The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1859-08-20
GcIcct .2lisccIIanp.
IiOIuence of Henry CLAY.

Whoever heard Mr.. Clay for the first time
was almost certain TO be delighted with him
without exactly knowing why. There was ;
| charm about his oratory that dclicd anay
and rendered sober criticism well-ngh impos
sble. You went away too well pleased, and
! too full of admiration for the man to think O
asking how he had managed for the last hou,
to you put in rage at the moment and max,
| you laugh or cry the next, at will. There
was something about him different from any
other speaker | ever heard. Webster was
like steam engine for concentrated power
aud the rush and roar Of his assault upon an
! enemy, a sort Of human volcano, when the
| fires were kindled in those cavernous ewes
and he poured forth a torrent of burniuo
words scorching and scathing al before it,. =
Calhoun was the very genius ofabstract reas.
oning calmly deliberately adding link after
link to the iron chain of his logic, TIL the
nearer fell down at the end, bound hand and
foot i'll the uuyielding meshes Of an irresisti-
Die necessity. But Clay-when he mounted
the rostrum a universal smile Illuminated
mems faces, and they looked at one another
with an expression which said palmer than
words "Glad to see you up, Mr.. Clay. Be-
gone, dull care We're going to have good
time. This heavy work is over at last. -
business is postponed --now comes plea
sure" Clay" said General Jackso, in fine
writer's hearing, lis the most plausible
| speaker, that ever opened his mouth in a pub.
| lie assembly. If you listen to him, he will
make You believe any Thing he rleases. -
| This from an enemy was not meant for uroiso
but to the fact old Hickory was perfectly
competent TO testify.
"liuSh, Mr.. Clay is going to address the
! jury" looked at those twelve gentlemen
with some interest. for fellow being was Oh
! trial before them, fer his life. accused of a
most atrocious murder. Heavy, substantial
| looking citizens they wcre-rathcr dull. |
| though and about as likely to be moved bv
an appeal to their feelings as the stalactit9s
in The Mammoth Cave As Mr. Clay COM
| mcncpl friend whiSpercl in NV ear cha,
villain ought to he hung, but he's got A wife
! and child, and his old mo her is here in court
| and that's enough for Clay, he'll have the
| jury bIubbeling in less than half an hour. -
doubted it, but so it was. Those great
hulking fellows were soboing and moppinc
| their faces over the sorro~s Of the prisoner S
! family as depicted by the speaker, as though
| they themselves had Just lost their dearest
friend. Even the court blew its nose vigor-
ously, for some reason, during the appeal in
behalf Of the old woman, and although per-
fccty convinced that was sold" in 50 do
ing, could not resist the epidemic, ard
| sighed and sobbtd in concert with the bench.
bar, jury and spectators: il is needless to add
that the prisoner was acquitted.
Several years ago, wilhelm the vicinity Of
Ashland, called upon Mr.. Clay. lie was
absent from home, Attending a fair in the
ncjghbcrhood. Being desisous of an inter.
! view followed him 10 the fair grounds, and
finding him just about to address the multi.
tudc, took Il seat among them. Directly in
| front 0 me sat two ladies' Orc Of Them an