Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1852-09-10
csTING DOCUMENT.

rayrd gains, him in decided Ioh and made friends
non IN, ercuurse and finally reco" crv storn lha,
, !; ,,e ,yok of wardins on ~ ss...a,cv
again ;" t''e w. nav The existence, OF the coheoe''Is'
'htcaeheu w mat this unroiing OF The curtain VI '''e
II Is mos ,u.nt of unknown md unwncn history
fs' ga its way the pubic through 'i'c ''"4"'''
;h y,s founded by the author u 'ae io''o"ns 'e''' ."
, intimate personal friend OF MI Clay, anu ohe % '
fy yete,a contemporaries now lett On the stage !" '''e' "
rcn,ns in mast times waged such decided war upon
tho rol;tic principles Of M Cays alterlle But we sa
~, longer de,ain our readers from the letter Itself:
To the Editors o. the Richmond ENDURE.
WAs.tsaroS SEPTEMBER oh, leo-'
Sirs-- Whilst great nation is lamcn"'s ' 49,!
,r;np honos 10 the memory Of one oi hcr most os
80, an o, rermi, me 10 lay my humble tribute
nnon his prsye3 Well do rccoIect what passed IN
100 -. hosn;table board OF M-. John /. Sullivan OF
NJ; .;, ,.ho,c met with Messrs. Clay, William t. King
nho yir presdenr) Cobb, Uhe Speaker OF The House VI
posenutivcsl Footc, Toomhs, Bradford "i hassae'iu
rs &c &c In most agreeable conversation 'ou vi
f,,,y tina, ii he would bu settle The aei'aihs qa "
N. day on fair and honorable principles ana "o' o' "
more 10 the White House. if survived him, wou'a PAM
l,ure on his tomb Little did dream al lha' ''e o. '
fate which awaited him -and liliic au ahocpie ''l' "
aso,,on, ,o, hng excr,iuus would have exhausted the
powers OF his constitution, and that hs wouo 50 so'
fallen martyr his public dutles-i come No" y pan"
the simple laurel upon his tomb
Nv relations 10 Mr. Clay have been of various characters.
pshons was Inc Oldest acquaintance in Washington VINO
attended his funeral. l FIRST met with Mr. Clay ~ H'c"
,ond nj the house my brothern.w Governor bf"ohc
!, 1896 before he left Virginia for nc sau
obtaaed his license, and before he had competed MS s'
studies under the auspices of Mr. Brooke VINO was '"
ouen,y elected Attorney General of tho Stale cotton u
saws in his Lii. of Mr. Clay (p 81 vol - 'hat nc wa"
for wear, line pupil and companion OF Chanceof "S"''
who discovering the high promise OF ms pfoeee' was o
~ hous 10 fiji him for his destiny than he himself was
10 attain 10 IT," II by his advice that ne entered as
.oular s,uden, of law in the office of the Attorney Gene
,ral Younger as was by nearly three years uah Mf
Clay yet soon learned appreciate his fine talents aho
40, cable TEMPER When returned from Richmond 10 my
native town of Tappahannock corresPonded Tor SNORT
lime with him and recGect distinctly with what oesh'
nc quoted that beautiful and celebrated passage from aA
ntosls yindce Gaica" published originally IN 1871, ~
repv TO Mr. BuIkes famous letter the French h'o'u-
lion
at was Tine" (said the eloquent Scotchman hal me
wers so long occupied by subordinate objects ana
,;nr ,s should mark the of new ern
in history BY giving birth 10 the art "i Improving govern
ment and increasing The civil happlness VI man. ~ "as
time as it has been wisely and euquenty said that eslsl
tors instead of that and daehidY colSihS when
never ventures 10 lose sight and precedent should
guided by the polarity ot reason, hazard oooef
and discover porcd regions the treasure VI Puoc
felicity.
But time sped on. Mr. Clay obtained his license 10 pac
lse Lave from the Judges OF the Court OF Appeals IN 's
and in November of the year. he moved 10 Lexington
in Kentucky uhe child Of Virgnal establish himself in
his profession He rapidly ose both at the bar and in Pc"
tics In 1903 he elected member of the Legislature OF
Kentucky. In 1876 he appeared as Senator OF the United
States l.ce of General Adar, whose term expired on
the 4h OF March, 1907 In ire summer following ne was
again elected The State Legislature and was made Speak
er of the Assembly After service Of two years IN tha
body ne Vas again. in 1902 returned TO the United States
Senate fill up Two years OF an uneXired Term OF me
Hon Buckner Thure,on, resigned" olons Lille OF H.
Clay vol l. p. l40) In l6l whilst the signs Of war were
lowering in the horizon, he was elected 10 The House I"
Representatives OF which he appointed Speaker IN
June, 1872 declared against Great Britain
During this interval had very little intercourse with
Mr. Clay | seldom visited Washington. But in March
1909 witnessed the inauguration of Mr. Madison and ex-
oerienced many courtesies from Mr. Clay Two days after
the of war received very complimentary letter
from him the and thanking me for
the great cNertuns had contributed in bringing on MI
Cluy's reputation was in The mean time rapidly advancing
His speech in 1871 against renewing the charter oil the
first Bank of the United States brilliant and power
ni effort 1t dced his Ingenuity ana all his suo-
sequen efforts retuc lis positions HIS e1erons during
the war Of 1912 defend the Gree Trade and Sailors
Rights Of his country had sunk deeply into the heart Of
four other distinguished citizens, Commissioner 10
Client in the negotiation for peace.
1t is not my purpose this tme TO discuss any party
politics conine myself simple narrative CT facts II
is sufficient for say, that when had The pleasure OF
meeting Dir Clay Richmond in the year 1872, when he
and Judge Bib addressed the Legislature OF Virginia, as
Commissioners from Kentucky touching land controversy
that had existed between the States found myself AT
points on various political questions with this distinguished
statesman The reader may form some idea of some OF
these queetions when refer TO few good.humoied re-
murks that he addressed in the OF long con-
versatiou which held together promenaded the
long room OF The Eagle Hotel Well do recoect the
In consequence Of another very interesting topic which
mingled ia our conversation. He begged believe,
that he die not differ with Virginia so much in his general
PRINCIPLES or in his measures "a might have supposed
e said me- with great deal OF agreeable narsfe 'hai
V9 much overrun with inc spurious paper
OF some thirty or forty Banks, his State had been
scourged with would not be much surprised at his
anxiety to establish National Bank in order to regulate
the circulation and the abuses and when had
often crossed the mountains and travelled tho miserable
roads in all seasons of the year. he compelled TO do
on his way Washington, might in some degree excuse
his anxiety claim for the General Government tie power
10 prosecute inlcrna Improvements.
But our political well personal relations he2ln 10
sumo character In 1924, he was announced as
candidate Tor the Presidency. felt to be my duty Ia
pose his election and the same opposition was renewed
whenever he appeared the canvaHs-in 1882, when he
defeated by General acksonand in 1874 when after
struggle. he overcome by Mr. Polk Let me
say in justice the magnanity which he afterwards dis
played, that this opposition my und
cnng No press in the United States deter
mined than the Richmond Enquirer. Mr. Clay the
leader CT The Party, whose principles opposed. His eo
qu,ncc his energy OF character he space he had filled
the eyes of the world and the towering popularity he
had acquired in his party, woul, have given weight
those principles the administration of the Government
which regarded by the Democratic party fatal the
the country Besides Mr. Clay had incurred
serious and bitter opposition consequence of his relations
Mr. John Quincy Adams. OF course all my personal in
tercoursc with MIR. Clay suspended. mel him. how
ever, in Chamber Of tie Capitol 4tlt Of
March 1887 when Mr. Van Buren, inuuenrated Presi.
dent Of the United States few before General
Jackson md Mr. Van Buren, came into the Chamber,
and Mr. Clay approached and our eyes and hands
met together. told him how happy was scc that Time