The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-07-07
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Sir. it will b proud pleasure to every true
American hsast to remember the great occaslons
when Mr.. Clay has displayed sublime patriot
lem; when the ill-temper engendered by the
times, and the miserable jealousiss Of the day,
seemed TO have been driven from his bosom, by
the expulsve power Of nobler feelings; when
every throb of his heart was given to his country,
every effort Of his intellect dedicated to her SER
vice. Who does not remember the three Pc
RODS when the American system of government
was exposed to its sevesest trials and who does
not know that when history shall relate the
struggles which preceded the dangers which
were averted by the Missouri compromise, the
tariff compromise of 1881, and the adjustment
of 1850, the same pages will record the genius,
the eloquence, and the patriotism of Henry
Clay?
| Nor wars it in Mr.. CIay's nature to lag behind
until measures Of adjustment were matured,
and then come forward to swell majority. On
the contrary, like a bold and real statesman, he
was ever among the first to meet the peril, and
hazard hia fame upon the remedy. II il fresh
in the memory of us all that, when lately the
fury of sectional dscord threatened to sever the
coniederacy, MIR. Clay, though withdrawn from
public life, and oppressed by the burden of
years, came back TO the Senate the theatre of
his glory, and devoted the remnant of his
strength to the sacred duty of preserving the
union OF the States.
With characteristic courage, he took the lead
in proposing scheme Of settlement But
while he was willing to assume the responsible
ty OF proposing plan, he did not with petty
ambition insist upon its adoption to the exclu-
s,O nf Oth hut fuy; 40
starting point for discussion and practical action
he nobly labored with his compatriots to change
and improve it in such form AS to make it an
acceptable adjustment. Throughout the long
and arduous struggle, the love of country expell-
cd from his bosom the spirit of selfishness, and
Mr.. Clay proved for the third time that, though
he was ambitious aud loved glory, he had no
ambition to mount to fame on the confusion
OF his country. And this conviction is lodged
in the hearts of the people the party measures
and the party passions of former times have not
for several years interposed between Mr.. Clay
and the masses of his countrymen. After 1850
he seemed to feel that his mission was accom-
plished, and during the same period the regards
and affections Of the American people have
been attached to him in remarkable degree
For many months the warmest feelings, the
deepest anxieties, Of all parties, centred upon
the dying statesman. The glory Of his
great actions shed a mellow lustre on his decli
ming years; and to fill the measure of his fame,
his countrymen, weaving for him the laurel
wreath, with common hands, did bind it about
his venerable brows, and send him crowned to
history.
| The life of AIR Clay, sir, is a striking exam.
pie Of the abiding fame which surely awaits the
direct and candid statesman. The entire absence
OF equivocaticn or disguise in all his acts was
his master key to the popular heart; for while
the people will forgive the errors of bold and
open nature, he sins past forgiveness who delibe-
rately deceives them. Hence Mr. Clay, though
often defeated in his measures of policy, Away
secured the respect of his opponents without
losing the confidence of his friends. He never
paltered in double sense. The country never
was in doubt as to his opinions or his purposes.
In all the contests of his time, his position on
great public questions was as clear as the sun in
the cloudless sky. Sir, standing by the grave
of this great man, and considering these thiog ;,
how contemplate does appear the mere leger
domain of politics! What reproach is his
life on that false policy which would trihe with
| a great and upright people If Iwere 10 write
his epitaph, would nscribe as the highest eulo-
gy on the stone which shall mark his resting
place, Here lies man who was in the public
service for fifty years, and never attempted to
deceive his countrymen."
his noble qualities, they may take courage from
his career, and note the high proof it afford
that, under our equal institutions, the avenues
to honor are open to all DIR. Clay rose by the
force of his own genius, unaided by power,
patronage, or wealth. At an age when our
young men are usually advanced to the higher
schools of learning, provided only with the ru-
diments Of an English education, he turned his
| steps to the West, and, amidst the rude COLI.
| sions of border life, matured character whose
highest exhibitions were destined 10 mark eras
| in his country's history. Beginning on the
! frontiers of American civilization, the orphan
boy, supported only by the conscentousness
of his own powers, and by the confidence OF the
people, surmouEted all the barriers Of adverse
| fortune, and won glorious name in the annals
of his country. Let the generous youth, fired
with honorable ambition, remember that the
American system of government offers on every
hand bounties to merit. If, like Clay, orphan
age, obscurity, poverty, shall Cypress him, yet if,
like Clay, he feels the Promethean spark within,
let him remember that his country like gene.
rous mother, extends her arms to welcome and
to cherish every one of her children whose gen.
JUS and worth may promote her prosperity or
increase her renown.
Mr. Speaker, the signs Of wo around us and
the general voice announce that another grea
man has fallen. Our consolation is that he was
not taken in the vigor of manhood, but sunk
into the grave at the close of long and ilus-
trious career. The great statesmen who have
filled the largest space in the public eye, one by
one are passing away. OF the three great lead
ers of the Senate one alone remains, and he
must follow soon We shall witness no more
their intellectual struggles in the American
forum, but the monuments of their genius will
be cherished as the common property Of the
people, and their names wl continue 10 confer
dignity and renown upon their country.
Not less illustrious than the greatest of these
will be the name of Clay--a name pronounced
with pride by Americans in every quarter of the
globe; name to be remembered while history
shall record the struggles Of modern Greece for
freedom, or the spirit of liberty burns in tho