his countrys
history from the doubtful contest OF rcvolted colony
and the fomstinn Of the Union 10 the present exalted
coudion OF its prosperity aud power For upwards Of
fifty years he had taken active part public affairs
AL the early Of twenty 1y began practise the law
with success at the bar of Lexington in the State
tucky, which he thenceforth adopted az his own lie
was soon afterwards elected member Of the Convention
to form the state Constitution Of Kentucky In which
pacty he endesyoed though In vain introduce mca-
sures for the gradual eradication OF slavery The
bly, Of Kentucky raised him an unusually early age TO
the high post Of Senator Of the United states which he
continued to occupy during great part of his life In
one Of the intervals however in his Senatorial career he
was returned to the Rouse of Rcprese enatiyes which
choso him Speaker. other interruptions caused by
his temporary acceptance Of Office
In 1915 we find Mr.. Clay eagerly advocating the neces
sity of with Great Britain and his speech on the
new army bill Of that date bears fe~ traces of the syste
ioaic policy Of the whg party to which he belonged
OF the habual moderation Of his character Yet he was
attached TO the mission of Dir. Adams and Mr. Galatiu
which negotiated the treaty of Ghant in the following
year and completed the peace by the subsequent com
nercal convention concluded in London He refused a
mission to Russia, uader President Madison and he de
cned Office under President Monroe for the part which
he continued to take in political life had never diverted
hin from his highly successful practice at the bar But
b influence was powerfully exeted in 1924 to carry the
Presidential election in favor Of John Quincy Adauis
snd when that contest decided in of his friend
he accepted under him the Office Of Secretary OF State
MI Gay was almost solitary example of a man
who ranked equally high an advocate parlianen.
tary orator and a minister and shone alike at the
bar IN the Senate and IN the Cabinet. Yet but
sia portion of his life spent in power although
he was regarded by his countrymei The first cid.
zen Of his his hopes attaining tho highest position
in the executive repeatedly disa ppontcd
passed his life under the 60, Of men very interior
to himself in wisdom and energy aud his ustrous
qualities excluded him from the direct government of the
American people He made fe concessions than any
statesman Of his time aud country popular clamor
lie adhered more closely than his rivals princi-
pies and traditional rules Though what more al.
yanccd in his opinions than the old edcraist party
defended their doctrine with great spirit the important
influence and authority all times preserve the great
principle OF the main OF the Union More than
once The Jnaicious acts of compromise proposed by Mr.
Clay were the means of terminating the formidable
dere tina, have yet arisen between tue States and
on all these questions bis policy uniformly regulated
by the strctest adherence to the great lessons
iBgon. Thus he allayed the dispute to the uncoud-
tonal admtance of Missouri into the Union he contri-
huted TO that adjustment Of the tariff of the uitcd
States which reclaimed South Carolina from her courseof
notification of Federal law aud his last great act
was the settlement Of the terms which California aud
thf w tt.rtau ttaa
Couf, ,ceraon without prejudice to the iauence of the
North and without extending the curse Of slavery to
rev spds Al an earlier period Of his life he had warmly
advocated the Of South American
and the carly milton revoed colonies spain
lie adopted, with enthusiasm, the idea Of combined
American policy to the exclusion OF European influence
on that continent But he gave encouragement to
the schemes of Texan annexation the spoation of
Mexico and he expated his tardy assent to that unjust
ano aggressive by the loss Of his only
killed in action in one Of the Mexican battles Pro-
hGby il was this strong aud exclusive American feel
ing, WHICH was honoable form of patriotism that
lea all. Clay into the pracpal OF his political
life for unqnsonably his authority and his argu-
mthts were the stronghold for many years. OF the
sgstem Of high tariffs and protective duties to the United
Staes IL y strange. at this day to turn back to the
narrow aud erroneous views of so eminent In
s2G for instance he declared in Congress that Europe
had sinost reached her utmost limit of capacity in
sunng the surplus produce cf America. and that they
had passed the maximum OF foreign dcml md for bread
stuHs and tobacco Whence he inferred that the strict
e laws 10 be enacted for the exclusion Of those
commodities Of European production which could alone
be given in exchange for articles Of American export
There be little doubt Oh at the mischeyouS deluons
ofMr Clay and his friends these subjects have
sidcrahy prolonged the existence OF high protective du
ties n the Usted States though these views have been
equally injurious their party interests and to the pub
lie prosperity The whiG party has ost itself in America
not much because IL Is whig because 1t IL protec
zionist Even In power at the present time II cannot
act uon is own principles. and everything seems TO de-
note that the next Presidential election will completely
defeat IT. pretonsions lad Sir Clay taken different
course on the commercial policy of the Jniou c would
pohabiy have enjoyed much longer tenure of Office.
aud he woud c"-uy have dcsoryed far larger amount
ofpubic ratitr o
Yet the .fenry Clay deserves to rank among
Tie best servants of his country for nothing low
Nuithy ever crossed his lie fervcnt but
ludcious loyes of freedom and careful minister 20 tue
general interests Though connected by the strongest
iics with Kentucky slave State and compelled To deal
with the institutions Ct the South he found them he
never defended them Like Calhoun allowed them 10
warp his principle Of justice aud humanity oyaids
foreign nations hs poicy and language generally
crcniatory and pacific and the last desire Of his life
70 appear Ia the Senate Of the United states 20
denouncc the absurd and mischcyous doctrine Of inter-
ventoo which kossuth has been laboriug 70 ns into
The ptptiacc His hiehes. ambition remained unsat:s.
ned ana II doubtless cost Linn psug 20 re,eiye thu an
nounccincn that thc Wig convention o 1858 had adopt
- General Taylor aud not rimsclt s cau1ida'e for
The Presidency. Indeed, IL cthers ruled by the iycr
an easier fortune, deserved to exercise ~
uirinc power. But the life Of Mr. Clay H. another
pie OF the caprices aud accidents which determine the
git of elective power; where universal suffrage Is to