Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-07-29
ARemIniscence Of Henry Clay.

Mr. Clay, on one occasion in the senate, eX-
hbited degree of dramatic power, faculty
of imitation and personaton of his political OPP
ponents that excited the admiration of all who
heard him. He undertook to paint scene that
occurred the night previous at the white house.
Mr.. Tyler's veto of the bank bill aroused
strong feeling of indignation omong portion
of the inhabitants of Washington, and u conSid-
cradle number pf the maleontents collected at
the executive mansion to express their feelings
by opprobriOus remarks and other evidences of
disapprobation and disgust. 1t so happened
that on the same night of this disordery and
insulting demonstration number of democrat
ic senators made complimentary visit TO the
president to express their satisfaction at the
service he had rendered in arresting the bank
charter.
A resolution of inquiry into the disturbances
at the White house was moved in the senate,
and Mr.. Clay, ingeniously and mischievously
contounding the riotous proceedings of the mob
with the visit of the democratic senators, gave
a graphic and most amusing account of the af-
fair, putting into the mouths of the visitors and
several senators who were not present. charac-
teriStic and appropriate addresses to the presi-
dent. 1t was new role for Mr.. Clay. In harsh
scathing ridicule he was always effective, and
no man excelled him in vehement denunciation
or unsparing vituperation. But he had not
keen sense of the ludicrous, nor was he general
ly happy i'll humorous allusion or fanciiul il
lustration. One of the happiest hits of his life
was on the occasion referred to. The resolution
ofinquiry, offered by Mr.. Woodbury., was before
the senate.
Mr. Clay said, in substance, that if any such
proceedings did occur, they were certainly very
wrong. The chief magistrate, whoever he may
| be, should be treated with becoming respect if
not for his personal character, on account of the
exalted office he holds. He had read with great
| pleasure the acts and resolutions of an early
meeting held by the orderly and respectable
| citizens of Washington in Reproduction of these
I L D. Al
| adopted, he had intended to move the appoint.
ment of a select committee, the senator from
New Hampshire for chairman, to be composed
| of a majority OF his political friends. And for
| this reason He had learned that about eight
| or nine O'Clock that same night there was an ir-
| rupton on the presidents house of the whole
| loco-foco party in congress, and he had been
| inclined to suspect that the alleged disorders
| might have grown out of that fact. He under
| stood that the whole party was there, and no
| spectacle, he was sure, could have been more
| amusing or ridiculous. II he could have been
| in position to witness that extraordinary re-
| union, he should have had an enjoyment which
| no dramatic performance could communicate.
| He could almost fancy that he could then see
| the principal dramatls persona who figured in
the scene. There stood the grave and distin-
guished senator from South Carolina
Mr.. Calhoun instantly rose and insisted upon
explaining, saying he was not there, but Mr.
Clay refused to yield the floor.
The senator must excuse him. 1t was neces-
sary to his picture that the distinguished gentle
man should have been present. With his
| permission, he was there. TALL care-worn, with
fdrrowed brow, haggard intently gazing, look
ing as if he were analyzing the last abstraction
that sprung from metaphysician's brain, he
multered to himself, "Ths is indeed crsisl"
Then there was the senator from Alabama,
| (Mr. King)
81 was there, Mr.. President" interjected MIR.
| King.
"No doubt of it," said Mr.. Clay. The senator
was standing upright, and gracefully regarding
| the scene as if he were prepared 10 settle the
| latest disputed question of order. Not far off
stood the honorable senators from Arkansas and
| Missouri. The latter, throwing a scornlul
| glance at the senator from South Carolina, -ex-
claimed "He statesman why, he never in
| vented a humbugP
Mr.. Benton said, 81 was not there"
Mr.. Clay, accepting the denial of Mr.. Benton,
proceeded: He stood corrected. He was only
imagining what the senator from Missouri
would have said If he had been there. Then
there stood the senator from Georgia (Mr. Cuth-
bert) debating in his mind how he should
make bis next attack upon the senator from
Kentucky. The honorable senator from Penn
sylvania (Mr. Buchanan) was undoubtedly the
spokesman for his whole party. Mr.. Clay said
he could not pretend to initiate the gentlemen's
well known eloquence, but he must make an
humble essay toward the kind of speech which
he might have been expected to deliver.
"May il please your eXcellency: A number of
your present political friends, late your political
opponents, in company with myself, have come
to deposit at your excellency's feet the evidences
of our loyalty and devotion, and they have done
me the honor to make me the organ of their
sentiments and feelings. We are here more
particularly TO present TO your excellency our
grateful and most cordial congratulations on
your rescue of the country from Hagrant and
alarming violation Of the constitution by the
creation Of a bank of the United States, and
also our profound Acknowledgements for the veto
by which you have illustrated the wisdom of
your administration and so greatly hon.
ored yourself. And we would dwell
particularly on the unanswerable rea-
sons and cogent arguments with which
the notification Of the act to the leg
slaturel had been accompanied. We had been
ourselves struggling for days and weeks TO ar.
rest the passage Of the bill, and to prevent the
creation Of the monster to which IL gives birth.
We had expended all our logic, exerted all our
ability, employed all our eloquence; but In spite
OF our utmost efforts the friends OF your excel
lency In the senate and house Of representatives
proved too strong for us. Aud we have now
| come TO thank you for beating your own
friends - an achievement far beyond our
| pOwersO