New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1853-01-17
NEW ORLEANS CLAY .MO.N'UyNE.N.
TIL ASSOCLfTTO.N

We have been requested to state, that a COM
mittee from this association will wait upon our
citizens, commencing to-day, for the purpose OF
receiving subscriptions in behalf of the object OF
its formation--the erection of a monument to
Henry Clay in one of our public squares The
monument proposed is a colossal statue of our
departed statesman, which shall cost not less
than $50 900. and it is hoped that this sum will
be subscribed within the limits of the city, OF
which it will form one of its proudest ornaments.
The association is in correspondence with sew
eral distinguished sculptors, and is prosecuting
the undertaking with an energy and zeal, which,
with the cooperation of our liberal and patriotic
citizens, must ensure success.
We cannot doubt but that our citizens will
respond literally to the call. 1t has two objects
which must strongly appeal to their pride and
mpathies-adding a great work Of art to the
ornaments of our city, and, chiefly, paying a
Just tribute to the memory of a man honored by
all americans.
There is peculiar propriety in the erection
Of such a monument in this city. Henry Clay
in his public career always championed the IN
terests Of New Orleans, and in his day, his
championship was powerful in securing de-
sired result. )ften has his lofty form moved
along our streets, and frequently has his voice
been heard in our midst, pleading in our courts
of justice or returning las he alone could return
them) grateful and heartfelt thanks for the
warm and eager welcome which ever hailed his
: coming Month after month has he pleasur-
ably fingered in our midst, and left us, at last,
with fervent " God speed YOU to the throng
which pressed around him to bid him regret
full farewell. In no other city of the Union
could Henry Clay count larger or truer host
Of personal friends or of men, who rent parti-
sanship asunder, to look with enthusiastic and
generous admiration upon the light and splen-
dor of the genius Of the great statesman and
orator.
So loved and 80 admired by the citizens ofNew
Orleans, they cannot be Indifferent to a propo-
sition to place in our midst statue of the Illus
trious dead, whom they so honored when, living,
he breathed and moved amongst us. The sun
which shone dimmed upon our city on the first
announcement of his death. may, and should yet,
here fall upon the statue of the Orator, Patriot,
and Statesman, and kindle the cold marble
into seeming life The children in our streets
vision of his statued presence, how a peoples
gratitude canonizes peoples Benefactor,
and how noble an apotheosis Art gives to
the truly great. We shall honor ourselves
in honoring our illustrious dead, who have
ceased to labor, and who as statued memories Of
the past must always be such glorious inspira-
tions for the future. From the statue of Henry
Clay many boy in our streets will turn to the
study Of a great life-a magnificent episode in
American history. And when he reads that great
life Of self reliance, struggle usefulness, power,
honor and fame, he will go to labor with stur-
diness such as hswed the marble from the
quarry, and tireless effort to realize the in
spiration of great model, such as the sculp-
tors enthusiasm and toll, that he may make
himself something like him, to whom we shall
have raised statue in our midst
Is We hope feelings of national pride, of patriotic
gratitude and the zeal of citizenship will com
bine to secure a liberal and prompt response to
the call of the committee