Weekly Clarksville chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 185?-1857, 1857-04-24
BIRTII pAYaoF HENRY CLAY.

can annIyefSarleSf lstthe twelfth DAY VI
/ April. 1t is, notso universally observed
as the twenty second Of February or the
fourth of July, nor viii it eyer be; nor is
lit SO conspicuous as tie eighth day of jan
uary, but it ranks with many other anni7
versary days that are lhabitually observed
by the American people. This. day eighty
one years ago, Henry Clay was born. His
history is before the world. TO say twas
brilliant, would convey commonplace
idea of his career. To say he became il
lustrious in the, service Of his country,
woald be but to enunciatel what may be-
and is said lover and over again, of many
Americans who never even aspired to be
his equals, either in grasp of intellect, elo-
quence or influence. IIewould be nearer
the truth to say that he mpined in his or
gahization every element that composes and
completes the perfect statesman, peerless
orator and American e;tizen.r Without
the profundity of Webster, he was master
Of law and diplomacy, and was the great
est commoner that America has produced.
Without the metaphysical grasp of Call
houn, he went TO the bottom of every subtl
Iject that sprung from the exigcncies arising
in the government of a great State. If he
could not contest the palm of logic with
Webster and Calhoun, he surpassed them
in. the art Of persuasion. He was the best
specimen Of an American that has yet trap
tpeared. .,.l.s nAg Ga. s.litea hgs. z..l
He represented the freedom of the A
mefican mind-the vhlor of our people,
the cloquence of our statesmen quick
ness of our perceptions, and the daring
enterprise for which American character is
So celebrated abroad, He could shine
with equal lustre in the courts OF Europe,
in the Senate of the United States, at the
bar, and in these and private circles--
His genius wasiof that universal type that
felicitously adapts itself to men and things
as they are There was no occasion to
which he was not equal, no respect which
he could not command, and no danger he
feared TO meet. 1t has possessed but one
Clay, as il can boast of but one Washing
ton He was tho great peace maker
Thrice he interposed his mighty influence
to calm the asperities of conflicting sec
tions, and to preserve the Institutions I'M
der whose good star he was born If the
compromises and PUBLICATIONS effected by
his ir rstrumentality are broken, and the
hostile masses again precipitate themselves
into the arena of strife, and the Constitu-
tion, and liberty itselfbe put in peril It's
mot the less to his glory that they were
made A faithful observance Of the spir-
tit Of them would have kept the people at
peace. But who shall take his plaee?-7
Who shall moderate the throbs Of the
great heart OF Passion, and speak with the
tones that lie did to distracted people, and
when danger demands great sacrifice,
fling himself into the yAWning ohasm Of
tdarkly combating elements and master
them2 Who shall, like him, enter the den
of the lion of disunion and put his foot
upon his rufled name? In vain we sur
.Ivey the ocean-bound limits of the Unicn.
The stars are out, and moons are queenly
ascendant in the uncertain twilight, but
there is no sun in the heavens, There is
no warmth in the yapors that sweep silvery
around us. We look to the horizon, but
no sunrise filings the arrowy lines of prom
ise along the sky, We look away to Ash
land--beloved Ashland--but Henry Clay
is not there. The dust that composed the
tall form lies there confused and inanimate.
THE fire has gone out forever, and all is
dark-all is dark - Mmphts Eagle. .
PULPIT PEoULfARETIEsA-ANEcDoTE OF
WESLEY AT one time, when Mr., Wesley
was travelling in Ireland, his carriage be-
came fKedin the mire, and the harness
lbroke, While heandhis companions were
! llaboring to eStricate il, a poor man passed
by in great distress. He said he had been
!. Iunable, through misfortune, to pay his rent
of twenty shillings, and his family were
Just being turned out Of doors 'Is that
all you need2r said Mr.. Wesley, handing
him the amount--"here, go and be happy.P
Then turning to his companion he said
pleasantly; f.Y on see now, why our carri-
age stopped here in the mud. ." 'iaF
I 7ul ai r-i. -----------Ss----------. .Htl 4NU
n AMERfcASIsM IN TUE OLD DOMINION
Al lhe recent election of municipal officers
at Richmood, Va, tho Americans triumph
lantly elected their whole ticket. The fol
lowing is the result Of the vote for Mayor
Joseph Mayo (American) 2,04C
y William Taylor Democrat s5s