The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-08-09
"REMINISCENCES OF HENRY CLAY.

Mr.. Clay is chiefly known to the pres
ent generation as a statesman and ora.
tor. He had in him the elements of q
great lawyer, but his early training was
defective, and he was so constantly in
public life after arriving at the period
OF manhood that he was never ade.
quately equipped for the higher walks
of the profession. He was eminently
man OF action, and his faculties qualified
him for any task that he might under.
take. With jury or a popular audi.
ence he was surprisingly powerful. He
spoke with equal felicity and force, al.
though he had not that perfect accuracy
OF expression which distinguished the
writings and speeches of Mr. Webster.
In the.power OF controlling and swaying
an auditory, Prentiss, the great orator
OF Mississippi, was his only superior
among all his contemporaries, and even
that master Of the art of persuasion on
the one hand and denunciation on the
other hardly excelled Mr.. Clay as a
popular speaker.
Mr.. Clay, of all men, relished per
sonal dscussion-a duel, with words for
the weapons. He excelled in philippe
and retort, and never flinched when he
met an antagonist who could give as
we'll as take. He was merciess in
skiimish of this kind, and had no hest.
tation in alluding to physical defects or
natural intirmltles of any description.
He INDUCED frequently in coarse pleas.
antrles and unsparlng ridicule. Mr..
Buchanan was his pet aversion, and he
expressed his dislike in season and out
of season. Mr.. Buchanan had defect
in his sight, a sort of l0dL-eye, or cross
eye, which gave him the appearance of
obllquity Of vision. On one occasion,
when the Democrats were in the ma.
jority, Mr.. Clay complained of some act
of Mr.. Wright, alluding to him as the
- leader OF the Senate From the spot
where Mr.. Clay was standing, Mr..
Wright and Mr.. Buchanan were nearly
in a range in the semi-crcle. Mr..
Buchanan rose 10 reply, supposing him.
self TO have been referred TO. Mr.. Clay,
with an expression on his face com
pounded OF derlslon and contempt, said:
- Mr.. President, the Senator from Penn.
sylyania is giving himself deal of un-
necessary trouble. | made no allusion
TO him, sir. spoke Of the leader of the
Senate, pointing Enthusiastically to Mr.
Wright.
Mr.. Buchanan, with much embarrass
ment, hesitatingly rejoined, "Mr. Presi
dent, | did not intend to arrogate &c
my self any such distinction. | make
no pretensions TO be the leader of the
Senate " should nope not" interiected
Mr.. Clay, without rising but the Sena
tor from Kentucky certainly looked al
me-"
No, Mr.. President, did nothing OF
the kind. 1t was not | looked at the
Senator here he held his hands up
making cross with two fingers it was
the way the Senator looked at me-
AT another time Mr.. Clay and Mr.
Buchanan fell into controversial dis
cussion, in which personalities were
freely interchanged. Mr.. Clay at last
alluded TO some transaction involving
Mr.. Buchanan, much to that gentle
mans embarrassment, who hesltateC
and stammered, but finally recovering
himself, said he could retort upon the
Senator from Kentucky, and intimated
that he could reveal II secret that Inc
would not like to have made public
limiting al something which was under
SbOOO ~ Ciog' W hif
feet, the latter exclaimed in a loud and
imperious tone,
No, sir, not word That su' jet
is taboo"
"But the Senator has spoken of my
private affairs, and | must be allowed q
similar license"
Proceed, sir" said Mr.. Clay; "but
understand that you proceed at your
peril-your personal peril ~
Mr.. Buchanan sank into his seat
turning the color of his white cravat
without uttering another word.
Mr.. Clay, although prompt TO resent an
afront, and always ready for due
either with words or pistols, never pro
NOTED strife unless he had hand in the
contest, and frequently adjusted per
sonal difficulties by his great moral
energy and force of character. 1t was
said OF him by shrewd judge of men,