The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-10-05
THE DAILY DISPATCH.



1 Ashland Tn, editor of the Cincinuatl
Gatstte. on late visit 70 Ashland. found the
old mansion Of Henry Clay demolished, pre-
parAtery to the erection Of another house,
The editor expresses his regret Il this, and
thinks the house Of Henry Clay should have
been carefully kept in the state in which he
left IT. except such repairs - we're necessary
for its preservation.
We cordially sympathize with this senti-
ment. Not one stone. nor one brick OF tne
house in which Henry Clay lived, should
have been touched by nyhand butthe hand
Of Time. hand which hallows and renders
venerable even that which it decays. Eve
nv tree that shaded the avenues, every shrub,
every flower, every mute object Of nature
and Of art, with which his image was associ.
ated, should have been held sacred. Though
the genius Of the place had departed, though
the shechinah had ceased to shine. the tenn
Pile should have been religiously preserved
place to which future pilgrims might resort
and bend, with pious devotion, at an altar
once made bright and beautiful by the hea-
ven. enkindled FIRE of genius and PATRIOTISM.
We fear that the demolition ofthis mansion
of Henry Clay is typical of the demolition OF
another structure, which, though ne Ola nor
create it, is indissolubly associated with bis u
lus.rious name. We refer to that house mot
made with hands," that great and majestic
political fabric, unequalled in all the tide OF
Time. the American Union. So long as Hen
nv Clay lived, men felt that the Union was
secure; that not one stone OF the great iaoric
would be displaced; that it could not De un'
dermined by traitors, nor overthrow ny
open foes; that the rains might beat, and the
winds might blow, yet it would stand me
stronger for the trial, and the dearer and
more precious for the dangers it endured
In the midst of the midnight storm, the voice
of Henry Clay filled every heart with cour-
age. hope and faith; and when the tempest
passed away, and the sky became clear again,
it was he who stood upon the battiements Oh
the Constitution, and with exulting finger
pointed to the stars, as one by one they came
out FROM behind the clouds, each full orbed
and heralding brighter day But he has gone,
and already the great structure which his
wisdom strengthened and his eloquence
adorned, is trembling to its foundations. Its
own inmates are seeking to pull down its Pill
lars and not to leave one stone of the build
ing upon another. What they propose to
erect in its stead, we know not; Dut II Will
be ages before, amid these ruins, more mel
ancholy than the ruins Of Balbec, Palmyra
or Persepolis, such another structure greets
the face of heaven. Cruel, greedy, and ra-
venous beasts will have their lair amid the
PROSTATE columns, and obscene birds and
hooting owls make the night hideous.
But in this vast and melancholy downfall
the memory of our great and good men will
bs preserved, to encourage and direct future
generations The mansion of Clay may perish
the Union crdmble into dust, but his sublime
name, pure and imperishable as the light OF
day, will continue to guide and cheer the
human race until men cease to admire genius
and love freedom.