Washington telegraph., 1852-12-29
Clay, webster and Calhoun.

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The following beautiful tribute to CLAY,
WEBSTER and CALHOUN. and the reflections
thereon, are from the pen of Miss L.
VIRGINIA SMITH, Editress of the Southern
Ladies Book, and are too beautiful and true
not to be published in every newspaper in
the Union:
Clay, Webster and Calhoun! The chill
! dren grouped around the "ingle-side' OF a
stormy evening, may tell you. in return for
some fairy legend, and familiar story of
brave old soldier, who, in the war of Amer
ican Independence. fell nobly fighting, in
the van of the army. The roar of the battle
died away at eve-the dead were gathered
to sleep from which no trump save that of
the archangel shall arouse them-the broken
battalions were closed up, till the eye mark
ed not their "racant places.' The roll-call
was opened-name after name sounded that
met with no response. At length came that
of the old veteran. and a deep, breathless
pause succeeded He had never failed
never deserted his post before. and wild
shrill shook that serried column of iron men,
as an old comrade answered for him, dead
an the field"
His name was never stricken from their
number, but whenever it was called, So
lemn hush crept over the assembly, and
some war-worn comrade answered in his
stead dead onthe teld." And thus shall
it be with those three names of the great de-
parted, through the long campaign of Time;
they shall remain upon the roll Of humanity,
ana ever-ever-shall the mighty voice of
our country answer for them-'dead on the
field" In these "latter days" Germany
has given to Immortality one of her ripest
scholars; France one of her deepest philoso-
piers, and England her proudest WARRIOR
but it was reserved for our own America to
yield up the spirits of Clay, Webster,
ard Calhoan-the triune glory of Earth,
to the Triune Divinity of Heaven!
1t has been said that never again will such
a trio eminate from this, or any other land
We desire not to be thought of as derogating
from their well-merited honors yet we must
express our hope-our believing hope that
the day will come when America shall point
to others Of her sons, and say: 'tLo! greater
than the departed are here; ard we wish to
make no selfish boast, over men who belong
to the whole country and to all time, when
We call attention to the fact that two of them
wore natives to our Southern SOIL In the
spirit of him who ''knew no North, and no
South, but one common confederacy"-
we would impress this fact upon the South
ern mind, and more especially upon the
mind of aconaan. If such men as Clay, and
Webster, and Calhoun, 90 forth from the
humble homestcads and hearthstones Of our
land, it is to the influence of WOMAN that
they are indebted for their power to "sway
the Senate and trample On the crown. p
Education -association-'' circumstances
will do much to cultivate and develope
that power, but the germ of true greatness
is first planted in the nature of man, by a
mothers hand-warmed by her smiles, and
watered by her tears. And we believe that
upon earth there exists notso rare comb-
nation of the beautiful and the powerful, as is
exhibited in the character of a true South
ern woman Her physical softness. her in
tellectual endowments, and her native pride,
are so harmoniously combined, as to give
energy and depth of tone to nature which,
however confident, would blush to unsex it.
self in "C0nvocatao7a,' and ridiculously
caricature the noble part it is designed to
play in the great drama of human life.
To this nature, but "little lower than
the angels we commend the consideration
of the lives, deeds and destinies, Of those en-
inent statesmen, over whom it now weeps.
To the Southron matron, whose loving con-
fidence in her companion, and modest pride
in herself, prevents her from desiring to
iostle him from the political arena, and the
commercial mart, we would say-yours is
noble patriotism, and holier labor; thus
amid the pleasant shades of home, to leave
the impress of divinity upon the waxen heart,
and plant intellect, oe the leader of future
day; and to the Southern maiden, with her
soft eye, her gentle hand, and her hopeful
spirit, we would whisper, too, one word. 1t
is this When lovers and admirers, amid
their honied batteries, insinuate that woman
is the masterpiece of Nature receive it
not as an idle compliment, fitted to excite
your vanitys but belieue it is beautiful
truth, calculated to incite you to the con-
sideration and practice Of all that is noble,
exalted and sincere; and such influences, II
they do not transform your friends into the
knights and troubadours of the olden times,
will elevate them into MEN for the Present,
and the Future. Il. %.
oFANNY FERN. We published para
graph not long since, stating that it was SAID
that the brilliant and dashing writer, IN the
Boston Olive Branch, over this name, was
sister of N. P. Willis A Boston paper
noticing this says -,
ssThat it is also said this ''sister" OF n, +.
Willis is very much in favor of the "Bioom-
er costume wears breeches, smokes cigars
promenades the streets in Wellington boots