Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-04-24

At the Clay Statue Inauguration Banquet, Richmond,
Va, April 18th, 1860

tering notice of me. I only regret that the
Wing General Committee OF New York could
not have had others here to represent them,
than my associate (Mr. Wbeeler) and myself-
But alas. the Wing party in New York Is but
few 10 number, and they are far between.
Only few of us are left, as monuments of
it's ancient glory and grandeur. (Applause.)
But we few the more cherish its memory
and its principles, and The oftener, therefore,
assemble around tile altar TO warm up and
re-aninate our patriotism and the oitener TO
thind OF and talk of our Harry Clay. Gap
plause.)
New York State, gentlemen, can well re-
spond TO a sentiment given to her in Virgin
ia. and on the anniversary of the birth day OF
her CIayi For the Empire State has been
made imperial, and deserving OF her some
what over ambitious motto excelsior" by
ever following the principles, the teachings
and the lessons of Henry Clay. (Applausr.)
However her politicians may differ--and alasl
they to differ ON points most mater1ai-eVen
TO the very existence of the country-yet, in
all the economical administrations of the
public affairs of the State for the last fifty
years, have they united in practicing and in
illustrating the lessons aud the principles
taught by the great Father of American in
dustry aud of commerce and trade. Every
ship that goes out of New YUrk-tor the Arc
tic or the Antarctic. whether cruising by the
coasts of Zanzibar or of Bornco, amid the
isles of japan, or in the English channel
floats at the mast head and on her Tree aud
saucy flag, as a memento of Clay, Free trade
snd Sailors righis.'' secured in the treaty of
Client. (Applause) Every steam engine in
New York that moves ii pulley, every water
fall that turns a water-wheel, every field con-
tiguous to a factory, once but wilderness,
now made to blossom ike the rose--each and
all are eloquent with the inspiration of Clay.
(Renewed applause.) Our canals, our rail-
roads, one. and all, monuments Of that
genius OF development, and of internal i'm
proyement, with which his policy inspired
the whole country. prolonged applause)
Hence, gentle men, no State can better re-
spoud shan my own 10 this Virginia compli-
ment, created imperial. as it has been, by ex-
ecuting all the economical lessons. OF Vir-
gina's noble son.
But cannot stop here now. The sugges-
tive remarks of the Ex-President OF the
United States, (Hr. Tyler.) have carried me
back TO the second great era of Dir. Gays
lite. when l, but youth and all unknown
TO him, (Mr. Tyler.) was locker on in the
scenes hei has been describing, and in which
he noted well his part. Because / Was
youth, the more vivid is my memory, and the
more clearly can | recall all the men and
the history Ot the 22d Congress. Never, per-
hans. did there assemble in one hall more
inIellec ual body OF men than then graced
the Senate chamber of the United States; and
among them all, Clay shone foremost and
brightest in the radiant host. (Applause.)
Andrew Jackson. of iron will was President;
the brilliant meteor of South Carolina was
Vice. There was John Holmes, OF Maine,
sharp, witty and keenan, owl by night To
espy out facts and COssack by day to spear
with them the enemy. There was Sprague,
his colleague, but IL everything his contrast
eloquent, elegant scholar, too, as well a.
- " Hon
shire, the once renowned and well feared
editor, writer, guerrillero, ScTfptOr, as we'll as
actor rer1in There was the classic Robinson,
of Rhode Island, who bad Plndar and
Rschylus at bis fingers ends, aud Juvenal
and Persius. aud TO whom Delphos and Par
nassns and the golden sands OfPactOlus were
as well known as Narragansett Or Pautucket-
Laughter.) There was Prentss, of Yer
mont. Judge, Jurist, JuriscOnsul, at home
with Coke un Littleton, and more az home
with Frarne ON Contingent Remainders.
naugbter.) There was Foote, of Connecti-
cut. If not himself immortal, embalmed for
immortality, in the great debates OF Webster,
Hayne and Benton, ON Foote's resolutions"
(AppIause) There was Marcy, of New
York, Governor, Sccretary-a man not of
books. but by his genins above books-who
DrobabIy never read Vattel, Grotius, Puffen-
dorf OF Burlemaqui, but who knew all about
them 10y intuition. (Applau-e and laugh
ter) There was Dickerson, of New Jersey,
strong for protective tariff but stronger
vet for Andrew jackson; Qaughter) aud
there was his colleague. Frelinghuysen, whose
name is not mellifiuous, but whose periods
flowed in nellifiuOus eloquerce and in sooth-
ing sentences. and OF whom we made music,
nevertheless, in our political songs OF Clay
and Frelinghuysen. (Laughter.) There
was Dallas, OF Pennsylvania afterwards Vice
President, now Minister to England: he, too,
was strong on the tariff, and strong for An
drew Jackson strong too for the Bank. but
stronger yet for Andrew jackson; who had
the stf anger luck 10 be against his party In
almost Every principle. and yet TO sin Its
highes1 honors and positions. (Renew"dlaugh-
ter) There was Clayton of Del the Secreta-
nv. Negotiator, Diplomat, Ohe Clayton and
Bulwer treaty. who would read novels all
night and skirmsh in debate with Zouave-
like agility all the ensuing day. There was
Samuel Smith OF Maryland, the soldier, the
merchant, the statesman, in very enlarged
sense OF the word. | remember well Mr..
Clay quoting poetry upon bin. ihOugh the
orator of the day (Mr. Barbour) doubted
whether Mr. Clay could make a right quota
ton. Mr.. Smith had provoked the great
Kentuckian. quoting in public Senate some
remark lady had made upon Mr.. Clay's per
sOnal beauty. His ret0rt was terrible aud
undescrved, because it was SO terrible. Up
on Mr.. Smith, Mr.. Clay not only quoted, but
acted out Electrically too
'oid politicians chew on wisdom past,
And Iotter on IN blunders TO the last"
There were Tazewell and Tyler of Virginia
--Ty Ter yet lives. and long may he iive-(ap-
plause)-but the glittcring blade of Damas-
Gus. or Toledo, in TaZewell's band cuts no
more. | never knew mind so acute az his.
OF spirit, how spirlfueIle / verify believe If
L. .l ID an al, t,t. in fhs.
middle ages, he would have clearly solved
the riddles. whether angels can zee in the
dark, or whether you can 60 from one point
of space to another without going through
the other intermediate points. (LanghIeT,)
Then there was FORSYTH. the accomplished
Forsyth. The whole armory OF elOquencr,
ancient and modern. seemed to be al his
command. and be could play with the yata-
CHAN or the rapier. or with the small sword.
or tie broad sword, or with The broad axe. or
the cleayer; AID though he could not kill the
Clays or the Welstcrs. be could tease them
halt To death, and often make them ridicu
lous. There was King OF Alabama-elcgant,
high-minded. accomplished, also - who.
though not old became the father Of the Sem
ate, from bis long continuous service there.
There was PuindexIer, OF Mississippi. 'old
Puins," a. be was called keen and emitting
ioO--elear sighted and clear headed. with a
rszor Ike logic that cut everybody without
seeming To- try tn ia it. (bangh,er) Ohio
! sent her Ewing-Tcnuv>sec that Cato. Hugh
l.. White, very Roman in lock aud act; aud
Grundy- Felix Grundy. lending member
| in The Democratic firm Of 1912, which the
F,deTalsts nick-hamod the firm OF John
! Holmes. Felix Grubdy aud the Devil cloud
| Laughirr.)
Ataong these strong men. there doomed up
| Webster, Hayne, Benton, with Calhoun az
one time presiding over The body. aud al an
other time, member Of IL. Mighty ques-
| tiuns were before those Mighty meu; rivals
/ for the fsvors Of their c.untrymen. The
| Unitd States Bank. ihs Protective tatin,
the Public Lands. The agiiating matters OF
| Finance. were mingled up With graver topics
! NutI,F.atfan rit