Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-04-17
Birthday Of Henry Clay.

,ba 18th anniversary of Henry Clay's birth.
Most Of those who TOOK conspicuous part in
the ceremonies OF the occasion we're gentlemen
who had opposed his political principles and his
public aspirations. and whose tributes TO bis ge-
MUS courage and patriotism were thereby render
ed more emphatic aud significant We may
have something 10 say, hereafter, Of the charao'
tor of this Representation and the Influences TO
which il leads, ba,for the present content our.
selves with such extracts from the speeches de
lvered as we have space for.
We begin with the toasts:
1. The 18th Of April l777; Amidst the thun-
ders of the revolution. it graded the infant Clay
and through hire perpstusted the blessing OF our
Union.
Air: Star Spangled Banner.
9, Party Shirt: Oblivion to il for the day.
aud union Of all parties in honor of him who ne
yer suffered party spirit to sway bis action where
the honor and welfare Of bis country were in.
.volved.
fair; Aud Lang Syne.
3. The County Of Hanaptr Heavy is tho
debt of gratitude due her for him who kindled
and him who fed the sacred fame of liberty. Hon
or, oil honor. to the glorious spll from which
s2rang Patrick Henry and Henry Clay.
When about 10 announce the ith toast, Mr..
ROBINSON stated that the President of the Uni
ted States was, he very much regretted, absent,
being compelled TO remain in Washington 10 at
tend to important dnties connected with his Of
fee.
a. The President Of the United States The
position once filed by the immortal Washington,
Is now occupied by him. May helm the discharge
of his duty. guard bis coanirys honor,and pro
tect her constitution, as 10 secure at the end OF
his term. like Washington, lasting place IN the
hearts OF his oounjrymen.
lair; Hail to the Chief.
After the music ceased the Hon. CALEB CusH-
ING, Attorney General of the L. s., having been
loudly called for, from all parts Of the Hail. arose
and said
MIR. PRESIDENT AND GENrLEMEN.-lt would
be ungraoous in me TO refuse TO present myself
at your call, and il addressing you for moment
in respect to the sentiment just offered do in
some sort discharge duty to the head OF the Ex
ecutive Administration of the United States, and
which wonld perform with unqualified pleasure
but for the fact that the circumstance compels
me to break. rs il were, the ice this OCCASION,
and to preeede what trust will prove to be- mn
exhibition on the part of the many eminent gen
temen whom see before mean exhibition Of
PATRIOTISM aud Of eioquenoe worthy of the occa.
sion. and to which all may offer will constitute
but most humble introduction.
know Mr. President, how much sincere and
unalloyed pleasure it would have given the Pres
ident of the United States TO participate with this
company in doing honor 10 this occasion. on this
spot. and in the presence of so many admires and
friends of the llustrious Clay. But he was pre-.
nied from doing SO by exigences of official du-
~. Ind can but express in his name and behalf
bis thanks well for the invitation with which
he was honored as the respectful sentiments with
which his name has been greeted.
H., i . . h..
baps to stop hcre, bot cannot forbear to EN-
brace the pega,ion to add a word or two of wha.
may not be deemed mpertinent reflections upon
this occasion. Sir who has happened to tread
one Of those great battlefelds of the world, in
which the destiny of nations, of empires aud of
ages has been fought ont, and not felt, as his
feet pressed the soil that the spirits of the indy
ing and immortal dead who had there fought for
their country. lowered around him Their menu
cries were instinct in his heart-he saw their
sublime forms rising as it were from the earth TO
greet hm,and he felt that the earth upon which
DC trod was indeed oonsecrated soil. (Applause)
But, sr- there battles of the voice aud of the
pen, as well as battles of the sword Peace
hath her victories no less renowned than war;
aud who within the limits Of this broad Union,
from the Passamaquoddy. that farthest shore of
The Atlantic, to the rolling pillows of the Pacific
sea-who is there, l say, in these United States,
10 whom the Sleshes of Hanover is not historical
earih7 lApplause.) There is not in these l.
nited States-there lives not on this great CONT
nent Of American Republics,whos political birth
Henry Cla, honored and promoted-the lives
not in all Christendom u man whose hand i
worthy to be taken, or whose heart beats with
true patriotism, who does not honor the memory
Of Henry Clay. and who will not remember with
that accelerated pu!satinn which belongs to all
the grateful emotions of the human heart, who
will not remember that here in these Slashes
Henry Clay was boru--born to honor his native
Virginia--born to illustrate these United States,
prolonged appiaus")
/ anticipate that many eloquent and stirring
things will be said by gentlemen present in exhl
bition of the character, Of the career and of the
fame of Henry Clay.,I viii venture to stand upon
q single point in that great brilan,,and glorious
career. | will refer only TO that final struggle of
the patriotic efforts Of Henry Clay-that final
struggle in the Senate of the United States. when
he co operated with others of his compeers and
among Them gentlemen here present,in those IF
forts which resulted in the establishment | will
venture to say. in the perpetual and unshakeable
establishment IN the public law and political theo
ry of these United States, of the absolute equality
the co-equal political autonomy of each and all
those States the great corQl.ary Of that doctrine
is the establishment of the corresponding theory
that each distinct ichoate state of the Union
shall determine fer itself what shall be its own
institutions. say, if he left no other legacy 10
his countrymen,it would be sufficient to perpeta
ate his memory that he aided in the establishment
of that principle which now has become fixed and
irreyocabe in spite Of all the bowls of faction. In
oil parts of this Union it must become the unani-
nous conviction Of the people Of these United
States, that whether "a state Of this Union is or i.
not to regulate labor in this or that manner, de
ponds upon the will of the people of that state OF
Territory; and it needs as believe, for | do no
wish to enter into merely political subjects-but
will hazard the remark. that il needs but on,
great step; the grestest--so great in fact that
almost hesitate in view of the rashness of printing
that iden;--I say believe il needs but Que grea