Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-06-01
rron rrrnY v. nrL1rARp. q

Hr WO0DLAwN, NEAR AUGUSTA, GAs
May Is, 1867 !
Hon. Philip TOmppert. Mayor. and others
GENTLEMEN: l have the honor to sc-
knowledge the receipt Of your letter
inviting me to be present at the unveiling
of the statue of Henry Clay, and to be
on that occasion the guest of the city.
am deeply sensible of the honor
conferred on me by your invitation, and
| should accept it promptly if it were not
for the pressure of engagements that
cannot be laid aside. am in the midst
Of my courts.
The spectacle which you invite me to
witness win be one of extraordinary in
terest. There viii be in it deep signif-
cance When the veil is Withdrawn from
the statue of Mr.. Clay, there will be re-
vealed to the eyes of the assembled
thousands the form Of venerated states.
man, whose fame is the common prop
erty of the whole country. All that
genius could do to make 1t fit present
ment of the great American has doubt
less been accomplished by an artist in
whose growing reputation we all feel
Just pride But alas, it will be only
marble The man has passed away. The
great intellect and the greater soul no
longer find an impersonationi incur midst
Those lips that spoke to- us Of the country,
Of the whole country, of its interests, its
glory, and its perils, are mute. Never
since the organization of the Govern.
meRt has there been such a field for
craftsmanship as that which our country
exhibits to-day. If we could bring Mr..
Clay back for day, how potential and
how benefieent would be his influence.
Or if, in the presence Of his statue, we
could revive his policy-that policy so
essentially American, so wise, so com
prehensive, so coueiliatory-we might
well hope to witness the resteratlon OF
tranquility to the country, and the re-
inauguration Of the supremacy OF the
Constitution. 1t was at once the re-
proach and the glory Of Mr. Clay that he
could always find solution for the trou'
bles Of the country by = compromise
between conflicting views. Extreme
men, whose vision never. extended beyond
the horizon that bound a section and
whose patriotism was limited by narrow
geographical lines, charged him with a
want Of proper regard for the Consttu-
tion, because he was ready to yield some
thing to the exigencies which threatened |
to unsettle the foundations of the Gov
ernment But who will not now admit
that if this wise craftsmanship had been
brought to bear upon the great contro-
versy which arrayed States sgainst each |
other in belligerent lines, in a conflict |
which has so lately shaken the Govern
ment to its very foundations, the country |
would to-day be prosperous aud happyf |
Our troubles are not yet ended. Moth /
ing can bring them to a happy termination |
uniil the spirit that animated Mr.. Clay !
throughout his whole career asserts its
supremacy in the hearts Of the statesmen |
of The country. We are in great danger. |
The barriers that protect constitutional |
liberty may be ovsrthroWn. We may /
lose sight Of the very landmarks erected |
alenE The frontiers Of freedom Some Of
us entered into the late struggle with re-
luciance. We opposed secession. We
strove 10 prevent strife II Was only !
when the war virtually opened that We
entered into the contest We believed |
that The claim Of The Government to pos
sess the right 70 compel the States 10 ]