New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-04-16

the programme somewhat from its published form,
Mr. Overall declined recting his promised ode.
The Grafton.
Grand Marshal Walton announced the Orator Of
the day, and WV. H. HuNT, ESQ, arose and de.
Ryered the beautiful and eloquent Grafton which
| We give below. AS the sonorous and powerful
voice Of the speaker ennnciated the flowing pc
RODS which told the patriotic virtues and achieve
ments, the private worth and public noble-doing Of
the subject Of enlogy, we saw the cheeks Of many
an old Clay Wing wet with tears, called forth by
4 the fond remembranees Of Harry Of the West
which the glowing words Of the orator had con.
jured back to mind.
The Grafton was a triumphantly brilliant effort,
and altogether worthy the grandeur Of the occa-
4 sion---the cap.sheaf and splendid climax which
crowned with becoming success and luster the va
rous events Of the inauguration. Though the posi-
ton of many Of the myriad of auditors was very I'M
comfortable and fiery sun played upon the great
majority, the Grafton was listened to with breath
less interest by all who could get within hearing
i distance. Raptnrous applause frequently broke
4 in upon the speaker, for the enthusiasm was ire
/ pressible:
In the year 1857 number of public spirited
and patriotic citizens, DESTROYS OF manfestng their
i
Henry Clay, formed themselves into society
4 named the e Clay Monumental Association Of New
1 Ofleans.v Their object, as their name indicates,
| was to erect in this city suitable monument to
! the illustrious man whose memory they designed
j to honor,
They determined to erect bronze statue of Mr..
Clay and they fixed upon this spot FORTS location,
4 with the permission of the city authorities.
the pedestal was laid with becoming solemnities.
| The work of making the statue was entrusted to
Mr.. Joel 7. Hart Of Kentucky. The Association
| displayed their good Judgment in committing this
/ important work to a native sculptor. whose dis
tnguishsd reputation in the world Of Art gave an
earnest of its admirable execution: and who, born
by the side Of the illusrious 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 unbounded
personal admiration.
Equally iudieious 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
i avenue of our internal commerce, and one of the
/ strongest natural bonds OF the union--it stands
conspicuous a noble and permanent ornament of
1 New Orleans, and q fit monument of the gratitude
| and yeneration of free people
And now that tins patriotic undertaking is
4 crowned with completion, we have assembled to-
4 day. beneath the open heavens, to celebrate with
appropriate ceremonies the gratifying event. The
4 city has assumed its garb of holiday the artisan
4 has laid aside his work; the stores and places OF
business are forsaken the courts and public Offices
are closed. The large attendance here of the mill.
tary in gittering uniforms, and of the civic societies
1 in tasteful decorations the thrOng of citizens of
all classes and occupations, who crowd the ample
area where we stand; the groups that fill the sur
rounding balconies and windows and housetops
the presence on this platform Of the highest dgni-
taries Of the State and city, and Of the numerous
! distinguished visitors from other communities, who
4 have come among u.s. combine to lend unusual
consequence to the occasion, and to invest it with
l alan irfn
1 In the name of the Association whose organ ]
1 am to you, fellow citizens of Louisiana, and OF
other portions of glorious Union, and to Others
| who manifest by their presence generous sympa-
thy in onr proceedings, extend hearty, free and
4 American welcome. FL
The custom Of perpetuating the memory Of illus
trious men by statues or paintings Is derived from
1 the remotest antiquity. The ancients were wont
youth with sentiments of religious piety whilst the
| images Of their great captains, their kings and
rnlers their sages and statesmen, served constant
ly to impress upon the people aalutary lessons Of
| emulation, patriotism and virtue.
In modern times throughout the civilized world
this custom still prevails In Europe every polished
nation ab0unds in monuments to its ilustrious 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 feelings and in
most of our larger towns monuments and statues
have been erected to the memory Of our distin-
guished men.
It is the instinct of virtue to do honor to Genius
and Patriotism To do SO by the enduring means
of the Fine Arts is to illustrate the progress and
| proficiency of our age in those accomplishments
which evince the highest degree of culture and re-
| fnenient in nation.
The desire of posthumous fame is a powerful in
centive to public virtue. So uncertain are popular
| favor and power at all times SO much alleged by
! envy hatred, malice and all unchartabeness, that
wise man looks rather to posterity than the pre-
sent for his reward and the realization of his golden
dreams Of glory. In doing honor to the dead, the
living are but discharging pious duty: and it is
by beautiful and unselfish intuition that virtu-
GUS and patriotic people Is led to feel proud
| pleasure in such holy Offices.
| Prompted by these feelings, we are here to-day
to dedicate this statuethe statue Of Henry Clay!
| Behold his lfe-like image stands before YOU No
| royal robes adorn his person; no crown, no scep-
tire, no badges of ancestral glory. No sword is By
his side to tell of battles fought and won baten
4 to indicate the pomp and power Of authority. A
1 plain man. in the simple garments of citizen; his
/ image challenges not our admiration through the
adyentitious aids Of rank or the tnsel ornaments
of military glory. But he stands before Us as We
| knew hinl--aS we loved and honored him. The EN-
4 bodiment of the Genius, of the wisdom, of the clio
quence Of the courage, of the public virtue, Of the
self-sacrifice, of the patriotism which filled the
measure Of his country y glory, and made his name
and fame immortal.
Henry Clay was born in Hanover county, Viz
ginia on the 18th day Of April, 1777. His parents
| were very poor and when he was of tender years
his father died. This event left him dependent en-
tirely on his own resources, and he thus early sci
forth upon the thorny path of life, leaning on nc
| friendly arm, but unaided and unsupported, t.
achieve the great destiny that awaited him in the
| future. Having enjoyed slender educational ad
! vantages- advantages very far inferior to those
now within the reach Of every child in this commu
\ nity--we find him at fourteen years of age, ant
4 with only three years schooling, employed In
| drugstore in Richmond. This situation he soor
left, to act as scribe in the office of the Clerk
I the Court of Chancery. Here he contracted thu
acquaintance, and was enabled to enjoy the in
strnctiye conversation of many of the ripest law
4 yers and abest minds of Virginia. rare adran
4 tage, and wont to be UNDERMINED by youth, bu
A which he had the good sense fully to appreciate
and improve.
He seized eagerly and gratefully the outstretchet
4 hand that sought to guide his youthful footsteps
| through the darkness with which circumstances
had enyeloped them
On becoming licensed to the practice of the law
his ambitious and adventurous spirit led him to re
move to Kentucky: and before he arrived at TIT
4 age Of majority he commenced his professona
| career in that State.
0hscurity and Indulgence did not dismay his iior
heart, but seemed rather to quicken his powers
/ into action. and to strengthen in him the indom
liable spirit of selfreliance for which he was eve
4 remarkable. His diligence his fidelity his abiiit,
and eloqueBee achieved for him immediate sue
cess, and he rose at once to the highest rank at
bar where there were many lawyers OF merit ant
| eminence.
This high professional reputation he maintained
throughout bis life. will not weary you by refer
ring to the various important causes in which he