The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-06
Was the Country Grateful 10 Clay and Web
ster, or Grateful Co the whix PaItyf


In one of the finest creations OF the immortal Shsks
peae, the play OF Henry w. there is scene in which
that renowned parsonage Sir John Fastaf, performs
feat OF high daring-we allude to the tight between
Hoispur and Prince Henry which ends ia the death Of
the former, and 10 the attempt OF Falsaf to usurp tbs
credit of destroying great foe, when he only per-
formed The part OF sabbng the body after life bad de-
parted Let us give the words of the poet introduced
Falsta intercepted, while carrying off the corpse, by
Princes Henry and John:
"P. Henry. Come, brother John, lull bruvely hast
thou heshd
Thy maiden sword.
"P. John But, soft whom have here I
Did you not tell me this lat dead
"P. Henry did | saw him dead, brea'hlsss and
bleeding
Upon the gronnd.-
Art thou alive Z or IL IL phantasy
That plays upon our eye-sigha Iprythee, speak;
We will trust eyes, without our
Thou not what thou seem'st.
'Falstan No, that's certain am double
but il i be Jack Fas,ah, then a Jack. There is
Percy [Ihroong the body doi9al II your father will do
any honor, if not, let him kill the next Percy him
self look be either earl, duke, you.
"P Henry. Why, Percy killed myself and saw
thee dead
"Fastaf bids, thou a-Lord, lord, how this world is
given to lying II grant you, down. aud OF brea tn;
and he; but rose both instant and fought
long hour by Shrewb clock II may be believed,
IL not let them, that should reward valo bear the
upon their own beads III take it upon my DEATH gave
him this wound in the thighs il the alive and
would deny il, ] would make him eat piece of my
sword"
The best imitation OF tins memorable instance of COM
pacent efrontery that we have in many years is
TO be found in the following extract copied into the
National IeAgenesr of yesterday with all the advan-
tages OF italics and editorial type:
The PARrr.-"Ths ,chigs could receive no highe,
sutoum Of the and their than haze been BESTOWED
BY reclamation Of the sne country upon CLAY and WEBSTER
the representatives and imbodimsnis Of both"
"We (says the Fayetteville ObserveD indebted 70 u
kind and valued friend. whose firm adherence men
and of the party has long commended him all
who know him. for calling our attention 10 the sentiment
which have placed the head of this article. How
grateful and refreshing such suggestions! We know
whom should be attributed the credit for of
strong truth, but whether 1t come from the granite hills
Of the North, the sunny cline of The South. the broad
prairie OF the West, speaks the heart Of every
wing language which he should forget, and truth
which should him onward whenever il is sought to
destroy that party either by foes and
cealed enemies.
No party which has existed in country
or any other, could appeal iIlusrrious in
proof Of the purity and patriotism OF It's aims and princi
pies They would have adorned the brightest periods OF
British history they shed luotre the brightest pages OF
own"
Happy was it for Falsad that hery Holspur could not
that the veneTaed statesmen whose names are now
quoted in vindicauon Of the wing party not in the
land Of the living to answer for themselves We deny
that lhe acclama,on of the entire country upon Clay
and Webster" was intended in any "eulogium
upon wing men and measures p and il is insult no,
less to the memory of the iusrous dead than il I'M
dying and unanswerabe history, 10 SET up claim alb
surd On the contrary, II was only while Clay and
tka ~
most before The country. 1t when they SCARED
higher. and expanded their mighty intelleets in the
atmosphere OF that pure patriotism which seemed 40
natural and necessary TO them, tina, they ap-
plauded by the popular heart Conceive for moment
that Daniel Webster, mol mourned BY those who now in
decently clutch al his shield for present
chnatons could in the National Intsugenes the para
graph we have quoted! Or that Henry Clay could wit
ness the attempt made divert the national gratitude for
himself into the turbid pool Of whggeryl
II is fact which may be prohaby studied especially
al the present moment that Henry Clay and Daniel Web
ser belonged class, and constituted school, which
could not agree with partisan wings constitutional
principles and those who truly follow their example al
the present day. confess to the truth OF this observation
by the GOODNESS with which they stand aoof from ,ohat
i. ef Of that party Indeed may be said that those
when one or Doin oil ihese statesmen rendered
signal service the country il was in nearly every instance
against the voice OF the great body OF the wings Their last
Efforts The greatest they made Tor The Union aud for
posey were obsucted and assaed BY The MAORI oftte
uhg party Had there been such party in the North
did the controlling power OF the whole
wing ogauzaton-lhe opposition TO the compromise
measures would have been ctcumscrbed 10 few crazy
fanatics Who this day, howl against the memory Of
Clay and Webster, In that memorable contest for the
constitution and for the couederscy, how often did both
depore aud denounce the condition OF the wing party
compared with the proud and sell. sacrcng attitude Of
the democracy More than one whig exclaimed when
they finally passed from The theatre OF life. hai the wbg
party national organization, buried in the graves
Of Clay aud Webster"
Poor Falstaf, when he claimed Percy the trophy Of
his courage, and that the world given lying
because another asserted his right the honor was not
treated with dign6ed contempt than that which
will inspire The people OF this country when they see the
National teihgenc and other whg organs trying to in
clude themselves in the universal gratitude Of the Ameri
can nation for the services Of Clay and Webster
The American Celia journal enjoying a large crcu-
aiion and OF great Influence edited by Thomas Darcy
Niece son Of the Emers Isle" an adopted citizen
Of The United States, gentleman OF eminent talents,
and an able wrltern commenting upon a characteristic,
coarse, and yiiuperave article in the New York Herald