New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-04-17
CROCODILE TEARS.

While Henry Clay lived, no other man lived
who was 80 thoroughly the target Of enyenOmed
personal cslumny. Though the most outspOken,
candid and gallant Of public men, and though
maintaining political doctrines and measures that
afforded his adversares ample scope for their hos
tlties, it was not by arguments against these that
they mainly warred upon and defeated him.
When he decided to cast his vote, in accordance
with all his past avOwals and predilections for a
civilian instead Of military chieftan - for John
Quincy Adams instead Of Andrew Jackson they
commenced the work of hunting him down by the
fouest detraction. Before he had thus voted but
after he had cOnfdentally informed La Fayette
that be should 60 vote if compelled to make
the choice, they raised the cry Of "Bargiin
land Corruption" and actually induced the
more ignorant and bsser part of our pop
uaton to believe that he, the fore
most American dtbater the child and champion Of
Democracy, had betrayed the cause intrusted to
his guardianship and sold out his constituents for
sOrdid personal sggrandizement. The crime thus
imputed to him was scarcely less Infamous than
that of Arnold and, in order to give color to this
monstrous accusation, they branded him as gam
bier, liberine debauchee, and everything infamous
in private life. They defeated the great public
measures wherewth his name will ever be indis-
soluby blended by making the unintellgent believe
that their author and champion was personally 50
vile, ard in his public capacity 50 unprinciped,
that nothing which he advocated could be worthy
or benefceDt
Thus they repeatedly defeated him, electing over
him at last James K Polk, who will mainly be
know to future generations as the successful com.
peitor of Henry Clay When they had finally
hunted him out of the public service, they began
TO admit that he was not so bad after all; and
when they had seen the sOds securely planted
above his coffin, they all at once discovered that be
was great and good man Now they honor his
memory as that OF political saint, and celebrate
the anniversary Of hi. birth as though they had
not embittered the nobler half of his life. Even
in Virginia, they associate his name and fame with
those OF Patrick Henry; aud we see that, at the
late celebration Of bis birthday at the place of his
nativity his eulogsts were Senators Butler of
s. c., Douglas Of H., Bigler of Pa, Mason Of
Va, and Jones Of Iowa, with Messrs. Cadwalader
Harris, Davidson and Caske Of the House.
Among these magnates Of Sham Democracy, the
names Of Messrs. John J. Crittenden and John NJ.
Bolts look oddly; but these had right TO be there
and were doubtless in no way responsible for the
sort Of company in which they found themselves
Their eulogiums on Henry Clay were honest aud
sincere turn We to those Of the other sort. Here
is On extract from that of Stephen A. Douglas:
appear here today for the puIO'e Of uniting with you
tribute Of respect 10 the memory Of -
oush The Old Dominion zeal from
yo he fact ths he having removed Kentueiy nfan
csy' bd hs familiarity with the scenes o. frontier life bad
ueE TO GO IN no!dns that stern character that Individual sds
a, ,tSssb ,1i,s az ar Icy os ssIs ss. "a believe
VhiA 70 learn the true eo q orr Co",irion, the complex
would be better e,n IN the exei'smei g. The eRporres and
the dHrg he han IN ID. old States where ali
tg'l ihsmseiyea We have come here today-nen Of Al
IeI'e Of oil shades Of opinion rather men Of all parties
IRENE law q The sud-eome here tossy Tor The purpose
char. er ana pablo ser, zee Of Henry Clay an sure theTs
tie Nch OF he sou,h o he Es.t or the Wet tSa ae.
10 feel Iroud Of the fame ana reputation Of Henry Claw and
he wrhes That pfiee 70 be sweed and excited lto wild
Of freedom the Old World and he will the uams
Of Henry Clay more deer 10 hn than even In hs
county emenbeE well that when standing look
rs ne lew solitary nonumeEs IN tie temple Of Jupiter
AT seeing PROSTATE there the mos. eolgen, u
Ho-en uitcan statesmen and prominent lesaors Of the
Crs r Parliament approached and sad that that column
re- nom IT. position on The DAY that ne news OF the
Il HeEy Clay reached Athens No traveller from Mount
ynus 10 the Tuin OF The AeroPos that not led By
o. Tie very sEd Informed that the very nsn the
news OF Henry CsYs death arrived there that very column
fe oH ts iosn Tie eacefone who took me 70 the
chan Der slowed he resolutions that were sdp,ed and
tered upon the records Of the Grsean Parliament there 20
stsic Ions e. their Contribution AID Government
token OF gratitude Heny Clay for the services which had
RENDERED IA favor u TIE Independence c Greece when
s'fuGglIg agsi1st The Mulnt for Jns
here viii throughout any portion Vt the civilized world
wherever constitutional government Hsis and tbs
Lame Of Henry Clay first and dearest IN the breast ever
Geyotee Of freedom"
MIR. Douglas, We presume, did not tel his
Greek friends that he had been Of the most un.
scrupulous bud interchangeable Of Mr.. Gays defam.
er while he lived-thAt he and his confederates