River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1884-10-30
HENRY CLAY.
John H. Harmon's Reco1lections OF the
Famous Statesman.
Tro,,, fl,a natrast Trea Press


John n. Harmon's Reco1lections OF the
famous Statesman.
From the Detroit Free Press.
at was Henry Clay's purpose" said
John A. Harmon, continuing his story
of his recolIectlons oflhe famous orator
and statesman, "to leave Washington
Immediately after his speech. The
early fall weather was really the Indian
summer season, aud most favorable to
such tourney as he had in mint. His
speech IN the senate chamber, on his
farewell, quite overcame him. Though
he held to the end under strong mental
influence the orator never rallied again.
Very much exhausted Clay WIS taken
to his rooms at the old National hotel
at Washington and never afterwards
left them The winter came and went;
the session continued with it. Every
day, right after prayers in the senate,
the chair announced the state of his
health The announcements directly
became rather stereotvped 1T was
usually, Mr. Clay is gradually falling
after time it became Mr.. Clay is fail
ing rapidly next We heard Mr.. Clay is
sinking, but his mind is very clear.
Finally it came to be understood that
if heshould die during the hours of the
session the bells should toll in an
nouncement of it.
1T was upon morning in the early
part of may, 1852, a season beyond all
others most delightfully."- beautiful in
Washington. The trees and shrubs of
the capitol grounds and the flower beds
were fresh and pleasant to look upon.
"Hannegan of Indiana, an IRISH
man, bright as silver, witty, eloquent
and always interesting. had the floor of
the senate, making set speech on our
policy with regard to foreign affairs.
His seat was well up toward the rear.
Being of quick and nervous tempera-
ment, he took the main aisle, and while
declaiming would work himself for
ward almost to the clerks desk, discov-
ering which, he would bound way back,
going through these motions continu
ously until he had finished. Senator
Frye, of Maine, has very much the same
method A son of Senator Hannegan,
a fine appearing, gray headed man, is
one of the messengers of the senate now.
He frequently asks me about his father.
Iannegan was speaking in his quick
impulsive manner, half way down the
aisle and progressing with an enthusi-
astic sentence, when the single toll of o
bell quivered through the air. Hanne-
gan ceased speaking in flash, bound
ed back to the rear, turned pale, and In
a tremulous voice said; Mr.. President,
the probabilities are that the great
oct csfo nos A
more; 1 move that the senate adjourn.
There was no chance to vote upon it.
Instantly every 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 / remember as we passed
through the rotunda that it was full of
members issuing therefrom.
"The rapidity with which the city
was thrown into mourning has always
caused me to 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 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 former
~ the resort and lounging place of both
Clay and Webster There were two
little back rooms, one always occupied
by Clay and 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 Meth
er statesman could be seen by the
other.
The event, though long expected,
shocked people to the extent that all
business was suspended. Many bar
rooms, even, We're closed. and in others
men lowered their voices and conversed
in quiet tones, as if in the presence of
tho dead was in Washington at the
time of the assassination of Lincoln,
and again at that of Garfield, but
neither event appeared so 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 is felt at the deeds
which led to the murder of the presi
dents. On these occasions men We're
boisterous with threats and grief, but
silence and gloom overspread tie city
Il. l. Il -
loved orator and statesman. 1t was IN
time of peace. and the capital was UNI
used to such shocks, and therefore men
talked in whispers when all was over
with Henry Clay.
"He was buried in the Congressional
cemetery, ana 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 had never visited that
city. Once he had started to take his
daughter to reside there during the ses-
sion, but she died ON the way. Mrs.
Clay always remained at their Kentucky
plantation of Ashland, and managed
the estate while her husband devoted
himself to national affairs.
His body was disinterred from the
congressional cemetery and taken back
to his old Kentucky home. 1t was TAX
en- by the Baltimore and Ohio to Cum
berland, as far as the railroad was then
completed, and from thence in hearse
by the old National road to the Ohio
river. Ceremonial obsequies were held
for Henry Clay in all the cities of the
country.