Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-07-10
Laying the Corner stone of the National
CLAY gJouTmaut.

Of the national monument of HENRY CLAY
was performed at Lexington on the 4th of
July. A more appropriate day could not
have been chosen, for the memory of the
Great Commoner" will ever be linked with
the liberty and independence which were
inaugurated on that memorable day.
The Louisville Journal, of Tuesday, con-
tainS a long and exceedingly interesting
account of the proceedings on the occasion,
from which we make the following extracts:
EXERCISES OF THE DAY
These were TO have commenced at o'clock, but
it was found impossible to organize the procession
for more than hour afterward At last it was
formed in front of the Phoenix Hotel The United
States band from Newport barracks, which was or
deTed by the Government TO be 10 ATTENDANCE pre-
ceded. Next followed the Falls City Guards, c. pit.
Wright. Immediately aiterwsrd, Mr.. Cl,y's old
family carriage, presented to him many years ago
BY the c'iz ms OF New York. 1t is a vehicle OF the
oden time, but doubtless in its day and genera
ton of the first order Of splendor and fashion The
carriage was beautifully decorated with white
plumes and flowers of every description. Upon the
back seat was plsc, white marble bust OF Dir.
Clay, crowned with a laurel Leaf On the front seat
sat old Aaron, so loDg the body servant OF the I'M
mortal statesman. He is negro of venerable
years. but retains with wondtrfu freshness recOl-
ecliOns extending throughout the whole course OF
his great masters life. Next followed the military,
in the order mentioned: National Guards OF st.
Louis escorted by the Citizen Guards of LuuisVille
Baltimore City Guards; National Independent
Guards OF Indianapolis; Guthrie Grays of Cincim-
natl; Volunt er Corps of Richmond, Ky; Fulton
Guards of Liberty, Cincinnati; a fine looking COM
pany. attired in the Continental uniform.
There were in all eight military companies, and
they presented most brilliant spectacle they
passed down the street, stepping accurately to the
music, their gay banners flying before the breeze,
their bayonets flashing in the sunlight and their
handsome, soldiery forms appearing tue more noble
in the appropriate and elegant uniforms which they
wore
The next division was devoted to the Masonic
fraernit y, including the Grand Lodge of Kentucky,
| the Grand Chapter OF Kentucky, the Grand CouH-
| Gil of Kentucky, the Grand COmmand,ry OF Tenn
plars of Kentucky, and representatives of similar
| bodies from other Jurisdictions with lodges and
members of subordinate Jurisdictions. There were
| more than one thousand Masons in the procession,
making of the most imposing displays ever wit
| messed upon the continent. IL Il supposed that
never before were there so many knight TempI4rs
together upon this occasion. They attracted IT.
ticuar attention from the richness and novelty of
their dress aud the various, peculiar and elegant
! insignia of the order.
The fremen came next in order there being
| delegations from the Union, Kentucky and La
! fayette companies OF this city, and the Lyon and
| Union of Lexington. All of the members were
handsomely equipped and attracted much atten-
| tion
! This grand and imposing procession was more
than two miles in length. The good order and
regularity preserved is attributable mainly TO the
! efficiency of the Chief Marshal Capt. a. Buford,
and his istants, some twenty In nun ber.-
| These gentlemen were all finely mounted spirit
! ed horses.
The process ion marched through Main street to
| the beautiful Cemetery, where the ceremonies
were to be had. Here the military d,pOyed aud
the Masonic fraternity entered first. They sur
rounded the site of the monument, and the cere-
mony of
LAYING THE CORNERSTONE
was proceeded with, DR.. T. n. Wise, of CoVington,
the Grand Master of Kenm,kV, officiating He
used the various services incident to such an occa-
siOn and after the corn, wine and oil, from silver
vessels, had been poured upon the stone pronounc
ed it just, right and true. This honorable and i'm
! posing service was entrusted to the Masonic fra
ternty Mr.. Clay ha wing been a prominent, active
and responsible officer of the Grand Lodge. His
name appears in 1902 as Junior Warden of Lex
| ngton Lodge, No. l, i'll which Felix Grumpy wa;
an entered apprentice and Col j. ID. Davless GILL
ed at Tppecanoe) fellow-craftsman 10 1906 Hen
~ Clay was elected Grand Orator Of the Crane
Lodge of Kentucky and continued in that post un
Ill 1916, when he was succeeded by Joseph Caoel
Bre OK nridge, father Of the Vice President. MIR
Clay was again elected Grand Orator in 1918 anC
continued until 1920, when he chosen Crane
Master of the State. This is brief history of the
great statesman's connection with the philanthrop
ic and honorable or Ter OF Free Masons.
THE MONUMENT,
1t is well known throughout the nation that tht
architect of the Clay monument is Julius w. Ad
| ans graduate of West Point and civil enginee
of much distinction. The contract is III the hand
of Mr.. John Haley, Of Frankfort. The immens
| sub-base has been completed, being a Foundation
of POO perch of solid limestone masonry, fort
feet square. IL has been laid 10 feet deep III Lou
isville hydraulic cement, on feet OF concrete o
macadamIzed stone. The cornerstone, which Wa
laid with the imposing ceremonies already mention
ed is 2 feet s inches wide by feet long. In
cavity is a copper box containing the coins of tn
United States, the papers OF the day, charter
the Clay Monument Association, and other encio'
ures.
The monument is designed to be los feet hig
from the ground to foot of statue surmountin
the capitalize statue of the Great Commonef
surmouutug the whole, to be OF bronze, and l
feet in height. Forty-two men are now engage
| on the monument and in the quarries. The wor
is to be completed in all the season of 1858.
The material of which the monument Is to b
constructed is a beautiful rock, now for the hrs
time used for such durable purposes, obtained /
great qualities n so id blocks, without seam, join
or fracture OF immense proportions; obtainaoie TO
this purpose, at nominal rate at Crimes QUAR-
Boone creek, Fayette co sixteen miles troW Lex
iugton, on the turnpike road to Richmond. HI
material is a magnetism limestone, tested for dura
, bity light free stone color, and sustaining brl
= liant polish.
On the foundation is first to be erected the bas
Of she monument, 40 feet square and IS feet higi
of neat work, Egyptian order. This ''Stere o6ate
will contain, in the front, Crypt OF rubbed stone
a vaulted chamber 20 by III feet, entered by Il
iron gate, to be paved with polished Italian ma
e bic, 10 which TO be deposited the aims
Henry Clay, in a sarcOphagus, on one side his motl
. err aud 10 good time, his wife. Provision is mad
to light the Crypt in which is a niche toE a statn
by upper ky light
In the rear OF the Crypt is to be the family vau
| of the Clay family, 81 feet inches, with two
feet recesses, all 6 feet inches wide. There "
be a double pedestal of bronze, on which may
Y iucribed memorable words anu emblsmatic repr
sensations in honor OF the American statesman al
| Kentucky's lavorte son. Including the pedest4
p the column, OF feet 10 inches in diameter at Il
bottom aud feet 10 inches il diameter at the tO
: | will be 80 feet high, surmounting which is TO be
capital, the fittings TO be Is spiked spears, repu
seutlng the original States of the Union. On Il
= summit there is TO be erected bronze statue
him OF whom the monuments commemorative
, THE GRAFTON.
These interesting and solemn services having bee
' completed, the procession reformed al
marched to the lovely fair grounds OF the gricu
tural Association, about one mile from the city c
| the Nicholasville turnpike. There with bannyl
waving, joyous music, and all the pomp and Ct
: cumstance of military life they entered The Iare
b, amphitheatFe, around which we're seated fully I
, teen thousand OF the very rose and expectancy
. the State To the Masonic fraternity seats We
u granted, while the troops stacked and wei
= temporarily relieved from their arduous dutr
4 The United States band placed 10 the must
sIand aud opened the exercises with the est
Spangled Banner Rev. L. F. Berkl V, rector