The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1857-08-05

The CLAY MoNUMENr-T ceremonies of
laying the cornerstone Of the Clay monu-
ment at Lexington, Ky, were very grand and
imposing, and were witnessed by multitude
which the Louisville Journal estimates at from
10000 to $4,000. The editor Of the Journal
was present, and describes the procession and
ceremonies wildly and minutely. DR.. t. n.
Wise, Grand Master of the Masonic Fraternity
of Kentucky, oficiated in the ceremony of lay
the corner stone. The Journal says
He used he3various services incident TO such
an occasion, and after the corn, wine and oil
from silver vessels had been poured upon the
stone, pronounced it just right and true. This
imposing service was entrusted to the Ma
sonic fraternity, Mr. Clay having been prom
inent, active and responsible officer Of the
Grand Lodge. His name appears in 1902 as
Junior Warden Of Lexington Lodge No. l, in
which Felix Grundy was entered an apprentice
and Col. S. II. Daviess (killed at Tippecanoe)
fellow craftsman. In 1906, Henry Clay was
elected Grand Orator of the Grand Ledge Of
Kentucky, andcontinued in that post until 1916
when be was succeeded by Joseph Cabell
Breckinridge, father Of the present vice presi-
dent. Mr.. Clay was again elected Grand Ora
tor in 1918, and confined till 1920, when he
was chosen Grand Master of the State.
The Journal thus describes the monument:
The immense subj base has been completed,
being foundation Of 200 perch of solid lime
stone masonry, forty feet square. It has been
laid <l5 feet deep in best Louisville hydraulic
cement, on three feet of concrete or macadam-
lied stone. The corner stone which was laid
with the imposing ceremonies already mention,
ed, is feet8 inches wide by 6 long. In cavity
is copper box containing the coins of the Uni
ted States, the papers of the day. charter of the
Clay monumental association, and other en-.
closures.
The monument is designed to be about 10e
feet high from the ground to foot of statue sur,
mounting the capital the statue of the statesman
surmounting the whole, to be of bronze, and
/ / feet in height. Forty two men are now en-
gagged on the monument and In quarrles. The
work is to be completed in all the season OF 1858
The material of which the monuments to be
constructed is beautiful rock, now for the first
time used for such durable purpose, obtained in
great quantities in solid blocks, without seam
joint or fracture, of immense proportions, OBJ
talnable for this purpose at a nominal rate, al
Grimes quarry, Boone's creek, Fayette county
sixteen miles from Lexington, on the turnpike
road to Richmond. This material isa magne,
sian limestone, tested for durability, light free.
stone color, and sustaining a brilliant polish.
| On the foundation is first to be erected the
base monument, 40 feet square ana IS fee
high, of neat work, Egyptian order. Thl:
.'Stereobate" will contain, in the front, cryp
of rubbed stone, vaulted chamber 26 by Il
feet, entered by an iron gate, to be paved witt
polished Italian marble, in which are to be de-
posted the remains of Henry Clay, in a sarcho
phagus, on one side his mother, and in gooc
time, his wife, Provision is made to light the
crypt, in which is niche for statue, by al
upper sky-light.
| In the rear of the crypt is to be the fanlly J
vault of the Clay family, 81 feet four inches
with two 8 feet recesses all six feet 8 inche
wide. There will be a double pedestal o
4 bronze, on which may be inscribed memorabl
words and emblematic representations in homo
of the American statesman and Kentucky's ia
vorite son. Including the pedestal, the column
of 6 feet 10 inches in diameter at the bottom
and feet and 10 in diameter at the top, will b
80 feet high, surrounding which is to be a capi
tai, the futings to be 13 spiked spears, repre-
senting the original States of the Union. O
the summit there is to be erected bronze statu
!! of him of whom the monument is commemo
ratve
After the Grafton, delivered by the Rev. Rob
ert j. Breckenridge, D. D., a grand barbecue
covering four tables, each six hundred feet il
length, was served up, review of troops too
place, and the immense assemblage dispersed
| The Journal remarks in conclusion:
And thus closed this national tribute to tn
memory of the immortal Clay. 1t was emphat
icaly national in its character, as it was emf
nently proper that it should be. While the i'm
mediate neighbors of the statesman-those VIII
had known and loved him all their lives, ant
those who had reverenced him as one littl
inferior to the supernatural-preponderated il
numbers, there were strangers present from al
sections of the confederacy, who had made thi
voluntarily pilgrimage to the shrine of their po
litical idol-the friend of their dearest lights
/ the champion of the Union at all times and il
all places.
We lett Lexington toward the close of th
day, with vast number of fellow citizens
Somewhat wearied and fatigued we were il
body, but more than refreshed and exalted il
heart and mind and soul, by the interestin!
occurrences te which we had been an eye-wit
ness. We again passed that lovely "city Q
the Dead" and casting a lingering look to
ward the spot where the great dead reposes a
quietly as if nestled upon his mothers breast
we could but think Of the truthfulness of th
poets remark:
How sleep the dead who sinks to rest
By all thei' country's wishes blest.
Soon the turf-covered grave, will be dis
placed by tall and graceful shaft, pointin!
unerring ly to the skies, whittier the great spir
it of Clay winged its fight when loosed from
the prison house of Garth. Of the imperisha
BILE marble of his own loved Kentucky, the loft
column will ever remain noble testimonial Q
the affection in which he was held by the peo
pie of the Union-and may it ever be a rally
ING point for the hosts fthat Union defender
whenever the confederacy shall be threatenes
BY sectional foes.
/ -~~->%~I~~~~~~-~-0r~~~~--~
KANSAS AND Gov. WALKER-While ma
iority of the southern democratic papers de
nounce, in severe terms, the inaugural ad
dress Of gov. Walker, we do not observe
solitary word of censure directed at presiden
Buchanan or his cabinet. True, gov. Walk
er announces that the president and his cabine