Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1852-07-15
miscellaneous.
SPEECHES ON THE DEATH OF
HENRY CLAY.
Cry. CAss's remarks.

says to the storm of human passion, as he
once SAID TO the waves of Galiiee, Peace
be sui u The lessons Of this providence
severe as they may be, often become merci-
iul dispensalions, like that which is now
spreading sorrow through the land and
which is reminding us that we have higher
duties TO fulfil and graver responsibilities
TO encounter than those that meet us here
where we lay our hands upon His holy
Word, aud invoke His holy name, promising
to be faithful to that Constitution which
lie gave us in his mercy, and will with
draw only in the hour of our blindness and
dlsobedIence, and of His own wrath.
Another great man has fallen in our land
ripe, indeed, 10 years and houors. but never
dearer to the American people than when
called from the theatre of his services and
renown, to that final bar where the lofty
and lowly must all meet at last.
do not rise upon this mournful occasion
to indulge in the language Of panegyric -
My regard for the memory of the dead, and
for the obligations of the living would
equally rebuke such a course The sever
l'y OF truth is at once our proper duty and
our best consolation. Born during the rev.
olutionary struggle, our deceased associate
was one of the few remaining public men
who connect the present generation with
the actors IN the trying scenes of that event
iul period, and those names and deeds will
be known only in the history Of their coun-
try. lie was another illustration. and a
noble one, too, of the glorious equality of
our institutions which freely offer their re.
ward to all who Jointly seek them, for he
was the architect of his own fortune ,-hay-
ing made his life by self exerlon, and he
was an early advenlurer in the great forest
OF the West, then world of primitive vegi-
tatlon, but now the abode OF intelligence
OF religion, of prosperity and civilization.
But he possessed that intellectual superiori-
ty which overcomes surrounding obstacles,
and hlch local seclusion cannot long with
hold from general knowledge and apprecia-
ton.
1t is almost half a century since he pass
ed through Chllllcoihe, then the seat of gov
eminent of Ohio, where | was a member of
the Legislature, on his way to take his place
IN this very body, which is now listening to
this "reminiscences, and to a feeble tribute of
regard from one who then saw him for the
first time, but who can never forget the i'm
preston he produced by the charms of his
conversation, the lrankness of his manner
and the high qualities with which he was
endowed Since then he has belonged to
his country, and has taken a part, aud a
prominent part, both IN peace and war, in
all the great questions affecting her interests
and her honor and though 1t has been my
fortune TO differ from him, yet believe he
was as firm patriot as ever participated in
the councils of the nation, the public good
was his desire, and he saught to attain It
during all the yicissllude of long and E.
yentiul life. That he exercised a powerful
influence within the sphere Of his action,
through the whole country, indeed we all
feel aud know. And we know too, the EN-
lnent endOwments which gave him this high
distinction. Frank and fearless in the ex-
preston of his opinions and in the perform
ance ofhis duties, with rare powers Of elo-
quence which al ways commanded admira-
zion even when they did not carry conyic-
ton, prompt in decision aud firm IN action
aud with vigorous intellect trained in the
contests of a stirring life and strengthened
by enlarged experience and observation
Joined wilhal TO an ardent love of country
aud to grea, purity of purpose. These were
the elements of his power and success, aud
we dwell upon them with mournful gratif
cation now, when we shall soon follow hin
to the cold and silent tomb-when we shall
commit earth TO earth-ashes TO ashes
dust 20 dust-but with the blessed conyc
ton of the truth of the Divine revelation
which teaches us that there is life aud hope
beyond the narrow house where we shall
leave him alone, to the mercy of his Goo
and of ours.
He has passed beyond the reach of hu
man praise or censure, but the judgment o
his contemporaries has preceded him, anC
| has pronounced the judgment Of history
and his name and fame will shed lustre up
on his country aud will be proudly cherish
/ ed in the hearts of his countrymen for lonl
! ages to come. Yes, they will be cherished
and freshly remembered when these mar
/ bic colums that surround us,-so often the
witnesses of his triumphs,-bu IN few
| more brief hours, when his mortal frame
| deprived of the immortal spirit shall res
udder this dome, for The last time TO become
/ the witnesses of his defeat in that final con
test when the mightiest fall before the grea
/ destroyer when these columns themselves
shall have fallen, like all the works of man
leaving their broken fragments TO tell th'
story of former magni6cence, amid the We
ny ruins that announce decay and desola
| ton.
was often with him during his last III
ness, when the world and the things of tn
world were fast fading away before him.
| He knew that the silver chord was almos
! loosened, and that the golden bowl wa
breaking at the fountain, but he was resign
ed to the will of Providence, feeling tina
he who gave has right to take away in hi
own good time and manner.
After his duty TO his Creator, and hi
anxiety for his lamily-his first care was 70
his country, aud the preservation and per
petuatIon of the Constitution aud the Tn
ion-dear TO him in the hour of death a
they were in the vigor Of life. OF tina
Constitution and Union, whose defence il
the last and greatest crisis of their peril ha
called forth all his energies, and had stimu
lated those memorable and powerful efforts
which he who witnessed can never forget
and which, no doubt, tended to the final ca
tastrophe which nation now deplores vii
unanlmity not less honorable to themselve