The weekly American banner. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1855-18??, 1856-10-10
RIDAY.s OCTOBER (Cs'Tll de 10, 1856.


81 From the Louisville journal. llh.f II
ID Mr.. JaaEaes Id. Clay. " aw D
i This man, " ho unfortunately 10 able to speak .
d the immortal Henry, Clay as his father, has I
lad bis weak aud vain head turned by the fat
cries and cajoleries Of the Sag Nicht leaders
md gone regularly into the canvass as trav-
elling advocate of James Buchansn, whom at
Ieast ninety-nine hundreths Of the old friends /,
Ind defenders Of Henry Clay regard as the un-
umDy which blasted all the highest and nobieet
hopes Of that glorious patriot and statesman
his 7eventful alifc.
E air. j. speeches are Of no consequence
in themselves; they derive, even in the estima-
ton OF his new friends, oil their Importance |
from the simple fact of his being son OF the |
great man whom large ms;ority OF them
hunted like hell-houndsl to his gave. And |
this employee of theirs, seeming to know, in
spite of his vanity, what is wanted OF him.
makes his illustrious father the burden OF alli
his speeches. He is not contemplated or rec
ognized as man of himself, but simply N the ]
sou of one. He is not esteemed on his own ac-
count, but only on account of his relationship
to his betters 1t is said that, by spasmodie
effort Of nature, the noblest Of horses may be
|
same power inzan opposite direction. the scrub.
| best of men may be the progency ofthe great
est and most illustrious of the race.
The Democracy, to make the most of J. B.
c., are always talking of him as 'sthe favorite
son Of Henry Clay" This, We think, imposes
on Us the duty Of speaking OF matters that we
would most gladly avoid. James B. Clay
never performed in behalf of his father the Of
fees which a dutiful con would have perform
ed from fial affection if from TO other motive.
Years ago we heard one of Mr.. Clay's highly
respectable relatives, who is now nhve to tes
tify TO the truth or falsi,y of what we state,
say that even when Mr.. Clay, then in feeble
health, and wearied by the constant calls Of
visitors, wished to seek repose in his bed cham
Der or in brief absence from home, he could
never induce his son James B. Clay, living at
} that time under his roof to extend to the hosp
talities of his mansion TO his guests that the
young man treated with rudeness and discour
D tesy all who called to pay the tribute of theil
admiration and gratitude Of his great father.
IL MIR. Clay, upon his death-bed at Washing
I ton City. sent for his son Thomas III. Clay t.
: come and remain with him till the close Of hi,
: life, but he did not send for James B. Clay
e who is now called ''the favorite son"--and tn,
o latter did net go. Although the end OF tn,
e old patriot was known by the whole country
to be at hand, neither by invitation nor yet O
Il his own accord did ''the iavorite son" repai
e to his dying bed to soote his last days an
hours with tlial attentions, and to hear his las
t, words of wisdom and affection. Whilst hun
l. dredss of friends and strangers Were throngn
l. around the house where the dying, patriot lay
e and anxiously and wildly inquiring with hash
t. ed breath, as to every change in his condition
> '.the fayorite son" was pursuing his dali
re vocation at home, apparently regardless of tn
n swift approach Of the fearful event that wa
L to fill the whole land with mourning. Henr
lr Clay died in the arms of his eldest son, an
after a few days, his mortal remains were brougl
ar home to be buried in the soil of his own KeI
e. lucky.
We all remember the vast aud solemn ret
u nue. that followed his body thousand mile
hit in order that his obsequies might be worthy
in his fame and Of the nation he had in life
long and gloriously served. Men, distinguish
RS, ed men, from all sections of the Union and
lie immense numbers, were in that mourning Hsu
tie tttde. But James B. Clay, .the favori
oh sion, nor yet at the grave. He chose to I
main at his farm near St Louis, looking
his crops. rather than make q brief journey
al see the awful dust OF his immortal father CO
nal signed to common dust, and to offer words
~. consolation to an aged mother so dreadfully b
" lreaved.
sre But, when Henry Clay was buried out
iii. Isght, James B. Clay left his farm and p,
to chased Ashland, the residence of his depart
es- father. His subsequent conduct was VIII
hly from his previous conduct, was to be expect
|ol of him. The old mansion, which was hallow
90. in SO many million of hearts as the home
lie Horny Clay, ana to which, through all |
lire coming years. millions of the devotees Of lib
son ty and geuus from all parts of the world wo
lar have delighted to make their holy pilgrina.
tets of love and reverence, had nothing ssered
the eyes OF "the favorite son." Not hav
ors- gone near his father upon his death-bed 8
If having stood aloof from the mournful and
the most interminable procession, that gather
With from all the States went weeping to his fatht
and funeral, he could not be supposed to have ;
q of regard FOR the venerable edifces consecrated
aud that fathers memory. To has soul it was
ors, so much brick and wood and mortar;
men knowing the deep reverence of myriads
I Of others for everything connected with his fail
oul- his eye, ever quick to the chances. of prt
ers, saw that he could turn that residence to pc
mary account; and so he coldly speculated
men lon mankind's love for his dead sire.
ber, He tore down the house made holy to
de- worlds great throbbing heart, from lhay
hes, been the home Of his father, and advertised
;hed the newspapers to sell the lumhef as mater
acts. for canes and work-boxes and sruff boxes
Kip those by whom his fathers memory was
and lied. Itwas a deed unequalled in heartl
Mr. ness and barbarism by that of any Wanda
the Goth or Visigoth, whose name is on rec
y OF When. he was publicly called to account bl
n of for this scandaious transaction. he pleaded
hers as the old hot,se at Ashland was his pri
The property, he had right 10 do what he pie
,rgy- with it. We have no doubt that his legal
sub to the house was without flaw. as is also
iend- title to the Ground where his mighty "a
lders sleens. and The world need not be surprise
have - ~ - Ms ,;shtss he sba n