Gazette and sentinel., 1860-09-08

Congressional discussion upon that sub
;nrt accounts for the absence from his
record Of anything with reference
thereto. except in a single and lmpor-
tant instance.
In ISL an immense Lobby cOngreGa-
ted at Washington, in the pay OF the
vast interests desiring the repeal OF the
duty On railroad iron, with the selfish
purpose of curichimg themselves out OF
the immense amount of the depletion IN
the revenues Of the country which
would follow their success.
Mr.. breckenridge being opposed to
special LEGISLATION in all its forms, but
more particularly where it proposed to
disturb a well composed system of ac-
ouiring revenue, at the demand Of rich
CAPITALISTS. and always opposing a firm
resistance to the march of the lobbyists
against the integrity Of Legislation, took
an active part in defeating the bill for
that purposn, and succeeded by his I'M
tirin~ energy and great influence i'll the
House in killing ii.
His tribute t. the character and SER
vices IF liccry Clay, upon introducing
resolutions Of respect to his memory,
the day after his death in Washington,
was the most beautiful, touching and
eloquent ever delivered in the halls of
Congress. When the tall, manly and
dicuilicd form of the young orator arose
to offer the resolutions, every eye was
turned upon him !; a breathlesS silence
pCrvadcd the hall and the crowded au-
ditorvin the galleries, and, as heportray-
ed. "in thoughts that breathe and words
that burn" the virtue and talents of the
illuStrious orator and statesman of Ken
lucky. and mourncd the nations loss of
this great man, many an eye was
bathcd in tears, and many a bosom
hcavcd with emotion in response to his
glowing culogy upon the departed
statesman, orator and patriot.
The hand Of no master ever painted
IA more faithful, lifc-like portrait than is
t. be found in that vivid delineation of
the unrivaicd orator and statesman,
Henry Clay, when Mr.. Breckenridge
said
AS a leader in a delibcrative body,
Mr.. Clay had no equal in America. In
him, intellect, person, c%lOquencc and
courage united to form a character fit to
command. lie fired with his own en-
thusiasIn, and controlled by his anna,
ling will, individuals and masses. No
reverse could crush his spirit, no defeat
reduce him to despair. Equally erect
and daunticss in prosperity and advcr-
sity-whcn successful, he moved to the
accomplishment of his purposes with
more resolution when defeated, he raj
lied his broken bands around him, and
from his eagle eye shot along their
ranks the contagIun of his own cOur-
age. Destined for a leader. he every
where asserted his destiny. In his long
and evcntfuI life he came in contact
with men of all ranks and professions,
but he never felt that he was in the
! presence Of a man superior to himself.
In the assemblies of the people, at the
bar, in the Senate, everywhere within
the circle of his personal presence, he
assumed and maintained a position Of
p~re-eminencc.
"But the supremacy of Mr.. Clay as a
party leader was not his only nor his
| highest title to renown. That title is
to be found in the purely patriotic
| spirit which, on great occasions, always
signalizcd his conduct. We have had
no statesman who, in periods of real and
imminent public peril, has exhibited a
more genuine and enlarged patriotism
than Henry Clay. Whenever a ques-
ton presented itself actually threaten
ing the existence of the Union, Mr..
Clay, rising above the passions of the
hour, always exerted his powers to solve
it peacefully and honorably. Although
more liable than most men, from his i'm
Pctuous and ardent nature, to feel
strongly the passions common to us all,
it was his rare faculty to be able to sub
due them in q great crisis, and to hold
towards all the sections of the Confede-
racy the language of concord and
brotherhood.
"Sir, it will be a proud pleasure to
every true American heart to remem-
Der the great occasions when Mr.. Clay
has displayed a sublime patriotism
when the i'll temper engendered by the
times and the miserable j~ealousies of
the day seemed to have been driven
from his bosom by the repulsive power
of nobler feelings-when every throb
Of his heart was given to his country,
every effort of his intellect dedicated tc
her service. Who does not remember
the three periods when the American
system Of government was exposed to
its sevcrest trials :; and who does not
know that when history shall relate the