The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-12-04


ings than my judgment in rising address the Senate on
this melancholy and affecting occasion While u seems 70
that have few friends remaining to me than
JOHN Nj. CLAYTON was, remember nevertheless that he
by long distance my senior In the federal councils
and that although we were many years as I, tbst
could scarcely be called elowaetos seeking common
lcal objects and maintaining common political principles
But Il has been truly said Of him that be was man OF most
genial nature The kindness which he showed TO me SO
early and continued 10 show 10 me so long removed all
the CONSTANTS which circumstances created ana never
failed 10 seek his counsel when II was needed and bis CO.
operation when felt that ! had right TO claim It,
Mr. President hiuk Is surprised by this pain
full announcement His health and strength were obvi-
ously SO much impaired by frequent ystaons OF disease
during the last regular session of Congress that when
parted with him In September last was oppressed with
the conviction that should meet him no more on earth
The remembrance of kindness and affection he Their ex-
pressed to win remain with until shall meet him,
as | trust, 10 better and happier world.
Mr. President have fallen into these funeral cersmo-
MES without any prepared meditated discourse
Perhaps shall let my heart pour forth its own feelings
may render TO the lustrous dead tribute not less just
than that which could have prepared had applied my
self to the records of country and brought into one
group the achievements OF his life.
This must say that JonN NJ CLAYTON seemed to me pc
cuary fortunate in achieving just what he proposed TO
himself achieve, and in attaining fully all that he de-
sired His respected and distinguished colleague has given
testimony which germane though hardly SO necessary
as he thought TO the fact that Mr. CLAYTON was eminent
in his profession lawyer and ADVOCATE He began
life with the purpose of attaining that professional emf
We who here his survivors, knew him IN other
spheres His ambition led him at different periods INTO
two different departments of public servicehe one that
of senator the other that OF minister dipomatist
Fame attained in the Senate by pursuing either one OF
quite divergent either by the practice
OF delivering the prepared elaborate and exhausng ora
tion which be done only unequenty and always on
transcendant occasions or by skill power and dignity IN
the daily and desuory debates all questions OF public
interest, as they happen TO arise.
happen to know to have good to think, that
Mr. CLAyroNs ambition preferred this aforementioned line
of Fart lie m
when entered this chamber as representative OF my
State and his aforementioned advice couched nearly
in these words Do not seek great occasions on which 10
make great speeches. in session OF Congress- but per-
form your duty your constituents and your country by
debating all important subjects of administration as they
occur Senators all around will remember how
snty and inefatgably he himself pursued the line which
he had thus marked out for me-
Those who shall read as am sure posterity will
read the recorded debates of the Senate for the period
braced within the last twenty-five years. viii find that
although surrouaded by mighty men in argument and
speech JOHN NJ CLAYTON among the few effect
i've statesmen who determined influenced the admin
istration of the government Of this great country.
His other department of public service was diplomacy
Never have | seen man more admirably qualhed by
asuteness comprehensvenes and vgor for that arduous
and responsible branch of public life lie excelled not
merely by of these qualifications but also, and emf
neny by of his ankness of character and con-
duct. He frank, open, direct and manly He showed
his purposes in ouspoken and direct communications
Perhaps we to him much rs to any other of our
many able dipomatiss the achievement of the United
is best conducted when leads through open fair and d
rect courses.
Mr. CLAYTON was as has been truly claimed for him,
patriot lover OF all the parts and of the whole OF our
country The peculiar location and character OF
the State which he representedlying midway between
the North and the Southprobably had the effect to
fine his natural tendency of temper and render him
sentative careful cautious and concatory respond to
the claims made in his behalf by his colleague and by bis
venerable friend and compatriot the from Ken.
lucky, Mr. CRTTESDES in this respect when say that
in ne "A a he
the generation which has passed away and that
Grafton which the responsibilities Of national conduct
have deyolved and his influence necessary for the happy
solution of those great questions involving cherished inter
of the North and OF the South which press upon
with great urgency Such the character he main
tanned here a senator and legislator umpire be
tween conflicting interests moderator between contend
ing parties How natural then, that he should be emf
nenty national eminenuy comprehensive IN his action
minister and a diplomatist
Avery distinguished French Mons. Ampere) be
gins his journal traveller with account Of his vs
at the Worlds Fair, held think in 1852, in London
and he pronounces that great exhibition of the industry
many nations the first universal fact in the history
the human BE egregousy erred. That great
was neither the most important was it the part o
the universal facts which have transpred in day
The first universal cta fact indicating ultimate unor
Of the nations-was the Clayton and Buwer reaty-tha
treaty which provided for the opening Of passages Of
muncRtion and conncIion the Central American
sthmus to the growing civilization Of the western and mod
erD and the declining civilization of the eastern and ancen
world. Ii the felicitous good fortune of JoHS
Cts YroS not than his genius and ability, that
abed him 10 link his fame with that great and stu
pendous transaction and to win for himself the eternal
gratitude OF future generations not only In his
try but throughout the great divisions Of the earth What
difficulties have hitherto attended the execution of that
great treay-whstever future difficulties may attend it
the treaty itself Is the bow Of promiS Of peace harmony
and concord all nat!onP II s impershabe
ment TO the fame Of him whose worth celebrate and
whose loss we deplore.
The resolutions were agreed TO- and the Senate ad.
journed.