Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-11-05

was uouheeu-danneShn's Motion
to Adjourn-The People OF the Capitol
City Shocked Beyond Measure-The
statesman's Burial
Detroit Free Press
cit was Henry Clay's purpose." said
John Ill. Hanson, continuing his story of
| his recOllectiOns OF the famous orator and
statesman, Ito leave Washingt imme-
diately after his speech. The early fall
weather was really the Indian summer
season, and most favorable to such n iour-
| ney as he had in mind. 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 was taken to his
rooms at the old National Hotel
at Washington and never afterwards
lett them. The winter came and
went; the session continued with
1t. Every day, right after prayers in the
Senate, the chair announced the state of
his health. The announcement directly
became rather stereOtyped. 1t was usual
", MIR. Clay is gradually failing,' after a
time 1t became MIR. Clay is falling randi
ly;' next we heard Mr.. Clay is sinking.
but his mind is very clear Finally il
came 10 be understood that il he should
die during the hours OF the session the
bells should toll the announcement of it.
lit was on morning IN the early part
OF May, 1852, season beyond ali others
the most delightfully."- beautiful in WASH
ngtOn, The trees and shrubs of the can't
tol grounds and the flower beds were
fresh and pleasant to look upon. Hanne-
gan, OF Indiana, an lrlshman, bright as
silver, witty, eloquent, and always inter-
esting, had the floor OF tse Senate. max
ing a set speech on our policy with regard
to foreign affairs. Bis seat was we'll I'm
toward the rear. Beng of quick
and nervous temperament, he took the
main aisle, and While declaiming would
work himself forward almost to the clerks
desk, discovering which he would bound
way back, going through these motions
continuously until he had finished. Ham
negan was speaking in his quick, impul-
sive manner, half way down the aisle and
progressing with an enthusiastic sentence.
when single toll of a bell qulyered
through the air. Hannegan ceased speak,
ing In flash, bounded back to the rear.
turned pale, and in a tremulous voice
said: MIR. President, the probabilities
are that the greatest statesman in Ameri-
ca is now no more; | move that the Sem
ate 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 awav. The same sort
of proceedings must have dispersed she
House, for | remember as we passed
through the rotunda that it was tuli of
members issuing therefrom.
"The rapidity with which the city was
thrown into mourning has always caused
ne 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 10 be
filled with streameTs of black, hanging
from ind L.
wound round columns and awning poles,
and stretched across the street. 1t was q
solemn sight.
"The National Hotel was thick with
Grape, and so was Morrison's book store.
adjoining it. 1t is the same store still. and
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 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 MOrrs0n's than Webster. The
little rooms did not communicate, and
neither statesman could be seen by the
other.
''The event, though long expected.
shocked people to the extent that all busi-
ness was suspended. Many baIroOms,
even, were closed, and in others men low-
cred their voices and cOnTersed in quiet
tones, as if in the presence of the dead. /
was Ill Washington at the time of the as
sassination 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 indigDa-
ton or anger, such as is felt at the deeds
which led to the murder Of the Presidents.
On thes5 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, aud
the capital was unused 10 such shocks,
and therefore men talked in whispers
when all was over with Henry Clay.
''He was buried in the Congressional
cemetery, and a monument was placed
upon the spot, but there is nothing un-
der it. Strangely enough, for all the
many years Clay had passed in Washing
ton, mis- wife had never visited that city.
Once he had started to take his daughter
to reside there during the session, but she
died on the way. Mrs. Clay always re-
mained at their Kentucky plantation of
Ashland, and managed the estate while
her husband devoted himselfto national
affairs.
"His body was disinterred from the
emetery and taken back
to his old Kentucky home. 1t was taken
by the Baltimore and Ohio to Cumber-
land, as far as the railroad was then COM
pleted, and from thence in hearse by the
old National road to the Ohio river. Core
mOnial obsequies were held for Henry
Clay in all the cities of the country. A
funeral arch was erected in
Detroit at the corner OF Woodward and
Jefferson avenues