The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-07-03

tomb OF Washington Upon that monument
let his epitaph be engraved.
Mr.. President have availed myself of Doctor
Johnson's paraphrase of the epitaph on Thomas
Hammer with few alterations and additions
to express in borrowed verse my admiration for
the life and character Of Mr. Clay and with
this heart-tribute TO the memory Of my illus.
trious colleague ! conclude my remarks
! Born when Freedom her stripes and stars I'M
| furled,
When Revolution shook the startled world
Heroes and sages taught his brilliant mind
To know and love the rights OF all mankind
" In life q first bloom his public tolls began,
| AT once commenced the Senator and man
In business dext'rous, weghty in debate,
Near fifty years he labored for the State.
| In every speech persuasive wisdom flowed,
In every act refulgent virtue glowed
Suspended faction ceased from rage and strife,
10 hear his eloquence and praise his life.
! Resistess merit fixed the members choice, :.
! Who hailed him Speaker with united voice"
His talents ripening with advancing years
| His wisdom growing with his public cares
chosen envoy, war IS dark horrors cease,
| And tides of carnage turn to streams of peace.
Conflicting principles, internal strife,
Tariff and slavery, disunion rife,
All are compromised by his great hand,
And beams of Joy illuminate the land.
Patriot, Christian, Husband, Father, Friend
|
offer the following resolutions:
ReS0LGed, That n committee of six be ap
pointed by the President of the Senate, to take
order for experimenting the funeral of Henry
| Clay, late member of this body; which will
take place to morrow at twelve o'clock, m., and
that the Senate will attend the same
| ResoLued, That the members of the Senate,
from sincere desire of showing every mark of
respect to the memory of the deceased, will go
into mourning for one month by the usual mode
OF wearing Grape on the left arm
| Resotued, As further mark of respect enter
tanned by the Senate for the memory of Henry
| Clay, anddis long and distinguished services to
| his country, that his remains, in pursuance of
the known wishes of his family, be removed to
| the place of seputure selected by himself at
Lexington, in Kentucky, in charge of the Ser
!eant-at. Arms, and attended by a committee of
six senator's, to be appointed by the President
Of the Senate, WAC shall have full power TO
carry this resolution into effect
| Mr., CASS. Mr.. President, again has an i'm.
pressive warning come to teach u.s. that in the
midst of life, we are in death. The ordinary
labors of this Hall are suspended, and its con
tentons hushed, before the power of Him who
says to the storm of human passion, as He said
of old to the waves of Galilee, PEACE, B STILL
The lessons of his Providence, severe as they
may be, often become merciful dspeusatons,
like that which is now spreading sorrow through
the land, ard which il reminding us that we have
higher duties TO fulfill and graver responsible
ties to encounter, than those that meet US here,
when we lay our hands upon His Holy Word,
and invoke His holy name, promising to be faith
fu to that Constitution, which He gave us in
his mercy, and will withdraw only in the hour
of our blindness and disobedience, and of His
own wrath.
! Another great man has fallen in our land, nice
indeed in years and in honors, 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 the lowly must all
meet at last.
! | do not rise, upon this mournful occasion, to
indulge in the language of panegyric. My re-.
| gard for the memory of the dead, and for the
obligations of the living, would equally rebuke
such course. The severity of truth is at once
our proper duty and our best consolation. Born
during the revolutionary 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 eventful
| period, and whose names and deeds will soon
be known only in the history of their country
lie was another illustration, and a noble one
too, oft the glorious equality of our Institutions
which freely offer all their rewards TO oil who
justly seek them; for he was the architect Of
his own fortune, having made his way in life by
self exertion, and he was an early ndventurer in
the great forests Of the West, then world of
| primitive vegetation, but now the abode of in
telligence and religion, of prosperity and civil.
cation. But he possessed that intellectual gu.
periority which overcomes surrounding obsta
cles, and which local seclusion cannot long
withhold from general knowledge and appreca.
ton
! IL is almost half century since he passed
through Chillicothe then the seat Of govern.
ment Of Ohio, where was n member of the le-
gislature, on his way TO take his place in this
very body, which is now listening 10 this re-
miniscence, and TO feeble tribute of regard
! from one who then saw him for the first time.
but who can never forget the impression he pro.
duced by the charms Of his conversation, the
frankness Of his manner. and the high qualities
with which he was endowed. Since then he
] belonged 10 bis country, and has taken part
and prominent part, both in peace and war, IN
all the great questions affecting her interest and
her honor; and though il has been my fortune
often TO differ from him, yet believe he was as
pure patriot as ever participated 10 the coun
ellis Of a nation, anxious for the public good
and seeking TO promote II, during al the vicssi.
tudes Of long and eventful life. Thathe e1er-
cised powerful influence, within the sphere Of
bis action, through the whole country indeed.
we all feel ard know; and we know, too, the
eminent endowments which gave him this dis
tinction. Frank and fearless in the expression
Of his opinion, and In the performance Of his
duties, with rare powers Of eloquence, which
never failed TO rivet the attention Of his audito
~, and which always commanded admiration,
even when they did not carry conviction
prompt in decision, and firm In action, and with
vigorous intellect, trained in the contests Of a
stirring life, and strengthened by enlarged expe-
Renee and observation, joined withal to an ar
dent love ofcountTy, and 10 great purity Of pur-
pose-these were the elements Of his power sod
success, and we dwell upon them with mourn.
fol qualification now, when we shall soon follow
him to the cold and silent tomb, where we shall
commit "earth 10 earth, ashes to ashes, dust 10
dust" but with the blessed conviction of the
truth Of that divine revelation which teaches us
hat = g.. - H.. A.