The Nevada journal., 1858-02-05
CLAW. Calhoun and Webster.

Clay, Calhoun and Webster.
Our re aders will remember that few
months ago the noble and gifted William
T. Haskell, of enessee, having given
unmistakable evidence of insanity, was
taken by his fiends to the Lunatic Asy-
lum at Lexington, Ky. 1t was recent
ly announced that restoration had taken
place, and that he intended delivering a
public lecture in Lexington, on "Lex-
ington Society. and the Eminent Men
and Women Of Kentucky" AT the So
licitation of several who heard the lee
ture, Col. Haskell consented to give
that portion of it to the press which run
parallel between Clay, Calhoun and
Webster. The reader will recognize
in this parallel evidences of rare but
wild and erratc genius:
And now, l dismiss for the present all
these leading characters, save Clay, and
| no longer dwell on him as tistinc-
tive character, but as ole of a mighty
trio; Clay, Calhoun and Webster, who
to us were what Pitt, Fox and Grattan
were to England.
l. In social lite-in marriage for ex-
ample-Clay would have pressed for
ward with "Coup d 'Etat,'' like an an
cient Briton, a sturdy Welchman in
Glendow's day, an Arabian Chef-each
one of whom would have seized his un.
reluctant bride, and borne her to hi
home.
Calhoun would ponder long and wari-
ly, and with circumspection, like an Eu-
ropean monarch, who negotiates match
for the purpose of State.
And Webster, like Prince Hal v, of
England, who woed and won, without
diplomacy, the fair and gentle Rather
inc, the daughter of the Due de Reig-
nier, and mother of Henry VI. of Eng
land, the victim of that she-wolf of
France, Margaret of Anou, and the
bloody Gloster, in the Tower Of Lon
don.
2. In forensic debate-the forte of
Clay was his resistless Eloquence-of
Calhoun, his Sophism, and wonderful
power of metaphysical disquisition, and
astute analyses-in Webster, of open
and solid argument.
3. AS a Historian, Clay would have
been speculative theorist-Calhoun a
skeptic and examiner, and Webster
would have been guided by example
and the facts.
4. A disappointment, in struggle for
dominion, Clay would have felt with the
pricking of the pangs of Pride, and
Ambition baffled-Calhoun with the
restless fever of defan; discontent-and
Webster would have encountered it
with a calm and philosophical compos-
ure
5. In administering Government Clay
would have been both compromising and
conservative-Calhoun. .headstrong, rest
less and defiant-Webster for standing
on the Laws and Constitution.
6. AS Monarch, Clay would have
preferred to have been an Autocrat-
Calhoun, an Athenean Archon, elevated
on the broadest principles of Democrat
ic sufrage-and Webster would have
liked a limited and constitutional Mon
archy.
7. As a Historic character, Clay re-
sembles the chivalrous and daring Hen
ry " of England on the field of Agin-
court, charging with vizor up, and lance,
couchant, in rest, against the mailed and
willing, bold and mocking, mad and fe-
versh Percy, the rednubtable and un-
daunted Hotspur-Prince Hal, swift
bearing on, astride his richly caparis-
oned and well-housed white steed, his
nostrils wide expanded, and chalIeng-
ing fierce neigh. his white name stream
ing on his boldly uplifted crest, and wa
wing tail lashing wildly the mad and sui
phuriously charged wind, careering DER
the field of battle, while Percy bounds
with defiant shout to meet him, i'll the
longed-for conflict. Calhoun, the subtle
strategist, the calculating Saladin, whose
Damascus scymetar flashes through the
necks of foemen, who know not, TIL they
nod their heads, that they have been
severed from their bodies-while Web
ster, Ceur de Lion, in arms, hurls his
ponderous battle axe with colossal
strength, until the mailed links lily
apart, and the descending weapon grinds
bones and blood and fibre into an undis-