Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-08-08
HENRY CLAY's ELOQUENCE.
FROM cuLros's .LrFE AND TINES"

HENRY CLAf'S ELOQUENCE.
cULTos's LIFE AND TINES
Among the lost speeches of Mr.. Clay, the
memory of which lives while they who heard
them live, and the thought of which awakens
to new life the feelings they produced, was one
delivered at Lexington, as late as May, 1S43,
the occasion and history of which are as fol-
lows: After Mr.. Clay had retired from the SEN
year, during which time it expected that
he would be nominated for president in 1911,
great efforts were made in Kentucky, and thro'
out the Union. by his political opponents, not
only TO vilify him, but to bring into odium the
twenty seventh Congress, which was the last
in which Mr.. Clay had had seat senator,
and the endcavorS of which were chiefly dircc-
ted to establish the policy and measures called
for by the political evolution of 1910. Mr.. Clay
was virulcntly ,raduced by some base persons
in Lexington, and that neighborhood. AS i
perpetual dropping wears stone, so these in
cessant attacks, tho false and foul, and known
to be such, if unnoticcd and unrepellcd, might
produce injurious effects on the common mind.
He, therefore, resolved, and caused a notice to
be published, that he would meet his fellow
citizens of Fayette and the adjoining counties,
at Lexington, on day specified, to repcl these
charges. His friends, whom, on this occasion
he had not consulted, regretted the step, as
being unnecessary. They thought these at
tacks unworthy of notice. This difference of
opinion was painful to Mr.. Clay, and no doubt
contributed not little to that depth and pow
er of feeling, which he manifested on the
casion. The notice brought together great
concourSc of people, whom no place, but the
public square, could accommodate. The pat
riarch- statesman was to appear before his old
friends and neighbors, of forty years standing,
once more, and for the last time, in that capaci-
ty, in which he had not been heard for many
years, and in which no one ever expected to
hear him again. And it was the vile tongue
of caiumny that was to be encountered.
The following account of this address was
furnished for the author, by highly-respected
fellow-citizen of Mr.. Clay, and the words of
the opening, as quoted, are exact. When Mr..
Clay rose, he was evidently excited. He COM
menccd by saying, with marked emphasis
.sFelow- citizens: L am now an old man-guite
an old man." Here he bent himself downward.
..But vet it will be found, L am not too old to
vindicatc my principles, to stand by my friends,
or to defend myself his voice, loud
er and louder, at each successive member of
the sentence, and clevating his person in most
impressive manner. He then proceeded =
at so happens. that have again located myself
in the practice of my profession, in office with
in few rods of the which 1 occupied, when,
more than forty years ago, first come among you.
N mi
by the hand, and made me what am. feellike
an old stag,s which has been long coursed by the
hunters and the hounds through brakes and briers,
and DER distant plains and has at last returned to
his lair, to lay himself down and die And yet, the
vile of party are barking at my heels and the
blood-hounds of personal malignity are aiming at
my throat. sCoRN AND DEFY THEM, AS EVER DID,"
When he uttered these last words, he raised
himself to his most erect posture, and eleva-
ted his hands and arms, wide extended above
his head, seeming to have nearly doubled the
height of his tall person. The effect was
overwhelming g!-indescribable!
To have any approximate idea of the effect
of this speech, which continued for hours, full
ly sustained throughout, in vindication of the
twenty seventh Congress, of whig policy and
principles, and in defence of the orator himself
against his calumniators, one should have
view of all the attributes of eloquence ascribed
to Mr.. Clay the use of scarcely one of which was
wanting on that occasion. nor should it be for
gotten that he was then 60 years old, ii may be
asked, if any orator can be named in all histo-
ry, who ever produced such an effect, in SO few
words, and those the mere exordium of his Or
alton They all kneto, that what he said was
frue ssI am an old man.'' Didn't they know
that? And the moment he said it, they began
to weep. When he pointed to his present Of
flee, and to the place of the old one, a few rods
distant, they all knew that. 81 came here,
more than forty years ago, an orphan and
stranger They kney that. eYour fathers
took me by the hand and made me what am"
1t is impossible to conceive of the effect of this.
They wept like children, and only wished they
could do as much. They could at least stand
by him. 81 feel like an old stag" Now he is
speaking to Kentucky hunters, Their ears are
all erect for what is coming. And by the time
he had gone through with the figure, and its
application, the struggle between the sympa-
thy which streamed from the eyes OF some, and
the indignation which clenched the fists Of
See Johnston Lives.