The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-07-01
he elements OF wealth, greatness,

- 6-N~e'~N~s
and power.
know. Mr.. President. how unequal | have been to
the apparently self.imposed task OF presenting ap
pfoprlae manner the merits OF the usrious deceased
But II had remained silent on an occasion like This,
when the hearts OF my constituents swelling with
grief, would have been disowned by than. IL rs ior
this reason-that OF giving ueranee TO their feelings
well as OF my own-that have irespassed on the lime
ol the Senate. | would that could have spoken filter
words; but such they are, they uttered by the
tongue IN response 10 the promptngs OF the heart
Mr.. SEWARD. Fifty years ago HENRY CLAY, Of
tu himself entered the service OF his country rep
resentave 10 the uDpreendng legislature Of that rising
State ) and having lhenceforwaId pursued with ardof
and consancy, the gradual paths OF aspiring change
through halls OF Congress, foreign COURTS and executive
councils, he has now with the cheeruness Of patriot
and the serenity OF Christian, tly closed his long and
aduous here in the Senate, the full presence OF
tue republic looking down upon the with anxiety
and alarm, not merely senator like one OF us who yet
remain in the Senate House, but filling that character
which, though il had no authority OF law, and was
signed without sufage, Augustus Cesar nevertheless
decla ed was above the title OF Emperor Pimus ier ~
lutrcs--ihe Prince Of the Senate
Generals tried, Mr. President, by examining the
campaigns they have lost won and statesmen by
viewing the transactions in which they have been
gagged, Hamilton would have been unknown TO us had
there been constitution TO be created as Bfutus
would have died in obscurly, had there been no Cesar
to be slain.
Colonization, revolutions and organizalion---three
great ac's in the drama oil national progress-had
already passed when the western patriot appeared on the
pubic stage. tie entered in that next division OF the
majestic which marked by an inevitable re-
action OF political forces, wild strife OF factions, and
ruinous embarrassments in foreign relations This
transition stage is always more perous than any oter
the OF nations and especially IN the career OF
republics. II proved fatal TO the Commonwealth in Eng
land. Scarcely any of the Spanish American States has
yet emerged from III and j has more than once been
sadly sgnazed by the ruin OF the republican cause in
France
The continuous administrations OF Washington and
John Adams had closed under cloud which had thrown
broad dark shadow over the future. The nation was
deeply indebted at home aud abroad and its credit was
urn. had
two nveerae parties, divided by gulf which had been
by The conflict in which the constitution adopt
ed and made broader and deeper by of prejudices
concerning the merits OF the begerents the great Euro
pean struggle that then convulsed the civilized world Our
extraordinary political system was little more than an nge-
nous theory not yet practically established The Union
OF the States as yet only OF compact Tor the
political, social, and commercial necessities to which u
was SO mayellously adapted, and which. clustering
lhickly upon IT, render il indlssoube, had not then
been broadly disclosed, had the habits of acIui-
and the sentiaens OF loyalty, always slow OF
growth. fully rpened. The bark that had gone TO sea-
thus uniutnIshed and un,red seemed quite certain TO
founder By reason OF lts inherent railty, even u u
should escape unharmed in the great conflict OF nations,
which acknowledged no claims OF justice and tolerated
no preiensions OF neutrality. Moreover, the territory
possessed by the nation was Inadequate TO commercial
rxgences and indispensable social expansion; and yet
provision had been made for enlargement nor Tor ex-
tending the political system over defiant regions, lnhab-
tied or Otherwise, which mast inevitably be acquired
Nor could any such acquisition be made without dis-
urbing the carefully adjusted balance OF powers amoLg
the members OF the coDtedeIacy.
These difficulties, Mr. President, although they grew
less with and by slow degrees, continued throughout
the whole life OF the statesman whose obseques we are
celebrating BE il known, iheaand am sure that his
Tory will confirm the instIuciionthat conservatism was
interest OF the naiion and the responsibility OF lis
rulers during the period in which he ourisied lie was
ardent, bold generous, and amb.ious and yet with
profound conviction OF the true exRencies OF Inc souh
try, like Alexander Hamilton he disciplined himself and
trained restless nation, that knew only seli-contro 10
the rigorous practice Of that often humiatns conserva
sm which its welfare and security 10 that peculiar Crisis
imperiousy demanded
1t could not have happened, SIR to any citizen TO have
acted alone 10 have acted always The most con-
spcuous part ryng period so long pTotracted HENRY
CLAY therefore shared the responsibilities OF government
with only his proper contemporaries but also SURVIVORS
OF the revolution well as also may who Will nov sue
ceed himself Delcacy forblds my naming those who
their places here, but we may without Improperly
recall among his compeers senator OF vast resources
and inexbe resolve, who has recently withdrawn from
this chamber, but trust not altogether from public lie,
Mr.. Benton and another, who, sarpAsslng all DIS con-
emporaries within his country, and even throughout The
world, in the proper eoquence OF the forum, nov IN
autumnal years for second lime dignfes and adorns
the highest seat in The executive council, Nr, Wco-
slerl Passing by these eminent aud noble men, The
shades of Calhoun, John Quincy Adams, Jackson Noni
roe, and Jefferson rise up before usstatesnen whore
living and local fame has rpened already into historical
and world. wide renowD.
Among geniuses so lofty as these Henry Clay bore
part in regulating The constitutional freedom OF political
debate; establishing that long contested and most import
ant line which a,as: The soyslesay o. .e Seve he
right OF neutrality, and vindcaing II by war against
Great Britain, when that Just but extreme measure be-
came necessary adjusting tne terms which that penl-
yet honorable contest brought to peaceful close
peecng the army, and the navy and national fofiihca-
lions settling the fiscal and financial policy oil the gov
ernment than crisis OF apparently Threatened
revolutions asserting and calling into exercise the powers
OF the government for making and improving internal
communications between the States; afous'ng ana en-
couagng the Spanish American colonies on this cont
nen throw of the foreign yoke aud 10 organize gov
ernmcnts on principles congenal with own and thus
creating external buwarks Tor our own national defence
establishing equal and impartial peace aud am''y win al
existing maritime powers and extending the consutu-
tona organization OF government over the vast regions
ali secured in his lifetime by purchase or ny conquest,
woereby the pillars ot the republic have been removed
from the banks OF the ST. Mafys 10 the borders OF the
Rio Grande, and from the margin oil The Missssippi 10
the Pacific coast We may not yet discuss the wisdom
o the several which have thus passed ~ re-
view before u.s. nor OF the positions which the deceased
statesman assumed in regard 10 them, but we may with
on, offence dwell upon Inc comprehensive results OF them
all.
The Union exists in absolute integrity, and the re-
public in complete and triumphant development With
out having elinquished any part OF their indiyiduay
the States have than doubled already, and are M
creang numbers and growing IN political strength aod
expansion more rapidly than ever before Wilhout nav
ing absorbed any Sale having even encroached on
any Saie the confederation has opened itself so as 10
embrace all the members who have come, and now,
with capacity furthar and indefinite enlargement has
become fixed enduring and perpetual Although u was
doubted only half century ago whether our political
system could be maintained al all and whether nam
taned could guaranty the peace and happiness oi 40
ciey, stands confessed by the world The iorm ot
government not only most adapted to empire but a'so
- .rFk ksroau NAH