Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1872-02-08
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.lAisecsiotes rsf Henry Clay

- Ene- -cOuEStUI tI1SHr,y clay OH ttfc C1tfi-
promise measures was very uIiSati5faet-
cry to the South, and his own State de-
nUuaced his actionsas freelyas any. 1t
was thesussiap custom,i on his arrival
home to spend the summer months, for
a large concourse ofipe0pfe toibe present
TO welcome and shake hands with him
when he ieftithe stage. Now, except
ing d few personal friends, there were
none; and they had even talked Of elect
ing Il. Democrat in his place. Clay got
into his carriage whichwas as fickety q
concern as can well beimagined, and
rode home in moody silence. I'VE
knew he was mad, and said among cur.
selves: 1Thers aW,ili ebe sh-1l to pay.'',,
The Following clay he did not go out
DuriBgI the seeend day his servant went
to his room and Informed him that
crowd was at the front door. s'Be-S
gone,,, was the sOnly response. The
negro went down and told the crowd
thatssNIr. Clay was quite unwell, and
the fatigue of travel had greatly pros
trated him. The doctor had just LEFT
and forbidden hisiseeing company, but
he would be happy to see them as soon
as abie.''5 For several days this went
on. People than beganite call meetings
and send committees. The state officers
finally took it iup santf invited him to
give an address. ii ilnever shall forget
that speech. Ellis voice was ike bugle,
and. isWeiled to trumpet calls. His
ewes glewea like fire. He 2frothed at
the mouth, and defied them with the
elodueriee andpower of a demon. But
it took the gallant Kenauckians by
storm, and he was again elected to the
United States Senator. 9iii4i ~ =
I Clay owed $4,000 for which there
was afHortgage on Ashland. y The in /
terest was always paid punctualiy, but
he could never {, duce the principal, I
and this at length became a source OF I
great annoyance to him. In 1874 when /
dc visited che bank to, pay the interest |
as usual. the old French clerk handed |
out the note. iHsW hat does this H1eanT'
incurred Clay under the. impression
That they had refused for it to run any, I
longer; and he knew ofne way to meet I
It. SaThe note Is cancelled, sir. BE My /
Godpra said ) Clay, shave Il friends as I
good as ifhis?uhf He was afflicted to I
tears. which is said Ito be thebnly time
he wasever known to weep. me Iii s'ss.e
Q John Clay was awild, reckless fellow,
i1dfithe fay0rite of his mother. In /
these ysitwas not beneath a woman's
to do something, and she
would often take in kitting, or pick ber-
res, which She would sends to towH;'
md John wouldsoe be on aspree with
HE money She was one of that sort
who can never do enough in tfeiwOrld,
md use all their eKeftions to alleviate I
distress and the suffering around. One
night is was whispered around among
us boys that AJohn had gone away to
fight a duel. iInllthe nl0rning, as we 7
went to our meal, we halted before en-
tering the breakfast-roon, as was our
custom, waiting for Mr.. Clay to come
from his study and lead the way We I
saw Mrs. Clay standing near by, and he
came out, she rushed to o'him, throwing
her arms alooutlllis neck, and sobbing
out: John has goueto fight a duei.o
Never shall forget the scene or the ex-
preston of the old mans face. He had
4 terrible eye wheniaroused, and now
it fiasnedt fire. He seemed to rise to /
the height of two ordinary men. He /
took step backward and with his hand
raised to full length to his long arm,
and with his finger ilquivering toward I
heaven, said with voice which went /
me like an electric shock. "NIy I
dear Woman ,tif Jofiniis right in Gods
name let him fight, by Godi'h The
poor woman went back, to her room to |
weep.g We followed Clay into ithe1
breakfast-roomw where he ate his toast |
and drank his tea in silence, and then |
returned to his stady to read. What.
ever his feeling as a father mightbe,
they were notshewn in his eountenance
or appearances Ihave seen Forrest, Mac
ready and dsBogth, but they are tan e to |
the voice, gesture, and eye Of Clay on |
that OCCASION ni3yn1qid.-l!Y l7lH h
lInthe fall of 11S43, Nicholasi Long
worth, of Cincinnati'sent to Mr.. Clay |
denaijohnI Of nativewine. Mr.. Long
worth bad ii1mported the grippe seed
from wine4makers ihItaly, and prided
himself onliaving a splendid thing. 1t
was a five-gallow demToin, the stopper
with wRx, and stamped with |
the letter. u 1'bThere were six of us !
boys Ia the family, averaging some is |
or II years ole. ilWeused to study in
the evening In our fdoaa; and would |
cellar key of Ms. Clay and !
bringlup a pitcher Of cider anda hatfult
OF apples to help as along In cur lesson,
One night it was proposed we should I
taste of the Cincinnati wine. We found /
q corkscrew and carried up "a pitcher
full. lpIt was capital, and before many |
days we found the demijohn empty