The southern press., 1852-07-03


character; and the monument erected TO bis
memory at the spot selected by him will be
visited by the votaries of genius and liberty
with that reverence which il inspired at the
tomb of Washington Upon that monument
let his epitaph be engraved
Mr.. President have availed myself of Doctor
Johnson's paraphrase Of the epitaph on Thomas
Hammer with few alterations and additions
to express in borrowed verse my admiration for
the life and character of Mr.. Clay, and with
this heart-tribute TO the memory Of my illus
trious colleague conclude my remarks:
Born when Freedom her stripes and stars I'M
furled,
When Revolution shook the startled world
Heroes and sages taught his brilliant mind
To know and love the rights Of all mankind.
" In llfe'S first bloom his public tolls began,
AT once commenced the Senator and man:
In business deXt'rous, weighty in debate,
Near fifty years he labored for the State.
In every speech persuasive wisdom flowed
In every act refulgent virtue glowed
Suspended faction ceased from rage and strife,
10 hear his eloquence and praise his life.
Resistess merit fixed the members choice,
Who hailed him Speaker with united voice"
His talents ripening with advancing years
His wisdom growing with his public cares
A chosen envoy, wars dark horrors cease,
And tides of carnage turn to streams of peace.
Conhcung principles, internal strife,
Tariff and slavery, disunion rife, -.
All are compromised by his great hand
And beams of joy illuminate the land.
Patriot, Christian, Husband, Father, Friend,
Thy work of life achieved a glorious end
offer the following resolutions:
ResOLred, That committee of six be ap
pointed by the President of the Senate, to take
order for experimenting the funeral Of Henry
Clay, late member of this body; whch'wll
take place to morrow at twelve o'clock, NJ, and
that the Senate will attend the same.
Resolped, That the members of the Senate,
from sincere desire of showing every mark of
respect to the memory of the deceased, will 90
into mourning for one month by the usual mode
of wearing Grape on the left arm.
Resolued, As further mark of respect enter
tanned by the Senate for the memory of Henry
Clay, andhi, long and distinguished services to
his country, that his remains in pursuance Of
the known wishes of his family, be removed to
the place of sepulture selected by himself at
Lexington, in Kentucky, in charge of the Ser
:eant-at. Arms, and attended by a committee of
six senators, to be appointed by the President
Of the Senate, WHO shall have full power to
carry this resolution into effect.
Mr.. CASS. Mr. President, again has an i'm
pressive warning come to teach u.s. that in the
midst of life, we are in death. The ordinary
labors of this Hall are suspended, and its con
tentions hushed before the power of Him who
says to the storm Of human passion, as He said
of old to the waves of Galee, PEACE, B STILL
The lessons of his Providence, severe as they
may be, often become mercful dispeusations,
like that which is now spreading sorrow through
the land, ard which il reminding US that we have
higher duties TO fulfill, and graver responsible.
ties to encounter, than those that meet us here,
when we lay our hands upon His Holy Word,
and invoke His holy name, promising to be faith
fu to that Constitution, which He gave us in
his mercy, and will withdraw only in the hour
of our blindness and disobedience, and of His
own wrath.
Another great man has fallen in our land ,rice
indeed in years and in honors, but never dearer
to the American people than when called from
| the theatre of his services and renown to that
final bar where the lofty and the owly must all
meet al last.
| | do not rise, upon this mournful occas on to
indulge in the language of panegyric. Ny re.
gard for the memory of the dead and for the
obligations of the living, would equally rebuke
such course. The severity of truth is at once
our proper duty and our best consolation. Born
during the revolutionary struggle, our deceased
associate was one Of the few remaining public
men who connect the present generation with
the actors in the trying scenes of that eventful
period, and whose names and deeds will soon
be known only in the history of their country.
He was another illustration, and a noble one,
too, of the glorious equality of our institutions,
which freely Offer ali their rewards to all who
justly seek them; for he was the architect of
his own'fortuIe, having made his way in life by
self eXertion, and he was an early adventurer in
| fLa G. ~ H. al, a
primitive vegetation, bat now the abode Of in
telligence and religion, of prosperity and civil.
cation. But he possessed that intellectual SUI.
| periorily which ovorcomes surrounding obsta
clcs, and which local secluson cannot long
withhold from general knowledge and apprecia.
! ton.
Ii is almost half century since he passed
through Chillicothc, then the seat Of govern.
mcnt OF Ohio, where was n member of the le-
! gislature, on his way 10 take his place in this
very body, which is now listening 10 this re-
miniscence, and 10 feeble tribute Of regard
from one who then saw him for the first time,
but who can never forget the impression he pro.
duecd by the charms Of his conversation, the
| lrankness Of his manner and the high qualities
\ with which he was endowed. Since then he
belonged 10 his country, and has taken a part
and prominent part, both in peace and war, in
all the great questions affecting her interest and
her honor; and though il has been my fortune
often 10 differ from him, yet believe he was as
pure patriot as ever participated 10 the coun
ellis Of n nation, anxious for the public good,
and seeking TO promote IT, during I'll the vicissi.
tudes Of long and eventful life. Tbathe exer.
cised powerful influence. within the sphere Of
his action, through the whole country indeed,
we all feel ard know; and we know, too, the
eminent endowments which gave him this dis
tinction. Frank and fearless in the expression
Of his opinion, and in the performance Of his
duties, with rare powers Of eloquence, which
never failed TO rivet the attention Of his audito.
w, and which always commanded admiration,
even when they did not carry conviction
! prompt in decision, aud firm in action, and with
vigorous intellect, trained in the contests Of a
stirring life, and strengthened by enlarged exps.
Renee and observation, joined withal to an ar
dent love ofcountry, and TO great purity Of pur.
pose-these were the elements Of his power ADD
success, and we dwell upon them with mourn.