New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-07-02
HENRY CLAY.
Remarks of Hon. Wm. ii. Seward,
In SENATE, Wednesday, June 30, 1852.


Fifty years ago, HENRY CLAY Of Vir-
gnia, already adopted by Kentucky, then as youth.
full as himself entered the service Of his country, a
Representative in the unpretending Legislature of
that rsing State; and having thenceforward pur-
sued with ardOr and cOnstancy, the gradual path
of an aspiring change through Halls of Congress-
Foreign Courts, and Executive Councils, he has
now, with the cheeriulness Of a Patriot and the
renty of a Christian, fifty closed his long and ar.
duous career, here in the Senate, in the full pres
ence Of the Republic, looking down upon thescene
with anxiety and alarm, not merely a Senator like
one of 10 who vet remain in the Senate House,
but filling that character which, though il had no
authority of law and assigned without sui
frage, Augustus Caesar nevertheless declared was
aba We the title of Emperor, PrinUS inter MHStreS
the Prince OF the Senate.
Generals are tried Mr.. President, by examining
the campaigns they have lost or won, and states
men by reviewing the transactions in which they
have been engaged. Hamilton would have been
unknown to us, had there been no Constitution to
be created: Butus would have died in Obscu
rity, had there been no Caesar 60 be slain.
Colonization, Revolution and Organization
thee great acts in the drama of our National
ProgIess-had already passed when the Western
Patriot appeared on the public stage. lie en-
tered in that next division of the majestic sceHes
political forces a wild strife Of factions and ruin
Gus embaIrassments in our foreign relations.
This transition stage is always more perilOus than
any other IN the career Of nations, and especially
in the career OF Republics. 1t pro yed ia al to the
Commonwealth in England. Scarcely any Of the
Spanish American States have ct emerged from
il and il has more than once been sadly signal
lied by the ruin Of the Republican cause n France.
The continuous Administration Of Wash ngtOn
and John Adams had closed under cloud which
had thrown broad, dark shadow the future
the Nation was deeply indebted at home and
abroad, and its credit was PROSTATE. The RevO-
mtionary factions had given place to two inyete-
rate palties, Cyided by gulf which had been
worn by the conflict in which the Constitution
vas adopted and made broader and deeper by a
war OF preudices concerning the merits OF tbs bege
rents In the great European struggle thathen cJuyused
the civilized world. Our extraordinary political sys-
tenn little than ingenious theory, not yet
practically established The sniOn OF the States
yet only Of compact for the political, social and
commercial necessities 10 which IL was so marvel usy
adapted and which, clustering thcky upon IT,
der indssouoe had then been broadly disclosed
nor rad the habits Of acquescence and the sentiments
Of loyalty always slow VI growth, fully rpened Tae
bark Ea hsd gone 10 sea- thus unurnlsned and unred
sferned qu,e certain founder By OF irs To-
hcrtnt frsny II ii she uld escape unhsrmed Ia the
great conflict OF nations, which acknowledged claims
Of justice and liberated pret-nsions Of neutrality.
Moreover, the territory possessed oy the Nation
inadequate u commercial exigences and inds Jensahe
social expansion; and YET provi-i had beea made
for enisT cement for extending the political system
over oistput regions, Inhabited otherwise, watch
must inevitably be acquired. Nor could any such
quisidon be- made without disturbing the carefulyad
ju.,ed balance of powers among the members OF the
These difficulties Mr. President, although they grew
less with time and by slow degrees continued through
ot the whole lite of the Statesman whose obseouies we
are eel, braiing Be il sno En, then, aud that
history will confirm the Instruction, that Conservatism
the interest Of The nation and the rcsP)n,i5ty Of
rs Rulers, during the period In which h5 founshed
He was ardt rt, bold, generous, and even ambitious
az yet With profound conviction Of the ext gem
cies Of the country, lie Alexander Hamilton he dlsc
pued himself and trained restless nation thai knew
only self control 10 the rigorous practice OF that often
hlr.LiatI Conservatism which its welfare aud security
IN that peculiar crisis 50 impehousy demanded.
1t could not have happened Sir - any citizen % have
acted alone, even 20 have acted always tue most
conspicuous part IN trying period 50 long prJtractei
HENRY CLAY therefore, shared the responsibilities Of
GOyernu 1i.h not only hls proper cD,enpOrades,
but also survivors Of the Revolution. well also
mary who y g. now succeed himself Dslicacy fJroid8
my naming those who retain their places here but We
may without improperly recall among bic compeers
Senator Of resources and ind-X)lc resolve, who
has recently wihc from this Chamber, BAT trust
no, altogether from public lie, (Mr. BENTON , aud
another who surprising all his cotem p9r4rs WITHIN
biz country, and even throughout the world 10 the
proper elcoeoce OF the Forum In autun al years
for a time dig-ifes and ad0rus the big eel seat
in n Executive Council, ar WEDsrEa) Posing by
these mine no Or noble men, the si4i-s u Cab Jun
John Quincy Adams, J.ckson Monrne and JsFsr.ln
rise up b, tore Us-ststesnen whose living nd local fame
tss pcLed already in.o historical ami word vide re.
lCwu
Amorg he ren'u'cs 20 lofty az thess, HrvRY Cray .
bofe pa; IN req ai1e the cunstt 4iilna tres1 az
political oebaie; s'a5ishing that l,nrcoute,tei and
mos irpOilani hne wrlch divides the sov,r,.,ntv f
The several States eom that the States c0lf.srs,sd
asserting te night 81 Neutrality aud sinocaips IL be-
war sshst Greet BRIAN, Daen 10 u.t llt sx,~eys
fastte Deeania nsccsfrfy al using me terms on
whieh iEsperoBs ysi honorable coEiest Vas uTooshE