The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-07-31

- n tks semery u Henry Clay, - Nses-
msnd, Jaiy Is, l652.
Il needs no voice TO interpret the contsass g
IL ordinary aepect, which our cily .nn ~
prrsrnta. The solemn procssslon. inc E.ses
s...uhtx. the touching Indications OF sup-
dned emotion. which meet US on every sioe,
nrocls;m with sympathetic power, above me
seach Of studied phrase, that strong aod
rheriehed affection has been woundcd, cast
down and broken up. The emotion wnicn es
by single puisation, has pervaded the heeFt
of,he rntire nation, is witnessed here in the
tokens and emblems in which sincere and
universal grief may vent its wailings. II 10
right that Il is so. 1t would imply fearful
leyity, ignorance Of the true security and glory
of State, q low and depraved spirit, i the
nation marked not by lamentation, the death
of a statesman, whose example and counsels
had put her forward in the high career to per-
manent, solid. expansive success. Ii IL an &C.
casion TO draw forth from the citizens of free
State, the plaintiye vehemence Of Israel's
king-"O my Father, my Father the chariot
Of Israel, and the horsemen thereof" Ana IT
any one portion of the citizens more than any
other may thus express their lamentation, II IS
those who were allied to the revered dead by
his birth, and by having furnished the theatre
Of his youthful training and of his earliest ef-
forts.
HrERY CLAY is no more. "After life's fitful
fever he sleeps WE'LL" The coming event had
cast its melancholy shadow before il, and we
were prepared in measure for the sad an
nouncement. But so long had he been prom'
nent in the public mind, and TO such an ex-
tent was he confided in and relied upon, that
we do not realize the startling truth in all its
affecting reality. And therein consists the
MAJ nitude of the nations loss. Even now did
any question arise, of national policy, or OF
constitutional law, we would find ourselves
clinging TO the delusion. that the great states
man was at his post. The fearful agtations
of his time will and must return upon us,
changed it may be in outward form, but fierce
and turbulent as those with which ne victori.
ousy commended; and who then shall take his
place; and emerge from the portentous ex-
ctement with message OF glad tdIDgs =
True, there survive him those who were his
peers-statesman Of mature wisdom and intre-
Did patriotsm-to whom the country may look,
as has been its wont, with pride and hope
And then, we may rely on the same Divine
Providence which hitherto has so beautifully
blessed our country, TO provide for coming
trials, by raising up men competent to meet
them. Yet, so natural was it for the illustrlous
deceased to lead in great emergencies, and SO
cheerully did others give place to him,th we
vi tilis ScUefdtlOu CdnuOt CApcCt W iooh upon
his like again. 5
HENRY CLAY is no more The voice so Of
ten heard above the din of discord and faction,
and which discord and faction was ever unable
to resist or elude, is silenced. The stately
form, the majestic mein the composed and res
olute air in whose presence modest merit
gathered confidence, and venal presumption
was abashed, live only now in memory. "There
has happened to him the great event, which
finishes the honors and glory oflife." 1t came,
as with epic unity IL crow tile cherished end
and object his being. His triumph over the
grave was linked with the triumph of his I'M
remitted labors in behalf of the Union, the
master solicitude and object of his life. AS
was said on similar occasion, five had the
power, we could not wish 10 reverse this dis
pensation of Providence.
1t was his rare fortune to possess the homage
alike of all classes and conditions; and to i'm
press his opinions on every class with the
same ready success. The iettered and the un
lettered, the ambitious and the humble, were
alike happy to repose on his authority. 1t was
not so much his eloquence, high as was its Or
der, which won upon the general admiration,
and fixed him immovably in the general conf
dence; but his unshrinking tenacity, the stern
ness of his principles, and the ardor with which
he asserted them,-too resolute under his con.
happen to himself. Yet, his ascendency over
classes was voluntary tribute TO the elevation
of his aims, and the open, earnest, onward
manner in which he proceeded to accomplish
them. .-=s...
Statesman. yet friend to truth of soul sincere,
OF action faithful, and in honor clear,
Who broke no promise, serv'd no private end,
Who game d no title, and who lost no friend"
The career of Mr. CLAY, consistent and in
harmony with itself, as il was in its aims, and
the motives " hch at all times controlled him.
exhibited in its steady and upward growth a
reality as surprising and beautiful as ever
warmed poets fancy. Here there was con-
trast,-novel, strong, yet majestic and inspr-
ing contrast There was nothing 10 identify the
early with the matured man, save only the
lineaments and endowments with which God
had disting uished him. All things else,-hs
rank, fame, influence, were all his own. his by
a heaven-descended title, being what his own
steady and unaided purpose bad achieved
These nothing but prophets vision could
have detected in the circumstances of his
obscure and friendless youth. We have from
his own lips the effect of The retrospect upon
himself. "When," said, he"l look back on my
humble origin, left an orphan too young TO
have been conscious of a fathers smiles and
caresses, with widowed mother surrounded
Nv uuincfous ouspiiuS, III the uiiust vi ptCu-
mary embanassmenls, without fortune, with
out friends, without patrons, have reason to
be satisfied with my public career
1t has been truly said, that he was living
tradition, connecting his own times with the
great epoch Of our history. Born the 18th of
April, l777, and rejecting faithfully the spirit
of that heroic age, he seemed TO connect us
nearer with it. Though too young to appear
in the memorable scenes, he was moi too young
10 shape his aspirations by the illustrious
examples before him. 1t was, indeed, an heroic
age, above and beyon comparison, heroic, for
its actors, and the aims which inspired them.
The very atmosphere in which men lived. was
instinct with the elements of high order of
moral being. Superior to Grecian and Roman
models, and beyond the beau ideal of poetry.
were the chivalry. and wisdom, and virtue, that
shone in the daily lives, as in the public acts of
the then living heroes and statesmen. There
is something ennobling in the thought, that we
are connected with such an age, by having
among us those who were in CONTACT with II,
and lived whilst its heroes yet lived; and TO
lose one of them, and he one who had fully
Imbibed and ever retained its true spirit, is, as
i were, to be driven from the spirit world. We
foot OF Loo