The Red Cloud chief., 1878-03-07
ADAMS, JACKSON, AND CLAY.
Secretary Thorn pson's Personal

lie proposed to speak of three dead
statesmen, with whom he bad been per
Sonally acquainted, and whose public
life he had witnessed. They were Sc
lected because they represented three
distinct types of character and each of
whom were great i'm their particular
sphere. Whatever their contempora-
ries, in the neat and bitterness of par
~ conflict, had said about them, now
that we can view their character and
deeds through this unbiased medium
of history, their claim to the first rank
among American statesmen will not
he disputed. Adams. Jackson. and
Clay, names which reused the ficrcest
passions and evoked the bittercst INJECT
ives from minds inflamcd by the ran
cor OF political contests. There is a
point of difference, a. well as rcsemb-
lance, with these three men, arising
from their diSSimilar family and social
relations. Adams descended from An
old and wealthy family: in early life
came under the influence of education
and the associations of a wclI-rc9ula-
ted and ~law-abiding community. Jack
son tn Clay, born in poverty. without
early advantages, were compelled in "A
Wild. unsettled community, where the
scenes shifted according To the passing
passion, 10 seek that fortune which was
not theirs by inheritance. They were
all men Of marked ability. Adams. of
u cautious, deliberate nature. with al
most the appearance of timidity. But
it WAS only in appcarance-that he was
~combafativc his opponents had good
reason to know. outwardly cold, his
passions were violent, Smoldcrin1 with
IN like the prnt-up fire of "A volcano.
Jackson and Clay were men made ia
the same mould, men conscious that
they were born To rule. and men who
were inspired with such a suhlimity of
patriotism that they were ready 40 sac
riiicr their lives upon the altar of their
country. | served with Adams i'm the
House during the Twcnty-Seycnth and
Tw"nty-cighth Congress. ] saw him die
AT his desk like a medieval knight with
his armor on. One scene in his life
brings out fully the mans character.
II was in that celebrated trial for trca-
son in 1872. Adams was a firm sup
porter of the right of petition. and
when he was asked To- present a petition
looking to the dissolution of the Union.
he did 50, because he held that all pc
tti"ncrs had AT least the right to he
heard. For this lac was charged with
treason and arraignrd fortuial. Against
him were arraycd Marshall. Gilmore.
and Wise, men of prc-cminrnt and ac-
knowl"d@cd ability as orators and de
hatcrS. In the long and excited debate
which followed, Adams, with the ma
turr ability of a giant. laid his "ppo-
nentS in the dust, and achieved the
%proudest triumph of his life.
The first time | saw Jackson WAS at
tn" celebration of the battle Of New
Orleans. at Nashville. Tennessee. He
then impressed me, rs | SAW him on
horseback, as one whom nature had
stamped as a noblcman. He WAS a
great man with a kind heart. the trIeSt
of friends, answering in duty. Ii he
committed errors it was not from a dis
inclination to do what was right. The
number of persons now living who
were personally acquainted with Clay
IL growing less every wear. and his
fame now rests with the historian.
From Il pcrusal of his speeches. il may
lac difficult To understand the power
which he welded. Even we. whose
hearts were touched and PLAYED upon
10y his burning cloqucnce. can not de
scribe his power to others. Clay never
studied orat"ry: his elnqucncc waS the
blaze of IN internal fire. Hence. his
set speeches Il" not give 4 fair idea of
his power. He needed the stimulant
Of a great occasion in order Ia rise To
the full height of his power: The lee
turer closed with an eloquent flight on
the power Of the orator. From Il Lcc-
hr, by Secretary Thompson.