The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-12-16
The Private Correspondence Of Henry Clay
IiRhts anu kha Sles Nf Politics.

The Private Correspondence Of Henry Clay
Lights anu shades u Politics.
There is vast amount Of interesting mat
ter in wha: is published as the private CORES
pondence Of Mr.. Clay, liberal extracts from
which we lay before our readers
The public mind likes to look behind the
formule Of official routine and ceremony, to
ascertain how the great personages who enter
tain the world contrive to get along with
mere private affairs History 10 made up
by far too much Of the movements of armies,
the discussions Of legislators and the cores
pondence of diplomatists. In this way that
which makes hist0ry-the whole inner life, the
daily walk and conversational concealed or
counted as unworthy of notice. Instead of
tracking out prominent individuals-in place,
in fact, Of individualzing nations, care seems
to have been taken to present the public with
nothing but the mere exterior of the castle,
the paint and varnish of the structure.
Perhaps in no case within the range Of our
existence az nation could person be selected
whose private acts and associations are of such
general interest as those of Henry Clay. If
not the greatest man which our country has
produced, he is undoubtedly the fittest repre-
sentative of American ideas and life. He was
cast in the finest American mould; not whit
tied out and driven into place in society,
but full natural growth. AS whole, he
was the ablest statesman we ever had. He
went Off the stage of life nearer than any
other as he came on. He was at once the
most extreme and the most moderate man in
the republic. Mr.. Clay was the very emhodi-
ment Of the constitution itself In saying this
we would not be understood as endorsing all
bis theories; for many of them had reference
rather to Mr.. Clay as q politician, as the leader
of great party, which he was permitted to
counsel, but had not always the power 10 con-
troll. He advocated the charter of a national
bank, high protective tariff, a grand scheme
of internal improvements by the general
government; but these were projects Of a party
which was organized in opposition to General
jackson. This is seen by reference to his cor
respondence.
1t is interesting to observe as late as the
summer of ls27-two years after the election Of
Mr.. Adams--how sensitive was Mr. Clay on the
subject of the federal policy Of the elder Pre-
sideDt Adams. Speaking of the latter, he says
81 gave all the effect could in. private circles
Che was too young to be in public life) "against
some Of the prominent measures of that ad-
minisration, and what believed to be its ten
dency, if not the ultimate aim of some of its
principal supporters. But could not allow
myself to transfer my dislike of the admins
tration of the father to the person and public
character Of the son."
Mr. Clay was democrat in its broadcast and
deepest sense. Previous to what was termed
the bargain and salen of 1924, which resulted
in the election of Mr.. Adams over Gen. Jack
son, and the appointment Of Mr.. Clay to the
post of Secretary OF State, then supposed to be
in the line Of safe precedence to the White
House, Mr.. Clay had been the acknowledged
republican leader in the national Legislature.
He was reared in Kentucky, o frontier State,
where they made nothing but liberal, patriotic
men. There were no disunionists in those days
Even Colonel Burr, who was believed to be a
traitor to the Union, writes to Mr.. Clay as early
as 1906, and having been charged with origi-
mating scheme looking to a dissolution of the
States, says: 81 have neither published a line
on this subject, nor has any one through my
agency, or with my knowledge" The truth is,
Colonel Burr, in those times could hardly OBJ
tain hearing amongst our black SApublicans,
on the basis Of what he did in opposition to
the government. Traitors then were rare pro-
auctions. Mr.. Clay was Colonel Burrs coun-
sci, and believed his client guiltless of all de-
signs to impair the integrity of our national
compact. We can readily imagine that amongst
a people like those Of Kentucky, bold, daring,
chivalrous and patriotic, 1t would be difficult
to understand how an American could devise
means to sever the bonds that bound US toge-
ther as one people; just as difficult as it is now
for true patriot to comprehend how an abo-
litionist and negro worshipper can be anything
else than traitor to his country.
Perhaps no man in the United States ever
passed prouder, more cloudless career than
did Mr.. Clay during the first twenty years OF
his public life. He was the observed of all
observers-the chief object of attraction by
all parties--the nation was literally waiting
for few years to be added to his youth to
crown him with its highest honors. The great
secret of his strength was, after all, his hui
maniiy--his pre-eminent social qualities, united
as they were with wonderful common sense
He Was, as we have said, a natural growth--a
full grown and well cultivated man by the pow
ers of his admirably balanced and intuitive
mind lie was no student Of other mems
thoughts; he always relied upon his own, and
he was safe beyond any man of his day 10 do.
ing so. 1t has always been marvel how such
O person became intimately associated with
Mr. Adams, and q violent opponent Of General
jackson. There is one marked resemblance
between the latter-they were both distinguish
ed for selfreliance, Characteristic which
made the one the most distinguished aud sue
cessiul statesman, and the other an uasuc-
cessful leader of a party. They were new