Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1866-03-15
YORKVDLE CAROLINA MARCH 1866
His mouth, that most expressive feature,

His mouth, that most expressive feature,
was an organ created by God for the pro.
nuDciation of large and heroical thoug hts.
Then, what clear blue eyes, now calm in
their azure depths, then laughing in genial
mirth, and then, when he was thoroughly
reused up, sparkling, almost blazing. In
his whole counteuance what play of all gen.
erous feelings; the soul of honor, friend
ship, chiValry, breathing in his face A.
bove all, that magnificent voice; at one
moment soft and breezy presently swelling
until it beat the vaulted roof and reverbera-
ted far beyond the walls of the chamber,
away into the adjoining rooms and recesses.
Rufus Choate had no superior at home, but
going to Washington as a United States
Senator, he, on one occasion drew upon
himself single broadside from the Ken
lucky orator, and it so frightened him that
be was afterward almost silent, crest. fallen,
and (to employ his own favorite phrase)
s'utterly fabbergasted" Everybody re-
members Mr.. Clay's duel with Mr. Ran.
dolph. On his last journey North, in an
almost dying condition, the Virginian was
carried into the Senate chamber. Mr..
Clay was speaking. "Stop," said the sick
man to those who bore him. "Stop, let me
hear that voice. I came here to hear that
voice once more before die" The grace
and beauty of Mr.. Clay's elocution were
coDsummate +; his whole being Informed
with bis subject, and instinct with the love
of truth And his warm, gushing sympa-
tbies seldom failed to draw you to him, and
bear you along with him, causing you to
feel that "one touch of nature makes the
whole world kin" The last time heard
him was at a meeting of the Colonization
Society. As be recined in the chair, be
seemed to be an old man, "broken with the
storms of State" But when he arose and
spoke, there were no traces of years upon
him. All felt that his soul was still erect
and young, and that, as an orator, his eye
was not dimmed, nor the force and vehe'
mence of his strength abated.
had intended to say something of his
death; but this communication is already
too extended His father was Baptist
minister, and the son never forgot "the
faithful saying" which be learned from that
father. And though he betrayed sad in
trinity as to religion, saying to DR.. Curtis,
in Charleston, that ga public man ought to
join no Church, if be wished to be popu
lar" "a sentiment, by the way, on which
thousands act without the candor to
confess it), and after he bad Unidentified
himself with a. Church, frequentiug the
theatre yet he fingered long under the
salutary discipline of sick room, his last
pillow was wetted with peDitential tears,
and, of the three compeers, be alone de-
parted coufessing himself sinner, and
reposiDg all his confidence upon the blood
righteousness of the Redeemer.
sit here and look at the places which
once knew these three men, but now know
them no more, and l say, o that they were
with US yet Whatever their errors once,
were they now living, believe that in this
crisis of our country's history their counsels
would be those of moderation, wisdom and
patriotism. Whatever their differences in
other days, had they been spared, | am
confident that, after the terrible lessons of
the last four years, they would have buried
all animosities with one heart and one mind
have sought to quell the passions of the
hour, and to lay broadly and deeply the
foundation of union, harmony, liberty,
prosperity, which nothing could again dis
turb. Their absence at time like this
fills me with regret and sadness. But "the
Lord reigneth." "lu the year when King
Uzziah died, I saw the Lord high and lift
ed up" The prophet mourned for the loss
of wise and able Prince; but he found
consolation by raising his eyes to that King
who sits exalted in the heavens, upon the
throne of the universe, ordering all events
for his glory, and for the accomplishment
of the designs of unerring wisdom and
uDchaDging love.