Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-04-12
The Inauguration OF the clay Statue.


T".nlurr"w. Inc inauguration II" tE.s Clay
Statue will lie marked with all thr .i,aracIcris-
ties oI national festival Henry clay S na
lungcr The partizan lca"r, iIoliAeh iy the al.
herents ni one grca, political organization. ul-
holding il by the force o! his intellect and will,
! bearing the ''nriiian,lne' OF lis enthusiastic
confidence, and encnuntcrinS every assault If
its aivcrsarirs The peace Of all honorci tomb,
and the un1ncsiionci tribute of nationa! glory,
have affixed 10 his name more di:nitir,l iuem.
Dry. 1t Is nor now our purpose to enIurc
what exact niche in the temple of El,nc should
be appropriated tn the ctfigy Of this great man.
II is enough lor us that he is entitled TO his
place there. ard Il high plarc too, in the sane
! tnary Of posthnlnols glory That he possessed
the first, great indispensable requisites Of lead
crship in action. aul leroSm OF character, cannot
be disputed. \ selEcunfidcnce which no diff
! Guilty could orerco,ne-a courage which, no dan
ger could shake. q resource Of endurance and
perseverance which seemed ineXlauStible, and
even incapable Of diminution-a presence Of
person and character which seemed spontane-
ouslv y TO sway the fears and affections Of men
with whom he clInu in contact, individually or
in nlilsscs, all these elements Of commanding
greatness are attributed by general consent, to
the character Of Henry Clay. This popular
award is jl,st and it is 10 these characteristics
that Mr.. Clay owed, in great degree, that as
sccntli.ncy which enabled him to ronrro4 select
assenbages hs easily a.: popular gatherings
Much inferior To- Calhoun in intellectual nc.
Inircment and logical acunien-cQually intc.
rior 10 Webster III the ar-rcaching grasp Of
merely intellectual comprehensivcuess aud the
grlces ii polite culture in thought and taste
he could WELD double their combined influence
on tile tioor Of the Senate. Undoubtedly the
greatest parliamentary leader Of his day,
he seemed to sway ut will the ,lelibera-
tions Of The Scualc. And even before
Il still more august body, and with no
pretence 10 the great wealth 0E legal
requirement nl Horace Binnry, John Sargent,
nr Walter Jones, the earncd Judges Of the SUI
prcme Court ould listen 10 him wiLsta de-
ference only secondary to that accorded /" these
forensic @iants When son Of Virginia has
held position like this, and won trirmpiiS
like these it is especially appropriate that Iir-
giniaus of all parties should mite in extending
the highest honors to his memory. During
tho lifetime of Henry Clay, the great mnn who
then welded the editorial power oi thr " Rich
lnond Enquirer was one Of the most illi'icl-
taI and determined Of his political adrcrsarcS,
but after Mr. Clay, death, while Al Washing
ton, rendered glowing tribute to his memory.
! It is due 10 the amc and memory Of both cham
pion>, not less than 10 STATE pride and national
gratitude, thai the " Enquirer shall extend an
especial inuri ol respect on the nrcas!nu ri the
| approaching festival. We have. therefore. de-
,er,ninrt 10 close DsIr office on Thursday nrEt,
H. n,dcr 10 enable all hands Ia participate in
Ih. ceremonies OF Tie 'ldv Tits is ,l.r more
negcsSlry ainc" u:atIy ri Gr .''rgS viii b. cA-
rec'ci I" 'lo military dnly. ileur.. ,ilr1c will
be nu issue Of ,nv Enquiries" Oh Fri'!':t nest.