The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-11-13
HENRY CLAY'S FAREWELL:
Ills Memorable Speech iH the ecnat
Thirty Years Ago.

| heard the farewell speech of Henry
Clay to the Senate. 1t was toward the
close Of 1851, on the occasion Of his
resignation Of his seat in tho Senate.
Cla,'s Iealth was broken, with poor
prospects Of recovery. He was disap-
pointed IN his political ambition. Bod
ilj troubles and the sense Of bad treat
ment by party friends had kept him
away from the Senate Chamber. Only
upon the most important occasions and
at long intervals. would he be found on
the foor, and toward tho last he felt il
his duty to resign. There is no doubt
that when he sent in lis resignation to
the Governor of Kentucky he felt him
SELF n broken man. His party had
neglected him in On inexcusablc way.
Whenever it had no show for success
ut the election it nominated Clay for
Pr. silent. When the prospects were
favorable for tie Wings some other
man, his inferior in intellect. statesman
ship, and party services, would be
placed upon the ticket, and Henry
Clay would be neglected. He wanted
the nomination in 1886, Int VIM. II.
Harrison took it from him. The Wing
vote was further diverted by the can
dilary Of Hugh l.. White, Of Tennes-
see; Daniel Webster, OF Massachusetts, /:
and Willie r. Mangum, Of North Caro-
lima. The election was carried by Van
Buren,. WHO received 40 electoral votes
to III divided among the four Wing
candidates.
Clay felt that it was his chance in
1910, and tried hard for the nomina-
ton. 1t really was his time and turn,
but, as usual, he was thrown aside, ard
Harrison and the log cabin and hard
cider nonsense prevailed over him. In
18Th it was apparent that the Wings
had no hope nor prospect Of succeed
ing. Clay was nominated, and de-
feated by Polk, as he had been in 1924
hv John Quincy Adams, when the cleo
ton went to the House. Clay received
thirty-seven electoral votes at that time,
tie lowest on the list. In 1882 he was
again defeated by Andrew jackson,
receiving bnt 40 electoral votes to
Jackson's 21o. In 1913, when things
We're ripe for tho Wings, he was over
slaughcd and set aside for Gen.
TAYLOR. Daniel Webster fell the same
way--both were thrown overheard by
their own party whenever the Wings
were sure of success.
It was known throughout Washing
ton that Clay was to make his last
speech in the chamber, and was going
home to die. It was one Of the early
days Of winter, when tho climate OF
Washington is so delightful. No one
was so popular in Washington society
as Henry Clay. There was charm
alont the man that attracted people:
he was really magnetic man. Memo
ries of him still linger in the minds of
citizens. / believe that there are to-
day others besides the old French lady
who sells photographs aud bric-a-brac
in the Capitol corridor, who, visiting
tho galleries of the Senate, look upon
the picture of Henry Clay in the upper
ante-roem and murmur, as they cast
their eyes from it to the occupants of
tho desks on the floor below. There
lever was a Senator like our Harry of
tho Vest"
The old Senate Chamber was then
in use, Since the extension of the
Capitol the place las been greatly
changed, md the Supreme Court now
occupies the old chamber. It has been
mt in two 10y tile main corridor of the
Capitol, and various partitions dividing
it off into clerks offices, judges rooms,
court rooms, etc.. have altered it so
that one could hardly tell it. The gall
leries have disappeared, but the coll
umns and cntablature where the judges
sit, and the sheaves of arrows and in
aented ornaments Oh the part Ct the
oycr-arching ceiling that still remains,
is the same that Clay, Webster, Cal
houn, Adams, and the rest of that bril-
liant generation of American statesmen
looked upon.
The galleries were crowded with
visitors, or rather with Washington
people, for Lot so many visitors then
visited the Capitol. The ways OF
travelling were not as perfect as they
are at present; but the galleries were
as crowded as could he.
Among the audience ] remember Sir
Henry bulwer, the British Minister
who negotiated the Clayton-Bulwe,
treaty, relative of the author, Edward
Bniwer Lytton. He was pleasant
gentleman, stout and ford of look, as
il fed upon good roast beef. with the
British cut to his side whiskers. Chev.
alier Bols,o, the Russian Minister,
was there with his family. Bodiscc
had been resident in Washington for 9
long time; first rs an attache Of tho
Embassy; latterly AZ Minister. Hi
married Maryland girl, considered
the beauty of Washington. On account
of his wife being an American, Bodisct
went into society, and was one of thu
lights Of the exclusive circle that made
old Georgetown the gayest place in til,
country.
The only Northern Senator now liv
ing who had seat on the floor at tn,
time Clay made his farewell is Alpheu
lelch, of Michigan. Lewis Cass wa
the other Senator from Michigan a
that session.
Many Observation-Disclosures al
many rs could find place were on tn,
floor of the Senate.
Clay, though very feeble when h,
began to speak, his form tottering ant
the tones Of his voice being shaky
gathered strength and clearness as b.
warmed up, and after o while burst on
in all the amazing glories OF his yoic'
and diction. The audience was charm
cd; so affected by the orator and thei
own feelings on the occasion as to be
as people say, carried away"
In winding mp, Clay gave utteranc
to this sentence. A great truth, be
cause the Wings were fast becomin.
abolitionized, and therefore sectional
1t would be difficult to convey tn
power Of the expression tinged witt
sorrow as it came from Clay's lips
when he said: There is but one grea
national party now in existence in tn
United States, and that is the party t,
which / have always been opposed"
When Clay sat down Calhoun arose
took him by the hand cordially, an,
expressed lis sorrow at the necessity o
saving farewell. Others clusterc,
around and did the same. IL was no
until all had been done that Benton
leaving his desk and waddling aroun,
the ltsile ROW came up and paya hi