The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-07-01

heart to remember the great occasions when Mr.. i
i'll temper eDgendered by the times. and the misera
BILE jeaouses OF the day seemed 10 have been driven
from his bosom by the expusve power of nobler feel
ngs-when every throb OF his heart was given to bis
Gated to her service. Who does not remember the
three periods when the American system Of Gov
eminent was exposed 70 It's severest trials; and
who does not know that when history shall relate
the struggles that preceded and the struggled
which averted, by the Missouri compromise,
the Tariff Compromise of 1882, and the Adjustment
OF 1850, the same pages will record the genius the
cloquence and the patriotism of HEsRy CLAY?
Nor was il in the nature Of MIR, CLAY TO lag be
hind until meaScres Of adjustment were matured,
and then come for ward to swell majority. Uh!
the contrary, like u bold and real Statesman, hci
among the first to meet the peril and haz-
ard his fame upon the remedy. 1t 10 fresh in the.
memory Of US ALL that when the fury OF sectional dis
cord lately threatened to sever the Confederacy,.
Mr.. CLAY, though Withdrawn from public life and
oppressed by the burden of years. came back to the,
Senate, the theatre of his glory, and devoted the;
remnant OF his strength TO the sacred duty OF pre-
serving the Union of the States. With character
istic courage, he took the lead in proposing a;
scheme Of settlement; but, though willing to as
sume the responsibility OF proposing plan of set
Element. he did not, with petty ambition, insist
upon its adoption. to the exclusion Of other modes;
but taking his own as a starting point for discus
sion and practical action he noby abored with his
compatriots TO change and improve II in such form
as to make il an acceptable adjustment. Through
out the arduous Struggle the ofcountry expelled
the spirit Of selfishnesJ and MIR. CLAY proved forI
the third time that although he was ambitious and
loved glory, he had no unholy ambition to mount
to fame tho COMMISSIONS OF his country. And this|
conviction is lodged in the hearts of the people.
The party measures and the party passions OF for
mer times have not for several years lnterposedI
between MIR. CLAY and the Of his country
men, After 1850 he seemed to feel that his miSson|
was accomplished and during the same period
the regards and affections of the American people|
have been attracted to him in remarkable degree;
for many months the warmest feelings, the deepest
an1ieties of all parties, centred upon the dying|
statesman the glory of his great actions shed al
mellow lustre his declining years and, to fill
the measure of his fame, his countrymen, weaving
for him the laurel wreath, with common hands]
did bind it about his venerable brows, and send
him crowned to history.
The life OF Mr.. CLAY is a striking ample ogthel
abiding fame which surely awaits DIRECT and
candid statesman. The entire absence Of Equivo.
cation or disg use in all his acts his master
key to the popular heart; for, while The people|
will forgive the errors of bold and open nature,
he sins past forgiveness who deliberately dcccves'
them. Hence Mr. CLAY, though often defeated in]
his measures Of policy, always retained the conf
dence Of his friends, while he secured the respect
of his opponents.
He never paltered in double sensc. The coun-
try was never in doubt to his opinions or hisI
purposes. In all the contests of his time his posi-
ton on great public questions was as clear the
sun in a cloudless sky. Sir, standing by the gravel
of this great man, and considering these things,
how contemplate does appear the mere legerde
main of politics. What reproach is hs life onl
that false policy which would trife with great
and upright people, IfIwere to write his epitaPh,
would inscribe, as the highest eulogy, on thel
stone that shall mark his resting place. "Here lies
a man who in the public service for fifty
years, and never attempted to deceive his coun-
trymcn."
While the youth of America should initiate these
noble qualities, they may take courage from his
career, and note the high proof it affords that un
der our equal institutions tho avenues to honor,
are open to all Mr.. CLAY rose by the force of his
own genius, unaided by power, patronage orr
wealth. At age when our young men are
usually advanced to the higher schoos Of learning
provided only with the rudments of an English
education, he turned his steps to the West, and },
amidst the rude collisions OF a border life, matured
character whose highest aspirations were destined
to mark eras in his country's history. Beginning
at the frontiers Of American civilization, the orphn n
boy, supported only by the consciousness OF his
own powers and the confidence OF the people, sur
mounted all the barriers Of adverse fortune and
won a glorious name in the annals of his country.
Let the generous youth, fired with honorable am
btion, remember that tho American system offers
on every hand bountios TO merit. IL, like CLAY,
orphanage, obscurity, poverty shall Cypress him,
vet IT, like Gay he feels the Promethean spark
within, let him remember that his country, like a
generous mother,- extends her arms to welcome
and TO cherish every one OF her children whose
genius and worth may promote her prosperity on
increase her renown
Mr. Speaker, the signs of woe around us and the
general voice announce that another great man
has fallen. Our consolation il that he was not
taken in the vigor of his manhood, but sunk grad
ualy into the grave, at the close OF lcng and IL
iustrious career. Tho great statesmen who have
filled the largest space in the public eye, one by
one are passing away. or the three great leaders
OF the Senate one alone RENAME, and he must fol-
low soon. We shall witness more their in
teectual struggles in the American forum; but
the monuments Of their genius will be cherished
ms the common property Of the people, and their
names will confer dignity and character on their
country; not less illustrious than the greatest OF
these will be the name of CLAY-a name pro-
wi nrid Nv in VERY aus
ter OF the gobe--a name 10 be remembered whit
history shall record the struggles of modern
Greece for freedom, the spirt Of liberty burn in
the South American bosom-a living and imrnor-
tai namc---a anne that would descend to posterity
without the aid of letters, borne by tradition from
generation to generation.
Every memorial Of such man will possess a
meaning and value to- his countrymen. His tomb
will be a hallowed spot, and his countrymcn, as
they visit it, may well exclaim:
''Such graves as his are pilgrim shrines-
Shrines to no creed or code compared,
The Dclphian wales, the Palestines,
The Meccas of the mind. /"
In conclusion, Mr.. b. submitted the following
resolutions, viz:
Resolved, That the House of Representatives of
the United States have received, with the deepeet!
scnsbty, intelligence of tho death Of tho Hon
HsNRY CLAY, a Senator in Congress from the StateI
of kentucky.
Resolped. That the officers and members Of theI
House of Representatives will bear the usual bsdgeI
of ming for thirty days, testimonial Of hct
profound respect this House entertains for the me
mory Of the deceased
Resolved, That tho officers and members OF theE
House of Representatives in body wilLatten theI
funeral of the Hon Henry CLAY tho day ap-
pointed for that purpose by the Senate of the Uni
ted States.
RESOLVED. That the proceedings Of this House in|
relation to the death of the Hon. HENRY CLAY bel
communicated 10 the family OF the deceased by theI
Clerk
Resolved, That, further mark Of respect for
the memory Of the deceased, the House now ad-
journ to the day appointed for the funeral.
Mr.. EWING, of Kentucky, and said: AL
noble heart has ceased 10 beat forever A long lifeI
of brilliant and sef-deyoted public service is fin
isbed of last, and we stand at its conclusion{
looking back through the changeful history OF
that life to its beginning, contemporaneous with i
the very birth of the Republic, and its varied events
mingled in our hearts and our memorics-with the {
triumph and caiamitics, the weakness and the I
power, the adversely of country we love much D
As contemplate this sad event in this place, the
shadows of the pact gather us; the memories /
OF events long gone crowd upon us, and the shades
Of departed patriots seem to hover about us, wait
ing 10 receive into their midst the spirit of one
who was worthy to struggle with them in com