The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-07-02
In the Senate, June 30, 1852.

vast number who mourn the departure of the great
man whose voice has often been heard in this
Hall, have peculiar cause to regret that dispense
ton which has removed him from among He
was the guardian and director of my collegiate
days; four of his were my coliege-mates and
warm friends. My intercourse with the inther was
that of youth and a friendly adviser. shall
to feel grateful to him-to his now
heart. stricken and bereaved widow and children,
for their many kindnesses to me during four or
five years Of my life had the pleasure Of renew
ing my acquaintance with him, first, as delegate
in Congress, whilst he was member OF this body,
from 1895 TO 1889, and again in lS4S, as a member
of this branch of Congress; and during the whole
Of which period, some eight years, none but the
most kindly feeling existed between us.
As an humble and unmportant Senator, il was
my fortune to cooperate with him throughout the
whole Of the exciting session Of lSi9 5O-the labor
and excitement Of which is said to have precipi,
tated his deceass. That CO operation did not end
with the accordant vote on this floor, but. in con
sequence Of the unyielding opposition to the series
of measures known as the "Compromise," extend
cd to many private meetings held by its friends,
at all of which Mr.. CLAY was present. And whe-
Their in public or private life, he everywhere con
tnued to inspire me with the most exalted esti-
mate OF his patriotism and craftsmanship. Never
shall forget the many ardent appeals he made to
Senators, in and out of the Senate, in favor of the
settlement OF our then unhappy sectional difficult
ties.
Immediately after the close OF that memorable
session oil Congress, during which the nation be-
held his great and almost superhuman efforts upon
this floor to sustain the wise counses of the :" Fa
ther of his Country" accompanied him home
to Ashland at his invitation. to revisit the place
where my hsppiest days had been spent, with the
friends who there contipued to reside During
that to me, most agreeable and instructive jour-
ney, in many conversations he evinced the utmost
soicitude for the welfare and honor Of the Rcpub-
lie, all tending to show that he believed the happi
Of the people and the cause of liberty through
out the world depended upon the continuance Of
our glorious Union, and the avoidance of those
sectional discussions which could but ALLEVIATE the
affections people n
other. With the sincerity and fervor of true
patriot, he warned his companions in that journey
to withhold all aid from men who labored, and
from every cause which tended, to SOW the seeds
of disunion in the land, and to oppose such he de-
clared himself willing to forego all the ties and
associations Of mere party.
youth at my earnest and repeated entreaties con-
sented to take sea voyage from New York to Ha-
vana. He remained at the latter place fortnight,
and then returned by New Orleans to Ashland.
That excursion by sea, he assured me, contributed
much to relieve hun from the sufferings occasioned
by the disease which has just terminated his event
full and glorious life. Would to Heaven that he
could have been persuaded to abandon his duties
a Senator, and TO have remained during the past
winter and spring upon that Island of Cuba! The
country would not now, perhaps, have been called
to mourn his loss.
In some matters Of policy connected with the
administration of our General Government have
disagreed with him, yet the purity and sincerity Of
his motives never doubted; and as a true lover OF
his country, honorable and honest man,
trust his example will be reverenced and followed
by the men of this, and OF succeeding genera
lions.
Mr.. BROOKE. Mr.. President, az an ardent,
personal admrer and political friend of the distin
gushed dead, claim the privilege Of adding my
humble tribute OF respect to his memory, and OF
joining in the general expression OF sorrow that has
gone forth from this chamber. Death, all times,
is an instructive monitor well q mournful
messenger; but when his fatal shaft hath stricken
down the great in intellect and renown how doubly
INN yc he lesepn hat hrin h0m Ia he
heart that the grave is the common lot Of al-thc
great levcller of all earthly distinctions But 1T
the same time we are taught that in one sense the
good and great can never die for the memory Of
their virtues and their bright example will live
through all coming time in an Immortality that
blooms beyond the grave The consolation Of this
thought may calm our sorrow; and, In the Ian
guage of one of our own poets, it may be asked
/" Why weep ye, then, for him, who having
The bound of mans appointed years, at last,
Life's blessings all enjoyed, ife's labors done,
Serenely to his final rest has passed;
w lille the soft memory of his virtues yet
Lingers, like twilight hues when the bright sun
has set?'
1t will be doing no injustice, sir, to the living
the dead to say that better specimen of the true
American character can be found in our history
than that of MIR. CLAY. With no adventurous ad-
yantages OF birth or fortune he won hs way by the
efforts of his own genius to the highest distinction
and honor. Ardently attached to the princ pies OF
civil and religious liberty. patriotism was with him
both passion and sentiment-a passion that gave
energy 10 his ambition, and a sentiment that per-
vaded all his thoughts and actions, concentrating
them upon his country the idol of his heart. The
bold and manly frankness in the expression OF his
opinions, which always characterized him, has
often been the subject OF remark; and in all his vic
tories it may be truly said, he never "stoopcd to
conquer" In his long and brilliant political ca
reer, personal considerations never for a single
instant caused him to swerve from the strict line
Of duty, and none have ever doubted his deep sim
certy in that memorable expression to Mr.. Pres
ton, ''Sir, had rather be right than be President
This is not the time nor occasion, sir, to enter
into detail Of the public services of Mr. CLAY,
interviewer they with the history of the
country for half century; but / cannot refrain
from adverting to the last browning act of his glo
rious life-his great effort in the Thirty first Con
gress for the preservation of the peace and integ
Ilty OF this great Republic MS 1t was this effort
that shattered bic bodily strength, and hastcned
the contamination Of death. The Union of the
States, as being essential to prosperity and
happiness, was the paramount proposition in his
political creed, and the slightest symptom of dan
ger to its perpctuty filled him with alarm, and
called forth all the energies of his body and mind.
In bis earlier life he bad met this danger and over
come it In the conflict Of contending factions it
again appeared; and coming forth from the repose
OF private life to which age and infirmity had
ried him, with undated strength of intellect, he
again entered upon the arena Of political strife,
and again success crowned his efforts. and peace
and harmony restored to a distracted people :.
But unequal to the mighty struggle, his bodily
strength sank beneath IL, and he retired from the
field of his glory to yield up hs life holy sac
rlfce to his beloved country. IL has well been said
that peace has its victories we'll war; and how
bright upon the page Of history will be the record
of this great victory of intellect, of reason, and of
moral suaton, over the spirit of discord and Sec
tionai aninositiesi
We this day, Mr.. President, commit bis emory
to the regard and affection of his admiring coun-
trymen 1t is a consolation TO them and to US to
know that he died in full possession of his gorous
inteiiect and, what is better, in the enjoyment Of
that "peace which the world can neither give" nor
take away. He sank to rect as the full orbed
king of day, uushorn of single beam, or rather
like The planet of morning, his brightness was but
eclpsed by the opening to him Of a more full and
perfect day:
"No waning OF fire, no psling OF ray,
But rising, still rising, as passing away.
Farewell, gallant eagle, thou'rt buried in light
God speed thee to heaven, lost star of our night"
In the House Of Reorganization, June 80, 1852.
Mr.. CASKiE said: Mr.. Speaker must try to
lay single laurel leaf in that open coffin which ia
already garlandcd by the eloquent tributes to the
illustrious departed which have been heard in this
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