The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-02-11
Ths Gold Medal Presentation Co Henry
Clay.

SPEECH OF THE VENERABLE STATESMAN
The National Leiiseneer states that the com mstee
who deputed by Mt Clays New York friends TO
deliver the token Of their appreciation, we're admitted
to his chamber at three o'clock and received with
suishsd Af,er short pause during which tbs company
privileged to be present on the occasion were invited to
be seated, Mr. Daniel Gilman, Chairman Of the Com
mittee, rose and delivered the address.
Mr. CLAY received the address standing with the deep
est attention and then proceeded to observe that al
though had been his habit In addressing public bo
dies larger or smaller speak extemporaneousy, he
had induced this occasion well out profound
respect committee regard to his feeble state
duce his reply writing He then read in rm though
somewhat feeble voice, the following reply -
"GESTLEMEN This among the mos. interesting and
gratifying days Of my life although have been confined
to these rooms for long time BY tedious and doubtful
large and body Of ardent devoted friends
Of mine in the city of New York to present to beau
tfui and costly gold medal TENDED 70 my
public adopted In the National Councils in
which supposed to have had agency
and the other remarkable and accurate likeness of
me The time and the place Of presentation and the
friends who have contributed this splendid testimonial
give to it inestimahe value. The time is when
sbout to retire public life and when
expect much longer to inger here below the place
h the city of Washington the principal theatre of those
public services which have commended themselves to
your appreciation Throughout my public life have been
blessed every where in the United States with
fewer friends to whom bound by the strongest
sentiments of grattude but nowhere have they sur
passed those In the clay Of New York in zeal constancy
|
STATIONS Of their affection and attachment Whilst
Is in the ardent pursuit OF public fe and held
up for its highest honors, It not pIscticsole al
those who bestow their sursnges from pure patriotic
and dsutereted motives, and those who are actuatei
by relish ends but on this occasion no such diff
Guilty exists. You have come, at mnch personal ia
convenience to the bed Of a sick and afflicted friend to
present to him in your names and In the of a
merous body Of his personal and toa friends, whom
you represent most precious token Of your esee and
affectionate regard. That friend has not now, and
rvriu hoya p,lli ratr0 m ThA
high and honorable and dsnrested character of your
motives cannot therefore, be questioned Gentlemen
to my al, friends whom you represent my cordial
snd heartfelt thanks and my grateful aad profound
Acknowledgements for this rich tribute to the sentiments
which they do the honor to entertain towards
1 should have been most happy to have expressed
my great obligations to all Of them personally if it
had been in my power. I shall soon pass from the
jurisdiction of my contemporaries, and Of the pre-
sent generation, to that of history and posterity,
If the one shall deem He worthy Of any record on
its pages tradition shall transmit any recollection
to the other 1t Is not within my legitimate province
lie deeds That Office belongs to them and shall con-
slider my future fame fortunate it shall be regarded by
them with small portion of the favor with which the
Partially of yourselves and associates contem
plate It, shall soon appear bsfore higher AMI more
holy tribunal than any earthly one, which
man TO that tribunal look forward with COM
posure and confidence that l shall be acquitted
Of having ever been prompted in the disharge Of
ends. or been animated by any other purpose than to
promote the homer, the prosperity, aud glory of
common country Medals are generally struck BY the
authority and paid for out of the public treasury
government and most frequently are inscrded to reward
which you kindly tender my acceptance is the
spontaneous Offering Of private citizens from their pri-
yate purses for public services exclusively in the civil
department. shaD fondy and gratefully cherish and
preserve it whilst life endures and transmit to my de-
scendants under the hope that they will receive and
my New York friends the proudest and richest legacy
that could leave them.