New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-04-13
FRIDAY MORNING, APRIL ID, 1860.

| Honor and Col. Robert j. Ward the other. They
were given with deafening emphasis, Mr.. Hart ris-
| ing and bowling acknowledgment to the salute.
| The Dedication.
When the assemblage again became hushed and
STILL the high officers of the Masonic fraternity,
standing on the pediment base Of the Statue, ded-
Gated the work with the solemn and mysterious GER.
| emonies of the Order. This was most inter-
estiug and imposing feature Of the occasion.
/ The Ode.
| The Committee OF Arrangements having changed
the programme somewhat from its Published form,
| Mr.. Overall declined reciting his promised ODE
I ss5e The Grafton. s6 t5@g u
| Grand Marshal Walton announced the Orator OF
the day, and WM. H. HUST, ESQ, arose and de-.
| liyered the beautiful and eloquent Grafton which
4 we give below. As the soaorous and powerful
| voice of the speaker enunciated the flowing pe-
RODS which told the patriotic virtues and achieve
| ments, the private worth and public noble-doing Of
| the subject of eulogy, we saw the cheeks Of many
an old Clay Wing wet with tears, called forth by
| the fond rcmembrances Of Harry Of the West,
which the glowing words Of the orator had con-
| jured back to mind. n
The Grafton was a triumphantly brilliant effort,
and altogether worthy the grandeur of the ocea-
| sfen-the cap-sheaf and splendid climax which
crowned with becoming success and luster the va
rious events Of the inauguration. Though the posi-
ton of many Of the myriad of auditors was very un-
comfortable, and fiery sun played upon the great
majority, the oration was listened to with breath
less interest by all who could get within hearing
distance Rapturous applause frequently broke
in upon the speaker, for the enthusiasm was ire
pressible:
In the year lS52, a number Of public spirited
and patriotic citizens, desirous of anifesting their
veneration for the character and public services OF
Henry Clay, formed themselves into a society
named the q. Clay Monumental Association Of New
0rleans.' Their object, as their name indicates,
| was to erect in this city suitable monument to
the instrious laan whose memory they designed
to honor. ..5 a.sy
They determined to erecta bronze statue of Mr..
Clay, and they fixed upon this spot for its location,
with the permission Of the city authorities.
On the 18th of April 1866, the cornerstone CT
the pedestal was laid with becoming socrnnities.
The work Of making the statue was entrusted to
Mr.. joel I. Hart, Of Kentucky. The Association
displayed their good Judgment in committing this
important work to native sculptor, whose dis
tinguished reputation in the world of Art gave an
earnest of its admirable execution: and who, born
by the side of the illustrious patriot and having
early learned to contemplate his greatness, would
bring to the performance Of his grateful task a
genius glowing with the enthusiasm Of unboundcd
personal admiration.
Equally judieous has been the selection of this
site for the statue. In the most frequented tho.
roughfare of our city--in the very heart Of the
metropolis, overlooking the Mississippi, the great
avenue of our internal commerce, and one of the
strongest natural bonds of the Union--it stands
conspicuous noble and permanent ornament oi
New Orleans, and q fit monument Of the gratitude
and yeneration of free people!
And now that this patriotic undertaking is
crowned with completion, we have assembled to
day, beneath the open heavens, to celebrate with
| appropriate ceremonies the gratifying event. The
city has assumed its garb of holiday the artisan
has laid aside his work the stores and places d
business are fofsaken the courts and public Offices
are closed. The large attendance here of the mill
tary in glitterng uniforms and Of the civic societies
in tasteful decorations the throng of citizens o
all classes and occupations, who crowd the ample
area where we stand; the groups that gill the sur
rounding balconies and windows and housetops
the presence on this platform Of the highest digni
tares of the State and city, and of the numerOu
distinguished visitors from other communities, wht
have come among us, combine to lend unusua
consequence to the OCCASION and to invest it witt
q splendid interest.
s@e. in the name Of the Association whose organ
. am, to you, fellew.citizens of Louisiana, and o
other portions of our glorious Union, and to other
who manifest by their presence generous sympa
thy in our proceedings extend hearty, free AM
American welcome.
The custom of perpetuating the memory Of illus
trions men by statues or paintings is derived from
the remotest antiquity. The ancients were won
thus to typify their gods in order to inspire thei
youth with sentiments Of religious piety whilst th
images Of their great captains, their kings ant
rulers, their sages and statesmen, served constant
ly to impress upon the people salutary lessons b
emulation patriotism and virtue.
Iii modern times. throughout the civilized world
this custom still prevails. mEurope every polished
nation abounas in monuments to its illustrous he
roes. In our own country we have not been un
mindful of the advantages to posterity thus con
ferred, and OF our duty to our own feelings; and il
!, most OF our larger towns monuments and statue
have been erected to the memory of our distn
guished mcn -5s=s=-
a. is the instinct Of virtue to do honor to Geniu
. and Patriotism. To do SO by the enduring mean
Of the Fine Arts is to illustrate the progress an
proficiency of our age in those Accomplishment
which eyince the highest degree of culture and re
fnement in nation.
The desire Of posthumous fame is powerful il
centive to public virtue. So uncertain are popnla
| favor and power at all times, SO much allowed b
1 envy hatred, malice and all uncharitableness, tha
! wise man looks rather to posterity than the pre-
sent for his reward and the realization of his golde
dreams Of glory. In doing honor to the dead, th
living are but discharging pious duty: and it
by beautiful and unselfish intuition that yirtr
Gus and patriotic people is led to feel prou
pleasure in such holy Offices.
Q Prompted by these feelings, we are here to-da
il to dedicate this statue-the statue of Henry Clay
!, Behold his life-like image stands before you! n
:. royal robes adorn his person; no crown. no sceI
tire, no badges of ancestral glory. No sword is b
his side to tell Of battles fought and won no bato
to indicate the pomp and power of authority.
plain man, in the simple garments of a citizen Iii
: llifdSe eiiaiehSes not our admratiou through tn
i adyentitous aids of rank or the tinsel ornament
d of military glory. But he stands before US as
;. knew fim-as VIC loved and honored him. The en-
bodimcnt Of the Genius, of the wisdom, Of the eli
quence, OF the courage, of the public virtue, of th
G self-saefifce, Of the patriotism which filed th
J. measure Of his countrys glory, and made his nam
> and fame immortal.
:, Henry Clay was born in Hanover county, vi
o ginia, on the 10Th day of April 1777. His parent
j. were very poor, and when he was of tender yeal
his father died. This event left him dependent Ell
. trely on his own resources, and he thus early 81
J forth upon the thorny path of life, leaning on n
p friendly arm, but unaided and unsupported I
n achieve the great destiny that awaited him in til
# future Having enjoyed slender educational az
i vantages-adyantages very far inferior to thos
g now within the reach Of every child in this comm
r nity-we find him at fourteen years of age, an
A with only three years. schooling, employed in
:. drugstore in Richmond. This situation he 500
: left to act scribe in the office of the Clerk
e the Court of Chancery. Here he contracted tt
e acquaintance and was enabled to enjoy the il
structiFe conversation Of many of the rpest Law
: yers and ablest minds of Virginia. rare adyal
Il tage, and wont to be undervalued by youth. b,
/ which he had the good sense fully to appreeiat
If and improve.
He seized eagerly and gratefully the outstretehe
. hand that sought to guide his youthful footster
e through the darkness with which circumstance
y had enveloped them.
" On becoming licensed to the practice Of tile lay
his ambitions and ajlyentrnus snirit led hin, to ~