The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-07-01

w DC llottcf OF ldtnenthuOn, lar Inc Ged0I
arc concerned that the thread Of this life has been
clipped when once il had been fully spun. TheyI
escape the inhrmities Of age, and they leave AMI
hmperishable name behind them. The loss, sir /
s not theirs, but ours; and loss the more to bel
amentsd that we none to fill the places thus
made vacant on the stage of public affairs. But III
|may be well for US. who have much more cause
TO mourn and to lament such deaths, to pause
amidst the business Of life for the purpose Of con
|tcmplatng the spectacle before us and of drawing
the moral from the passing event. II is when
death seizes for its victims those who are, by sal
hcad and shoulder taller than all the rest that
I'VE ieei most deeply the uncertainty of human
affairs, and that "the glores of mortal stat
ARE Shadows not substantial things" 1t is sir, n
such instances as the present that best
s,tndy by the light Of example the true object of
hfe, and the wisest ends Of human pursuit..
Mr.. HALE. Mr.. PaEsiDENr: | hope shall not
pe considered obtrusive, IL this occasion for al
brief moment mingle my humble voice with thoso
that, with an ability that shall neither attempt
worth and memory of the deceased, aud at the
Same time appropriately to minister to the sympa.
thics and SORROWS off stricken people. Sir, it isl
the teaching Of inspiration that ono liveth
and no man diefh unto himself"
There is Lesson taught no less in the death tina NJ
IN the life OF every man--e minently SO in the case
|oi one who has filled large space and occupied a.
tinguished position in the thoughts and regard
of his fellow men Particularly instructive at this
time is the event which VIC now depiore althoug h
the circumstances attending his decease are sue h
las are calculated to assuagc rather aggravate
the grief which il must necessarily cause His
time had fully come. The three score and ien
marking the ordinary period of human life had ior
|some years been passed, and, full of years and of
|honors. he has gone to his rest. And now, when
the nation is marshalljng itself for the contest
which is to decide "who shall be greatest. !, IA i'll
Ito chastcn ambition, TO restrain and sub.
|due the violence Of passion, to moderate our de
sires, and elevate our hopes have the spectacle
|o one who by the force of his intellect and the en-
|ergy OF his own purpose, had achieved reputation
which the higbest official honors Of the Republic
|might have illustrated, but could not have en-
|hanced, laid low in deathas If, at the very outset
|of this political contest which the nation is now
to teach the ambitious and aspiring the
lend OF human pursuit and earthly honor But /
|sir, do not intend to dwell that moral which isl
Taught by the silent lips and closed eye of the illus
|trious dead, with a force such as no man ever!
|spoke with; but shall leave the event, with its|
silent and mute eloquence, to impress its own APP
|proprinte teachings on the heart. e.
In the long and eventful life Of Mr. Clay-n the|
various positions which no occupied-in he many
lposts of public duty which he flled-in the many
exhibitions which his history affords of untir
ing energy, OF unsurpassed eloquence, and of de.
voted patriotism-it would be strange indeed ir
different minds, they dwell upon the subject |
were all to select the incidents OF his life as
|pre, eminently calculated to challenge admiration
land respect.
|CLAY-was wonand secured many years since ev mi
lin my school boy days. when his voice of counse l
Encouragement, and sympathy was heard in the
other hall OF this Capitol in behalf of the strug-
gling colonies OF the southern portion OF this cont
nen, who, IN pursuit of their inalicnable rights in
imitation OF our own forefathers had unfurled the
banner of liberty; and, regardless of consequences /
had gallanuy rushed into that contest where "iiei
is lost, or freedom won." And again, sir, when
Greece, rich in the memories of the past awokel
from the slumber Of ages Of oppression and centu
lies OF shame and resolved
"To call her virtues back, and conquer time andi
fate"-
There over the plains of that classic land above
the din of battle and the clash of arms, ningling
with the shouts OF the vctors and the groans of beI
were heard the thrilling and stjrring
notes of that same eloquence excited by sympathy
which knew no bounds, wide the world, peadin Of
the cause of Grecian liberty before the American;
Congress, as if to pay back to Greece the debt
which every patriot and orator felt was her due
Sir in the long and honorable career of the deceas
ed there are many events and circumstances upon
hch his friends and poSterity will dwell withs
satisfaction and pride, but which will preserved
his memory. with moro unfading lustro to future
ages than the course he pursued in the Spanish
American and Greek revolutions.
Mr.. CLEMENS Mr. PRESIDENT: I should NOT
have thought 1t necessary to add any thing to what
has already been said, but for request preferred
by some OF the friends of the deceased l should
have been content to mourn him in silence and 1
leave il to other tongues to pronounce this emil,
Brief. $3.50 ~ ~ W 'N' ''A'' 20 o''e'--'''ys
MIR. President, il is now less than three short
years ago since first entered this body At that Il
period it numbered among it's members MANY nr Z
The most lllustrious statesmen this Republic ho
ever produced, or the world has ever known. OH
me hving 1t Is not my purpose to speak; but in :
hat brief period death has been busy here: aud
as If to mark the feebleness of all of human thin ora
his arrows have been aimed at the highest the
nghtiest oil us all. First died Calhoun And well
sir, do remember the deep feeling evinccd on tina,
occasion by him whose death has been announccJe
here to-day, when he raid: IL was his senior inE
ycars--in nothing else. In the course of nature
ought to have preceded him. 1t has been de.
creed otherwise; but know that shall linger4
here only n short time, and shall soon follow
him." TWAS genius mourning over his younrerE
brother, and too surely predicting his own ap-
end.
eft none like him behind. Tint voice, whose syervE
one was music, is hushed and still That clear.
bright eye Is dim and lustreless and that breast
"here grew and fiourlshcd every quality whichN
Gould adorn and dignity our nature is cold as thcA
;lod that soon must cover it. few hours have
mighty chsnge-a change for which s
lingering illness had indeed, in some degree pre-
pared US, but which. nevertheless, will still fall
lpon the nation with crushing force MANY al
orrowing heart ia now asking, as | did YESTERDAY
when heard the first sound Of the funeral bell
And is he gone?-the pure of the purest,
The hand that upheld our bright banner the surcs
Ia he gone from our struggles away?
But yesterday lending people new life,
Cold, mute, in the coffin to. day"
Mr.. President, this is an occasion when euloevE
must fail to perform its office. The long life which,
8 now ended is a history Of glorious deeds too
mighty for the tongue of praise IL s in the hearts
II his countrymen that his best cpitnph must bcE
written. 1t is III the admiration OF world that q
lis renown must be recorded In that deep IoveE
# country which distinguished every period ofE
us life, he may not have been uurivalled InE
otiness of intellect he not without his poers 81
The skill with which he touched overy chord of Is
he human heart may have been equalled. ThcE
ron will, the unbending frmness, the fearlessE
ourage, which marked his character, NAV hnveJ,
zen shared by others. But where shall we 90 TO ~
ind all those qualities united, concentrated blend E
d into one brilliant whole, and shedding a luatreSs
pom one single head, which docs not da zzc the rs
ehoder only because IL attracts his love and de- 81
hands his worship. =;
! scarcely know, sir, how far it may be allow. az
bic, upon an occasion like this, to refer TO party;
truggles which have left wounds not vet entirely y
called. will venture, however, to suggest, that 81
should be n source of consolation to his friends
,at he lived long enough TO see the full accom- "a
lishment OF the last great work of his lie and to
fitness the total disappearance of that scctional%
'mpest which threatened to overwhelm the Re "a
ubc in ruins. Both the great parties of the coun IA
y have agreed to stand upon the platform which,
erected and both of them have socmnly pledged "a
icmseves to maintain unimpaired the work OF his 10
aude. doubt not the knowledge OF this cheercd ri