National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-09-04
Henry Clay's Farewell Address and Harmon's
Bogus "reminiscences.
~.

I was greatly amused with John II. Harmon's
account OF Henry Clay's farewell address in
the senate of the United States. II is certainly
a very interesting account TO those ignorant OF
the history OF the events In those days, but TO
persons who were witnesses of what TRANSFERRED
oyer thirty years ago when those intellectual
giants, Clay. Webster, Calhoun, Benton and
others, were In the senate. II IL more amusing
than interesting. for tho reason that 1t is n
mere fancy sketch from first to last. was
connected with the press, as Washington CORE
s,pondent some fifteen years, commeneing in
debates which took place In 1850 uponthc COM
promise measures, and hence am able TO speak
from the record.
Harmon says that Clay's farewell speech
was made toward the close of 1851 land soon
thereafter he went home TO die"
lie draws graphic picture Of the thrilling
effect of the speech upon his auditors, many
ofwhom quite distinguished, he names, The
over Washington" that the great speech was
TO be delivered. Among the senators who
listened with earnest attention was Calhoun,
who, he says. seemed to give himself up to
the spell OF his eloquence" And he adds
calhoun himself was run down In health,
and that very session went home TO die"
Aher Introducing several other fancy re-
minlscences, he describes the condition OF the
great orator. lie was very feeble when he be-
gan TO speak, his form tottering, &c, but when
he had warmed up, he burst out In all the
amazing gloricsO Of his voice in dictlon." "rhe
audience were perfectly charmed" &c. Then
comes this remarkable declaration which Har-
mon ascribes to the orator on that occasion for
| the benefit of the democratic party. lie would
have the world believe that II was Clays last
legacy TO that party, He says
"ln winding up Clay gave utterance TO this
sentence. A great truth, because the wings
| We're fast becoming abolitiOnized, and there.
fore sectional, 1t would be difficult to convey
| the power of the expression tiugod with sorrow
{ m en- m
is but one great national party now In exist
ence in the United States, and that is the party
| to which have always been opposed"
'Thcn comes the final scene of this fancy
| sketch, the hAndshaking, the reconciliation,
the farewell and the departure home to die"
| Now for few facts: Henry Clay never made
the farewell speech asoribed to him by llar
| mon. lie never made such u preposterOus
| declaration as indicated In regard TO the demo.
cratic party. ! remember distinctly the last
tmo Henry Clay spoke in the senate. 1t was
| December !, 1851. Mallory and Yulec, OF Flor
ida, were contestants for the same seat in the
senate the first holding u certificate from the
governor, the other the proceedings OF the
| Legislature In Joint convention. MIR. Clay
though very feeble, WAS in his seat when that
case was called up aud arose and spoke abou
| ten minutes. The Cilnrt seemed to completely
exhaust him. lie boarded ut the Nationa
| hotel IN this city, and after the occasion re
| ferred 70 appeared only a tuw times in his seat
was finally confined to his room at the hotel
and died there on the 29lh of june 1882
Calhoun did not 20 "home to die" IL,
| boarded and occupied rooms In what wa
called tie old capitol, corner of First and 4
streets, Capitol MI used as prison durinl
the war, and died there March ~, $50, ncarl,
II year prior to his listening so attentivcly I,
the farewell speech of Mr. Clay.
Mr. John II, Harmon is certainly An exper
in drawing fancy sketches, but total iailur
on reliable "reminiscences Of olden times.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Sent, q. 1854