Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1860-04-17
Railg |iraiaiatl.
The Clay Banquet.

Interesting Speeches ef Er-Ffesdent Tyler and
Hon. James Brooks. d NeW FORK.
Being loudly called for. Mr.. Tyler rosd and
said: r.
MR. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN
frankly confess that did not anticipate the
call you have made upon me. I came prepared.
II opportunity was given, % say . few words OF
the distinguished man, whose memory you have.
so far as marble could do II, immortalised. But.
In speaking Of him. shall, Of necessity, speak
Of the Union. came up to Witness tho proceed
ings Of to-day II is great spectacle, that OF In
augurating the statue Of one who has passed away
us marble can accomplish II. Il Il tho reseuing
from the tomb those features which were immov-
able in their day and generation. To do this. on
yonder Grounds, and In the shadow Of the Capt.
names, and this. too, In advance Of similar tri-
butes to tho heroes and Statesmen Of other days,
who drew their sustcnance from Virginia's ma
ternal breast aud made their names illustrious IL
no ordinary event. And yet Ii 10 right. II 10
right 10 reclaim the resemblance, while 1t may be
done. Of ono of Virginia's sons, who, In early
life, left the old homestead for new ono in the
West, under tho nursing care Of her Oldest daugh-
ter. II may now be said, otter tho manner oft
inscription on tho tomb Of tho Mantuan swain
Virginia gave him birth, Kentucky gave him
grave tho United States furnished him theatre
for his labors." trust that the day is not dis
tant when those Public Grounds will exhibit to
ndmirng people tho resurrectod features OF
grand host Of departed patriots. zach. after its
own way, to be silent, but fcrciblc monitor Of
immortality of fame which succeeds life Of high
aud honorable action.
1t il known to all present, and therefore had as
well DO spoken, that there was period in my
own political lifc, when tho man whose memory
you aro this day honoring, stood in formidable
nntagonsm to. His blows fell heavily and thick
ly upon mo- md doubtless some Of the bruises and
scars which they inflicted remain TO tho present
day. lie struck with a guantoted hand, and that
hand was heavy lie required an impossibility-
but lot that pass. After too shall have bnde the
world goodnight, history, if it dcoms thom wor-
those times nnd represent them truly. be II so
i turn awny from them and 90 back to other
times. ! recall the image Of Henry Clay upon
my entering Congress Ills clarion voice had re-
sounded through the country long before TINT.
IIe had efficiently sustained the administration of
Mr.. Jefferson aud had marshalled the Republican
hosts under Mr.. Madison, that battled in what
hns been not naptly called the second war of in
dependence. llo had won tho prestige Of an i'm
mense popularity. In 1916 l entered Congress
as the representative Of this metropolitan District.
Then I became personally acquainted with MIR.
Clay. lie was the Speaker Of tho House, and
embodied in his person nll the essentials for that
ng personal attributes. with voice that might be
nodulated to any note-ho preserved perfect order
n that body often under trials and circumstan-
es which threatened to brenk forth in tumut.--
i'he great trjumvirate was there. Clay and CAL
ioun bud won laurcls in debate. Webster was
radually raising his head above the crowd
There he sat for tho most part silent, wrapped in
lis own deep mcditaiions. Ilo eliminated into
all renown some fow years after and having wit
essed the spread Of his name over tho world, ho
vent to his grave grand, noble, magnificent in
lis patriotism. amid the profound regrets of tho
nuntry. Little did then dream thnt personal
egard was to spring up between tho first OF these
reat men and myself, to continue uninterrupted.
n despite of radical differences of opinion on os-
entail questions of public policy, for fourteen
ears of public scryice--nnd still l"ss that, ut n
realty subsequent period. the other two were to
pring to my side my trusted friends and coun-
llors in the nrduous and difficult administration
public affairs. There thcy are, the marked men
f IN age Indulge mo in single expression Of
ride and qualification it is that more enduring
ionument than brass marble can give. has
,ecn built up to them by the Legislature Of Vir-
.inia on the map of the State. There they arc,
he household words of the people Of tho State, In
heir legislative halls, and in their daily avoca-
ions. Looking at that map, find myself sur
ounded by many illustrious names of my cabinet.
some were there of old time-my own reflective
honor done my rcvcrcd father. is there, and
here too are found the names of Upshur and Gil
ner.
The times to which alude were times of great
nen. Congress was indeed the fit emblem Of our
rec institution. Perfect order prevailed in its
deliberations. With such Speaker, it could DO
10 otherwise. lie acted fully up to the duties of
his high Office. Thorougly acquainted with tho
principles Of parliamentary law, be permitted no
,ioaion to pass without reproof. 1t was, in fnct,
he most orderly body l ever saw. When Mr..
-, thn dahafaa Il Nth ouor
and. force of cloqucnce which were rarely ever
surpassed. His gesture was impressive, and ho
had tho faculty OF throwing the power Of his
voice into single sentence, after, such manner
rs to produce sometimes an electric effect The
late Philip p. Barbour, who was regarded by tho
House as the embodiment Of logic. has often
quoted to me, in illustration Of this power Of
voice. an expression used by Mr.. Clay in
discussing the recognition Of the Spanish. Amer
ican Colonies The Speaker bad drawn a des-
ponding picture Of the condition of Mexico in
her struggle for independence. Her hopes re-
ported to be blasted. Mira, her great leader,
either killed or captured. All gloom-all despair.
At that moment page put in his hands u morn
ing paper. His eye fell on paragraph. when
his whole manner became changed, and holding
the paper aloft, he exclaimed, MIRA STILL
LIVES The effect was wonderful. Mr.. Barbour
said, sprang to my feet, and several minutes
elapsed before I recovered from my. trance.--
| II INDUCED in the garruity Of age,l might re-
| late similar "reminiscences without number. But
| it is not for this that l came here to-day. Tho
details of Mr.. Clays life havo been eoquently
given by the omplshed orator of the day; IL
| is not because admired him as q man. rs lead
er in debate, as on orator Of immense powers,
| that am here to-day. Mo- it is because in my
| heart believe that he has title to monument
! for an act cf broad and unseIfsh patriotism, in
the course of his public career. which, standing
| by itself, / have not hesitated at all times and