Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1852-07-14
MARTINSBURG VA, WEDNESDAY MORNING, JULY a. 1852.

doed the natural ferceness and haughtiaess
Of bis temper and brought him into the most
kindly and cordial relations with all those
Who upon all other questions were deeply and
bitterly opposed to him. II has been asser-
ted, sir. upon high medical authority, and
doubtless with truth, that his life was. 10 all
/ probability, shortened ten years by the ardu
Gus and extraordinary labors which he assn
med at the memorable session Of 1850 II
! so. he has added the GROWING glory Of the
MARTYR to the spotless fame of the PATRIOT
and we may well hore that a great national
paci6cation. purchased at such a acrifice
will long continue to cement tho binds Of
this great and glorious Union.
Mr.. Clay possessed. in an eminent degree,
the qualities Of a great popular leader. and
history vii. assume to say, affords no ex-
ample. in any Republic, ancient or modern,
of any indigidual that so fearlessly carried out
the convictions Of his own judgement. ard SO
sparingly fattered the prejudice of popular
feeling. who for 40 long period. exercised
the same controlling Influence over the public
mind Earnest in whatever measure lie sus-
taincd-fearlcss in attack dexserous 10 de-
fence Astounding in intellectual resource
eloquent 10 debate of inAexible purpose. and
with courage never to submit or yield
no man ever lived with higher qualifications
to rally Responding party, or to lead an
embattled host to victory. That he never
attained the highest post Of honorable anLi-
ton in this country. is not to DO ascri5ed to
any want Of capacity as a popular leader;
nor the absence Of those qualities which at
tract the fidelity and devotion Of troops Of
admiring friends 1t was the fortune Of Ma
poleun. at a critical period of his destiny. to
be brought into collision with the star of Wei.
lington, and it was the fortune Of Henry Clay
TO have encountered in his political orbit.
another great and original mind. gifted with
equal power for commanding success, aud
blessed with more fortunate elements, con
cnrring at the time, Of securing popular favor.
The struggle was such as might have been
anticipated from the collision Of two such
fierce aud powerful rivals.
For near qoarter Of century this great
Republic has been convulscd to its centre hy
the divisions which have sprung from theirs
respective opinions, policy, aid personal des
TIMES; and even now. when they have both
been removed to higher and better sphere
Of existence, and every unkind feeling has
been quenched 10 the triumphs Of the grave,
this chuutry still feels, ard for years will con
tinue to feel, the influence Of these asitltions
to which their powerful and impressive char
J actcrs gave impulse.
} But | must pause. If we're to attempt
to present all the aspects in which the char
acter Of this ildstrious man will challenge the
} applause Of history should fatigue The House
and violate the just limit allowed for such re
! marks
| cannot conclude, however, without ma
king some more special allusion to Mr.. Clay
as native Of that State which hare the
, honor in part to represent upon this aoot.--
We are all proud, and very properly proud
of the distinguished men to which our respec.
tive States have given birth. 1t is a just and
! laudablc emulation, and one, In coniedera-
, ted government Ike ours, proper to be en-
courageI. And whilst men like MI. Clay
very rapidly rise above the confined Limits Of
a State reputation and acquire rational
fame, ia which all claim and all have an equal
interest still there is propriety aud fitness
in preserving the relation between the indi-
vidual and his State. Virginia has given
+ birth to large number Of men who have BY
their distinguished talents and services i'm
pressed their names upon tho hearts end
memories Of their countrymen but, certanly
since the colonial era she has given birth to
no man who in the massive aud gigantic pro
portions Of his character, aud in tho splendor
Of his native cndowments can be compared
to Henry Clay. At an early age he emf
grated from his native State, and found
home in Kentucky In a speech which he
delivered in the Senate OF the United States.
in February, 1872, and which well remem-
Der, upon the occasion Of his rcsigning his
seat in that body, he expressed the Wish that
when that event shonld occur. which has now
clothed the city in mourning, and flled the
nation with grief, that his earthly remains
should be laid under the green sod Of Ken
lucky, with those Of her gallan: and patriotic
sons"
Sir. however gratifying it might be to us,
that those remains should be transferred to
his native soil, and there minglc with the
ashes Of ashington, jefferson, Madison Lee
and Henry, we cannot complain Of tho very
1 natural preference which be has there ex- !