Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1869-09-02
N. O. WALLACE,
"reminiscences of the
Great Kentuck ian.

from the Cleveland Leader of Ju-
| ly 81. 1t is from the pen of the
distinguished and venerable Thos.
Ewing, contemporary in the great
times in the U. S. Senate with
our leading men, and member
Eof both the Cabinet of President
Harrison and General Taylor:
HENRY CLAY.
Mr. Clay, with all his terrible
power of denunciation, was in or
dinary debate pleasant and playful
When dealing with an ordinary
adversary, he often reminded me
of the lines in Millions S description
of Eden before the fall:
asportive the lion roamed, and in his paw
dandled thekid.'
On one occasion-the year | do
not remember, but it was the first
time the Wings ever carried an e.
lection in the city of 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-an-
nounced to the President Mr..
Van Burenl the Wing victory,
spoke of their noble efforts in the
cause of their country, and OF their
brilliant success. "Your own fel-
low-citizens, Mr.. President, the
proud capitol of your noble State,
has made its voice heard in our
halls, in defence of the Constitu-
ton of our country. All! Mr.
President, does not this aCarnn your
patriotic heart 2"
The impudence and absurdlty
of this appeal was too much for
the dignity of the presiding OFF,
Ger. Mr.. Van Buren's face drew
itself into / know not how many
indescribable lines, in which the
comical predominated, and ne
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 a pinch of snuff with MIR.
CLAY, and after a wholesome laugh
between them the morning busl-
ness went on.
His classical illusions { English
classics) were few, but sufficiently
happy. His attempts to cite po-
etry generally failed. On one oc-
casion he attempted the hackney
ed quotation from Hamlet, "Let
the CALLED jade vince, our -withers
are unwrung." He mistook the
last syllable, and with great dis
tinctness and fine emphasis, made
it "unstrung." Watkins Leigh
sat on his right, l on his left:
both at the same instant In sup,
pressed voice pronounced the word
Sunwrung." The double prompt,
ing confused him-he drew him
self up, and with strong emphasis
he made the word 'unhung." lie
stood with very pleasant and
unembarrasse9 countenance, until
the laugh which had become gen
} eral, subsided, and then with q
) gentle shake of the head, and q
long drawing out of the first word!
said /: "Ah! murder will out"
almost imagined he had slipped
on purpose to show his adroltnes'
| in recovering. But his was some
J times displayed in less kindly
: spirit. All we'll remembered Mr.
, Buchanan's disingenuous letter or
l the subject of bargains and cor
: ruption."
! Mr.. Clay never forgave it, and
never failed to take occasion
' and, if none arose, 20 make occa
: sion-to punish it. About 1884
t or '35, a matter of some Interest
g was under discussion: A leading
t Wing or two had spoken, and two
e or three of the rank and file of the
:. Democratic party, but no Demo
e crat then prominent. Walker of
Mississippi was then speaking
AS he was drawing to close
/ observed Mr.. Clay was paying unu
4 sual attention. The momen
It Walker closed he sprang to hi
e feet and spoke five or ten minute
!, with great vehemence OF manner
l. saying nothing, but vaporing. II
|. boasted that the noble wings cam
1t out on every question that aros
!; with promptness and decisio
4, while the democratic leaders pu
l. their rank and file forward t
/. skirmish while they lay by an
lie waited and watched the popula
j. indications. "Come out" he sait
lie "come out like men and deten
your position. Let us hear fror
you I call for the leaders OF th
= - party"
'g Mr.. Wright and Mr.. Buchana