The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1878-02-15
ADAMS. JACKSON AND CLAY
Secretary ThOmPsOn's Personal Recol.
IecIlOns and Anecdofen

lectiOns and Anecdotes.
Secretary Thompson spoke of his
personal Tecollections of "Three Deceased |
Recommendations, Jackson and Clay"
to a large audience last evening at
Foundry church.
He proposed to speak to them of three
dead statesmen, with whom he had been
personally acquainted, and whose public |
life he had witnessed. They were selected
because they represented three distinct
types of character and each of whom
were great in their particular sphere
Whatever their contemporaries. in the
heat and bitterness of party conflict had
said about them, now that we can view
their character and deeds through this
unbiased medium of history, their claim
the first rank among American states
men will not be disputed. Adams,
Jackson and Clay, names which once
reused the fiercest passions and evoked
the bitterest invectives from minds in
famed by the rancOr of political contests.
There is q point of difference, as well as
resemblance, with these three men,
arising from their dissimilar family and
social relations. Adams descended from
sn old and wealthy family in early life
came under the influence of education
and the associations Of well-regulated
and law-abiding community. Jackson
and Clay, born IN poverty, without early
advantages, were compelled in a wild
unsettled community, where the scenes
shifted according 10 the passing passion,
II seek that fortune which was not
theirs by inheritance. They were all
men of marked ability. Adams of
cautious ,deliberative nature, with almost
the appearance of timidity. But it was
only in appearance-that he was
combatatiye his opponents had good
reason 10 know. Outwardly cold,
his passions were violent, smold-
ering within like the pent-
! up fire Of q volcano. Jackson and Clay
/ were men inside In the same mold, men
| conscious that they were born to rule,
and men who were inspired with such
sublimity OF patriotism that they were
/ ready To sacrifice their lives upon the
altar OF THEN country. | served with
/ Adams in the house during the twenty
seventh and twenty eighth congress ]
saw him die at his desk ike medieval
/ KNIGHT with his amor on. One scene in
his life brings out fully the mans char
acter it was in that celebrated trial for
/ treason in 1912. Adams was firm sup
/ porter of the right OF petition, and when
he was asked to present petition looking
to the dissolution Of the union, be did so,
because he held that all petitioners bad
at least the right 10 be heard. For this
he was charged with treason and ar
raigned for trial. Again,t him were
1 arrayed Marshall, Gilmore and Wise,
men of pre-eminent and acknowledged
/ ability rs orators and debaters. In the
} long and excited debate which followed,
| Adams, with the mature ability of q
/ giant, laid his opponents in the dust, and
achieved the proudest triumph of his
life.
The first time saw Jackson was at the
/ celebration of the battle of New Orleans
at Nashville, Tenn. He then impressed
/ me, as I saw him on horseback, as one
whom nature had stamped as nobleman.
/ He was great man with kind heart,
/ the truest OF friends. answering in duty.
/ If he committed errors it was not from a
dissemination to do what was right. The
number of persons now living who were
personally acquainted with Clay is
/ growing less every year, and his fame
now rests with the historian. From S
perusal of his speeches, it may be diff
/ cult 10 understand the power which he
I welded. Even we, whose hearts were
touched and played upon by his burning
/ eloqUence. cannot describe his power to
( others Clay never studied oratory; his
/ eloquence was the blaze of an internal
/ fire. Hence MS set speeches do not give
/ a fair idea of his power. He needed the
/ stimulant of great occasion IN order to
rise to the full height of his power. The
/ lecturer closed with an eloquent flight
or the power of the orator.