Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1852-07-08

EreT he manr able and eloQuent addresses =
which We have lislened this ntFning, ifaf. cir.
The interest ofthis OCCASION And yei rxrrese1iifx
as do in part that State which Enre birth y ihr
distinguished man Whose death hnsithis 61y tecn
aun06nced on this floor, and having for mang
years held towards him The most cordial fsiatirNs
% ffiendship personal and political. feel HAT
should nail 70 discharge an apffopriste duty, Il Z
permitted this occasion 10 pass ~. without sc'ne
expression OF the feeling which sAeA an ervnt 4 -
well calculated % elic. L is true. sir that this
Intelligence does moi sa upon ears unexpeelei
"; for months the pnhlic mind has been pgepafed
Tor the great national loss which NE nov Deeply
denlgrssd and Eeil as aailf - ha.r-
8 Like shadow tkrownN
Softly and swecsly from psssihs cloud.
Death fell Gpoa hin,
! il is impossible thai a light Of sueh sarnass;se
/ spiendor should besa il is now, forever extin-
guished from our view, without producing shoek 8
deeply and painfully felt TO The utmost liuiis 81
this great Republic. Sir, We talf feel that m ixaiv
intellect has passed from amongst rs but halrur
for this country happily for mankind, mel antil II
had accomplished 10 some extent the exaIled ME.
sion for which il had been sent upon this enrfk
mol until i had reached the fun maturity ~ a.
usefulness and powef-no until Il had he'd hriRha
and radiant luslre over cur national ren6&h--not
unt lime had enabled il TO bequealh The fieh 3ens.
nres Of sfthought and experience for the guidanes
asd obstruction Of The present, and Of succeeding
;neralion.
Sir, II is difhcult--i, IS impossible-wahin ,ss
limit allowed for remarks upon occasions Of this
kind, 10 do justice 10 great historical character
like Henry Clay. He was one ~ that class Of
| pen whom Scaiger designales as Aemiaes ceafena-
rit-men that appear upon the earth bur once ID
I century. Hisfame Is the growth Of yeass. And Il
would require time TO unfold The elements which
have combined % impart 10 Il so much Of siabilitY
1 aud grandeur. Volumes have already been tfil-.
ten, and volumes viii continue 10 be wfiiteA. 10 re-
cord those eminent and Distinguished public stfti.
ces which have placed him Id the ffons rank o.
i American statesmen and patriots The hiehess
talent fired by fervid and patriotic enthusiasm.
has already and will continue 10 exhaust Us pow
i ers, 10 portray those striking and generous Incl.
dents of his lie, those shining and cap,i9allnf
qualities Of his heart, which &ave made one III III
most beloved, be one OF the most admired ok
men; and yethe subject itsclfwill remain as fresh
and exhaustless as il hundreds Of HE Best intel-
lecs Of the land had not quafed the shsptA!lki 81
their genius from the evergushfhg and overlooking
fountains Of his fame. II Is impossible thai rspi
utation grand and colossal as that which attach
esto the name Of Henry Clay, Could rest for ~
/ base upon any single virtue, however striking.
4 nor upon single ACT no matter how marked OF dis
/ tinguished Snch reputation as he has len be-
hind him could only be the result Of long life a.
| illusirious public service. And such il Truly var
| For nearly halfa century he had beeh prominent
actor in ~ the stirring and evenifu scenes Of A.
mercan history !; fashioning and moulding many
Of the NEST important measures OF public policy by
his bold afislesagacDus lind, and srresling olhefs
Dy MS UHG0AQuefdNaE tHeTgySal re61ktlea1 iUfcF
OF eloquence. And however much The member of
this body may differ in opinion 70 the wisdom 81
many Of his views OF national domestic h0ffev
their is not one upon this flo0rno sir not ODE Ill
| this nationwide will deny y him frankness Ghe
direciness as public mana genius for siSiesmans
i shpef the highesf ordeFek tFaordiEary Capacities
for public usefulness. and an ardent and elexnsed
| Patriotism without stain and without reproaeh.
i In referring to aeaEeer 81 public service 50 Va;
! ricd and extended as that Of Mr. Clay. and 10 4
character 50 rich in every great and manly sirtne.
il IS only possible TO glance at few Of tie most
prominent Of those points Of his personal history.
] which have given to,h him so distinguished place
in the affect ols OF his eountrvmeh
| In The whole character Of Mr.. Ciay. ID sil that
attached or belonged to It, you End nothing thai n
not essentially AMERICAN. Born in the dafkess BE-.
riod OF our revolutionary strugge--Feared from N.
fancy to manhood amongstthose great minds ukirh
gave the first Impulse 10 that mighty movement Is
/ early imbbed and seduously cherished these great
principles ofciyil and political liberty which heao
brilliantly illustrated in his subsequent puile "a.
reer, and which has made his name 1 waichwofd
of hope and consolation 10 the oppressed Of ali ik6
earth In his inteliecikal training be vas The puse
CIT alton of our own republican SOIL Few II IN
illusions are 10 be seen in his speeches or writRrs
10 ancient or modern literature, or 10 the thouehs
and ideas OF other men. His counlrv--fH insisN;
tions-ils policyits inierestsiis destiny form Inc
exclusive topics Of Ihese'eloquent harangues which
whilst they are destitute OF the elaborate fnisn:
/ have all the ardor and intensity 81 ihought- the
! earnesness Of purpose, The cogrney Of reasoning,
/ the gehemence Uesiyle and the burning patriotism
! which marx the productions Of the great Alheniah
orator. si al fg.fs s. y rl .
oae the most .disinguishihe characteristics Of
Mr.. Clay as public man, was his loyalty 10 ruth
! and 10 the honest cou9ietions Of his own mind---
1 he deceived no man-be would not permit his own
heart 10 be deceived by any Of those seductive 10.
/ huenees which tooolien warp the Judgment Of men
in public lite. He never paused 10 eodsidef iiCE
/ far any step Which he was about 70 take would lead
a.. - 7-.... =. -.
lated what he might lose what be might gain br
/ bis advocacy Of or hisopposiIion To- any pariicu-
/ lar measure. Ills single inquiry was & II fikhf1
! Is II in accordance with the Constitution Of The
i land1 VIII i reduund 70 The permanent welfare
/ and interest OF The country When satisfied upon
] these points, his determination was H3ed-iis par.
pose was ininogable. sAssI would rather be fifht
+, Than President was the expression 6f his genuine
feelings and The principle BIZ which ne. was eos.
] trolied In his public c3seefZa saving ---.,h. -
immortality, and proper 70 be ;escribe nan ~, =
heart OF every young .-..an in this Repnblies 6n1
yet, sir wish 81 Of that personal and moral ielr~
n'....y which so emnently marked the eharacier Or
Mr.. Ciay-with his well known inaexibil;tr 81
purpose, and unyieding deiermipaiion--s wis
! tie genuine sipcefityof his patriotism and enek
his thorough comprehension Of those principles 81
COMPROMISE upon witch the whole sifflci,,re n -
4 Government was founded that no ono Nas fflofe
prompt % relax tie rgofof his policy the moment
he percefved that Il was ealcnlated 10 disturb r.
the stability q the Government With him, The
love Of this Union was a Fassioh7-an absosbinr
sentiment yshcE gaze color % every act Of his pub
lie life. i ripmPhed over party; itiriumphs,i
over policy; itsubdued The natural 1eFeenrss md
haughiiness of his temper and brnnghi kim into IL
most kindly and cordial relations with an Ih0se
Who upon all other questions were deeply ana iii.
! teriy opposed 70 him. h has been asserted III
upon high medical autlinsi.z and suruIsesl : fik
trnlh that his ~ was. in al probability shorieied
ien veaEs 81 Jhe ardnQus and extraordinary labars
which he assumed n The memorable session Of 1850
IL so. he has ADDED The rTowning glory III he Na2
| rYR 10 the spoteSs fame Of The fsrRfof; and ~
NAV we'll hopr that ) great national pacidcsi0n
purchased al Sneb saerf5cr will long cor iiaue
u cement he bonds 81 this great ard glorious
Union #ss 60 f Il i 81 a &.
MfCLaY possesseds II an eminent degree. De
Qualities Of gr at popular lender. and HISTORY
will assume ~ saF, affords no example IN anr re-
public. ancient ef modern, OF any individual ihnt
so earlessly e1frird ont the convictions Of his oHn
Judgment and 50 sparngly iatsered The prfindieea
Of popular feeling who for 50 long peTind fxer-
eised the sans controlling iniluePe 0srf ihe itib
mind Earnest In whatever heasnfc lie sustained
-feati less ID NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. mi S$ie nec--abaan-
ding in iutclleciuaI -esenfce-eioquebfi 10 deba1e--
of inhexhle purpose. and With 4 f.eoura4e nerex
10 submit NJ yield No sererived with hizhe-
4 qualifications % rally despondipg pefty. o. iP
i lcasI 40 emaailed h9st 70 Yiclory. That he NV !
attained lhe highest p1stol honorable ambition H.
this cminlfy Is not 10 lie ascfibed 10 auv want II
capacity as a popular leader nor he absence of
thdxe qualities which ailsae le 6dyiii5 and etro-