The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-07-02

bate--of inhexiblc purpose, and with
never to submit or yield;' no man ever
higher qualifications to rally despondj
or 70 lead an embattled host to victory.
| never attained the highest post Of honors
ton in this country, 10 not to be ascribt
want OF capacity as popular leader; nd
sence OF those qualities which attract tn
and devotion Of 'troops" of admiring frid
was the fortune of Napoleon. at critical p
his destiny, to be brought into collision with
| OF Wellington, and 1t was the fortune Of
CLAY to have encountered, in his political
| another great and original mind, gifted with
power for commanding success, and blessed
more fortunate eiements, concurring at the II
| OF securing popular favor. The struggle was ed
as might have been anticipated from the collisid
OF two such fierce and powerful rivals.
For near quarter of century this great Re-
public has been convulsed to its centre by the di-
visions which have sprung from their respective
opinions, policy, and personal destnes and even
now, when they have both been removed to a
| higher and better sphere of existence, and every
| unkind feeling has been quenched in the tripmphs
OF the grave this country still feels and for years
will continue to feel, the influence of these agia
tons to which their powerful and impressive char.
| actcrs gave impulse.
sent all the aspects in which the character Of this
iustrious man will challenge the applause of his
tory, should fatigue the House, and violate the
| just limit allowed for such remarks.
| l cannot conclude, however, without making
| some more special ausion to Mr.. CLAY as ma
tive Of that State which have the honor in part to
| represent upon this floor. We all proud, and
| very properly proud, Of the distinguished men 10
which our respective States have given birth. II ia
| just and laudable emulation, aud one, in con.
federated Government like ours, proper to be en-
couraaged: And whilst men like Mr. CLAY very
rapidly rise above the confined limits ofa State
putation, and acquire a national fame, in which
all claim and all have equal interest still there
is proPriety and fitness in preserving the rela-
ton between the individual and his State. Virginia
has given birth TO a large number of men who
have by their distinguished talents and services
impressed their names upon the hearts and memo
RES OF their countrymen; but certainly since the
colonial era she has given birth to man who, in
the massive and gigantic proportions of his char
acter, and in the splendor Of his native cndow-
ments, can be compared to HxSRY CLAY. At an
carly age he emigrated from his native State, and
found home in Kentucky. In a speech which he
delivered in the Senate Of the Unitcd states in Feb
ruary. 1912, and which well remember, upon tie
occasion Of his resgning his seat In that body ne
expressed the wish that when that event should
occur which has now clothed the city in mourn
ing, and filed the nation with grief, '.that his
earthly remains should be laid under the green
triotc sons -
Sir, however gratifying it might be to us that
those remains should be transferred to his native
SOIL and there mingle with the ashes of Washing
ton, Jefferson, Madison, Lee, and Henry, we can
not complain Of the very natural preference which
he has there himself expressed If Virginia did
give him birth, Kentucky has nourished him in
his manhood; has freely lavished upon him her
-
the clouds OF calumny and detraction gathered
heavily and loweringy about him, and she has
watched over his fame with the tenderness and
zeal OF mother. Sir, it is not to be wondered that
he should have expressed the wish which he did, to
be laid by the side of her gallant and patriotic
Happy Kentucky! Happy in having an adopted
mistaken fidelity and loyalty with which, for near
half century, those honors have been 30 stead
fastly and gracefully accorded to him.
Sir, whilst Virginia, in the exercise of her own
=. .k .,.l- ~.
of his views Of national policy, she has never, at
any period OF his public career, failed to regard
him with pride as one of her most distinguished |
sons-to honor the purity and the manliness of his
to award to him the high credit of
an honest and sincere devotion to his country's
welfare And now, sir, that death has exiting ushed |
forever the workings OF that mighty intellect. and
sealed in eternal silence those eloquent lips upon
whose accents thousands have 80 often hung in |
rapture, shall stand justified in saying that wall
Of lamentation will be heard from her people, her
whole people, reverberatng through her mountains
that which l know will swell the noble hearts
and the heaving bosoms of the people of his own
cherished and beloved Kentucky.
Sir, a. ! walked to the Capitol this morning,
every object which attracted my eye admonished |
me that national bend4actor had departed from
amongst US. He is gone! HBrRY Clay the idol of l
ths nr;ds 81 g. 2, me senate
ed crowds Of his admiring fellow men around him,
az If he had been one descended from above, has !
passed forever from our view.
''His SOUL enlarged from its vile bonds, has gone
To that refulgent world where it shall swim
In liquid light, and float on seas of Bliss"
But the memory of his virtues and of his services
will be gratefully embalmed in the hearts of his
countrymen, and generations yet unborn will be |
taught tc lisp with reverence and enthusiasm the |
name Of HENRY CLAY.
Mr.. PARKER, of Indiana, said: Mr.. Speaker,
this is q soemn-a consecrated hour. And | |
would not detain the members of the House from
INDUCING in the silent eloquence Of their feel
ings, 40 grateful to hearts chastened as ours.
But cannot restrain an expression from DO.
som panied with it's fullness.
When my young thoughts first took cognizance |
Of the fact that have a country, my eye was at
tracted by the magnificent proportions Of HENaV
CLAY.
The idea absorbed me then that he was, above
all other men, the embodiment of my country's
genius.
. l have watched him; have studied him; have
admired him-and, God forgive me! for he was
but man, "of like passions with us'-I fear have
idolixsd him, until this hour. -,.
But he has gone from among men; and it ia for
Us now to awake and apply ourselves, with re-
newed fervor and increased fidelity, to tho welfare
Of the country loved well and served 80
truly and so long-the glorious country yet saved
10 u.s. ." ... ... II
Yes, HEsRY CLAY has fallen at last, as the ripe
oak falls in the stiffness OF the forest But the
dant and gorgeous richness of his glories will only
Jade md wither from tho earth when his country's
history shall have been forgotten. II
Conc generation passeth away, and another gen. |
GRAFTON cometh." Thus it hath been from the be-
ginning, and thus it will be until time shall be no
onger. l.
Yesterday morning, at eleven o'clock, the spirit
If HENRr CLAx-so long the pride and glory, of
1is own country, and the admiration OF all the
world-was yet with US, though struggling to be
rec. Ere " high noon" came it had passed over
. the dark river through the gate, into the celes-
'al city, inhabited by all the "just men made
perfect"
May not our rapt vision contemplate him there,
his day, in sweet communion with the dear frienda
hat have gone before him? With Madison, and
Jefferson, and Washington, and Henry, and (
With the eloquent Tully, with the "di-
vine Plato;'' with Aaron. the Levite, who could
speak well;" with all the great and good, eince
and before the flood!
His princely tread has graced these aisles for the
asst time. These halls will wake no more to the
magic music of his voice. /,
Did that tall spirit in its ETHEREAL FORM enter the
courts Of the upper sanctuary, bearing itself
parably with the spirits there, as was his walk
among men! ..... II
Did the mellifuous tones Of his greeting there
enrapturc the hosts of Heaven comparabIy with