The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-07-01
WEDNESDAY. Jul

lie died at his lodgings in the National Hotel Of this civ
at seventeen minutes past eleven o'clock yesterday
IN the seventy ysixth year OF his age He expired
with perfect composure, and without groan or struggle
ny his death our country has lost one Of lis most
eminent cilzcns and siaesmens and, think, IFS
greatest genius shall not detan the Senate by
Iahng The Transactions of his long and useful life.
His distinguished services as a statesman are insep-
aabIy connected with the history OF his country;
AS representative and Speaker the other House OF
congress. as senator in this body, as Secretary OF
State and envoy abroad he has, 10 all these positions,
exhibited wisdom and patriotism which have made
deep aud lasting impression upon The grateful hearts Of
his countrymcn. His thoughts and his actions have
already been published 10 the world in written biography
congressional debates and reports in the journals Of
the two houses. and in the pages Of American history
They have been commemoraed by monuments erected
on the wayside. They have been engrayen medals
of gold. Their memory will survive The monuments oil
marble and the medals OF god for these eaced and
decay by the friction OF ages but the thoughts and
tons OF my late colleague have become identified with
the Immortality OF the human mind, and will pass down
from generation to generation as portion OF national
inheritance. incapable Of annihation long genius
has admrer or liberty friend.
Mr. President, The character OF HENRY CLAY was
formed and developed by the influence OF free ns
tntions HIS physical, mental, and moral faculties were
the gilt OF God That they greatly superior 10 the
faculties allotted 10 most men cannot be questioned
They were not cultivated, improved, and directed by a
liberal or collegiate education His respectable parents
not wealthy and had not the OF maintaining
she children college. Moreover, his father died when
ne was boy AT early period Mr.. CLAY was thrown
upon his own resources without PaiIimony He grew
u
studied law. He emigTated from his native State and
settled in Lexington Kentucky, where he commenced the
practice OF his profession before he of full age
The road 10 wealth. TO honor and fame was open be-
fore him. Under institutions and laws he might
freely employ his great faculties unobsrucled by legal
mpedments and unaded by exclusive privileges Very
soon Mr.. CLAY made deep and favorable impression
upon the people among whom he began his career The
excellence Of his natural faculties displayed
Necessity stimulated him in their cultivation. His as
sduy, skill and fidelity in professional engagements
secured public confidence. He was elected member of
the Legislature Of Kentucky, in which body he served
several sessions PRIOR 10 1905. In that year he ele
vaed 10 q seat 10 the Senate OF the United States.
AL the bar, and in The general assembly OF Kentucky,
b1r Clay first manifested those high qualities public
speaker which have secured to him SO much popular ap
plause and admiration. His physical and mental ogan
zaiioa emnently qualified him to become great and i'm
pressve orator Ills person was tall slender, and com,
mandng his temperament ardent fearless, and full of
fope his counenance clear, expressive, and amiable
indicating the emotion which predominaed at the
with exact simude. HE voice, cultivated and modulaed
in harmony with the sentiment he d. sired 10 express fell
upon the like the melody OF enrapurng music his eye
beamiog with intelligence and flashing with coIuscaoDs
oil genus his gestures and attitudes graceful and
rathese personal the prepossc of
audience before his intellectual powers began TO
move his bearers; and when his strong common sense,
his profound reasoning, bis clear conceptions oi his sub
ect all IFS bearings, and his striking and beautiful H.
luslrcons, united with such personal qualities, were
brought TO the discussion OF question, his audience
was enrapured convinced and led by the orator ii en-
cbanied by the Tyre OF OfIheus
No was ever blessed By his Creator with faculties
ri ORDER OF excellence tnan uOse gwen 10
CLAY In the quckness OF his perceptions and The ra
pidty with which his conc usoHs formed, he had
few equals and no superior. He eninently endowed
with nice discriminating taste for order, symmetry and
beauty. tie detected in moment everything out OF
place or deficient in his upon his farm, IN his
the dress OF others. tie a skilful Judge OF the
form and qualities OF this domestic animals which he de-
lighted 10 raise his farm could give you instances Of
the quickness and minueness OF his keen faculty OF OBJ
servaion which never overlooked anything want OF
neainess and order offensive TO him he was par
tcular and in his handwriting and his apparel.
sovenly blot or negligence OF any sort met his condem
naon While be was 80 organized that be attended TO
and arranged little things 10 please and gratiy his natural
love for neatness order, and beauty his great intellectual
faculties grasped all the subjects OF jurisprudence and
politics with facility amounting almost TO intuition
As lawyer he stood al the head OF HIS profession As
statesman, his stand al the head oil the republican whg
party for nearly half century establishes bis title TO
We-eminence among his illustrious associates
Mr. CLAY deeply vcrsed IN all the springs OF bu
action. He had read and studied biography and bis
tory Shortly after left college, had occasion TO call
him IN Frank tort, where he attending court, and
well remember to have found him with Plutarcbs 5
Lives in his hands No better than he k0ew how TO
avail himself OF human motives and all the ccunsan
which surrounded subject, or could present them
with more force and skill to accomplish the object Of
afs%scs c,v b,ou,bo., hi. Dusle career, wa, influenced
by the loftest patriotism. Confident in The truth OF his
convictions and the purity OF bis purposes he was
dent, sometimes mpeiuous, iu The pursuit OF objects
which he believed essential 10 the general welfare Those
who stood his way thrown aside without fear or
ceremony. He affected coutuer's Difference TO
men or opinions which he thought hostile the best in
erests OF his county; and hence he may have wounded
the vanity OF those who thought themselves OF
Queace ii s certain, whatever the that al one
period OF his life Mr.. CLAY might have been referred 10
proof that there is truth than fiction in those pro-
found lines OF the poet
"Hc who ssocnds the mountain TOP shall find
Its ioftiest peaks most wrapi In clouds and snow
lie who surpas,es subdues mankind
Must look down The hate Of those below.
Though Tar above the sun of glory glow,
And lar beneath the earth and ocean spread,
Round him are icy rocks, and loudly blow
Conscndine tempest, on his nsked head,
Andthnsrewaid the tolls which TO those spmmits led !"
Calumny and deiracon emptied their vals upon him
But how glorious The change He outlived malice and
envy. Ne lived long enough to prove the world that
his country the greatest most powerful snd best gov
erned the eanh II be desired its highest Office,
because the greater power and influence resulting from
such elevation wsd enable him TO do mtre than he 9th
erwse could Tor the progress and adyancemenhrst OF
bis counssymen, then e bis whole race His sympa-
ihies embraced all The African slave the Creole OF
Spanish Amevita, the children of renovated classic
Greeccall families OF men, without respect 10 color
oln1e found in his expanded bosom and comprehensive
intellect friend of their elevation and ameoraton
Such ambition that 10 Gods impsniaton IN the human
heart for raising the downodden nations OF the earth,
and fitting them for rssenerA'ed existence in politics. IN
morals, and religion.
Bold and determined as Mr. Car was in all his ac-
ions, be was nevertheless. ooncllaing He did not OBJ
stinsiely adhere to things mpracs,cable " be could
no, accomplish the best. he consented himself with the
ngbes, approach TO il, He has been the great compro
mser of those political sgilsons and opposing opin-
IONS which have, in the belief oil thousands, al different
hmes, pefpptu,tv federal