Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-04-21
The CI.y..t.tue ceI.br.fton.


In response to the toast of The Union -
Ar. President ard Gestlenaen
frankly confess thatI did not anticipate
the call you have made upon me. / came
prepared. If opportunity was given, TO say
few words of the distinguished man whose
memory you have, so far as marble could do
IL, immorialized. But, in speaking of him, I
shall. OF necessity. speak of the Union. /
came up 10 witness the proceedings of to-day.
Ii is great spectacle, that of inangurating
the statue Of one who has passed away from
earth. 1t is the eternizing his name, as far
as marble can accomplish il. 1t is the res
culng from the tomb those features which
were immOvab|e in their day and generation
To do this. on yonder grounds, and in the
shadow OF the Capitol, which is baIowed by
great events and great names. and this too
in advance OF similar tributes to the heroes
and Statesmen of oiber days, who drew their
sustenance from Virginia's maternal breast,
and made their names illusirious, is no ordi-
nary event. And yet il is right. Il is right
20 reclaim the reseInblaBce, while it may lie
done, of one of Virginiais sons, wbo in early
life, left the old homestead for new one in
the West, under The nursing care of her old
est daughter. Ii may now be said, after the
manner OF the inscription on the tomb of the
Mantuan swain: Virginia gave him birth.
Kentucky gave him grave, the United
States furnished him theatre for his labora'
trust that the day is not distant when those
Public Grounds will exhibit TO an admjring
people the RESTRICTED features of a grand
host of departed pat-iots. each. after it's own
way, to be silent, but forcible monitor of
that Immortality of fame which succeeds a
life Of high and honorable action.
1t is known to all present, and therefore
had as well be spoken, that there was peri
cd in my own political life, wh-R the man
whose memory you are this day boqoEing,
stood In formidable aBtagoaism to me- His
blows fell heavily and fi.iatfy poo nae, sa4
doubtless come Of the bruises and scars
which they Inflicted remain TO the present
day. He struck with a gaantleted hand.
and that hand was heavy. He required an
inlpOssibiiity- fet that pass. Alter too
shall have babe tie world goodnight his
tory, ii 1t deems them worthy OF her record,
will gather up the incidents of those times
and represent them truly. Be it SOL turn
away from them and go back 10 other
times. / recall the image of Henry CLAW
upon my entering Congress. His clarion
voice had resOunded through the country
long. before That. He had efficiently sus-
tanned the administration of MIR. efferson,
and had marshalled the Republican hosts
under Mr. Madison, that tattled in VIII t has
been not inaptly called the second war of
Independence. He bad won the prestige of
du immense popularity. In 1876 L entered
Congress as the representative of this Metro
pUlitan District. THIN | became personally
acquainted with Mr.. Clay. He was the
Speaker Il the House, and embodied in his
person all the essentials for that high office
Bold, resolute, fearless-of commanding per-
sonal attributes, with voice that might be
mUdulated 10 any nOte-he preserved perfcct
order IN that bCdy, often under trials and
circumstances which threatened 10 break
FORTH IN tumult.-The great triumvirate was
there Clay and Calhoun had won laurels ia
debate. Webster was gradually raising his
head above the crowd. There he sat for the
most part silent, wrapped in his own deep
medIiatIons. He eliminated into full re-
nown some few years after. and having wit
MESSED the spread of his Name over the world
he went 10 his grave, grand, noble, magnifi-
cent Ia his patriotism, amid the profound re-
greIs oil the country. Little did | then
dream That personal regard was TO spring
up between the first OF these great men and
myself, 10 continue uninterrupted, in despite
OF radical differences OF opinion on essential
questions OF public policy. for fourteen years
of public serNice--and still less that, at a
greatly subsequent period, the other two
were 10 spring TO my side as my trusted
friends and counseIlOTs in the aTduous and
difficult administration of public affairs
There they are, the marked men of an age!
Indulge ME IN single expression OF pride
IL
monCmcnt than brass or marble can give
has been built up 10 them hy the Legisla-
tnre OF Virginia, on the map of the State.
There they are the household words of the
people oil The State, in their legislative halls,
and IN their daily avccations. Looking at
That map, End myself surround, by many
Illustrlous names of my Cabinet Some
were theIe OF old tme-my own reflective of
honor done my reyer,d father is there
tnpTE. fIa
'ur aud Gilmer.
The times to which allude were times of
great men, Congress was indeed the fit en-
bltm OF cur free institutions. Perfect order
prevailed in its deliberations. With such a
Speaker. 1T could not be otherwise. He acted
iully up to the duties of this high Office
Thoroughly acquainted with the principies
OF parliamentary law, be permitted no viola
Ton To pass without rcprOOt 1t was, in fact.
the most orderly body | ever saw. When
Mr.. Clay mingled in the debates, il was with
"a power and force of eloquence which were
rarely ever surpassed. His gesture was i'm
lrtsslve, aud lie had the faculty of throwing
The power OF his voice into single sentence
alter sneh manner as To produce sometimes
and electric effect. The late Philip p Bar
bour. who was regarded by the House as the
embodiment OF logic, has often quoted TO me-
IN ILLUSTRATION of this power of voice, an eX-
recognition of the Spanish-American Colo
nies. The speaker bad drawn responding
picture Of the condition of Mexico. in her
struggle for independence. Her hopes re-
ported To be blasted. Mira, her great lead
ar. either killed or captured. All gloom
all despair. At that moment "A page put in
his bands morning paper. His eye Tell on a
paragraph. when his whole manner became
changed, and holding the paper aloft, he ex-
4
wonderful. Mr.. Barbour said, / sprang TO
my feet, and several minutes elapsed before
recovered from my trance. Ii INDUCED
IN the garruliiy OF age, | might relate SINH
lar rominiscences without number. But il is
not i"r this that came here to-day. The de-
tails of Mr.. Clay's life have been eloquently
gwen by The mplish, Il orator of thu day. |
IL Is not because admired him us a man. IA |
leader IN debate, a. an orator of Immense |
powers. That | am here to-day No; il is be- |
cause ia my heart believe that be has title |
To monument for an act of broad aud In- |
selfish patrsoiisn m, in the course Of bis public |
career. which, standing by itself, | have not |
hesiiated nj all times aud m all places, " hen |
IL Was suitable, 10 say entitled him not only |
tu a monument oi brass OF marble, but to one |
in the hearts of bis countrymrn. The brow /
OF The Roman citizen who bad saved the lille |
of another IN battle Was eHciTcled 10y an oak
en- wreath. What badge of distinction is /
proRd enough Tor him who saves his country
IRON civil war! Ak the parent who ea- |
folds his little childr, n, and the companion
oi all bis hopes aud trials and triumphs in
lie. in biz ainls, at the horrible spectre of |
civil brOil which threatens with grim a. pect
Ia enter his heretofore peaceful dwelling
Ask tie lone aud widowed mother rs she
tiies 10 the rocks and desert with her infant
strained 30 her breast and concealed from
view by the tresses of her streaming hair
AK bune and stalwart men A. they take
their position in opposing ranks Ia she'd each
others blood. AK one ask all, what monu-
ment he deserves who drives away this hor-
rlhe 80. ctre OF civil war. and restores his