The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1867-06-01
UNWILLING THE STATUE OF
HENRY CLAY.
A Grand Procession and Imposing
Ceremonies.


Ofhim, the noblest ofour race
So seem see again aSl II, lTns snE iaoe Ssli'
To hear the stirring words once more
That Ike she storm. gods cadence peAled
With mlghtier power from shore TO shore
Than the thuRders OF the bal tie fleld
Lolthat calm, high, majestic look,
That binds our gaze as by a spell
II 10 the same that erst-whlle shook
The traitors ON whose souls II fell
Oh that he were again In iifel
To wave, as once his wand of power.
And scatter far the storms Of strife
That o'er our country darkly lower.
Again, again. and yet again
when he relied 9b d 9Sea pSS,So5's paste rearing tide,
Each others widest wrath defed
Alas alas dark storms at length
Sweep o'er our half-wTecked ship Of state,
Aud there seemed none with will and siren gth
To save her from her awful fatei
But thou majestic Image, thou
witt, In thy Lofty place ab ide
And many manly head VIII bow
While gazing on nations pride;
Afar beneath old Ashland's sod,
one gaze at thee should sAnctify
Our hearts to country and to God.
We look on thee, we look on tbee,
Proud statue, glorious and S, blimo,
Aud years, As thoy by magic, 1oej
And leave us in his grand old time
oh, he was horne TO bless our race
AS ages after ages roll
We see the Image of his face
Earth has no Image OF his soul
Proud statue II the nations life,
For which he tOiled through all his years
Must vanish In our wicked strife
And leave but groans and blood and tears,
fall TO anarchy be given,
And ruin all our lAnt assall,
He'll turn away his eyes In heaven,
And Ger thee we Will cast thy veil
FROM HENRY W. HILLIARD.
WooDLAwN, NEAR AUGUSTA, ,GA,I
May 10, 1867. !
Hon. Philip Tomppert, Mayor, and Others:
GENTLEMEN-I have the honor to nc
knowledge the receipt of your letter In
viting me to be present at the unwilling OF
the statue Of Henry Clay, and to be on that
occasion the guest of the city.
l am deeply sensible of the honor con-
terred on me by your invitation, and
should accept 1t promptly IL 1t 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 will be one OF extraordinary inter-
est. There will be In It deep significance
When the veil Is Withdrawn from the statue
Of Mr.. Clay, there will be revealed to the
eyes of the assembled thousands the form
of Venerated statesman, whose fame is the
common property of the whole country.
All that genius could do to make it fit
presentment of the great American, has
doubtless been accomplished by an artist
In whose growing reputation we all feel q
just pride. But alas, it will be only marble
The man has passed away. The great in
tellect and the greater soul no longer find
an impersonation in our midst. Those lips
that spoke TO us of the country, of tht
whole country, of its interests, Its glory
and Its perils, are mute. Never since thS
organization of the Government has there
been such field for craftsmanship a!
that which our country exhibits to-day. L
we could bring Mr.. Clay back for day
how potential and how beneficent would be
his influence. Or II, in the presence of his
statue, we could revive his policy-that
policy 90 essentially American, 80 wise, so
comprehensive, so concillatory-we might
well hope to witness the restoration OF
tranquility TO the country, and the reinau-
guration OF the supremacy of the Consti-
tuition. 1t was at once the reproach and
the glory of Mr.. Clay that he could always
find n solution for the troubles of the coun-
try by a 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 Con-
stitution, because he was ready TO yield
something to the exlgsncles which threat
ened to unsettle the foundations of the Gov
ernment. But who will not now admit
that II this wise statesmanship bad been
brought to bear upon the great controversy
which arrayed States against each other In
belligerent lines, In conflict which has 30
lately shaken the Government 10 Its very
foundations, the country would to-day b.
prosperous and happy2 .stl -,..
Our troubles are not yet ended. Nothing
can bring them TO happy termination until
the spirit that animated Mr.. Clay through
out his whole career asserts Its supremacy
In the hearts Of the statesmen of the coun-
try. We are In great danger The bar
riers that protect constitutional liberty may
be overthrown. We may lose sight Of the
very landmarks erected along the frontiers
OF freedom. Some of us entered into the
late struggle with reluctance. We opposed
secession. We stroYe to prevent strife. IL
was only when the war virtually opened
that we entered into the contest. We be-
lieVed that the claim of the Government 10
possess the right TO compel the States to
submit TO its authority by arms would, If Il
succeeded, convert the Republic into CO.
lossnl despOtism. The very day that the
war ended the Republic should have well
coined all Its children 10 the protection OF
its flag. All hostile legislation should have
been abandoned. A generous oblivion OF
the past should have been accorded. The
world should have seen us reunited under
the new conditions OF society, entering
upon n greater career Of national prosper
lty and glory. This noble policy has been
too long delayed. To administer the Gov
eminent upon the theory Of resentment is
to perpetuate our troubles, to impair our
national strength, and TO transmit TO pos
terlty the animositles which to-day estrange
US.
Pardon this expression of my views. |
love the Union. desire to see It stand IN
It's full majesty and strength This great
country Is your country, gentlemen, and II
Is my country. Rent with feuds, ill-gov-
erned, threatened with new disasters, Il 10
still our country, and we must neither
abandon IL nor despair of 1t. Let US strive
to restore It's tranquility, It's prosperity and
Its glory.
Iknew Mr., Clay well. served with him
In Congress at a critical period. saw his
anxiety. / comprehended his patriotism.
l contributed what could 20 the success OF
his measures. They triumphed. May the
spirit which inspired him guide the legls-
lAllOn of COnRreas and restore 10 us the