Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-02-13
PRESENTATION OF A MEDAL TO Mr..
CLAY

PRESENTATION OF A MEDAL TO MR..
CLAY.
inns very gratifying interview took place, by
appointment, yesterday, at Mr.. Glars lodgings
at the National Hotel. The committee charg-
ed with this welcome duty were deputed from
Mr.. Clay New York friends, political and per-
sonal who had prepared this volunteer offering
n token OF their appreciation of the services
rendered by the illustrious statesman to his
country and mankind.
They We're admitted to his chamber at three
O'Clock, and were received with that graceful
urbanity for which Mr.. Clay is so distinguish
ed. After short pause, during which the
company privileged to be present on the occa-
sion, were invited to be seated, Mr.. Daniel u
mann, Chairman of the Committee, rose and
delivered the following address:
CthzenS Of NeU York to Henry Clay.
SIR: During the half century of your public
lie, your admiring countrymen and friends have
accumulated around you many warm testimon-
lals and enduring memorials of your great SER
wees to your country and mankind. To add to
these another is the purpose for which we now
come to you.
In the name and behalf of large number of
citizens OF New Y DIRK we offer you this gold
! medal, and beg your acceptance of it, to be pre-
served In your family and by your descendants
we hope for ages.
1t has been our effort to make it valuable as
a work OF art, (of an art but little practised in
our country,) and as perfect resemblance of
your llneaments. We think that this effort has
been successful; that no medal ever struck in
thls country surpasses it in beauty, and that it
is the best likeness of your features everyet at
tempted by any art In this, and In numerous
casts rom the same die, the form and express
sion OF your countenance will be faithfully trans
united to distant posterity.. And as recorded
honors shall thicken over you and generations
yet unborn do homage to your memory" this
memorial will increase in value, and be fondly
cherished, as are now the like images of Cicero
ana Brutus, not only by the antiquary and his
tof1an, but by all whom patriotism and elouuence
can kindle to admiration.
All national medals hitherto st,,,ck in tb;s
country have been commemorative of triumphs
OF American arms, but
/ "Peace hath her victories
/ No less renowned than war
Then let the triumph of peace have their
memorial honors too. And let the first Ameri-
can victor OF peace, thus commemorated, be the
man who, for whole age has ranked as the
first citizen of the Great Republic
DANIEL ULLMANN,
CHAS. NJ. LEUPp,
JOS. NJ. PRICE,
A. G. PECKHAM,
SMITH ]. EASTMAN,
. Committee.
The manner of the delivery of this Address
could not be exceeded in grace, emphasis, or APP
propriate feeling.
Mr.. CLAY received the Address standing,
with the deepest attention, and then proceeded
to observe that, although it had been his habit in
addressing public bodies, larger or smaller to
speak extemporaneousy he had been induced,
on this occasion, as well out of profound re-
spect to the Committee, in regard to his feeble
state of health, to depart from his ordinary prac-
tice and reduce his reply to writing. He then
read, In a firm though somewhat feeble voice,
the following reply,
GENTLEMEN This is among the most inter-
estlng and gratifying days of my life, although
have been confined to these rooms for long
time by tedious and doubtful illness. You have
come here the representatives large AM en-
l1ghtened body of ardent and devoted friends of
mine in the city of New York, to present to
me beautiful and costly gold medal. intended
to commemorate my public life. On once face
OF 1t IS engraved all the great public measures
adopted III the National Councils in which I
was supposed to have had any conspicuous
agency, and on the other a remarkable and accu-
rate likeness Of lne. The time and the place
! OF presentation, and the friends who have con-
tributed this splendid testimonial, give to it an
inestimable value. The time is when I am
about to retire forever from public life, and when
l cannot expect much longer to linger here be-
low; the place is the city of Washington, the
principal theatre of those public services which
have commended themselves to your approba-
ton. throughout my public life | have been
blessed, every where in the United States,
with more or fewer true friends, to whom [
am bound by the strongest sentiments of graft
tude; but nowhere have they surpassed those
IN the city OF New York in zeal constancy,
and fidelity, and in distinguished and various de-
monstratlons OF their affection and attachment
W Mist one Is In the ardent pursuit of public
life, and is held up for its highest honors, it is
not practicable always to discriminate, among
bis supporters, between those who hestow their
suftiages from pure, patriotic, and disinterested
motives, and those who are actuated by selfish
ends but on this occasion no such difficulty ex-
lists. GU have come, at much personal incon-
venlence to the bed ola sick and afflicted friend
to present to him, in your names and in the
name OF numerous body of his personal and
political friends, whom you represent, a most
precious token of your esteem and affectionate
regard. That friend has not now, and never
VIII have any public patronage to dispense
The high and honorable and disinterested char
acter OF your motives cannot therefore, be cues
toned
Gentlemen, request you toaccept yourselves,
ana TO communicate to my absent friends whom
you represent, my cordial and heartfelt thanks
andmy grateful and profound acknowledgements
for this rich tribute to the sentiments which they
DO me the honor to entertain towards me. [
should have been most happy to have expressed
my great obligations to all of them personally,
If it had been in my power.
shall soon pass from the jurisdiction of my
contemporaries and of the present generation to
that of history and posterity, if the one shall
deem me wotthy of any record on its pages, Or
tradition Shall transmit any recollection OF me to
the other.
1t is not within my legitimate province to ex-
press any opinion on my own public career or
public deeds. That office belongs to them, and
| Shall consider my future fame fortunate if il