The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1856-05-03
Tbe felitiana 9emotrat.
THE SLASH COTTAGE FESTIvA

Our Virginia exchanges give glowing desrrp-
tons of the great celebration of the anniversary
of the birthday of Hencry Clay, at the Slash
Cottage Speeches made by Gushing, |
Jones, of Tennessee, Gov bigger, of Pennsyl-
vana, Judge Douglas and Crittcnden. The last
we present:
"IHc State of Minois-Once a portion of
the Old Dominion. She will never fail in the
hour of trial to sustain the mother which
brought her into existence
| Senator Douglas arose amidst tremendous
applause and order being restored, spoke nearly
as follows:
Mr.. President: There is4no consideration
| on earth that would he more proud to every
Irllnoisian than the consciousness that she has
always approved worthy of our ancient mother
We all recognise the paternity in our Jurispru-
dcncc, in every form in which the common law
took effect in our State; in fact, in her whole
system of laws, Illinois was once county OF
the State of Virginia. Every Illinois lawyer
has frequent occasion to be reminded OF the
fact in tracing the sources of her laws Our
people form large intermiNture OF irsinians
and Kcntuckans with her own. rms also re-
minds us of our paternity, and it is IL matter OF
pride to me that so far as any question affecting
the integrity of the Constitution or u nion Is
concerned Illinois and Virginia have never
separated. [Chccrs.l
| | appear here today for the purpose of uni
ting with you In paying just tribute of respect
| to the memory of X cutucky's great Statesman
IL say Kcntuckys great statesman--for al
though lie was born in the Old Dominion, L
:
. removed to kentucky i'll her infant days, and
Ibis familiarity with the scenes offrontier life had
much to do in moulding that stern character,
that individual Independence which Is peculiar
Ito new settlements / believe that although
Virginia. of all places earth, was the soil
on which to learn the true theory of our Con
stitution the complex system of our government
and the peculiar working of it, would he better
seen amidst cXcitcmcnts, exposures and the
daring scenes Of the forests, than in the old
+ States where all has been firmly settled and
: fixed by the trainers of the Constitution them
selves We have come here to day-inen OF
9 all parties, of all shades of oplnion--or rather
men of all parties of all shades of opini ons, who
believe that the Constitution is the supreme law
of the land, have come here to-day for the pur-
pose of contributing our testimony OF respect
and vcncration for the character and pubic
services Of Henry Clay. | am sure that there
: is no American who is an American ut heart,
whether from the North or South, from the East
or West, who docs not feel proud Of the fam1 {,
and reputation Of Henry Clay prolonged
: cheers and if he wishes that pride to be
swclled and excited into wild enthusiasm, let
3, him cross the waters and mihgle with the low
crs of freedom in the Old w orld, and there
he will find the name Of IL enry Clay more
i dear to him than even III his own native coun-
try Applause. | remember well, that when
once standing and looking at the few solitary
monuments in the Temple of Jupiter, and see
IS ing one PROSTATE monument there, the most
II eloquent of modern Grecian statesmen and
u n prominent legislators of the Grccian Parlia-
q al ment approached me and said that that col
o umn fell from its position on the very day that
the news of the death of Henry Clay reached
l. Athens. No traveller passes from Mount Hy-
T. metus to the ruins of Acropolis, that is not
led by Cccronc to the very rock, and in
= formed that the very instant that the news oi
, Henry Clays death arrived there, that very
n column fell from it's place! The Ciccrone
N that took me to the Senate Chamber showed
d me the resolutions that were adopted and en-
O. tered upon the record of the Grecan Para,
III III ment, there to stand as long their Consttu
. ton and Government exist, token of graf
itduc to Henry Clay, for the services which nc
- had rendered in favor of the independence o
. Greece, when she was struggling against the
ID Mussulman for Il national existence. Go where
you will, throughout any portion of the civil
lied world, wherever constitutional govern
= ments exist, and there the name of Henr,
- Clay is first and dearest in the heart of ever,
A. devotee of freedom. Prolonged applause.
Then, ask you, why should not we, from
the North and the South, and from the Eas
and the West without reference to party dis
10 tinction and past party differences-why shoult
IS not all men believe in the Integrity of TIN
Is, Constitution and that the Union must be pre-
-" plause1 come here to pay tribute Of respoc
- constitutes the admi ration of our country
men, and who was loved by all men who knew
him personally? Whatever difference OF opln
son might have existed between him and TIL
- maj ority of his countrymen on certain point
of constitutional construction, and certain 9th
8 Ter points OF eXpediency upon partlculd
az measures, the man does not live, and never
y. did live, who doubted his patriotism, hi
loyalty to his country, whenever his countr