The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-09-12
/ Reminiscenc;e Of Henry clay,


a Reminiscence Of Henry Clay.
5 We clip from the columns Of the
Missouri Republican the following in |
teresting communication from Rev, Ed.
F. Buckley Of Kirkwood, No., formerly
pastor Of the Episcopal church in Lex
ington, KY. to which Mr.. Clay be.
ionged, and who oficiated alike at the
baptism and funeral of the great south
ern statesman. The incident described
has never before been in print:
Whatever is snteresting In the lives of
distinguished men ought to be record q
ed. There have come under my per-
sonal observation, for stood to him in
the relation of pastor during the last
fourteen years OF his life, and knew him
we'll, anumber Of incidents and anec-S
dotes connected with Henry Clay, some
Of which, on repeated recital to inter-
ested listeners, ] have been asked to put
in q permanent form
The following anecdote is Illustrative
of his skill as an orator in seizing the
occasion to convince court, a jury and
On audience of the business of his cause
before he had made the speech: \.
About forty years ago, when some
of the dissatisfied legatees of Mr..
Rogers in Fayette County, KY. brought
suit to set aside his will, which involved
the distribution Of seventy or eighty
thousand dollars. Hon. John J. Crit
tenden was engaged by the dissatisfied
party to break the will. and Fl on. Henry
Clay was engaged by the other side to
sustain it.
I had never rheard before Of the meet
ing of these political and forensic cham
pions in q legal contest, and prob
ably they had never met in an inferior
court.
The interest of the people was thor
ough1y aroused as the time drew near
for the meeting of these legal gladitors.
The trial was held in the court house
at Lexington, the home of Mr.. Clay.
The room was too small to accommo-
date one-fourth of the people who had
gathered in the city to hear these giants
in oratory and the law argue this case,
so full Of public interest. They crowded
into every available spot long be-
fore the opening Of the court; and
there was no need for the sheriff
to call silence for every countenanee
wore subdued expression, and seemed
painfully burdened with feeling of un-
certainty as to the result of this contest,
and as evidently worried at the thought
of the possibility that the other great
Kentuckian might defeat Mr.. Clay In
the court house Of his own country.
I was favored with seat within the
bar, and very near to MIR. Clay. The
assistant counsel made such statements
to the jury as the occasion called for,
and the closing Of the case was left to
these two great competitors.
Out of the material on which he had
to work Mr.. Crittenden made one of the
most effective speeches of his life. ]
have so often regre tied for the fame Of
the great orators of that day that the
art of shorthand writin had not been
farther advanced, so that some of their
most brilliant efforts might have been
recorded fol. the instruction and graf
ification of men in after times. 1t is
not possible, however, that any printed
speech could convey to the mind the
personal presence, The attitudes, the
voice, the passion and the magnetic
power illustrated in their delivery.
During the process of Mr.. Chitten-
don's speech. Mr.. Clay would occasion
ally ask his son. James, who was asso-
ciated with him in practice, for a law
book, and finding his authority, he
/ would turn down leaf for easy refer
ence, and lay tdown with Indifference.
When Mr.. Chittendon had closed his
argument, q painful, I might rather say,
a shuddering stiffness pervaded the
court room. There seemed written in
every countenance the conviction thai
the case was closed, Mr.. Clay's cause
was lost; that he could have nothing
effective to say, and that he was beaten
in his own city by his great compeer
4 Crittendon. He saw and felt the effect
that had been produced by his powerful
opponent. He saw the deep anxiety
which the dead silence indicated, anG
his friends ready to weep at his appar
ent discontinue.
4 With the sagacity Of an expert il
controversy he at once determined wha
to do, and that was to cali back instant
/ " the convictions Of his audience, tn
court and jury, and by manner ant
action to ask them to hold their de
cision in allegiance until they hears
from him.
He rose maiestically. never knes
man that could rise up and sit dow
with equal dignity and grace. Hi
small bluish-gray eye expressed th
i vehemence with which his soul wa
burning; his brow was knitted and hi
a under lip quivering with intense emo
ton; he raised his hand, and looking
upward, said, by the help Of God
(then turning to the judge and tn
" pleasure of this court, before resym
my seat, / intend to show the ute
futility and groundlessness Of the OIL
guments assumed BY my honorabl
friend in this canse."
In the expression Of the words fu
tilityn and 'groundlessness," he thre'
his arms around towards Mr.. Critten
den with downward, gesture and run
them out with o passionate emphasi
which thrilled every listener, maxim
them to feel that he knew his powe
and how to WELD it. ...S
What an adroit and skillful way I
recovering the favor Of q jury and q
J audience whose mind seemed made q
adversely to tho p1eader! What en- ea
pert in rhetoric to begin his speech j
. reverential and suppicatory tone (
II voice, with such q phrase as BY th
help Of God in addressing court an
Z jury! Its necessity was doubtless see
only ct the moment, seized upon, 81,
had the desired effect.
Every countenance, which before WI