The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-04-15

nslnterest0d zeal for the preservation ct the
Union; the unsullied purity Of his whole course of
public conduct--his free fearless. bold de-
fence or the Constitution and of the Uniou-it was,
IN my opinion, all these and it was moreover his
Keen and acute perception to discover danger to
the Union, and his readiness at all times TO come
forward with the olive branch of peace, the pa
cifcator. Never has this Union been in danger
that Henry Clay was not the man looked 70, of all
men IN this country, TO bring forward the olive
oranch OF peace and 10 say, "hush, be still, and
mere was peace. {Applause) He not only served
the people but he served his country and the Union
On three different occasions of his lfe-ls20, 1892
and ls50-when that demoniac cry of disunion
was raised, we find that Henry Clay was the man
who came forward and hushed into stiffness, the
mad fanaticism that would have ruined us. -
(Cheers)
Mr.. President when came into public lfe,-I
should say, when / first took an active part in
public life, Henry Clay was known as the great
Commoner of this country. After fthe year 1882,
he became known as the "Great Pacifcator' of
the country. After 1850 he was known as the great
Commoner, Paeifeator and Statesman of the
Union (Appause)
Sir, well may the county of Hanover be proud
OF the part she has acted in the great drama of the
nations history. What other county within the
broad limits of this Union has given birth to two
such men as Patrick Henry and Henry Clayl-
(Applause) The former the first orator of the
age IN which he lived and the individual who put
tae ball IN motion, was one picked out of three MIL
iions the latter who kept that ball rolling and de
voted his life to the preservation of the Union and
who was not only the first orator but the first
statesman OF the age in which he lived, was one
man picked ont of twenty-five millions Tower
ing as Mr.. Clay was during his life among his
compeers, how immeasurably did his proportions
grow and swell and increase and expand as we
contrast him with the selfish tricksters of the pre-
sent dayi Ispeak thus sir, in no inyidious or par
ty sense; apply 1t to all men, of all parties from
the highest to the most humble But how immeas.
urably, say does he grow up, when we compare
him with the men that he has left behind him,
whose only object now is to acquire places for
themselves and their friends. Well might il be said
of Henry Clay
nHiswas a combination and a form indeed
Where every God did set his seal
To give the world assurance of man,
have not unfrequently heard it said, Mr. pres
dent, that the honesty of Henry Clay stood in the
way OF his advancement Sir, Irepudiate the SEN
timent, not only as unjust to the intelligence and
virtue OF the American people, but injurious to
the rising generation. Give not sir, your young
aspirants to believe that honesty stands in the way
of any mans promotion. 1t was that and that
alone, that enshrined him in the hearts of his
countrymen. 1t was that which brought us here
from different parties of the Union and different
sections OF the country to unite and mingle one
with another in commemorating the birth day of
Henry Clay. There are other causes sir, that re-
tarded the advancement of Henry Clay, which it
would not be proper in me on this occasion to re-
fer to. But, Ibeg respectfully to ask what gentle
man is there in this company that would not pre-
fer to live Henry Clay lived serving his country
as an honest man. patriot and statesman, with.
out the rewards of office, than to have rolled in
official luxury during his life, and to have died
"unwept, unhonored and unsung"
This is the man, Mr.. President, have briefly
depicted to you, that we have assembled here to
pay our tribute to, and whom we have determined
for all time to commemorate This is the charac-
ter OF the man, sir, whose respect. whose conf
dence, whose esteem, whose friendship, 1 am proud
to say, l fattered myself, l enjoyed for the last
twenty years of his existence Such is the man,
sir, for whom sacrificed my position in public life
Such is the man for whom, / am proud 10 say,
manifested my confidence and constancy and
friendship in those trials which beset every
political aspiration l had ever entertained and
which was ready to sacrifice, and am proud to
have sacrificed in defence of him at a time when
clouds lowered over his head and he was struck
down in his own household. / have only to say
upon that subject, that SO far from having to
tract or regret it. it is the proudest event of my
political life. When found him deserted by the
Wing party, by men that he had elevated the most
and served the best it only served to rivet my con-
staney to the man, and increase my determination
to uphold him to the bitter end. And, sir, am
willing to abide all the consequences of the at
tachment. -t-+
Mr.. President, it only remains for me to perform
the Christian rite of baptism. And now, sir, if we
had the materials before us, which l am sorry to
say the President has somewhat neglected 1
should proceed with the ceremony. (The bottles
had run low, but upon this complaint of the Off
ciating gentleman, fresh supply came to his re.
lef-though he still wanted the wax want the
material (the liquor for everybody here; and l
would seal with red seal the incoming of this
new city, which is henceforward and forever
more to be known as Ashland" [Cheers and l
call upon every gentleman here, to whom the op-
portunity is offered, to stand sponsor and god
father for the city of Ashland, wishing it godspeed
in bumper. (rhe city was then baptised with
cepious hbation all around)
lair Washington's March.
The next regular toast ws:
The Senate of the Uaited Stdtes-Swayed by no
popular impulses and controlled by no executive
dietation it is prepared alike to preserve the
rights of the people and the integrity of the Const
tuition.
IAir-"Hail Columbia"
Senator BUTLER, in reply to the loud calls for
him, spoke nearly as follows Mr.. President: The
compliment which 1 have received on this occa-
sien, is much more than / deserved and what did
not expect. suppose it is because l have been
longer in the United State Senate than other Sen
ators here, who are far better qualified to repre-
sent that body than am. l have been in the Sc
nate of the United States for the last ten years,
and during that time, have served with the great
est men, and have had to deal with the greatest
events that have ever affected the destiny of this
Republic. have served in the Senate with Hen
ry Clay and Daniel Webster and sir, if you will
allow me to say-for justice will not permit him to
be thrown aside in a fair view of the historic
sion as this-with JOHN c. CALHoUN-(great ap-
plause) During that time, sir / was well acquant
ed with Henry Clay, and he did me the honor on
more than one occasion to say, that he dsiiked up
on any account to differ from the son of the faith
or who was associated with him in the councils
which led to the war of 1919.
NOW, sir, while have this tribute paid to me
IN some measure as the oldest member of the IT,
8 senate, now present, will not take up tho
tme OF this audience in portraying the character
OF tnose who dealt with the greatest subjects that
can enter into the discussion of human affairs, l
have felt their influences, sir. will not leave
out my friend from Kentucky, (Mr. Crittenden,)
whenl repeat the names OF those distinguished
men with whom served in the Senate. Sir,
when stand here to do historic Justice to men of
genius and worth j do not intend to leave out any
one who is entitled TO my tribute to the extent that
my testimony can be made available; but assure
you, sir, that was not prepared TO respond to any
sentiment that might be offered here tonight
Indeed came here with the impression that
this would be banquet in which Virginia
and Kentucky, would do all that was necessa-
ry to give cheerfulness and animation TO this
scene and, sir, Virginia and Kentucky, with their
tributary influences could make any occasion
cheerful animated and ilustrous. did no. expect
that South Carolina would have been called upcu !;
yet feel fattered that she has been called npop
not sir as South Carolina but as hope by ,yay of
tribute 10 one, who on one occasion has appeared
before the tribunal of history
plaa aura in rtic II, tb;, n.I.t.~.