Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-01-11

that higher class of statesmen who seek inc
right and follow their convictions.
There sat Calhoun, tie Senator, inilexlole'
austcrc, oppressed, but not overwhelmed Dy
his deem sense of the importance of his pubic
functions: seeking the truth, then fcarlessly fol
lowing it-a man whose unsparing lntellect
compelled all his emotions to harmonic win
the deductions of his vigorous logic, and whose
noble countcnance habitually wore the expires
sion of one engaged in the performance Of high
public duties.
This was Wcbster's scat. He, too, was even
such n Senator. Conscious of his own vast
powers, he rcposed with confidence on himself
and s%cornine the contrivanccs Of smaller men,
he stood among his peers all the greater for the
simple dignity of his senatorial dcmcanor.-
Type OF his Northern home, he rises before
the imagination, in the grand and granite out
line of his form and intellect, like 4 great New
England rock, r~cpclling a New England wave:
As a writer, his productions will be cherished
bv statesmen and scholars while the English
tongue is spoken. As 4 senatorial orator, MS
great efforts are historically associated with
this Chamber, whose very air seems yet to VI,
bratc beneath the strokes Of his deep tones and
his wcishty words.
On the outer circle, sat Henry Clay, with
his impetuous and ardent nature untalned by
are. and exhibiting in the Senate the same We
hcmcnt patriotism and passionate e!o1uence
that of yorc electrified the House of Rcprcsen-
tatives and the country. His extraordinary
personal cndowments, his courage, all his noble
! qualities, invested him with an individuality
and n charm of character which, in any age
would have made him favoritc Of history. lie
loved his country above all earthly things. lie
loved liberty in all countries. lllustriols
man - orator, patriot, philanthropist-his
light, at its meridian, was seen and felt IN the
rcmotcst parts of the civilized world; and his
declining sun, as it FASTENED down the West.
threw back its level beams, in hueS Of mellow.
ed splcndor, TO illuminate and TO cheer the lana
he loved and served so well.
All the States may point, with gratificd pride,
to the services in the Senate OF their patriotic
sons. Crowding the memory, come The names
| of Adams, Ilaync, Mason, Otis, Macon. Pinck-
ncv, and the rest cannot number them, who.
in the record Of their acts and utterances, appeal
to their successors TO give the Union n destiny
not unworthy Of the past. What models were
these. to awaken emulation or to plunge in de-
spair, Fortunate will be the American states
men who, in this age, or in succeeding times,
shall contribute to invest the new Hall TO which
we go, with historic memories like those which
cluster here.
And low. Senators, we leave this memorable
Chamber. bearing with US, unimparcd, the Con
s~titution we received from our forcfatherS. Let
us cherish it with grateful acknowledgements TO
| the Divine Power who controls the dcstinics OF
empires and whose goodness We adore. The
structures reared 10y men yield to the corroding
tooth of time. These marble walls must m0lder
into ruin; bntth principles ofconstitutiona lib
erty, suardedby wisdom and virtue, unlike ma
tcrial elements. do not decay. Lct.us devoutly
trust that another Senate, in another age, shall
bear to- new and larger Chamber, this Constitu-
ton vigorous and i~nviolatc and that the last
generation of postcrity shall witness the delibc-
rations ofthe Representative Of American States
still united, prosperous and free.
In execution of the order Of the Senate, the
body will now proceed to the new Chamber.