The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-08-11
CLAY'S EXECUTOR.
His Afectionate Tribute to the
Famous Orator,

Mr.. Harrison has not been without
distinguished honors in his lifetime. He
disappointed, without solicitation, Sec
rotary of Legation to Spain, when the
unfortunate William Barry was sent as
Minister to that country. Mr.. Harrison
declined the place, and Mr. Barry died
at Liverpool as soon as he had crossed
the Atlantic. He was also nominated
by The President to the United States
Judgeship of the Territory of Arkansas.
For prudential reasons this was declined,
but the President refused to withdraw
the nomination. Congress adjourned
before the matter was acted upon. But
perhaps the highest distinction is that he
was the organizer of the present COM
mon-school system of Lexington, and
over which he was superintendent for
many Years. At recent school cele-
bration hundreds of the pupils of these
schools focked to the residence of the
"grand old man" to do him honor. and,
be it SAID, no honor could have been
shown him in which he could have taken
an equal pride. ..
Mr.. Harrison S memory of past events
Is very distinct, and upon nothing in
the past does he take so much delight in
dwelling as upon Henry Clay and his
associations with him. Clay was
Wing and Harrison a Democrat, but,
nevertheless, Clay was his idol. For
his character he had the profoundest adj
miration. "Many times he would come
into our Office" said Mr.. Harrison,
"when he was at home from Washing
ton, and talk of the great events which
were transporting and in which he had
taken such an eventful part. But he
never spoke with vanity. His illusions
to himself were modest. His converse
ton was simple in every respect, but
there was always something, in his man
ner difficult to describe which impressed
his hearers with the loftiness of his char
acter. used to feel when he came in
to the room, no matter how trivial
were his remarks, that I was in the
presence of being greatly gifted. The
feeling his presence affected me with
was his possession of power. l said one.
day to my partner, Mr.. Hunt: Il don't
know how it is with you, Mr.. Hunt,
but MIR. Clay never comes in here that
am not at once affected by his pres
ence, even before he has spoken word
Dir. Hunt acknowledged that he had
experienced a similar feeling, and MIR.
Hunt was himself q person of great
character and of the highest type of
manhood
"As man of business" continued
Mr.. Harrison, "Mr. Clay was scrupu-
lousy exact He sometimes would say:
Harrison, l have no money with me,
and want TO borrow dime. I will
return it to you in the morning when |
come in from Ashland The next morn
ING he never failed to walk in with a
silver ten-cent piece between his fingers
to liquida.e the debt. L am quite sure, ,
often said to him, Mr. Clay, that you
borrowed that from Mrs. Clay just be-
lore you left home and that you have
carried it between your thumb and fore
hDDger all the way to this office for fear
OF forgetting it Sometimes contin-
ued Mr.. Harrison, che would send me
from Washington power of attorney
10 lndorse his name upon notes drawn
by his son James. Well, had nothing
TO do with the amounts. l simply obeyed
Instructions, without keeping a memo
randum of the amounts or number of
the notes. On Mr. Clay s return home
he would at once begin looking into his
business affairs. Calling his son., he
would inquire how many notes Harri-
son had indorsed for him, and their
amounts. James being unable to tell,
having taken no account of them. his
iather would exclaim: 4 am amazed at
you, James. Suppose should suddenly
ae without having made provision for
lhe payment of these debts. Go at once,
my son, obtain correct memorandum
OF these notes, and bring it to me i'm
medlately, that | may make provision
for the payment
The most Singular way, however"
sao MIR. Harrison, sin which Mr.. Clay
eeAhoi'ed this business precision was in
Ills methodcal preparation and arrange
nent OF his affairs before fighting a
auel' Invariably he spent some time in
.he inspection of his accounts, and
uarawinS up q complete memorandum
H deposited it in care of Mrs.
Glay; to be brought to light in case he
saoeid be killed, This was curiously in
s sI after his fight with Humphrey
tharshall. Both gentlemen were mem
s uefs OF the Kentucky Legislature. Clay
was an advocate of the American sys-
s @m, advocating the wearing of home
spua and other American fabrics in
t G,eierenee to goods of foreign importa-
uon' Marshall was Federalist and
suspected Mr.. Clay of demagoguery. He
n na some remarks about Clay which
.4liSea the latter to issue challenge. In
n rne ouel Clay was shot in the leg, and
W MS ;, confined to his bed for some time.
W., mnile IN this condition a builder who
C @SM recently finished house for Mr..
CCIly called to obtain settlement Mr..
to ,ay requested Mrs Clay to bring
h urn the memorandum he had left with
as. 1t was found to contain an exact
s sna IN OF the account between Clay
s aau Inc builder, and upon that the SCI
"1 1n was made