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

which it was marvellously adapted and which
clustering thickly upon il. now render il indisso
uble, had not then been broadly disclosed NOR
had the habits of acquiescence and the sentimental
OF loyalty, always slow Of growth, fully ripened
The bark that had gone to sen, thus unfur nishedI
and untried. seemed quite certain, TO founder by
reason OF its own inherent fraty even if it shoulc
escape unharmed in the great conflict Of nations
which acknowledged no claims of justice and tol
Grated no pretensions OF neutrality. Moreover
the territory possessed by the nation was made \
luate to commercial exigencies and Indispensable
social expansion; and yet no provision had been,
made Tor enlargement, nor for extending the po
litical system over distant regions inhabited or
otherwise, which must inevitably be acquired
Nor could any such acquisition be made without
disturbing the carefully adjusted balance Of pow
ers among the members of the Confederacy.
These difficulties, Mr.. President, although they
grew lcss with time and by slow degrees, continued
throughout the whole life of the statesman whosc
obsequics we are celebrating. Be ii known then |
that am sure that history will confirm the in
struction that conservatism was the interest of the
nation, and the responsibility of its rulers durne
the period in which he fioorshed He was ardent
bold, generous, and even ambitious; and yet with
profound conviction of the true exgencies OF thc
country, like Alexander Hamilton, he disciplined
himself and trained a restless nation that knew
only self-control, to the rigorous practice Of that
often humilatng conservatism which it's welfare
and security in that peculiar crisis SO imperiousy
demanded.
IL could not have happened, sir to any citizen to
hnve acted alone, nor even to have acted Away 81
the most conspicuous part, in trying period sol
long protracted. HEsRY CLAY, therefore, shared
The responsibilities of government with not only
his proper contemporaries, but also survivors OIL
the Revolution, we'll also many who will now
succeed himself Delicacy forbids my naming
those who retain their places here, but we may !
without improperly, recall among his compeers al
Senator Of vast resources and infexible receive |
who has recently withdrawn from this chamber 4
but ! trust not altogether from public life, (Mr
t(ax, fntt. tb,~ n
temporaries within his country, and even through
out tho worLi,in the proper eoquence of the 10 j
rum, now In autumnal years, for second time
dignifies and adorns the highest seat in the Execu
tive council, (Mr. Webster.) Passing by these
eminent and noble men, the shades Of Calhoun /
John Quincy Adams, Jackson, Monroe, and JEFF
ferson, rise up bafore us-statesmen whose living
and local fame has ripcned already into historical
and world wide renown
Among geniuses 30 lofty these HENnY CLAY]
bore part in regulating the constitutional free
dom of political debate, establishing that long
contested and most important line which divides!
the sovereignty of the several States from that of
the States confederated; asserting the right OF neu
rality, and indicating it by against G reat
Britain, when that just but extreme measure be
came necessary adjusting the terms on which,
that perlous yet honorable contest was brought toj
Ia peaceful close; perfecting the army, and the]
navy and national Notifications; settling the tisca
land financial policy of the Government in morel
than one crisis of apparently threatened revolu.
Ion; asserting and calling into exercise the pow
1of the Government for making and improving in
3ternal communications between the States; arous-
ling and encouraging the Spanish American colo.
lnies on this continent to throw of the foreign yoke
land to organize governments on principles con
genial to our own, and thus creating external bull
warks for our own national defence; establishing
equal and impartial peace and amity with all ex /
listing maritime powers; and extending the const
jtutional organization of government over the vast
regions, all secured in his lifetime by purchase or
aby conquest, whereby the pillars of the Republici
Bhaye been removed from the banks of the ST
Mnrys to the borders of the Rio Grande and from
the margin OF the Mississippi to the Pacific coast
we may not yet discuss the wisdom Of the eeveral
measures which have thus passed in review before
Jus, Of the positions which the deceased states
man assumed in regard to them, but we may
without offence dwell upon the comprehensive re-
lsuts of them ALL
The Union exists in absolute integrity, and the |
Republic in complete and triumphant dev elopmcnt
Without having relinquished any part of their in
the States have more than doubled al
READY, and are increasing in numbers and grow.
ling in political strength and expansion more ra /
(pidly than ever before. Without having absorbed
'any state or having even encrvached any Stat
the Confederation has opened itself SO az to embraced
Jail the new members who have come and no W L
with capacity for further and indefinite enlarge
,ment, has become fixed, enduring, and perpetual. /
Although 1t was doubted only half century agoN
whether our political system could be maintained
lat all, and whether If maintained, it could guar
anee the peace and happiness of society, it stands
now confessed by the world the form of govern (
Iment not only most adapted to empire. but alsoe
most congeniul with the constitution of human ma
,ture.
When we consider that the nation has been con-
Quoted TO this haven. not only through stormy seas
but altogether, also, without course and without
Ia star; and when we consider, moreover, the sum
|of happiness that has already been enjoyed by the
american people,; and, stl more, the inf1uonceE
(which the great achievement is exerting on the nd
|vancement and moderation OF the condition of L.
mankind, we should see at once that it might have
satisfied the highest ambition to have BEEN no mat
hntu hmm, ,aI
tion.
Certainly, sir, one will assert that HENRy4
CLAY in that transaction performed an obscure or :
even a common part On the contrary from the
day on which he entered the public service until :
that on which he passed the gates of DEATH he was
never follower. but always leader; and he mar
shaled either the party which sustained or that l.
which resisted every great measure, equally in the
Senate and among the people. And he led wbercE
duty seemed to him to indicate, reckless whether
The encountered one President or twenty Presi f
10y the whole people. Hence it has happened, that
although that people are not yet agreed among
themselves on the wisdom of all perhaps of even
any Of his great measures, yet they arc neverthe-
less unanimous in acknowledging that he was at 3
once the greatest, the most faithful, and the most
reliable of their statesmen Here the effort at dis
praise of HENRY CLAY in regard to hi.
public policy must stop, on this sad occasion
which awakens the ardent liberality of his genera
Gus survivors.
But his personal qualities may be discussed with q
out apprehension. what were the elements of the "
success OF that extraordinary man? YOU sir, knew
him longer and better than !, and l would prefer
to hear you speak of them. He was indeed elo- II
qucnt; all the world knows that. He held theE
keys to the hearts of his countrymen and he turned1
the wards within them with a skill attained bv no&
other man.
But cloquence was nevertheless only IN instru
ment, and one OF many that he used His converse y
ton, his gestures, his very look persuasive rs
irresistibc. And his appliance OF ali
these was courteous. patient, and interchangeable IA
Defeat only inspired him with new resolution HeM
divided opposition by his assduty of address IS
while he rallied and strengthened his own bandsA
Of supporters by the confidence Of success which e.
feeling himself, be easily inspired among bis fol- e
lowers. His affections high and pure andL$
generous, and the chieest among them was that f.
,ne which the great Italian poet designated as the
charity of native land. In him that charity wasi&
IN enduring and overpoworing enthusiasm nndM
{ influenced all his sentiments and conduct 81
-cndoring him moro impartial between conriictiugk5
interests and sections than any other sta tesna n ~
who has lived since the revolution. Thus witbE1
great versatility of talent and the most catholic
equality of favor he identified every question III
whether of domestic administration or foreign pol u
cy, with his own great name, and SO became VI
perpetual tribune of the people. He needed only s3
$500 -.