The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1856-07-02


assumed and maintained position Of pre-.
eminence.
But the supremacy Of Mr.. Clay, as party
leader, was not his only, nor his highest ii.
lie 10 renown. That title is to be found in
the purely patriotic spirit which, on grea; &C.
casions, always signalized his conduct. We
have no statesmen, who, in periods of real
and imminen, public peril, has exhibited a
more genuine and enlarged patriotism than
Henry Clay. Whenever question present.
ed itself actually threatening the existence Of
the Union, MIR. Clay, rising above the pas.
sions of the hour, always exerted his powers
to solve it peaceably and honorably. AL
though more liable than most men, from his
impeluous and ardent nature, to feel strongly
The passions common 10 US all, il was his
rare faculty to be able 10 subdue them in O
great crisis, and 10 hold toward all sections
Of the conlederacy The language of concord
and brotherhood.
Sir, it will be proud pleasure TO every
true American heart TO remember the great
occasions when Mr. Clay has displayed a
sublime patriotism-when the illtempered
engendered by The times, and the mise rable
jealousies of the day, seemed to have been
driven from his bosom by the expulsive
power of nobler feelings-when every throb
OF his heart was given 10 his country, every
effort of bis intellect dedicated 10 her service.
Who doss not remember The three periods
when the American system of Government
was exposed TO its severest trials; and who
does not know that when history shall relate
the struggle which preceded, and the dam
gers which were averled by the Missouri
compromise, The Tariff compromise Of 1850
The same pages will record the genius, the
and the patriotism Of Henry Clay!
Nor was it in Mr.. Clay's nature 10 lag be-
hind until measures of adjustment were ma,
tured, and then come forward 10 swell ma.
jority. On the conlray, like bold and real
statesmen, he was ever among the first 10
meet the peril, and hazard his fame upon the
remedy. 1t is fresh in The memory Of us all
that, when lately the fury of sectional discord
threatened 10 sever the conlederacy, Mr..
Clay, though withdrawn from public life, and
and oppressed by The burden of years, came
back 10 the Senale--the theatre of his glory
and devoted the remnant of his strength 10
the sacred duty Of preserving the union of
The States.
With CHARACTERISTIC saS5aa;>, ,be '9ak the
lead IN proposing schedie O -ysettlement.-
But while he was willing 10 assume the re-.
sponsibiiiy of proposing plan, he did not,
with petty ambition, insist upon its adoption
10 the exclusion of other modes; but taking
his own as starting point for discussion and
practical action, he nobly labored with his
.compalrols 10 change and improve ii in such
form as TO make il an acceptable adjustment
Throughout, the long and arduous struggle,
the love of country expelled from his bosom
the spirit of sel6shness, anu Mr.. Clay proved,
Tor The third time, that though he was ambi-
tious and loved glory, he had no ambition TO
mount 10 fame on the confnsious of his coun-
try. And this conviction is lodged in The
hearts of The people; the party measures and
the party passions of former times have not,
Tor several years, interposed between Mr.
Clay and The masses of his counlrymen. AT.
Ter 1850, he seemed to feel that his mission
was accomplished; and, during the same
period, the regards and affections of the
American people have been attracted to him
i'll remarkable degree. For many months,
the warmesl feelings, the deepest anxie,ies
of all parties, centered upon the dying states.
man the glory of his great actions shed a
mellow luslre on his declining years; and to
fill The measure of his fame, his countrymen
weaving for him the laurel wreath, with
common hands, did bild.it about his ven.
cradle brows, and send him crowned, 10 his
tory.
The life of Mr.. Clay, sir, is striking ex'
ample of the abiding fame which surely a
waits The direct and candid statesman. The
entire absence of equivocalion or disguise
in all his acts, was his uassier-key to The pop.
ular heart for while the people will forgive
the errors of a bold andMsen nature, he sins
past forgiveness, who deliberately decsives
them. Hence Mr. Clay, though often defeat.
earin his measures OF policy, always secured
the respect of his opponents without losing
the confidence of his friends. He never pal.
tered 10 double sense. The country was
never in doubt as 10 his opinions or his pur.
poses In all the contests of his time, his
position on great public questions, was as
clear as the sun ~ a cloudless sky. Sir,
standing by lhe grave Of this great man, and
considering these things, how contemplate
does appear the mere egerdemain OF poll
tics What reproach is his life on that false
policy which would ,rAe with a great and
upright people! If were to write his epi-
taph, would inscribs, as the highest eulogy,
on the stone which shall mark his resting
place, "Here lies man who was in the pub
lie service for fifty years, and never attempt
ed to deceive his counlrymen."
While the youth of America should initiate
his noble qualities, they may take courage
from his career, and note the high ploof il
affords that, under ou' equal institutions, the
avenues to honor are opsl TO all Mr.. Clay
rose by the force of bis own genius, unaided
by power, patronage, or wealth. Al an age
when our Young men are usually advanced