Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1852-02-20
on FREE PRESS FRIDAY MORNING. FEB2UARY 90 1852

Medals arc generally struck by the authority
and paid for out of the public Treasury Of Gov
eminent, and most frequently are intended to
reward and slgnalze the triumphs achieved IN
war; But that which You now so kindly tcn-
der to my acceptance is the spontaneous offer
ing of private citizens from their private purs-
es, for public services exclusively in the civil
department. shall fondly and gratefully cher
ish and preserve il whilst life cndures, and
transmit it to my descendants, under the hope
that they will receive and carefully guard it,
with emotions Of lively gratitude to my New
York friends, as the proudcst and richest lega-
cy that could leave them"
During the delivery oft this beautiful and ap-
propriate reply the most perfect silence perva-
ded the chamber; every eye was fixed on the
tall and commanding form so long known to the
public, but respect and admiration were min
gcd with teudcr regret on witnessing the
evident struggle between the unlmpalred vlgor
! of the mind and the foeblencss of its now ema-
ciated and shaken tenement. Yet the eye still
| rittcrcd with unsubdued lustre, and at times
! the tones Of his voice rose into an emphasis
which reminded one Of ancient days.
The manuscript having been laid aside, MIR.
| Clay proceeded to more minute examination
| of the Medal, at winch he had previous to re-
plying, cursorily glanced. 1t is Of pure Cali
fornia gold, massive and weighty, and is en-
closed in silver case. which opens with a
hinge IN the manner OF hunting watch. On
the face of the medal is a fine head of Mr. Clay,
most tclicitous in the likeness, and conveying
! the characteristic Impression of his features IN
a higher degree than any Of the busts or med
allions usually seen. he relief is very high,
and must have required pressure Of immense
power to rive il It's iulness, sharpness, and
delcacv of outline. The reverse exhibits the
following Inscription. -
SENATE,
1906.
SpE aKER, ISL.
WAR or 1872 With GREAT BRITAIN.
GHENr lSl4
SPANISH AMERICA 1922.
Missouri COMPROMISE 1921.
AMERICAN SYSTEM 1924.
GREECE 1924.
SECRETARY OF STATE 1925.
PANAMt lNsTRUCTioNs 1876.
TAmfF COMPROMISE
! 1888
Pubic Domain lS32-lS41.
PEACE WITH FRANCE PRESERVED lc35.
COMPROMISE 1870
The lines are supported on either hand by
tasteful wrcath1. ii which the SIX chief Amer
lean staples, Wliedt cOrn coIloh, lOoaCCp, IIC'
? and hemp are very happily intertwned.
! On the silver case is represented on ono sid
= view Of the Capitol, with lis contemplate
g additional wings ully dispayed) and on tn
: other, in two distinct compartments, above, a
C elevation Of the great commemorative Monu
. ment on the Cumberland road; below, vlc'
, of Ashland and IFS mansion
The President Of the United States honore
the interview by his presence, and was an al
, tentive and apparently Il gratlted auditor {
both addresses. There were present. hesde'
the following gentllncn; Hon. Jas. {. Jone
Hon. Mr.. Underwood. Hon. Presley Ewln!
DR.. Hall. Gov. Fish, Hon. james Brooks, llo
Geo Briggs all the members Of the New Ior
Committee, viz Daniel Cllmann, Jos. y
Price, Chas NJ. Lcupp, y. G. Peckham, Lee
Eastman, Esqs.; d. l. Pettce, Nicholas Ca
q. roll, C.. b. Calvert, Franck Taylor, II. Cla
r Boudinot, P r. Fendall and a. J. Stansbur