The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-04-16
THE MLLBOY OF THE sLAsHEs,

L
Slash Cottage, the Place Of His Birth
Hanover County, Virginia.
ANECiAL REPORT FOR THE NEW YORK HERALD.
RICHMOND, Va, April 10, 1856.
H1TnY' CLAY's BInYHDAY AT HIS BtprHPLACE-
epxSl HIS OF THE HON. CALEB GUSHING, UNIrEI
sfsTbs ATTORNEY 0ENEKAL; SENATOR'S DUUER
OF sOU1 II CARoLIHs; CRrTrENDRH, OF KEnTUCgY ;
DOUsLAs, OF ILLIneIs; JONES, OF TpNsEssBE:
JOsEz, o.N IOWA; IE6LER, or PENNsYLvANpA
MASON, OF VIRGINIA; GADw wAaLADsR NJ c. FKOr
FENNs7IvA VIA, AND JOHN MIrOR Borrs, OF WIZ.
6INIA.
saturday last; the brthsay Of Henry Cav. x.s cele
brstsd at Sssh Co ttage Hanover couaty in stye sur
passing anything the kind ever witnessed In vir.;na
The 3iashss ef Ha uover fAmsd sae birthplace of
Patrick Henry aud Henry Clay, lie the Richmond
Fredericksburg and Potomac Esiirosd eighteen Mules
from Richmond. The celebration took place in la.ys
Ching hall connected with noet cottage known ~
ash Cottage" erected BY the railroad campany. THIS
Is the sc.1e of many jorai party beins in fact the
chief place Of resort for picnc enjo-nssnts by the people
Of Richmond during the summer mths.
For the odation of persc IA In this raty who
anxious to engage in the ceebrlon, two ascommo
Cation traus despatched to tn, cottage-oas at
y. NJ, and at +. r. Your reporter left in the
O'Clock train, and reaching the cottage observed
large crowd, who arrived o few honss before By the
train from Warrington. Among ths number were
the Hon. Caleb Gushing; Sidney Webster, Pri-
vate Secretary to the President Senators Cit
tenden, Of Kentucky Butler, Of South Csrolnfs Doug
lss Of Illinois; Jones, Of Tennessee Bger Of Pcnasy
sAuia Jones, Of Iowa. and MAaon OF Virginia. Msssrs
Cadwalader Hsrris, Davidson Underwood, and Caskie
Of the United states House OF Representatives. sad J. d
HoCvp tfnttpd NaraJ Mat;
were also amors the number. They vera accompanied
from washipgtonby the Marine Band whose lively srains
impaired peculiar interest to tho celebration -
At half past O'Clock the company sat down TO anner
the senators and MEMBERS With other gentlemen note
who were present. occupying the centre table. Three
four other tables ranged parallel to this at either side
were fully occupied The number who sat to dinner
together could not have been less than three hundred
Dinner being over and few bottles Of champagne
being let off, let down rather Edwin Robinson ESQ.,,
President Of the Richmond Fsederckssurg and Potomac
Railroad Company and also the President this ooca
son called the assembly to order and gave the following
regular tossts:-
The lah 0. April f7-Amids the thunders Of the Revo-
luton @ Graded tie Infant Clay and ,hrsush hn
Party spir.Q6von 70 for the day, and union OF all
E. ssss q s % onaf 1 ..
involved Air "Auid Lang syne."
das aa 1 % e % Ss se Of
ss.;9ns e Henry and Hem, Gs1 Acsy
The President Of the un1ed stsesThs position once
filled Uy The e. immortal washcson s no~ occupied BY hi@
sCHc. =. s1d P.osct ssr
eouAbmen. Air Hat, 70 the Chiei."
The Hon CALEB CUSHING having been loudly called upon
from all parts Of the hall, and said:Mr. President
and gsntlsmen would bs urgracious me to refuse to
present myself at your cau; and in addressing you for
oment in respect to the sentiments just offered in
some sort discharge duty to the head of the executive
administration OF the United States, and which !
would perform with unqualified pleasure, but for
the fact that the circumstance compes me to
break, as 1t were, the ioe this OCCASION and to
precede what trust viii prove to be exhibition on
the part Of the many eminent gentlemen whom see be-
fore mean exhibition Of patriotism and OF eloqusnce
worthy of this occasion, and to which all may offer
viii constitute but most humble Introduction. l
know, Mr.. President, how much sincere snd unaoysd
pleasure it would have ven the President Of the United
States to participate with this company in doing honor to
this OCCASION this spot and in the presence many
admirers and friends Of the nustrous Clay But he Was
prevented from doing 70 by exgences Of ohsAl duty,
and can but express in his and behalf his thanks
well for he invitation with which he honorsd ss
the respectful sentiments with which his has been
greeted Having aone this It might bs well for me- per.
oason to add word two Of what may not be deemed
mpertnent reflections upon this occasion. Sir who has
happened to tread Of those great battle fsds Of the
world, In which the destiny Of Nations Of empires AMI
of sges have been fought out and not felt q his feet
pressed the SOIL that the spirits Of the undying AMI I'm
mortal Dead who had there fought for their oouutry
hovered around him2 Their memories were Instinct In
his heart he their sublime FORMS as II wers rising
from the earth to greet he felt that the earth upon
which he tired indeed consecratsd SOIL (Applauss)
But sir there battles of the voice and the psn ~
well "a battlssqf the sword-"Peace has her Victories
less renowned than war" and who within
the limits Of this brcai Union. who from the utmost
shores Of the Atlantic to the rolling pillows Of the Pacific
who is, there say in these United States to whom
the ashes Of Hanover not historical earths ZAP
pause There s not in these United States there lives
not this great continent of American repubcs-whoss
political birth Henry Clay honored and promoted-here
lives not in all Chrstendom = whose hand is worthy
TO be taken. whose heart beats within patriots bo
who does not honor the memory of Henry Clay and
which belongs to s shs ersssfaI emcons Of ths
hesrwho will not remember that here these Slashes
Of Hanover, Henry Clay was born TO adorn hs native
VirgIia-b0rn TO illustrate these United States. ZAP
is conflicting interests its stormy passions, It's high
In these United States happens from day to day that
divided, friend from friend party from party
batting, 10 this councils Of country before the
people, In behalf OF our opinions, passions, In
terests 1t must be it Is idle to regret that which
necessity Of life and Of nature. Now, STR win say
that Of the dead nothing shall be spoken except what
goot that would bs poison the fountains of history
and belle sacred immortal TRUTH No. sir do not say
that but in the presence of the memories Of the
mighty dead, when a the conflicts Of the yiog passions
Of The hour slled, when the mind repose calm
thought upon the past might improper to review
the differences by which the living divided from the
Dead yet We may At least look with calm appreciation
upon a that great and good and patriotic upon the
part OF hm whom we have come here to commemorate.
men whom in the pursuits OF Ifs, have met In all the
diversisies of public opinion which free institutions
admit Of and which the majesty of thought which
j say, that zee around gentlemen who differ, and
who Will continue TO differ In opinion but thank God we
can zee the high intellect the patriotic the lofty
emotions and generous impulses Of public good and
~stic eoquence and romemb all this In
our opponents even in rivals even, 1t be possible
to esy 1t, OF the dead-0ur enemies II could not do
TIA we were un worthy Of the nAma Of Americana.