The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1882-04-13

died Senator; but, unlike him, he died wish
ing prrpetuity and prosperity ~ the Union.
During all the free conversation that i had 81
many opportunities to hear between Mr.. CIay
aud ladies aud gentlemen from all sections and
of all classes, never noticed him embarrassed
hat Gnce. He seemed never to lose an opp0rtu-
nifty 10 rehnke the tendency of the people TO
promote military chieftaiBs to the Presidency.
lie wonld speak disParagingly of jackson, and
Taylor. aud Harrison, and he had EVIL lore
holdings as to Scott. Some asserted that he
might Il. the uext candidate for PresiPent. as
Fillmor-'s successor. That will depend upon
the chances" said Mr. Clay. Elf there Is no
chance there will be loud call for the gallant
Harry of th- West. He is just the man for the
forlorn hope. lie must defend the party, and
advocate it's principles, and also receive all the
abuse. But, if there is a chance, the Union VIII
be hunted over to find some military man whose
principles no on. knows, and which he himself
has never defined, nor has the ability Ia defend.
10 lead our party 10 mere patronage. IL Will DE
the old story over again" Here sone unsoPhIs-
located friend spoke: ''You do yOBr party M
justice. Mr.. Clay. You cOnld have been eleete''.
instead of Mr.. Polk, il you had not written thai
letter in favor of Texas The arrow penetrated
his heart aud. although his political frlenG>
believed il true. they wished it had not been
sail He slowly recovered from the shot, ana
very placidly observed that the subject was one
of great pain 10 him, because 30 many OF ms
best friends attributed his defeat TO his own
not believe that he lost single state thereby:
Then be mounted his high horse, and asserted
that hr had won all his reputation by bold
utterance of his convictions, and he had done
nothing and should never do anything to hinder
bis biographer from asserting, in the most posi-
tive language, that no political organization or
political expedi-ncy had ever induced him To
occupy an equivocal position upon any question
Of governmental policy. Said he: 81 have ever
felt il my duty to let the people know for what
they were voting when they voted for me;
whilst your brave military chieftains have felt
IL their duty to let the people know as little as
possible about their views, if they had any"
Although Judging from the standpoint OF .
political opponent, l can unite with his strong
est supporters in their highest eulogiums upon
his personal attractions-impressing his own en-
thusiasm upon single individuals, as well as mp
on the masses, alike interesting in his private
room, at his meals, in his daily walks, upon
steamboat decks, and in stages, in the parlor,
in the Senate. In all these respects, he had no
equal. As an impassioned or imprOmptu orator,
Patrick Henry has alone been claimed as his
peer. 1t was never my fortune to meet with
any person who had Patrick Henry, as,
after the Declaration of Independence, Virginia
alone was the theatre of his Oratorical powers.
But no biographer of Patrick Henry claims for
him those prominent social qualities that gave
Mr.. Clay such extensive influence outside OF his
oratory.