The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-10-26
Daniel Wsbstsr-Henry Clay-The Country
and the Whl9 Party.

ana inc wing Party
o. lie fourth day Of July, 1926, JOHN Adams
and Thomas Jenerson-the one at Quincy, in " ssss-
Ohusetts, the other at Monticello, in virgnia-ded
There is no other such remarkable coincidence in
American history They we're Of the fathers Of the
Revolution. OF the independence Of the republic, and
Of the benign and happy Institutions under which we
i've Each had been exalted to the highest honors
ofhe nationeaeh had lived far beyond the allotted
ma imum Of human life-and each, on the same day,
amid the rejoicings Of the country in commemora-
ton Of their glorious work, resigned his sp,i. TO
the God who gave it," The nearest approach to
this extraordinary coincidence in the work OF DEATH
which has since occurred among our leading states
men, is in the death, during this present year. and
within few months Of each other, of Henry Clay
and Daniel Webster
l. seems as but yesterday that the whole country
was thrown into grief by the loss of Mr. Clay; and
scarce has the public mind composed itself to the
event, VIXEN his great co-laborer in the broad and
fertile fields Of American craftsmanship is taken
away Each had lived beyond his three score years
and ten; each had attained, in his sphere, the
highest accomplishments Of the bar, the cabinet,
and the Senate; and each in his death, is amented
by the whole land. And if Adams was of Massa-
ehusetts, so was Daniel Webster; and If Jefferson
was one Of the brilliant lights which crowned in the
epoch Of the Revolution, the glory of the Old Do
minion az the mother of statesmen, Clay is also
numbered among her jewels. But here the paralsl
between the year 1926 and the year 1852 ceases.
Though the superior capabilities and qualifca-
tions of Mr.. Clay for the Presidency universally
conceded for quarter of century or more, during
his life; though Mr.. Websters claims and abilities
- d.
either partially or fully tried-before the people,
each has closed his life without federal Inaugural
ton. Though either was eminently qualified for
the Office, neither succeeded in attaining the Presi-
dency-that full, final and complete American
dorsemeht for posterity.
The reputation Of both is, however, complete
without the Presidency-of the one, the cham
pion of the Union Of the other, as the defender Of
the the one, the preseryer Of ex-
ternal peace; Of the other, as the guardian Of do
nestle harmony. The fame Of each is full, aud
each has been pre- emnently distinguished, in his
public career, above his cotemporaries Mr.. Clay's
was the daring genius to lead forlorn hope and to
fight it through, while Mr.. Webster was better
adapted to, and more frequently employed in bring
ing up the rear guard. Mr.. Clay created great
occasions, which were rendered the greater by the
CO operation Of Mr.. Webster. If the one was more
brilliant and fascinating in the Senate, the other
was more striking, majestic and profound. The
country may Justly boast of both and challenge for
either superior in his claims to the suffrages Of
the American people, for the highest Office in their
gift, which neither Of them lived to attain. The
common voice of the country has admitted their
high qualifications; nor was Mr.. Clay, nor was Mr..
Webster, indifferent to the Presidency. We may
say, indeed, that they were both rather DESTROYS,
than otherwise, and laudably DESTROYS, of attaining
that exalted station. Why is it, then, that they
were both superseded from time to time, by men
comparatively without talents, qualifications, or
experience in civil affairs
This question may be briefly answered. Clay
and Webster were both sacrificed by the whig party,
upon the paltry plea Of the superior availability of
uncommitted gunpowder candidates-for forced
endorsement of paper is not binding. The I'M
exampled popularity Of General jackson impressed
the wings with the idea-the deusive idea-that
guppowder was absolutely irresistible. They ina
gined-and, shallow as it was, the blunder was
natural enough-that military chieftain could not
be beaten. They resolved to try ito fight fire
with 6re and, if they could not drum up another
victory of New Orleans, they resolved to get some-
thing much like it as possible; and from that day
Clay and Webster were doomed to stand in the ba ok
ground till it was convenient to use them; and
from that day, the wing party blndly set out upon
the high road to destruction.
In the year 1910, when the financial revulsons
brought about by the State bank mutations of Wan
Burens administration had emphatically Frustrated
him into the dust, and br oxen the democratic party
into fragments--at that time, when Mr.. Clay might
have been triumphanty elected he was set aside be-
cause he was voted unavailable, and Gen. Harrison
Old Tippecanoe and Tyler toon
was the ticket. And it swept the country like a
tornado, from Maine to Louisiana, as any opposi.
tion ticket would have swept it; for the wrath of
the people was up against Van Buren,, and they
were determined to have a change. Their rising
was tremerdous--the result was perfectly astouni-
ing to the wings; for jackson himself had never
gained more overwhelming victory. But like the
tabled apples Of the shores Of the Dead Sea,
This astounding wing victory turned to ashes upon
their lips, in the unexpected administration OF
Captain John Tyler. He vetoed their bank bills,
was read out ofchurch, and had he not been kindly
assisted by the democrats, would have been left III
most solitary and alone " in the management of
the government No! There was one self sacrificing
exception among the whigs-Daniel Webster, in
the hour ofCap.ain Tylers accommodation, did not
desert him. He stood fast and firm at his post till
the great work Of the Ashburton treaty was accom-
plished, notwithstanding the abuse Of the wing
press, including our contemporary of the Courier AID
Enquirer, was poured in upon him like constant
FIRE of shot, shells, rockets and muskstry The
sequel W i'll show that he was duly remembered
From their tremendous success in 1910, the wings
believing in 1911 that they might triumph even
with Harry Clay, nominated him by reclamation.
But the democrats had recovered from the sho *
and the explosion Of 1913, and, with the watch
words Of "Texas and Oregon" they vanquished the
great embodiment the idol-the very life and soul,
of the whig party. The vote Of New York would
have elected him; but alas an unlucky letter to
Alabama turned the scale against him, and Polk
al;xx,ad In undox p;=aa,.,e alla.= is:<s.