The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1859-08-02
ELooUENcE OF HENRY CLAY.


his oratory that defed analysis, and rendered
sober criticism wellnigh impossible. You went
away 200 well pleased, and too full of admiration
for the man to think of asking how he had managed
for the last hour, to put you in a rage at one
moment, and make you laugh and cry the next, at
will. There was something about him different
/ from any other speaker l ever heard. Webster
twas like steam engine for concentrated power,
and the rush and of his assault upon an enemy
a sort OF human volcano, when the fires were
klndled III those cavernous eyes, and he poured
forth torrent of burning words scorchng and
scathing all before it. Calhoun was the very
genius fabstract asoning calmly and deliberately
adding link after link to the iron chain o. his logic
| till the heirer fell down, at the end bound hand
and foot in the unyeldng meshes of an irresistible
necessity But Ciay-when he mounted the
rostrum universal smile illuminated mems faces,
and they looked at one another with an expression
which said palmer than words, "Gad to see you
up, Mr Clay. Begone, dull care. We're going to
have a good time. This heavy work is over at
| last Business done--now comes peasures'--
"Clay," said General Jackson, in the writer's
hearing, sis the most plausible speaker that ever
| opened his mouth in public assembly. If you
listen to him, he will make you believe anything
he pleases." This, from an enemy was not meant
for praise, but to the fact old Hickory was perfectly
| competent to testify.
''Hush, Mr. Clay is going to address the jury" 1
| looked at those two gentlemen with some interest
| tor fellOw-being trial before them for
his life, accused of most atrocious murder-Heavy
substantiallooking citizens they were--rather dull
! l thought and about as likely to be moved by an
appeal to their feelings as the stalactites in tho
! Mammoth Cave AS Mr. Clay commenced, friend
whispered in my ear, "That william ought to be
hung, but he's got a wife and child, and his old
mother is here in COURT and that's enough for
| Clay, he'll have the jury blubberng in less than
halt an hour" doubted it, but so it was. Those
great hulkng fellows were sobbing and mopping
| their faces over the sorrows Of the prisoners
family as depicted by the speaker, as though they
themselves had just lost their dearest friend
Even the court blew its vigorously for some
reason, during the appeal in behalf of the old
woman, and although perfectly convinced that l
was 'sold' in so doing, / could not resist the
epidemic, and sighed and sobbed in concert with
the bench, bar jury, and spectators. 1t is needless
to add that the prisoner was acquitted.
Several years ago, while in the vicinity of
Ashland, called upon Mr. Clay. lie was absent
from home, attending fair in the ncghborhood.
Being desrous of an interview, [ followed him to
the fair grounds, and finding him Just about to
address the multitude, took Il seat among them.
Directly in front of me sat two ladies. One of
them appeared to be in an illhunor for some
reason, aud [ overheard the petulant remark. II
don't want to hear Clay. Wonder if nobody IN
kentuck can't make speech but him. My
husband is Democrat" Mr. Clay proceeded, and
having occasion to refer to the domestic articles
on exhibition, paid the ladies present some very
high compliments upon their skill and industry,
and in allusion to the beauty and good qualities of
his fair countEy-women generally, said that with
regard to them, well other fine fabrics, his
preference was for domestic manufactures, instead
Of foreign imports. The mingled air of gaantry
and drolery of the speaker, in this part of his
address, the halfe and half-carnest of his manner
the wit, and anecdote, aud the pathos, as he
alluded to his own advancing years, and increasing
nfrmities, were nmitable and irresistible L
looked at the Democrats wife 1t was plain that
her efforts to hate Clay had ended in miserable
failure. She had been laughing and crying like
the rest of US, and after the tumutuous applause
which followed the close of the address had
su5sided, l was surprised to hear her say to her
female companion, 'Jane, it's no use not liking
him because he's Whig, is it? | suppose John
won't like it, but I'm going to give him my
blankets
GREAT MAN.-George Lppard i'll his work
called the Nazarine, thus speaks of General Jack
son: ale man !. Well / remember the
day waited upon him. lie sat there in his arm chair
Il can see him now. We told him of the public
distress-thc manufacturers ruincd-thc eagles
shrouded in Grape, which were carried at the head
of 10000 men into independence Square. Heard
us all We begged him to leave the deposits
where they were, to uphold the great Bank at
Philadelphia Still he did not say II word. At
last of our members, more fiery than the rest.
intimated that if tho Bank crushed rebellion
might follow. Then the old man rosc--I can see
him now.
Come," he shouted, in voice of thunder as
his clenched hand raised high above his white hair.
"Come with your bayonets in your hands instead
of your petitions, surround the White House with
your legion-I ready for you. With the
people at my back, with whom your gold can neith-
er awe nor buy, will swing you up around the
Capito-each one Of you on gbbet as high as
Haman's"
"Wben 1 think" says the author, "of that one
man, standing there at Washington, battling
against all the power of bank and panic combined,
betrayed by those in whom he trusted-assalled by
all that the snake of malice could hiss the end
of falsehood howl-when think Of that
placing his back against the rock and folding his
arm for the blow, while he uttered the VOW, Il will
not swerve one inch from the course have taken,'
/ must confess that records of Rome-nay, the
proudcst day of Cromwell Napoleon--cannot
furnish an instance Of will like that of Andrew
Jackson, when he placed life, and soul, and fame
on the hazard of a die for the peoples welfare"
Some one told an Irishnlan that a had
eaten ten saucers of ice cream; whereuPon Pat
shook his head. $50 you don't believe it" With
shrewd nod, Tat answered, IL believe III the
crane, but not lii the sauccrs.