Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-10-09

the way she ought to CO. The bright track of his fiery
car may be traced through the whole space which,
In his day. his country and its Government have passed
in the way to greatness and 1t will still point
| the way TO further greatness and renown
The great objects of his public life preserve
and strengthen the Union; to maintain the Constitution
and laws of the United States to cherish industry to
protect labor and facilitate, by all proper national i'm
proyements, the communication between all the parts OF
our widely-extended country. This his American
system OF policy With nhexible patriotism he pursued
and advocated il to his end. He every inch Anne
rcan His heart, and all that there was Of him, were
devoted to his country, to its liberty and its free inst
tutions He inherited the spirit of the revolution in the
midst OF which he born and the love Of liberty and
the pride of freedom in him principles Of action.
remarkable trait IN his character was his infexibiy
in defending the public interest against all schemes for
its detrment His exertions were indeed so steadily
employed and SO often successful in protecting the public
against the injurious designs Of visionary politicians
party demagogues that he may be almost said to have
been during forty years. the guardian angel Of the
try lie never would compromise the public interest for
any body, or for any personal advantage to himself
He was the advocate Of liberty throughout the world,
and his voice of cheering raised in behalf of every
people who struggled for freedom Greece awakened
from long sleep of servtude heard his voice. and
reminded of her own Demosthenes South America too,
in her struggle for independence heard his brave words
of encouragement and her fainting heart animated
| and her arm made strong. saGE
HENRY Clay the fair representative Of the age in
which he lived age which forms the great and bright
discoveries and developments extending in all directions
the limits Of human knowledge exploring the agencies
and elements Of the physical world and turning and sub
jugating them to the Of unfolding and estab-
fishing practically the grear principles Of popular rights
and free governments and which, nothing doubling
thing fearing, still advances in majesty, aspiring to and
demanding further improvement and further amerora-
ton Of the condition Of mankind.
With the chivalrous and benignant spirit of this great
era Henry Clay was thoroughly imbued He was indeed
moulded by il, and made in its image That spirit
ha nharaI
bulence, or blind innovation. II wise spirit good
and honest as it resoute and brave and truth and
justice were its companions and guides.
These noble qualities Of truth and justice con-
spicuous in the whole public life of Mr. Clay. On that
solid foundation he Stood and fearless and when
the storms of State beat around and threatened to
whelm him, his exclamation still heard, truth is
mighty and public Justice certain What magnificent
and heroic figure does HENRY CLAY here present to the
world! We but stand before and look upon it in silent
His appeal not in vain the passions Of
party subsidized; truth and justice resumed their sway
and his generous countrymen repaid him, for all the
wrong they had done with gratitude, affection, and adj
miration in his life and with tears for his death.
4 1t has been objected to HENRY Clay that he was am
bilious. So he was But in him ambition was virtue.
IL sought only the proper fair objects OF honorable am
biton and it sought these by honorable means only-by
serving the country deserve its ayors and its ho
norsa If he sought Office it for the purpose of en-
abng him, by the power it would give, his
try more eecuay and pre-eminenty and, if he expect
ed and desired thereby to advance his fame who Will
| say that was fault? Who will say that it was fault
seek and to desire Office for of the personal grat
cations it may Afford long those qualifications are
made subordinate to the public goods
That Henry Clays obec in desiring office was to serve
his country and that he would have made all other
sderations subservient, have no doubt. | knew him
well had full opportunity of observing him in his most
unguarded moments and conversations, and can say
that have known more unsefsh, more faith
ul or intrepid representative of the people, of the peoples
rights, and the peoples interests than Henry Clay 1t
fortunate for Kentucky to have such repre-
sentative and most fortunate for him to have such con-
stituent Kentucky-fortunate for him to have been
thrown IN the early and susceptible period OF his life
into the primitive society of her bold and free people As
one of her children, pleased to think that from that
he derived of the magnanmity and energy
which his after life signaIy displayed am pleased
to think that mingling with all his great qualities, there
sort of Kentucysn Il shall undertake to define
it, which, though il may not have polished refined,
gave TO them additional point and power, and freer
1 scope Of action
Mr. CLAY was man Of profound Judgment and strong
will. He doubted faered all his qualities
positive and peremptory and to his convictions OF pub
lie duty he sacrificed every personal consideration.
With but little knowledge of the rules Of logic OF
rhetoric, be great debater and orator There
no art in his eloquence studied conrvances of Ian
guage. II was the natural eutpouring of great and
dent intellect In his speeches there were none of the
tres OF mere fancy and imagnaon all was TO the sub
ject in hand and TO the purpose and they may be
garded great actions Of the mind rather than fine dis
plays Of words doubt whether the eloquence Of De-
the minds and passions of the people of Athens aud
Of Rome than did Mr. Clay the minds and passions
Of the people Of the United States
You all knew Mr. CLAY: your knowledge and recollec
ton Of him viii present him wildly to your minds
than any picture can draw Of him. This viii add: he
was, in the highest ruest Of the term great man.
and meier shall look upon his like again He has gone
to join the mighty dead in another and better world
How little is there Of such that die His fame
the memory of his benefactons the lessons Of his wis
dom, all remain with these death has power.
How few Of the great Of this world have been so fortu
nate he How few Of them have lived TO their la
bors rewarded He lived the country that he
loved and served advapced to great prosperity and
nown and still advancing He lived till every prejudice
which, any period Of his life had existed against him,
remoyed and until he had become the object Of the
reverence gratitude and love Of his whole country His
work seemed then to be completed, and fate could
have selected happier moment 10 him from the
troubles and ycissitudes Of this life.
Glorious his life WAS there nothing that became
him like the leaving OF it, saw him frequently during
the slow and lingering disease which terminated his e
He conscious Of his approaching end and prepared
10 meet II with all the resignation and fortitude of
christian hero. He all patience meekness, and gen
tleness these shone around him like mild, celestial
light, breaking upon him from another world.
"And, 70 add greater honors to his age
Than could give, he died fearing God"