Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1860-04-16
Railg Viraiuiau.
GRAFTON
B. JOHNSON BARBOUR, ESQ,
AT TIE INAUGURATION OF
THE CLAY MARBLE STATUE
AT RICHMOND.
Mr.. Barbour said

women of Athens were accustomed 10 crown Po.
riccs with garlnnds after successful oraton.--
We remember that the daughters of England
raised commemorative statue to Wellington,
composed Of the captured cannon Of his splendid
yictories-nnd southern matrons ana Southern
maidcns, pleading through tho graceful eoquenco
Of u Northern orator, have rescued Mount Vernon
from dlapdation and made it tho trysting spot of
tho nation.
In bcautifu, accordance with these examples.
the women Of Virginia about to witness tho
full realization of their efforts to honor II great
and fearless patriot-oloquont ns Periclcs, brave
as " Wellington. aud next TO Washington, the fore
most man in all our country.
have been kindly nsked to lend my humblo
mid in inaugnrntlng this votive offering md
though shrauk unatlecie lily from the position, /
could not find it in my heart 20 refuse tho request.
Added 10 this tho feeling thnt | should hc
grossly delinquent in negecting tho opportunity
to offer my grateful homage to the memory OF II
national bcnemctor---nnd il all ether motives had
iniled in their persuasive influence, pardon me for
saying that ccall not have resisted her silent np-
peal who first taught mo to love and honor tho
name and character ot Henry CMy.
We mny consider it fortunate that 80 great an
interval Of time has fallen between the origin and
completion ot this patriotic purpose. To tho
skllul anl faithful artists has granted nearly tho
twenty years which the ancionts thought neces-
sary for the perfection OF any great work. 1t has
delayed the inauguration until the South has dis
covered the startling necessity Of collecting her
scattered elements o strength and there seems
to be high poetic ustice in seizng this moment
to present tho image Of tho great advocate of do
mestc industry to whom every suit of home
made cloth will bc n tacit compliment, md every
factory that shall rise nm involuntary monument.
Ii has scnccd lhe cnyils Of those who objected 10
raising statue TO IL living man-it enabled that
man to vndcate and increase his title to the
honor to make the pedestal ns it were brondcr and
stronger and higher. 1t has scnsd the approval
of contemporaries with the judgement OF poscri-
ty Above all. it has enabled every true hcart@
American, without reference to his particular po.
lcn' creed or party associations, to unto in tho
ceremonies of this day. When tho head If tho
murdered Cicero was presented by Poplrs to
Mark Antony, he gaZed awhile Mt tho living
features ot the man before whom ho himself hnd
| 81 often turned pale. and then exclaimed at
! is enough--there is an end Of the prescription"
| Unbiased, them by any dread OF arouSing dis
cordant ieelings,l approach my great theme. with
no other fear than OF my utter lncapacity 10 rise
to the height of its great argument but, consoed
by the thought THAI am only called to touch
chord, which. under the influences Of the occasion,
is already trembling with choicest muSic-that il
! can strike the keynote. your affection will com
plcte the strain--that il nltcr or fail in words
it will be sufficient to lay my hand ON the Ma
tons heart, still throbbing with gratitude and
love for Henry Clay. For it is not here alone
that these honors are paid to n great memory
This day will present tho unparalleled spectacle
OF the erection of three statues ot the same man,
ut poit IL remote from each other by hundreds
and thousands If miles, In Virginia. in Ken
lucky, and at New Orleans, muitudcs are co.lcc.
ted at this moment to hear the story Of his noble
deeds, and welcome the similitu4o Of his form
and featnrcs. can imagine no moro touching
proof of the nationality Of the man. than this fact
presents c!n invoke no language TINT would
not mar the grandeur of it's smlic statement.
BY whnt means did he win in life the losc and
gratitude Of nation. and what is his title to
these posthumous honors liv the exhibition Of
comprehensive and untirng patriotism-bcst
described by himself, because most deeply and
truly felt "A high, exalted, sublime patriotism,
which, soaring towards heaven, rises far above all
mean, low or selfish things which is absorbed
by soul transporting thought Of the good and
glury OF ones country-that patriotism which,
catching its inspiration from the immortal God,
and leaving n, an immcasurablc distance below
all lesser grovclling personal interests and feel
ings, nnimates and prompts to deeds Of self sacri
flee, Of yalor, Of devotion, AID of death itself
that is public virtue that is the nobest and sub
limest of all virtues" This is tho magnificent
definition of the patriotism which dwelt in his
heart and was made manifest in his actions. Let
us recall some Of these.
You do not expect, | am sure, any tame recital
Of the incidents of his life for the full biography
of Henry Clay would be the history Of his coun-
try for the time in which he lived A rapid
sketch s NIL that deem necessary. If | pause
for moment to speak OF Of tho scenes and
incidents of his earlier days. it is not because !
suppose his mother State forgetful of these things
Virginia honored him with her electoral
vote, but she does not require TO be reminded of
the birthplace Of the birthday of her great
son-and he never forgot his origin or ceased to
love the land of bis nativity. because of her nog.
lect. liewas the gilt of genius, which tho blend
ed powers Of earth cannot rival or initiate; but
circumstances and conditions frequently determine
whether it shall shine with benignant light. or
with the lurid glare Of an "archangel lost !" whc-
tbcr, in tn, case Of the statesman it shall be per.
verted to the purposes of selfish ambition, seek
its reward in the welfare and happiness of its
country.
Henry Clay was n child of the Revolution
q its first born lie wps native of that county
of Hanover, rs he told its citizens in 1910. which
was the first in the Revolution to raise it's arms
under the eloquence of Patrick Henry in defence
Of American liberty. The thunder Of that co-
quence was still rolling through the land when
Mr.. Clay was youth, and il they are correct who
contend that the character receives its inevitable
bias within the limits of childhood, we can easily
imagine the controlling influence of that high ex-
ample upon the impressibe mind of the young
partiot. lie never recognized, as he has touch
ingly told US, fathers smile or fond caress-
Death had deprived him Of these-but We may
we'll believe that the first word Of worldly nstruc-
ton from his devoted mother was independence!
independence for himself and for his country.
Il became the motto Of bis heart and of his nigh
ty intellect: it was stamped upon his noble front,
and he always sought To inscrbc it upon the tenn
pie of his country as tho taisman of her power,
tho bond of her union and the token Of her
strength 1t prompted his greatest eff'rts tor
that country; it sustained him in the darkest
hours Of detfaeton and cnlumny; it turned his