The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-07-08

To reach the topmost step Of glory; to stand Their.
More hard. Even swifter than We mount we fall. ,
II not at all times fret, he stood equal with
the foremost, and brilliant rapid rise knew nc
decline in the confidence of those whose just
appreciation of his merits had confirmed his title
to renown.
The citizens Of other countries will deplore
MS death; the struggling patriots who on our
own continent were cheered by his Anppathies
ana who must have perceived his inf pee in the
recognition Of their independence ~ this gov
eminent, have taught their children to venerate
his name. lie won the civic crown, and the
demonstrations of this hour own the worth of
| civil services.
1t was with great satisfaction that heard
my friend from Kentucky, Mr.. BREcKINRIDGE E. |
the immediate representative of Mr. Clay, detail
a conversation which disclosed the feelings of
that eminent man in relation to his Christian
hope. These Mr.. Speaker, are rich mem orals,
precious "reminiscences. Christian statesman
is the glory Of his age, and his memory will be
| glorious in after times it reflects light coming
from source which clouds cannot dim, nor
shadows obscure. 1t was my privilege also, a
short time since, to converse with this distn-
giIished statesman on the subject of his hopes
in future state Feeling deep interest, |
asked him frankly what were his hopes in the
world to which he was evidently Fastening. 81
am pleased, (said he,) my friend, that you have
introduced the subject. Conscious that must
die very soon, love to mediate upon the most
important of all interests. love to converse
and to hear conversations about them. The
vanity of the world and it's insuflciency to sat
isfy the soul of man has been long a settled
conviction Of my mind. Mans inability to Sc
cure by his own merits the appreciation of God,
feel to be true. trust in the atonement of the
Saviour Of men as the ground of my acceptance
and my hope of salvation. My faith is feeble,
but hope In His mercy, and trust in His pro
misses" To such declarations listened with
the deepest interest, as | did on another occa-
sion, when he said, 81 am willing to abide by the
will of Heaven, and ready to die when that will
shall determine it."
of Christian. That hope alone, sir, can sus-
tain you, or any Of US. There is one lonely and
crushed heart that has bowed before this afflic
tive event. Far away, at Ashland, widowed
wife, prevented by feeble health from attending
his bedside and soothing his painful hours-She
has thought even the electric speed of the intel
lgence daily transmitted Of his condition too
slow for her geneing, anxious bosom. She will
find consolation in his Christian submission, and
will draw all of comfort that such case admits
from the assurance that nothing was neglected
by the kindness of friends of which could sup.
ply her place. May the guardianship of the
widows God be her protection, and his conso-
lation her support
MIR. CASkIE, of Virginia, said: Mr.. Speaker,
unwell as lam, must try to lay single laurel
leaf in that open coffin which is already garland
ed by the eloquent tributes to the Industrious
departed, which have been heard in this now
solemn hail. for come, sir, from the district of
in kIHth L A. al IL
Hanover, so proud of her Henrys-her Patrick
Henry and her Henry Clay. speak for n peo-
pie among whom he has always had as earnest
and devoted friends as were ever the grace and
glory Of patriot and statesman.
shall attempt no sketch of his life That
you have had from other and ADLER hands than
mine. Till yesterday that life was, of his own
free gift, the property Of his country to-day it
belongs to her history. Ii is known to all and
will not be forgotten. Constant, stern opponent
Of his political school as has been my State,
say for her that nowhere in this broad land are
his great qualities more admired or his death
more mourned than in Virginia. Well may
this be so, for she is his mother and he was
her son.
Mr.. Speaker, when | remember the party
strifes in which he WAS so much mingled, and
through which we all more or less have passed,
| and then survey this scene, and think how far,
| as the lightning has borne the news, that he il
gone, half.masted flags are dropping, and church
! bells are toling, and men are Borrowing, can
but feel that is good for man to die. For when
death enters, Oh! how the unkndnesses, and
jealousies, and rivalres of life do vanish, and
how like incense from an altar, do peace, and
friendship and all the sweet charities of our
nature, rise around the corpse which was once a
man And of Il truth, Mr.. Spesker, never was
more of veritable noble manhood cased in NOR
tai mould than was found In him to whose mem
DRY this brief and humble but true and heartfelt
tribute is paid. But his eloquent voice is
hushed, his high heart is stiled. Like shock
of corn fully ripe, he has been gathered to his
| fathers" " th more than three score years
| and ten upon him, and honors clustered thick
about him, in the full possession of unclouded
intellect, and all the consultations of christianity
! he has met the fate which is eyitablc by none
Lamented by all his countrymen, his name is
bright on fame's immortal roll. He has finished
his course, and he has his crown. What more
fruit can life bear? What can it give that
Henry Clay has not gained
| Then, Mr. Speaker, around his tomb should
be heard not only the dirge that walls his loss
but the jubiIant anthem which sounds that on
the worlds BATTLEFIELD another victory has been
won-another incontestable greatness achieved
Mr.. BAYLY. of Virginia Mr., Speaker al
though have been all my life party opponent
of Mr.. Clay, yet from my boyhood have been
upon terms of personal friendship with him.
More than twenty years ago was introduced
to him by my father, who was his personal
friend. From that time to this there existed
between US as great personal intimacy as the
disparity of our years Spd our political difference
would justify After | became member of
this House, and upon his return to the Senate
subsequent to his resignation in 1912, the warm
regard upon his part for the daughter of a
devoted friend of forty years. standing made
him constant visiter at my house, and fire.
quently guest at my table. These circum
stances make it proper that upon this occasion |
should pay this last tribute to his memory. /
not only knew him well as statesman, but |
knew him better in the most unreserved social
intercourse. The most happy circumstances, as
! esteem it. of my political life has been that ]
|