Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-08-08
"REMINISCENCES OF HENRY CLAY.

MIR. Clay is chiefly known to the pres.
ent generation as statesman and ora
tor. He had in him the elements of a
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 a jury or 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 a per-
sonal discussion-a duel, with words for
the weapons. He excelled in philippe
and retort, and never fiinched when he
met an antagonist who could give as
we'll as take. He was merciless in
skirmish of this kind, and had no hest
tation in alluding to physical defects or
natural infrmitles Of any description.
He INDUCED frequently in coarse pleas
antries and unsparing ridicule. Mr..
Buchanan was his pet aversion, and he
expressed his dislike in season and out
of season. Mr.. Buchanan had a defect
in his sight, a sort of ,oaLl-eye, or cross
eye, which gave him the appearance of
ebliquity 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-circle. Mr..
Buchanan rose to reply, supposing him
self to have been referred to. Mr.. Clay
with an expression on his face com
pounded of derision and contempt, said
Mr.. President, the Senator from Penn
sylvania is giving himself deal of I'M
necessary trouble. / made no allusior
Senate pointing Enthusiastically to Mr.
Wright.
Mr.. Buchanan, with much embarrass
ment, hesitatingly rejoined, "Mr. Presi
dent, l did not intend to arrogate t,
myself any such distinction. | max
no pretensions to be the leader of tn
Senate 9 l should hopen not" interiectec
Mr.. Clay, without rising but the Sena
tor from Kentucky certainly looked a
me-"
"No, Mr.. President, did nothing @
the kind. 1t was not looked at tn
Senator here he held his hands ur
making a cross with two fngersl it wa
the way the Senator looked at me.''
At another time Mr.. Clay and MI
Buchanan fell into controversial dis
cussion, in which personalities wer
freely integchanged. Mr.. Clay at las
alluded to some transaction involvin
Mr.. Buchanan, much to that. gentle
mans embarrassment, who hesitate
and stammered, -but finally recoyerin
himself, said he could retort upon tn
Senator from Kentucky, and intimate
that he could reveal secret that b
would not like to have made publ,
limiting al something which was under
stood by Mr.. Clay. Springing to hi
feet, the latter exclaimed in loud an
lmperious tone,
No, sir, not aword That SUI jec
is taboo.". ~ sf,-y ~
"But the Senator has spoken of m
/ private affairs, and l must be allowed
similar license
Proceed, sir" said Mr.. Clay; "br
understand that you proceed at vol
peril-your personal peril n
Mr.. Buchanan sank into his sea
turning the color of his white crava
without uttering another word.
Mr.. Clay, although prompt to resent a
affront, and always ready for a du
either with words or pistols, never pr
NOTED strife unless he had hand in Il
contest, and frequently adjusted pc
sonal difficulties by his great NOR
Energy and force of character. It wi
aid of him by shrewd judge OF me-