Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1852-06-03

Tar MIGHrY Three Clay, Calhoun,
Webst,r.-Thc Washington correspon-
dent of the Charleston Mercury, in his
letter OF the 9Th instant, writes as fol-
lows:
"Anolher OF the grca, lights Of our
generation is fast passing away TO the
land OF shadows. Henry Clay is dying,
and thrill must pass through every
hca at the ammo ncemcDt Of The iact.--
Though his decline has been so gradual
that tie public mind should have been
prepared for It, still, like Calhoun, Henry
Clay seems To possess so unhounded IA
vitality. the spirit seemed So much
stronger than the hcsh, that the lidirgs,
come when they might, would give u
shock ANA excite surprise. OF the NIGH
~ three who have so identified them
selves with the history Of this country
since the war of 1912 down to the pres
cut hour, " cosier will on be the sole
survivor. But their works will survive
them, and though angry storms Of pas
sionate con roversy and party hate ragged
and roared around them during their
political pIgrlmages yet when death
has set its seal upon them, their county
men must award TO all Of them the need
of hugh intellect directed to high aims
and prompted to lofty aspirationf.-
When Calhoun died, a revulslon Of fee.-
ing took place throughout the whole
country, and a tardy recognition Of the
true majesty Of his character, and the
beauty Of his whole life was wrung from
those who had most bitterly reviled him
while living. Honors such as never had
been paid before TO any citizens, were
accorded TO his memory, and his re-
mains were iDurned in the midst of GEN
eral anentation. Similar will be the
sensation when Henry Clay passes
away, and his death will be like the
fall OF tie mighty oak amid the stiffness
OF the wood The deep shadow whit, h
has so long rested on the solemn counte-
nance o; Webster. the slade Of which
deepened as he pronounced an eulogium
on Calhoun, will catch another and
deeper tint when his last great rival
passes on before him TO that bourne from
whence no traveller returns. When he
spoke oil Calhoun in the Senate, and
came to the passage where he says, He
was my own age none who saw him
will forget his air and ASPECT His head
dropped OIL his breast he stood musing
for "A moment, as though there were a
warning and summons for him in that
fact, and felt that his race too was near
ly run He will not be in the Sc: ate
to pronounce another eulogium on his
next greatest competitor in that arena,
but the same thought must be more
slriking!y present to him when he stands
by the bier OF Clay. Looking at these
three. aad contrasting them with those
wt.o Gil their places. We must admit that
there were giants in those days. But
the breed OF noble hloods is not yet ex-
linct, and powers yet slumbering or un-
developed must exist In some quarter,
needing only the stimulus OF opportunity
and excitement to blaze forth into splen-
dor equa! TO lha, Of the meridian of these
great men now passing away. Since the
commencement oil the session IL has been
obvious TO all of Mr. Clay's friends that
his end was near. He has sunk down
suddenly IN the last lew months, like
some old lower which presents Il lrown-
ing front of massive strength, until il
suddenly crunbes down into a mass of
ruins from turret TO foundation stone.
undermined by tie wasting influence of
time. Though wasted TO the last degree,
and reduced to the extreme Of physical
iecbl ness Mr.. Clay's mind still con-
tinu's as vivid and vigorous as ever,
and his firmness is still unshaken. Dit
fer as men may as to the political or
personal tributes Of Henry Clay, no
one can deny that he has Obtained a
deep and a slrong hold on The aiiec tions
OF the American people, and possesses
some traits which even lis enemies may
admire.