The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-05-19
Correspondence of the Mercury.
WASHINGTON, May


Grafton is fast passing away into the land
OF shadows. Henry Clay is dying, and a
thrill must pass through every heart at
the announcement of tho fact. Though
his decline has been so gradual that the
public mind should have been prepared for
1t, still, like Calhoun, Henry Clay seemed
to possess so unbounded q vitality, the
spirit seemed so much stronger than the
hesh, that the tidings, come when they
might would give shock, and excite sur
prise. Of the mighty three who have so
identified themselves with the history of
this country since the war of 1912 down
to the present hour, Webster will soon be
the sole survivor. But their works will
survive them, and though the angry storms
OF passionate controversy and party hate
ragged and roared around them all during
theirpolitical pilgramages, yet when death
has set its seal upon them, their county
men must award to all Of them the need
of high intellect directed to high aims, and
prompted to lofty aspirations. When Cal
houn died, arevulsion of feeling took place
throughout the whole country, and tardy
recognition of the true majesty of his cha
racter, 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 citizen, were accorded to his
memory, and his remains were inurned in
the midst of general lametation. Similar
will bo the sensation when Henry Clay
passes away, and his death will be "like
the fall of the mighty oak amid the still
ness of the wood" The deep shadow
which has so long rested on the solemn
countenance of Webster, the shade 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 of Calhoun in the Senate, and came
to that passage where he says, ale was
my own age, "n,pe who saw him will for
get his air and aspect. His head dropped
on his breast; he stood musing for a
moment, as though there were a warning
and summons for him in that Eact,and felt
that his race too was nearly run. lie will
not be in the Senate to pronounce another
eulogium on his next greatest competitor
in that arena, but Ite same thought must
be more strikngly present to him when
he stands by the bier of Clay. Looking
mt these three, and contrasting them with
those who now fill their places, wc must
admit that there were giants in those
days. But the breed OF noble boods
is not yet extinct, and powers yet slum-
bering or undevcloped, must exist in
some quarter, needing only the stimulus Of
opportunity and excitement to blaze forth
into splendor equal to that of Il meridian
OF these great men now passing away.
Since the commencement of the session it
has been obvious to all of Mr.. Claws
friends that his end was near. He has
sunk down suddenly in the last few months,
like some old tower which presents a
frowning front of massive strength, until
it suddenly crumbles down into a mass
of ruin, from turret to foundation stone,
undermined by the wasting influence of
time. Though wasted to the last degree,
and reduced to the extreme of physical
feebleness, Mr.. Clay's mind still continues
as vivid and vigorous as ever, and his
tirmness is still unshaken. Differ rs men
may rs to the political or personal attri.
butes of Henry Clay, no one can deny
that he has obtained deep and strong
hold on the affections of the American
people, and possesses some traits which
even his enemies may admire.
twas probably his desire to die here
in the theatre Of his triumphs, and the
wish will be gratifed. The last few months
he has passed in his chamber, and it is a
moumful commentary on the rapidity
with which influence passes away, to
remark how soon his voice, once
potential, has lost its spell over the
party of which he was so long the soul
The Warwick could make or unmake
kings no more, and the party of which he
was the vitality, has perished before
him.
The Wing party now is not. 1t is .
mere collection of conflicting factions, the
strongest Of which is Seward; the most
dangerous Of its unity the Southern Union
party. Mr. Clay attempted to reconcile
these distractions, by pronouneing for
Fillmore from his sick chamber, but his
words made no echo, and his closest fol-
lowers are clamoring aloud for Scott as
does Jones, Of Tennessee. In the grave of
Henry Clay will be inferred the national
Wing party, and Webster will walk sol.
itary and alnna cb;of ,,,o,,~,,o- e.. ..l