The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-07-07
Death of Henry Clay.


The telcgraphic wires brings us the mel
ancholy, but not unexpected intelligence,
that "the Great Commoncr of Kentucky"
"the great Statesman of the West" the
Sage of Ashland, is no more. After
period of protracted illness and gradual
decay, he expired at the National Capital,
at half-past eleven o'clock yesterday NOR
ming, the Goth Of June, having recently
completed his seventy fifth year; and has
left nation in tears to do grateful honor
to his memory For halfa century was
! Lay ii~"s;G~i --:.I. tho history ana IcgIsla-
ton of our country, largely influencing
her destiny, 'and contributing to her re-
nown. Alth ugh he did not obtain the
highest Office in the gift of the people, yet
was he trancendently qualified for it and
richly entitled to it by his lofty endow-
ments, exalted patriotism and eminent
public services. Illustrious as he was AN
orator, statesman and patriot, the insg-
mia of the Presidency could scarcely have
added to his fame and he will live in
history as one of the foremost men of the
republic and one of the greatest benefac-
tors ofhis country.
Virginia was the parent State of Hen
ry Clay. lie was born in Hanover coun-
ty, on the 18th of April, 1777, of
Of the patriot stock of the revolution, his
father, a Baptist clergyman, having been
killed by the tories, in his sons infancy.
Lett in the care Of n widowed mother, he
was reared in poverty and passed through
boyhood and youth of privation and OBJ
scurity, receiving but the rudiments of
a common education. In order to supply
the family necessities, he was wont to ride
bare back and with rope bride, to neigh
boring flour-mill, whence he derived the
Sobriqaet of ''the mill-boy of the slashes."
While quite youth, he earned his main
tenance by officiating as n grocer's clerk,
in the City of Richmond. He afterwards
became amanuensis to Chancellor Wythe,
and, under the friendly auspices of that
distinguished jurist and of Gov. Brooke,
finally prepared himself for the Bar. Be
fore quite attaining maturity, he removed
to Lexington, Kentucky, where he was
admitted to the Bar, and rose, at once,
by the force Of talent and merit, to pro-
fessional, oratorical and intellectual emf
nence. In 1903, having previously dis
tinguished himself as n speaker and lead
er ut popular meetings, he was elected |
to tho popular branch Of the Kentucky |
Legislature. In 1906, and again in 1909, |
he was chosen by the Legislature Of Ken
lucky. 20 fill unexpired terms in the SEN
'te ot.the United States, in the debates OF |
which body he participated with large
Increase OF fame. After a renewed SER
'ice in the State Legisturcs, in 1911, he
vas, for the first time, elected member |
II the National House of Representatives,
md on the first day Of his first appearance
o that body, he received the high and
unparalleled honor Of being elected to the
'peaker's chair, obtaining seventy-fiye
ut OF hundred and twenty-eigbt votes.
Is member OF the House Of Representa-
ives, with trumpet tongue, in patriotic
sllowship with our own Lowndes, Cal
oun and Cheves, he reused the nation
D the war OF 1912, and animated the
pirit Of the people throughout the entire
ontest until our national banner was il
minated with numerous victories, by
md and by sea; over our potent enemy,
nd the multiplied wrongs and wounded
onor OF the nation were amply atoned.
d 1914, he resigned his seat as Speaker,
nd went as one Of our Commissioners to
hent, where he was instrumental in clio
ng with statesmmlike sagacity and skill,
glorious war, by the negotiation Of an
onourabie and lasting peace. Returning
ON this pacific mission, he was reelected
Congress in 1915, and again made
'eaker Of the Eoass; and there resumed
. course Of patriotic aud excited useful