Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1866-05-04
"reminiscences of Henry CLAW

; "reminiscences of Henry Clay.
The following "reminiscences of Mr..
Clay are from the pen of Hon. Thomas
Ewing, who wrote them as csntributian
to Sanitary Fair:
"Mr Clay, with all his terrible power
OF denuncation, was, i'll ordinary debate
pleasant and playful. When dealing with
an ordinary adversary. he often reminded
me of the lines in Miltoa's description II
Eden before the fall:
,,Sportive the lion ramped, and in his paw
| Dandled the kid"
On one OCCASION the year do not re-
member, but it was the first time the
Wings carried an election in the citv or
New York, found him early in his seat
with newspaper in his hand. As soon
as the journal was read he rose, quite out
Of order, announced to the President, (Mr
Van Buren,) the Wing victory. spoke Of
their noble efforts in the cause of their
country, aud OF their brilliant success
Your own fellow ctizens, MIR. President,
the proud capital of Your noble State-has
made its Voice heard in our halls, in de-
fence Of the Constitution Of our country.
All Mr. President, does not that wREm
your patriotic heart! %
The impudence and absurdity of this
appeal was too much for the dignity Of .
presiding officer. Mr.. Van Buren's face
drew itself into know not how many in.
predaminated, aud he slid down in his seat
until nothing of Him was visible but the
smooth top Of his head. He soon called
some one to the chair, came down. took
pinch of snuff with Clay, and after
wholesome langh between them, the moru-
ing business went ON.
His classical allusions English classics)
were few but sufficiently happy. His at
tempts to cite poetry generally failed. On
one occasion he attempted the hackneyed
quotation from lianlet:
'Lct the gallant .ls Vince, our withors are
unwruns.'
He mistoo,l the last syllable. .and with
great dlstlnctncss and fine emphasis made
1t 'ua strung. Watkins Lcight sat on his
right ON his left both at the same in-
slant. in suppressed Voice, pronounced the
word 'unwrung.' The double prompting
confused him; he drew himself up and with
stronger emphasis made the word 'unhunS''
lie stood with very pleasant and unem-
barassed countcnaace until the laugh.
which had become general. sudsided. and
then, with gentip shake of the head and .
long drawing out Of the first word, said
An murder will ont almost imagined
he had slipped on purpose to show his ad-
rOltncss III recovering.
But his wit was sometimes displayed iq
a less liElly spirit. All will remembers
Mr.. Buclanap's disingcnuous letter on the
subject OF 'bargain and corruption" Mr.
Clay never forgot, never toIgavc it, and
never failed to take occasion, and If none
arose. to make OCCASION, to punish it.
About 1891 or 30 a nlattor of some inter-
est was under discussion. A leading Wing
. or two had spoken. and two or three Of tho
rank and file Of the Democrutic party, but
no Democrat then prominent. Mr.. Walk
er, OF Mississippi. was speaking. AZ hs
was drawing to close, observed that
| MIR. Clay was paving unusual attention.
q The moment Walker closed he sprang to
!, his feet and spoke for five or ten minutes
=. with great vehencnce OF mann r. saying
nothing, but simply vapo:ing. lie boast.
i ed that the noble Wings came out on eve
q ry question that arose, with promptness
# and decision, while the Democratic leaderl
# put their rank and file forward to skirni'
- mish while they lay ly and waited and
a watched the popular indications. "COlns
, out. said he. come out like men and detiR.
your pos tions. Let us hear from you
!. call for the leaders of the party" Mr..
!, Wright and Mr.. Buchanan sat near each
other on line with Mr.. Clay. who. Obvi
ously. directed his remarks to one or both
Of them. MIR, Wright looked up for
moment, pieegd with his finger the hair be
hind h ear,and turned to his writing; Mr.
u, Buchanan lonkcd up and listened, and
o' when Mr.. Clay took his seat, arose and RI
!! piled, with high indigua,on--was surprise
le at the gentlemen from Kentucky : III,
e knows Weil, and the Senate can bear M
ie witness, that am prompt and direct il
u" expressing my opinions on the subjects .
:! they arise. but | choose to take my pWl
s' time and CONSULT my Own conscience. Th
gentleman from Kcrtgqky need not expe.
to f9ycc ME into this dispussi9p or any ptt
lg er until choase to engage in it.a Nt. Cha
ut in his blandest manner, assured the gsntl.
man from Pennsylvania that he had no r.
It ference whatever to him. far from it,
said he, ANA with mighty emphasis y
CALLED FOR THE LEADERS OF THE PARTY.
n Mr.. Buchanan appealed to the senate--th
Il. gentleman from Kentucky fixed bis eye
ib upon him throughout. Mr.. Clay, in h
wv softcst and conciiltvry tone and phras'
re said he could well conceive how the gentle
man fom PENNSYLVANIA had fallen into th
error. Il often" said he. suppose thl
G., gentleman is looking at me. when in fa,
.r- he is looking quite an other way" IN
vel Bychapan lad cast Of the tye.) ] said
ID. MI tfay when he sat down, '"Your frl
en blow was cruel, but magnificent. the ls'
in savage re-tomahawkng,"
M "Ah! d-s him." said MI. Clay, II
" writes letters"