The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-07-01

realize What be might have been in the prime OF his
strength aud in the full vsor OF his maturity, J saw
ring the administration OF Mr. Van Buren,. had daily
opportunities OF witnessing the exhibition OF his powers
during the session under Mr. Tylers administration
And saw, all saw, IN recent contest the exhi-
bilion OF power his part, which was most marvellous
10 one oil his years
Mr.. President, he may not have had as much OF an.
alytc skill as some others in dissectng subject II
may be- perhaps that he did not seek 10 look quite 80
far ahead who have been most distinguished ior
political forecast But il may be truly said OF Mr. Clay
that he was no exaggeraor. He looked at events
through neither end Of the telescope, but surveyed hem
with the natural and the naked eye lie had the
capacity Of seeing things as The people saw men,
and oil feeling things the opeople ielt them lie
had, sir, beyond any other man whom have ever
seen, the true mesmec touch Of the oraior-the rare
art of transferring his impulses to Others Thoughts,
feelings, emotons from the ready mould OF his
genius radiant and glowing and communicated Their own
warmth 10 every heart which received them HIS, too,
the power Of welding the higher and in,enser forms
of passion with a maj jesy and which none but
the great OF the human heart employ II
his good fortune 10 have been Of those who
form, il were, sensible link aud living tradition
which connects one age with another, and through Which
generation speaks It's thoughts and ieelings and a
peals 10 another And unfortunate is il for a country
when it ceases possess such men for is to them that
chiefly owe the capacity TO maintain the unity OF the
great Epos OF human history and preserve The consist
ency OF political action.
Sir it may be said that the grave is still new made
which covers the mortal remains OF one of those great
men who have been taken from our midst and the earth
is 10 open 10 receive another. | know not, sir,
whether il be said 10 be matter OF amentaon, so
far the dead concerned that the thread o this life
has been clipped when once II bad been fully spun
They escape the nrmes OF age, and they leave an I'M
peshable behind them The loss SIR is not theirs,
but ours and loss the TO be lamen'ed that we
see none ill the places thus made vacant on the
stage OF public affairs But II may be well Tor us who
have much more TO mourn and 10 lament such
deaths, pause amidst the business of life for the pur
pose OF plating the spectacle before us, and OF
drawing the moral from the passing event IS when
death seizes for its victims those who are by "a head
and shoulders taller than all the rest that we feel most
deeply the uncertainty OF human affairs, and that "the
glores OF mortal state shadows, not substantial
things II s sir, in such instances the present that
best study by the light OF example the true object
of life, and the wisest ends OF human pursuit
Mr.. HALE. MIR. President | hope shall not be con-
sdered obtrusive it this occasion Tor brief moment
mingle my humble voice with those that, with an ab-
y that shall neither attempt nor hope to equal, have
sought to do justice to the worth and memory Of ihe de-
ceased and at the same time appropriately TO minister 70
the sympathies and sorrows of stricken people. Sir, II
is the teaching ol Inspiration that no man yeh and no
man dieth unto himself"
the life of every man-eminenily IN the Gaze OF one
who has filled large space and occupied distinguished
position IN the thoughts and regard Of h's fellow men
Particularly instructive at this time is The event which
we deplore although the circumstances attending
his decease such calculated 10 assuage rather
than aggavae the grief which it must necessarily cause
His time had fully The three and ten marking
the ordinary period OF human life had for some years been
passed. and full OF years and o Donors he has gone TO his
rest And now, when the nation Is maTshalllng seii
for the which is 10 decide who shall be great
est" il 10 chasien ambition, TO restrain and sub
due the violence OF passion, to moderate our DESIRES and
elevate our hopes have the spectacle of who by
he force Of lis intellect and The energy OF his own
purpose, had achieved reputation which the highest
official honors OF the republic might have illustrated, but
could not have enhanced laid low in death-as H. at the
very outset of this political contest which the nation
is entering, 10 teach the ambitious and aspiring The
end OF human pursuit and earthly honor But. SIR do
moi intend to dwell on that moral which taught by the
sie osa and clo eve nj
force such as no man ever spoke with but shall
leave the event, with its silent and mute eloquence, to
impress its appropriate teachings on the heart
In the long and even,ful life II Mr. CLAY, In the var
positions which he occupied, in the many posts OF
public duty which he filled, in the many exhibitions
which his history affords OF untiring energy, OF
passed eoauence and Of devoted parotism Il would be
strange indeed ii different minds they dwell spon the
subject all TO select the incidents OF his lie
eeminenily calculated TO challenge admiration and
respect.
Sir my admaiion--aye, my affection for Mr.. CLAY
won and secured many years since, even in my
scboolboy days-when bis voice OF counsel, encour.
agement, and sympathy heard in the other hall OF
this Capitol in behalf OF the struggling colonies OF the
southern portion OF this continent, who, in pursuit oil
their inaenable rights, in imitation OF our own fore
fathers had unued the banner of liberty, and regard
less OF consequences had gaany rushed into That con-
ties, where "fe is lost, or freedom won. And again,
sir when Greece, rich in the memories OF the past, awoke
from The smber of ages oil oppression and centuries OF
shame, and resolved
sTo call her virtues back and conquer time and fae"
there over the plains of that classic land above the din
of battle and the clash OF arms mioglng with the shouts
the yicors and the groans OF the vanqushed, were
heard the thrilling and stirring notes OF that same eo
quence excited by sympathy which knew no bounds,
wide the world pleading the oil Gfeclan liberty
before the American Congress- 10 pay back 10 Greece
the debt which every patriot and orator felt was her due
Sir the long and honorable career OF the deceased there
are many events and circumstances upon which his
friends and posteny will dwell with satisfaction and
pride, but none which will rrdoerve his memory with
unadng lustre to future ages than the course he
pursued IN the Spanish American and Greek revolutions.
Mr.. CLEMENS. Mr.. President should not have
thought necessary to add anything 10 what has already
been said, but for request preferred by OF the
friends OF the deceased. should have been content to
bin in silence, and leave II to other tongues 10 pro-
nounce his eulogy. What have now TO say shall be
bTef-very brief
Mr. President il is now less Than three short years
ago since first entered this body AT that period Il mum
bered amoog its membes many OF the most illlustrous
Statesmen this republic has produced, or the world
has ever known, OF The living II is not my purpose TO
speak but that brief period death has been busy here
and, II TO mark the feebleDess OF all human things,
his arrows have been aimed at the highest, the migbes'
OF us all First died Calhoun. And well, sir do re-
member the deep feeling evlnced on that occasion by
him whose death has been announced here to-day when
he said 81 his senior in years--in nothing else
In the course OF ought TO have preceded him
IL has been decreed Otherwise; but know that shall
linger here only short time, and shall soon follow
him" Lit was genius mourning over his younger
brother, and surely predicting his own approaching
end.
He, too, sir, is now gone from among us, and lef'
none like him behind That voice, whose every tone
music, is hushed and still That clear bright eye IL
dim and usreless and that breast. where and hour
ished every quality which could adorn and dgnify