McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-09-18
HENRY CLAY.
Recollections Of John II. Harmon.
ox-ogS u~an ppoaa

JOUu l.. uiO CeoAy
of his recollections of the famous ora
tor and statesman, ''to leave Washing
ton Immediately after his speech. The
early fall weather was really the Indian
summer season, and most favorable to
such Journey as he had in mind. His
speech in the senate chamber on his
farewell quite overcame him. Though
he held up to the end, under strong
mental influence, the orator never raj
lied again. Very much exhausted Clay
was taken to his rooms in the old Ma
tional hotel, at Washington, and l be-
lieye never afterwards left them. The
winter came and went; the session con-
tinued with it. Every day right after
prayers in the senate the chair an
nounced the state of his health. The
announcements directly became rather
stereotyped. 1t was usually MIR. Clay
is gradually falling after time it be-
came Mr.. Clay is failing rapidly next
we heard Mr.. Clay is sinking but his
mind is clear Finally it came to be
understood that if he should die during
the hours of the session the bells should
toll in announcement of it.
81 was upon morning in the early
part of May, 1852, a session beyond all
others most delightfully."- beautiful in
Washington. The trees and shrub
in the Capitol grounds and the flower
beds were fresh and pleasant to look
upon.
"Hannegan, of Indiana, an Irishman,
bright as silver, witty, eloquent and
always interesting, had the floor OF the
senate, making a set speech on our
policy with regard to foreign affairs.
His seat was well up toward the rear.
Being of quick nervous tempera-
ment, he took the main aisle, and while
declaiming would work himself for
ward almost to the clerks desk, dis
covering which he would walk back,
going through these motions continu-
ously until he had finished. Senator
Frye, of Maine, has very mnch the
same method. A son of Senator Han
negan, a fine appearing, gray-headed
man, is one of the messengers OF the
senate now. He frequently asks me
about his father. Hannegan was
speaking in his quick, impulsive man
ner, half way down the aisle and pro-
crossing with an enthusiastic sentence,
when a single toll of a bell quivered
through the air. Hannegan ceased
speaking in flash, bounded back to
the rear, turned pale, and in a tremu-
lous voice, said: Mr.. president, the
probabilities are that the greatest
statesman in America is now no more;
[ move that the senate adjourn
"There was no chance to vote upon
it. Instantly evey man took his hat
and coat and before the second toll of
the bell came, all were away. The
same sort of proceedings must have
dispersed the house, for l remember
as we passed through the rotunda that
it was fnll of members issuing from
their hall.
''The rapidity with which the city
was thrown into mourning has always
caused me wonder. Walking direct
from the capitol, when we reached the
edge of the grounds where the peace
monument now is, Pennsylvania avenue
was seen to be filled with streamers of
black, hanging from windows, fastened
to balconies, wound round columns and
awning poles, and stretched across the
street. 1t was a solemn sight.
''The National hotel was thick with
Grape, and so was Morrison's book
store adjoining it. 1t is the same store
still, now kept by Morrison's son, and
formerly the resort and lounging place
of both Clay and Webster. There were
two little back rooms, one always oc-
cupied by Clay, the other by Webster.
Here, when they had leisure, both
would always be found reading and
studying, or discussing literature, new
and old, but very seldom politics, with
friends and admirers who came to seek
them out. Clay passed more time at
Morrison's than Webster. The little
rooms did not communicate and neither
statesman could be seen by the other.
'sThe event, though long expected,
shocked people to the extent that all
business was suspended. Many bar
rooms, even, were closed, and in others
men lowered their voices and conversed
in quiet tones as if in the presence of
the dead. was in Washington at the
time of the assassination of Lincoln and
again at that of Garfield, but neither
event appeared to throw such gloom
over the city as the death of Henry
Clay. The feeling was one of pure
sorrow, unmixed with indignation or
anger, such as was felt at the deeds
which led to the murder of the presi-
dents. On those occasions men were
boisterous with threats and grief, but
silence and gloom overspread the city
where lay the dead body of the much
loved orator and statesman 1t was in
time of peace and the capital was I'M
used to such shocks, and therefore men
talked in whispers when all was over
with Henry Clay.
ssHe was buried in the Congressional
and monument was placed |
upon the spot, but there is nothing I'M
der it. Strangely enough, for all the
many years Clay had passed in Wash
ington his wife never visited that city. |
Once he had started to take his daugh-
ter to reside there during the session,
but she died on the way. Mrs CLAW |