New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-04-16
And he bath one great heart, II Is thus We feel
With gigantic thfpb ashwat the sea
Each others rights and wrongs: thus are we men.


sublime, he lifted bis cheering voice aoft In behalf
of struggling Greece, and in order to obtain the
recognition Of the independence of South America.
Mr.. Canning. in the House Of Commons, boosted,
with reference to South America, that here he had
g called a new world into existence ~ but the
truth Of history awards that distinguished honor
not to him, but 70 Mr. Clay. Mr.. Clay was the
first statesman in the world to propose and procure
the recognition OF these South American States.
And it is well known that but for previous re-
cognition Of them, England would not. said Mr..
Rush, have taken the subsequent step of acknowl
edgfng them. ss5s s5 Pa fssss
Nature endowed Mr.. Clay with no common pow
ers. His intellectual faculties were of the highest
order. There was no subject In Government so
abstruse that his mind could not fathom its lowest
depths. He entered upon the minntest details of
the most intricate questions, showing the complete.
ness OF his mastery over them. His knowledge OF
the history Of his own country and her Constitu-
ton and laws was most ample and accurate. His
most profound arguments he possessed the rare
faculty OF making Ineligible to the planest under
standing. His speeches are remarkable for analy-
teal power, continuous and sustained argument
and q fiery and irresistible glow of eoquence
which carried conviction to the minds Of his hear.
ers. ANY one of his great efforts would have been
enough to entitlc him TO the highest rank among
statesmen and orators. In the mere logic chap
ping of the courthouse, others may have exeeiled
him; but in force and directness of reasoning,
none among his contemporaries was his superior.
His wisdom, his rapid perceptions of right and
wrong, the frankness of his nature, his love Of
truth and honor, the absence in him of all mean
arts, his purity Of purpose. his unquailing cour.
age, the ardor OF his temperament, the warmth
and earnestness OF his emotions, invested him with
an extraordinary power of command over men.
What was said Of John Hampden, by Clarendon, l
may well be applied to him: " He was indeed, n
wise man and of great parts, and possessed Of the
most absolute spirit Of popularity, and the most
absolute faculties to govern the people, Of any man
lever Sew In private life, in the House of Rep.
reseniatiTes in the Senate and with the people he
was always a leader" p,i1,us inter i1ustyes.r
With fhaap hiufi uuNsitna VI md axtra
ordinary gifts of person, which the scuiptors
plastic hand has admirably displayed in the spen.
did statue we have this day dedicated. He possess
ed lofty mien, manners dignied and courteous,
and presence that was indeed august. The ami.
nation OF his features the expression OF his ges.
tnres, the fiery flashes of his eye, the richness
power and iexibility of his unrivalled voice. which
stamped him the greatest orator Of his day, and
made his eloquence Godlike, no language can
describe, no art can properly convey. AS Fox
said Of Burke: g But you should have heard and
seen the man. Indeed:
And say to ali The world This ssas amor q aaaFE
To Mr.. Clay death had no terrors. Sir said
he TO friend, few days before be died, do not
fear to die. ! have faith, hope, and some conf
dence.n Thus armed in the holy panoply Of Chris.
tian Faith, he awaited unawed the hour when his
soul should pass away.
Surely, surely to have done the State such ser
yice-so long. so zealously, so conspiouousy; SO
to have lived and so to have died, constitute no
common claims upon o country's gratitude.
And yet one question doubtless has presented
itself to the mind of every one within the sound
of my voice. 1t is this Why did this noble and
revered statesman and patriot never reach fms
highest honors Of the Republic Why was he
never chosen PRESIDENT
In this question, which after generations shall
put more earnestly than you now ask it, find his
imperishable renown. In his own immortal senti-
ment find It's answer: | HAD RATHER DE RIGHT
THAN De PRESIDENT.
| Mir. President and Gentlemen of the Clay Monu.
| mental AssOciation-0ur labors are drawn to
| close. 0nr work has been performed under the
| smiles of Heaven, in the midst of the outpourngs
of the heart Of this vast multitude of freemen. 1t
has been blessed by Patriotism and Liberty, and
consecrated by Religion. The Statue of Henry
Clay stands here for all future time dedicated by
you Louisianans to your hfethen OF the Union and
the lovers of liberty throughout the world.
| Fellow. citizens OF The United States-Behold the
| figure of Henry Clay. The orator of Libertg-the
champion of the Union-the foremost man in his
time in the love, the confidence and yeneration of
his countrymen. Young and old, men and women,
look all upon his noble features. Isee as you do So
| the memories of the past rushing upon your hearts
of his sublime sentiments-hs selfsacriicing and
magnanimous spirit-his long, faithful and inyalu.
able services to the Republic.
Let his preeepts and example sink deep into
yonr hearts--let them feed the holy fame of lib.
erty within your bosoms. Let them impress npon
you the sacred lesson, that under God, the first
duty of an American Is to love his country and to
uphold the Union and the Constituton-the very
source and life of our American liberties. -