Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-04-17

arduous and difficult administration Of public
affairs There they are The marked men OF an
age! Indulge me in 4 single expression Of
pride and qualification: il is that q more en-
during monument than brass or marble can
give, has been built up to them by tile Lcgs-
laturc of Virginia, on the map o! the State
There they arc, the household words Of the
people Of the State, i'll their Legislative halls,
and in their daily ayOcatiOns Looking AT that
map find myself surrounded by many Illus
trious NAMES OF my cabinet. Some were there
Of uld timc--lny own reflective Of honor done
my rcvercd father, is there, and there too arc
found the names of Upshur and Gilmer
The times 10 which allulc were times oi
great men, Congress was indeed the iii en-
blcm Of our free institutions. Perfect order
prevailed in its deliberations With SnCh 4
Speaker it could not be otherwise. He acted
fully up to the duties of this high Office. Tho
roughly acquainted with the principles q! par
iamenlary law, lie permitted 10 violation to
pass without reprooC 1t was in fact, the most
orderly body | ever saw. When Mr.. Clay
mingled in tho debates. it VAS with power
and force ui cloquencc which were rarely ever
surpassed. Ills gesture was impressive, and
lie had The faculty OF throwing the power OF
his voice into a single sentence, after snch
manner Us ~ produce sometimes an electric
effect. The lato Philip p. barbour, who was
regarded by the House as the embn'limcnl OF
logic, has often quoted 10 INC, in Illustration OF
this power Of voice, al expression used by Mr..
Clay in discussing the recognition Of the Span
isl-American Colonies. The speaker had
drawn dcspondng picture of the condition Of
Mexico, in her struggle for independence. Her
hopes reported to be blasted Mira, her
great leader, either killed or captured. M
gloam all despair At that moment Il page put
in lis hands il morning paper Ills eye fell
on paragraphs. when his whole nanncr be-
come changed and holding the pape, :loit, he
exclaimed, 'MIENA STILL LIES The effect
was wonderful Mr.. Barbour said, sprang to
my eet, and several minutes elapsed before
recovered from my trauec If iniulgcd in the
garrulity Of aye, might relate similar relnini.
, SCIENCES without number. but it is not for
this thar came here to-day. The "details OF
Mr. Clay'> life have been eloqncntly given by
tl:c accomplished orator Of the day. 1t is not
because admired him as a man, as II leader in
debate. rs An oralu- Of immense powers, that
am here to-day Nc; it is because in
my heart | believe that he has title to
4 monument far an act Of broad and
unselish patriotism in the course of
his public career, which, standing by itself, ]
have not hcsitaed at all times and in all places,
when il was suitable. 10 say entitled him moi
only to monument OF brass OF marble but TO
One in the hearts of his countrymcn. The
brow Of the Roman citizcR who had saved the
: life of another in battle was cncircled by an
oaken wreath. What badge OF distinction is
proud enough for him who saves his country
from civil war? Ask the parent who en(olds
his little children, and the companion all his
hopes and trials and trulnplls in life, in his
arms, at the horrible spectre Of civil brol
which threatens with grim aspect to enter his
heretofore peaceful dwelling Ask the lone
| and widowed mother rs she flies to the rocks
and desert with her infant strained to her
breast and concealed from view by the trcsscS
!; Of her streaming hair. Ask brave and stalwart
men as they take their position in opposing
ranks to shed each others blood Ask one,
ask ALL what monument he deserves who drives
: away this horrible spectre OF civil war and re-
stores his country tu peace and confidence !?
Nay, more, ask the lovers Of freedom al! over
the world, what is the measure Of gratitude for
the lnan who saves that glorious banner with
out star shorn Of its dazzling luStre, the her
aid, if so preserved, Of ultimate freedom to
mankind, from being torn and destroyed in the
. bloody arena Of strife and battle II was be.
: Cause that in my inncrmost heart believe
! Henry Clay did this, that aIn her, il d.
Most OF those who are here pres, :. l.,f.:. IL
Der the marked era Of Gen. Jacksons 'lncIl
nation, and what WAS called the Force bill
The Tariff question was the absorbing one Of
the day. The South had untedly declared it
oppressive and in violation Of the spirit Of the
constitution. After long years of protest,
South Carolina declared it to he her purpose
to nulliiy the act. She had resorted 10 no act
Of qualification. She had threatened to do so.
She sought thereby peaceaby To adjust the
question. The Proclamation came with all its
consolidating doctrines. which. carried into
practice, threatened Il revolution, annihilating
in its course our Federativc system, and setting
up in its stead consolidated government,
looking no longer 10 States rs parties to the
: strained by anything but blind will 10 en-.
force those doctrines the Force bill was passed,
investing the President with [liclatoral powers.
Army, navy. militia, treasury, all placed at his
sole ayili and sole disposal South Carolina
saw the storm and prepared fori it. Her military
: were placed under an efficient drill, and her
Palmetto flag WAS ready to be unfurlcd; and
thousands were upon tiptoc to watch the COM
HtOIill, tiihc part III H. tipicI ll'iS
state Of things, waited on Mr. Clay. had
voted against him in the election Just passed
had differed radically from him in his conrsc
Of d"nss,ic policy. belonged, in short to the
old Jefferson party, from whose principles of
constitutional construction have never in sin
glcinStuncc departed lie well knew my person.
al admiration Of him, and he received Inc cor
daily. We cunvcrScd abnut the times. lie saw
the danger. appealed to his patriotism. No
man ever did So in vain The difficulties in
the way were immense. lie responded as a
patriot. referred him to another, as the only
person necessary to consi,lt-and that man
was john c. Calhoun. lie had to reconcile
h!> Gwr larty-he had to satisfy an opposite
party, BY large concessions. They met. con
suited. agreed. The Compromise tariff bill
WAS The result and now, that years have gone
hy--~now that my head is covered with grey
hairs. and old age is upon me- recall the en-
thilsiasm felt when Mr.. Clay rose in the
Stna!c to announce the great measure ut peace
a"l reconciliation. occupied I'm extreme
seat on the left, hc similar seat on the right
Of the Senate chamber. We advanced to meet
each other. and graspcd cnch others hands
midway the chamber. lis that grasp Of hands
which has brought Tie here to-day. 1t is that
nob: act which immortalized the name Of
Henry Clay felt that he deserved monu.
ment. | am here to witness its inauguration
after occurrences have not restrained me
from coming / have but little to do with the
politics of the present day-little to 10 with
them except to wish them safely ended.
have fears have doubts; | have settled opin-
ions; but they arc my own, in the privacy oi
retirement may well cxclaim, with our
talented but unfortunate Edgar y. Poe, with
out participating iii the regret which the lines
express
"Aus alas Tor me ambition nil Is GER
No more, no more, more.
(Snch mr,ic hath the sounding
To the sands upon Il, shore,)
The riTen oak shall bloom Tor
! pr stricken eagle soar.
Mr. Though it is not strictly
in order, will now propose what anticipate
. will meet q hcarty rcSno,lSc from every one