Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1857-07-08
LAYING THE CORNER STONE OF THE
CLAY MONUMENT,

the delivery of his eulogy by Mr., Breckenridge
for an account Of which, we are indebted to the
fCincinnat Gazette of the 9TH. We feel certain
that we could not occupy our space with any
thing which would prove more acceptable to our
readers
These interesting ceremonies were performed
in the presence of young and old OF both sexes,
REPRESENTATIVES of ancient families Of renown ol
the State of Kentucky, and of pilgrim visitors
from many portions of the confcderacy There
4 were assembled together the families of Thomas
hi. and James B. Clay, and grouped around them
were descendants of the Early Pioneers OF Ken
lucky, the Booncs, the Bullets, the Floyds, the
McAfees, the Hardens, the darrods, the Hen
dersons, the Harris. the Clarks. the Shelbys, the
Wicliffs the Warfields, the Johnsons, Ander-
sons SCOTS. Muters, the Sebastians, the Wal
Iaces the RobertsOns, the Underwoods the
Nicholases. the Boyles the OwSleys, the MI
Hers. the Barrys, the Trimbles, the Dayidges,
the Bibbs the Buckners, the Todds the GanGs'
the Dudleys, the Grays, the Hieknansr the
Bledsoes the Rices, the LytheS, the MOoTes, the
peers. the Poythress the Lillards, the Black
burns. the Blythes, the Runnels, the RanEins.
the Wilson's, the Cainpbells, the Dudleys and
the Breckenridges.
In the procession and the only one admitted
into the cemetery grounds, was the carnage
still i'll good keeping, that was presented TO inc
\
Jersey, Nov. 23d, 1888. 1t was ornamented by
four waving white funeral plumcs at the corners,
and in the rear seat was placed bust OF Clay;
nIso the engraving of Clay'S devastating from
the Senate of the United States. Within sat
the old coachman of Mr. Clay, venerable, but
hale.looking gray haired negro, "Aaron DuPee,
who had been bred and born at the "SlasheS,
| in Old Hanover, Va. He Travelled with him, he
said when there were no turRpikes IN Portugal
! or in England He commenced service with him
when Jefferson was going out of the Presidency,
and has been his faithful servant until the de-
cease of his much-beloved master.
The pride and beauty, the physical and mon
tai strength of the State, were willing wit
nesses Of the occasion. Without respect to
party or creed, all came to attest their estimate
of Henry Clay as a man, an American ana Mem
tuckian.
The scene was impressive, the interest was III
tense the audience gave character to the occa-
sion, and took back the reflex influence oil the
day, and the heightened purpose OF its assem-
blage.
a few aged men were present, who had known
the sage as the young Harry of Ashland, who
heard him in person denounce the interference
of Government in personal liberty, and that oil
the press as early as the alien and sedition laws;
some had heard of his bold advocacy of the war
of 1912, of internal improvements and of the
American systen-his commencement and close
of life as a statesman.
Political followers and antagonists, now dis
armed were here to testify to the sincerity, abi!-
ity and purity of Mr. CLAY; men who knew by
experience, and youth who had read and heard OF
his gallant Deeds tTooped into the Fayette coun-
ty seat and on the early hours of the Fourth,
Lexington was filled with people from all the
adjacent counties
Capt Buford, the persOnation of soldier and
citizen, bestrode his white steed caprisoned in
all the accoutrements of Field Officer IN com
mand, and by his tact and industry brought or
der from the disorder of mingled companies OF
military, citizens, masons, and tremen; and
near the hour of nine, as per order, the line of
march was commenced from headquarters in
procession for the cemetcry-The City ofthe Dead.
The sidewalks were damned, the windows
and housetops were crowded with men, women,
and children, gazing upon the pageant, that for
two hours ,yyas passing, through, the avenue
which was colored WI h=waying hags and pen
dant banners, and which thunder6d with the ex-
plosiOn Of artillery the rattle Of drums and the
music Of brazen-throated Instruments
This, @ o6Tiates tEe necessity
| e. ing more than that the solemn eeFemo-
MES of laying the corner stone was performed
| by NJ w Grand Master Theo. n. Wise, OF the
Grand Lodge of Mnsons of Kentucky.
In the stone was placed scroll, Theoretically
sealed in glass bottle, inscribed with the hlsto-
nv of the occasion, and names of the Officers of
IoL1Le anu IeTeTat NrOVcTuutelllS ulSO GOpS VI
each of the papers of the City of Lexington
The Officers were pleased to place therein a
copy of the picture of Cincinnati in 1902, pub
lishcd in the Cincinnati Gazette; also; a parch-
ment prepared by the Cincinnati Guthrie Greys
| in testimony of their appreciation of the merits
of the man who preferred to be right than to be
| President; medallion in coprer, n likeness of
the Clay Gold Medal, one of which was lost on
| transportation, &c.
Mr.. Henry T. Duncan, President of the Assoc
citation addressed Grand Master Wise, saying,
80 you, Sir, as the NJ. w. Grand Master of the
G. Lodge of MaSOns in Kentucky, is assigned
the grateful duty of laying the corner stone OF
the National Clay Monument, which is to com
memorate the life and character Of Henry Clay,
Past G. Master of c. L., Kentucky. The ar
lchtect will hand you the tools necessary to per.
form it." To which the G. NJ. replied, 1--WE are
here prepared for that purpose"
After prayer, vocal music and salute, the
stone was laid to its place, tried by the working
tools and pronounced well-formed, true and
trusty, by the WorShpful Grand Master. The
gold and silver vessels were brought forward,
and, according to ancient ceremony, corn,
wine and oil were poured on the stone, when
this prayer was offered:
"May the al-bOnntcous Author of Nature
i bless the inhabitants of this place with all the
nccessaries, Conveniences and comforts Of this
life; assist in the erection and completion of this
structure; protect the worlmen against every
accident, and long preserve this structure from
decay, aud grant to us all supply Of the corn
of nourishment, the niNe Of refreshmcnt, and
the oil of joyp
The stone received threee strokes of the NAL
let, and the public Masonic Grand hOnors were
then given.
A stand had been erected at a convenient dis
lance, on which camera had been placed, and
a photograph plate was taken of the interesting
groupings Of this august ceremony, ut the point
OF greatest interest. The procession reformed
and in heightened file proceeded to the Fair
Grounds, in distant part of the city, to hear
Time viii not permit to picture the imposing
scene forming the coup dell from the speakers
stand, when circling round the vast amphithea,
tire were seated thousands of the beauty and
chirnlry Of the Kentucky commonwealth. and