Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1873-01-31
A "REMINISCENCES of Henry Clay.

ate exhibited degree of dramatic pow
er, faculty of imitation and personation
of his political opponents, that excited
the admiration of all who heard him.
He undertook to paint scene that oc-
Cured the night previous at the White
House. Mr.. Tyler's veto of the Bank
bill aroused a strong feeling Of indigna-
ton among portion of the inhabitants
of Washington, and considerable num-
ber of the malcontents collected at the
Executive Mansion to express their feel
ings by opprobrious remarks and other
evidences of disapprobation and disgust.
1t so happened that on the same night
of this disorderly and insulting demon
stration number of Democratic Sena-
tors made complementary visit to the
President to express their satisfaction at
the service he had rendered in arresting
the bank charter. A resolution of in
quiry into the disturbances at the White
House was moved in the Senate. and Mr..
Clay, ingeniously and mischievously
confounded the rioutous proceedings of
the mob with the visit of the Democratic
Senators, gave graphic and most anus
ing account of the affair, putting into the
mouths of the visitors, and several Sena-
tors who were not present, characteristic
and appropriate addresses tc the Presi-
dent. 1t was new role for Mr.. Clay.
In harsh, scsthing ridicule he was always
effective, and no man excelled him in
vehement denunciation or unsparing vi
tuperation. But he had not keen
sence of the ludicrous, nor was he gen.
erally happy in numerous allusions or
fanciful illustrations. One of the hap
piest hits of his life was on the occasion
referred to. The resolution of inquiry,
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 ac-
count 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 reprobation of those
disturbances. But if the resolution had
been adopted, he had intended to move
the appointment of select committee,
the Senator from New Hampshire for
chairman, to be composed of majority
of his political friends. And for this
reason he had heard that about eight
or nine o'clock that same night there
was an irruption on the Presidents
house Of the whole Loco-foco party i'll
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 havf
been more amusing or ridiculous. If he
could have been in a position to witness
that extraordinary reunion, he should
have had an enjoyment which no dra
matte performance could communicate
He could almost fancy that he could see
the principle dramatis persona who fig
ured in the scene. There stood the grave
and distinguished Senator from South
Carolina
Mr.. Calhoun instantly rose and insis
ted upon explaining, saying he was no
there, but Mr.. Clay refused to yield thu
floor.
The Senator must excuse him. 1t wa
: necessary to his picture that the distin
guished gentleman should have beer
!. present. With his permission, he wa
there. Tall, care-worn, with furrowet
brow, haggard. intently gazing, looking
: as if he were analyzing the last abstrac
ton that sprang from his metaphysi
!, clans brain, he muttered to himself
I"This is indeed crisis II
+ Then there was the Senator from Ala
bama, (Mr. Klng.)
81 was there, Mr.. President" inter
: jected Mr. King.
No doubt of it, said Mr.. Clay. Tht
Senator was standing upright. and grace
: fully regarding the scene as if he were
; prepared to settle the latest disputed
t question of order. Not far off stood th'
J honorable Senators from Arkansas ant
e Missouri. The latter throwing scorn
: ful glance at the Senator from Soutl
Carolina, exclaimed, He statesman
n why, he never invented humbug !"
t Mr.. Benton then said, 81 was no
4 there"
Mr.. Clay, accepting the denial of MI
E Benton, proceeded: He stood corrected
He was only imagining what the Senate
from Missouri would have said if he ha
been there. Then there stood the Sens
tor from Georgia (Mr. Cuthber), deba
;,c, ;, b;s mind how he shnuld maka hi