Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-04-17
Henry Clay.

Henry Clay.
No man that this country has produced, un-
less we may except George Washington, ever
took such deep hold upon the affections on Inc
ssgreat people" as the illnstrious Clay. otner
men won their admiration and respect, but Hen
nv CLAW took possession of their hearts. 1t is
true that while the leader of great political
party he was hunted down by designing polltl-
clans, who, like the grim monster, love q SILL
ming mark" for their poisoned shafts; Dut De
lived to see his patriotism and the purity OF bis
motives confessed by the bitterest OF bis enemies
and went down to the grave honored and re-
vered by all who knew how to appreciate his
devotion to the honor and interests OF his coun-
try. All that was said and done to blacken his
reputation failed of its unworthy object, ana
some of those who perpetrated the greatest
wrongs now find their ''curses coming home.
Before his death his enemies began the work OF
repentance, and to use the language OF coz
temporary, she saw from the chamber OF death,
his countrymen opening wide the portals OF the
Temple of Fame, to place his name there, along
side of those who, by common consent, have
been declared Benefactors of their Country"
Last Thursday, April the 18th, the sSth ami
versary of Mr.. Clay's birthday, was celebrated
in various sections of the Union with appropri-
ate ceremonies. In New Orleans and in Rich
mond statues of the great statesman were inau-
gurated, and in Lexington, Kentucky, there was
q celebration in honor of the completion OF
monument to bis memory in that city. The
Virginia statue was, to speak more correctly, in
aagurated on the 18th day of November, 1874,
by a granddaughter of Ex-Governor James Bar
bour. Mrs. Lucy Barbour, wife of the Governor,
writes to John Hampden Peasants, at the a.
bove date, that she was not little surprised by
her two grand-daughters, who resided with her,
suddenly entering her chamber and exclaiming
fsgrand mother, what can we do for Mr.. Clay
some token of respect ought to be given him by
the Wing women of America, and we have
been devising many plans, but on farther con-
sideration, none of them pleased us!" Before
she could answer the interrogatory, one of them
said, suppose we undertake to raise BY sub
scription q sufficient cum of money to purchase
a handsome service of plate, With suitable Wing
emblems and inscriptions :"
Mrs. Barbour asked the aid of Mr.. Peasants in
the scheme, which was of course heartily given.
A statue was suggested instead of the plate, and
difference of opinion springing up among the
ladies themselves as to the form in which they
should express their gratitude for the distin-
guished public services of Mr.. Clay, meeting
was held in Richmond on the 9th of December,
which resulted in the organization of an associa-
ton for the purpose of erecting Statue. Mrs.
Lucy Barbour was the President of the Associa
ton. The organization thus effected was fol-
lowed by the formation of adjunct associations
in various parts of the State, and the requisite
amount of money was speedily raised. Joel T.
Hunt, of Kentucky, was commissioned to exc
cute the work sHe visited Ashland in 1916, I"
says the Richmond Wing, "and modelled the
great statesman from life. After three years
labor on it, the model was shipped to Italy,
whittier the artist repaired for the purpose OF
transferring it to marble. He reached Florence
in the latter part of 1s49, and after waiting a
whole year for the arrival of bis model, which
had been lost by shlpWreck ID the pay OF blscay,
was obliged to send to Lexington for a duplicate.
This and other delays protracted the completion
of the work for several years, and it was not I'M
til August goth, 1852 that the statue was ship
ped for the United States. 1t arrived in Rich
mond on the 18th day of January, and, few
days subsequently,, was placed upon wheels and
drawn by large number OF citizens to its tenn
porary resting place in Mechanics Hail."
On Thursday last, the 18th inst, the statue
was unveiled to the gaze of admiring thousands,
and with great Appropriateness, the address on
the occasion was delivered by Benjamin johnson
Barbour, Esq, the son of Mrs. Lucy Barbour,
who may be said to have originated the scheme
All honor to her and all the noble women OF
Virginia who united in this enduring tribute to
Henry Clay.