The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1852-01-01
THOMAS +. MARSHALL ON HENRY CLAY.

THOMAS r. MARSHALL ON HENRY CLAY.
Mr.. Marshall has written a letter TO III,
louisville Journal. ia explanation Of BIZ
laie speech in the Kentucky Legislature
10 sulQgy sof Mr.. Crittenden, in which
sogns thugs wers said by him rejecting
rather uniustly on Mr. Clay. We give al
extract from his letter.
The following ,ribuie to Mr.. Clay, is ia
the true Marshall vein OF e!oqnence:
risk offending Mr.. Clay's friends, o.
seek 10 aid that Influence. The; command
ing intlaeuce, 10 give consistency, direc.
ton, digaity, and forcs 10 the beegarly ell
emeuts al work 10 ruin that man TO whom
ana known to bs devoted on personal az
well as political grounds as though he were
my elder brother! said that the Adams
Standardization had fallen. and that Ken.
lucky among others struck fatal blow.
Il not this historically truef Was this
statement, under the explanations which !
have given in the House and here, aimed
- sarcasm II Mr.. Clay, or can it be wTest-
ed ioto 40 assertion that MIR. Cril.endcn
was the author Of bis grostsessi Mr.. Clay
did fall IN 1883, and from loiiy height;
bu, sprang Us be always springs, Ike the
antique wrestler. the stronger from his
fall, more terrible on tho rebound, Than he
was ere shaken from his feet. have
studied bis life, his speeches, bis actions and
his character. | have heard him 1t the
bar and in the Senate. have seen him
in bis contests with other men, when all
the stormy passions OF his tempestuous
soul wore lashed BY disappointment, and
opposition to the foaning rage Of the ocean,
when al the winds are uncbained and
sweep in full career over the free and
bounding bosom Of the deep. lie owes less
Of his greatness TO education or to art than
any nan living.
He owes less Of bis commanding iDflu.
cnce to other men than any great leader j
hare ever known or Of whom have ever
read. He consults nobody, be leans upou|
nobody, he fears ncbady. He wears IA.
lures patent OF nobility forever upon bis
brow. He stalks among men with an I'M
answsratie and never doubling sir Of com.
mand. His sweeping and imperial pride,
bic indoniiable will, his unquaiiing cour-
age, challenge from all, submission or COM
bst. With bim there can be no neutrality.
Death, tribute, or the koran, is his motto.
Great in speech, great in action, bis great
ness is aii his own. He is independent
alike Of history or the school, he knows
iisiis ofeither and dsspises both. Ills am
Lition, bis spirit and his eloquence are ali
great, natural, and entirely his own.
II he is Ike any body he does not
know it. He has never studied models,
aud il be bad, his pride would hsye rsscu-
cd him from, the fault Of imitation. lie
stands amarg men 10 towering and barbar-
&c grandeur, in all lbe hardihood and rude
meas Of perfect originality, independent of
the polish, and beg ond the reach Of ar. !.
lie vast outline add grand but wild and
undsiined proportions Ikea bin 10 huge
mass Of granite torn in some conyulsion Of
nature from mouniain's side which no,
efiart Of the chisel would only disfiyure
and which 10 instrument IA the sculptor's
studio could grasp or comprehend.