Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-04-13

I
fee under Mr. Adams disastrous influence upon his
political fortunes from which he able TO recover
Now that the mts and preudces Of party have passed
from this subject how absurd appears the charge tha
he who had repeatedly refused Cabinet appointments and
foreign missions from Madison and Monroe, should have
bartered his honor sold his birthrigh for position
which, so far from advancing his prospects OF promotion
actually weakened them, by Withdrawing him from the
public eye. But this obvious view was forgotten or not
duly weighed in the excitements Of the moment Even
General Laayetes explicit averment that Mr.. Clay had
privately assured him, sometime before the contingency
occurred that if he should be required TO decide between
Adams and Jackson he must choose the former, was
vany offered to who had determined TO see nothing
but baseness in what was really sefdenyng and CHI
various act 1t was sufficient for party purposes that on
the surface there was show of combination, and the
SANDER once propagated sank deep into the hearts OF
! the people.
"RepOse denied her requiem to his name,
And Folly loved the mArtyrdom Of Fame."
Candor compe to admit that the acceptance OF this
Office was an astounding blunder and when too late,
none saw 1t more clearly than Mr.. Clay himself My
error he said in ac;epng the office, arose out oil my
undertaking the power OF detracon and the force OF lg
norance, and abiding with confidence IN the
conscious integrity and uprightness of my own motives
But, after all, why should mourn this event II de.
veloped the power Of the man-hs true nobility oil soul
it made him the Henry Clay now enshrined In our
hearts. He lost an office but the nation gained the fruits
OF mighty mind neryed to its highest power by the
determination TO Give down the calumny. Guilt would
have shrunk abashed from the storm OF oboquy-a tanner
spirit though innocent, would have sunk IN dependency
"A heart less patriotic would have been content to hur
back scorn for cOntumey. But Henry Clay was gultess
and above all such cowardice or mean revenge Undis-
mayed and unrewarded he abored on Tor his country
and this day. and forever his fame is the brighter
for the foil of that black SANDER which he lived to tear
from his escutcheOn aud trample beneath his feet
will not detan you with any heightened recital OF his
struggle with that Iron Chiehain who has been styled
Ibis man OF destny'-wh what justice later posterity
must determine, when it calmly to review the in-
cdent and results of that mighty contest For the pres
ent personal anpahies and rivalries are so mixed up
with the political incidents of that period and the ashes
lightly laid over the fierce fires that then ragged
through the land that deem it entirely unsued to the
present occasion TO speak of them more fully than Is
needed to preserve the unity of narrative and do jus
tce TO the subject. IL is sufficient Tor us TO remember
that against the most fearful odds and against great
popular iayorite Mr. Clay contended with zeal and en-
ergy unsurpassed in annals for the measures which
| he deemed vital fer the welfare OF the nation. And
when he thought the dignity of that Senate of which
he was clearly chief had been assaed be repealed with
aspirit high and defiant that which prompted the
attack. Against the assumption, as he regarded it, OF
arbitrary authority he poured forth the full measure OF
his imperial decamaton and when he saw or suspected
subseryiency or sycophancy 10 prosperous power he
launched the lightning of his terrible irony and scahng
rebuke. But in the midst of these fierce conflicts he
was ready throw aside all personal feelings and
unite with his most bitter opponents TO rescue his coun
try from impending danger. The difficulties growing out
of the tariff questionable threatened with France
drew forth and exhibited the ulness Of his patriotism
and the fertility ofhis craftsmanship.
Mr. Clay found himself at the head of that great
party which inscribed upon its banner the principles and
policy OF his life and took his name as its watchword
whoever might be the nominal leader may be allowed
to add that 1t party whose virtues never full
y acknowledged perhaps never fully recognized until it
was deemed necessary to write its merited epaph.-
Whether its mission be fulfilled remains to be but
scattered united, its members will be TO the
memory of their noble chief
Though our annals show
Ofbattes or banners taken,
sil In death defeat or woe
/ Ours be lOy atty unshaken."
resume my narrative at the point when Gen. jackson
retired from the Presidency leaving his country free
prosperous and happy" and succeeded by Mr. Van
Barren. ! hope aud believe that shall shock politi
cal seusbiites by the historical statement that his ad
minstraon was a dreary failure or by the suggestion
that he has received 1.-THE OF the sympathy he
deserved at the hands of the nation. andsnan the
helm OF the Great Eastern in hurricane Is feeble type
OF bis entire inability TO direct the ship OF State in that
fearful financial storm which burst upon the coun
try Whether this proceeded from the experiments up
on the monetary system which Mr.. Clay so much
/ deprecated, it is foreign to my purpose to dis
cuss but all agree that there a sin
gu!ar coincidence between his predictions and
the result None SorrOwed more than he for the fulfill
ment, or labOred more earnestly 10 remedy the evil
Verdict OF expulsion pronounced in advance by the
country on the existing administration, and Mr.. CIays
friends looked forward the election OF 1870 with
tire confidence that he would be placed at the head OF
the government, and that the nation would reap the full
benefit of his matured powers. In this they dis
appmned-the contest swept the land ike a whirl
wnd-the magnaumity of Mr.. Clay, and his strenuous
eXertions contributing greatly 10 the victory which
brilliant As barren Thwarted in his efforts to
impress the Wing policy the country Mr.. Clay retired
from public life in 1872 taking occasion make a
impressive address, and the event constituted such
epoch in legislative history that the Senate
mood for further business that day and adjourned pay
their living colleague an honor which heretofore had
been reserved for the dead.
How can l speak in measured terms Of the great Pre-
sidentia which ensued two years afterwards
"who that shared them ever shall forget
The emotions Of that spidtrousng tle3"
With what aacty did his friends rally to his side thrill
ed by his clarion aud animated by the example of
his exhsustes energy The heart of the nation seemed
to be touched At length the great patriot to stand
vndcaed OF his countrymen. lie had surmOuuted eve
~ obstacle he rad
Made proud rock
The means to scale another, I'll he stood
Triumphant on the peak wv
These alas only fond decisions. The nation had
acquired habit of voting against him. In his various
medations, in hi7 honest outspoken declarations he
had come in collision with the extreme opinions Of
both sectonshe had not hestaed tell them of their
errors aud the sharpness of the rebukes had not been
forgotten And he had never Aattcrcd yielded the
politicians and his fate renewed the force of the remark
Of Cicero Atcus that his Punishment due rather
TO the envy OF Cesar, the fear OF Crssus and the hate
OF Clodius, than 70 the dislike of the Roman people
And so our perpetual tribune Of the people was again
reected-defeat unexpected, saddenng, crushing de
feat, came upon us. And who that had his feelings
strained TO their utmost tension in that great excitement
entirely shake oil the dependency which fell like
dark shadow on souls who can altogether forget
the grief OF that time when every friend mourned Tor
some great personal calamity, and his adversaries
seemed to 90 souowng for the deed they had done?
And yet, how noby he bore it-exhibited 10 personal
spleen mortified ambition; but lifted himself as if IN
conciOus OF defeat aud came forth more az his
couny call TO her from the dangers which fierce
sectional strtes had again brought upon herr and this
time he returned with the batlle-cry OF DeArgentine
.0ne effort more one brave career
Must close this OF mne.'
The work of Cancellation was accomplished but even his
wonderful vitality sank beneath the protracted struggle
He appeared in his place at the next session. but all
that the glorious light fading from his noble brow
II. died he doubtless wished die-in the public
vice in sight Of the theatre of his great renown almost
under the tag of his country. Once againghs body
in that Capol-nO as before erect with lofty and
gttering eye; but prone and palid in death. Words
OF earnest and truthful eulogy poured forth and
then commenced that great national funeral marehthe
more than Aurean triumph Through Baltimore
Philadelphia, New Iork-and solemn silence rest
ell on those great cities, and the crowds that
came forth TO hail the living form, there in
sadness to honor his passing bier His remains were fit
ly placed the first night in the old Hall OF independence
afterwards under guards OF honor in City Halls and State
Houses up the Hudson every vessel with its flag at half
mast and cannon booming from every town and viii
age along the railroads, with mulitudes assembled at