The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1886-07-21
HENRY CLAY.


4 pa spssoA u ths ssnass. l Z
u Henry Clay rose In the Senate on The
31st Of March, 1042, to make his fare
we'll speech in . chamber which he had
entered forty-two years previously,
although he had not been in continuous
service since then. The Senate chamber
presented q magnificent spectacle,
perhaps, upon the whole, a more
brilliant one than had ever before boom
exhibited there. Every seat was filled,
and every avenue approaching the
chamber blocked up. Two hours before
Mr.. Clay began to speak, an exit or an
entrance were e4ually impossible to
those within or without Perhaps so
limited space was never 80 we'll filled.
The gentlemen filled the Straight
gallery, which was better known as
s'the Calcutta black hole, :" to its utmost
capacity. The ratings of the seats,
and the seats themselves were all
crowded, and the people seemed to be
literally piled one upon another. The
ladies' gallery was filled almost entirely
with ladies, and the circle there pre-
Sented a. much of grace. elegance and
dignity as ever adorned any public
assembly. It was scene which might
well have called forth the admiration
Of the sterner and the ooarser sex below
and around. The chamber, before Mr..
Clay rose. was literally wreathed in
smiles and beauty, and 1t was q scene
beautiful to look upon, until the event
which had called SO many together
took place, in the earnest, sweet-spoken
final farewell, which came from the
lips Of the orator and reached every
heart. Along the central entrance
to the chamber the crowd was
equally dense, and upon either side
here, though far out Of sight, and out
of hearing, too, ladies were seated, all
anxious to catch q tone of voice which
for SO many years had always told like
the sweetest notes of the lark in the
ears of the whole female sex. Senators
of all parties gave the most respectful
attention, while the representatives
flocked in from the House and occupied
the privileged seats round about the
chamber. Then came the address-for
it was more of an address than aspeech
the published report of which is only
the body Of beautiful Grafton without
the soul. The spirit which kindled, the
fire which burned. are not there.
Words are as cold rs marble without
the divine affiatus which could almost
give life and action to the dead The
picture presented in such congrega-
ton of people was not only fair enough
and perfect enough in all its proper.
tions to charm the eye. but it was a
scene which might have given, either
in the sympathy created or tho pride
excited. a feeling but little less than
one inspired. The ladies, who were all
hope and buoyancy a moment before,
were now, like Niobe, all tears
Mr.. Clay in speaking Of himself, Of his
friends, Of the noble State Of Kentucky
where he had been received as q son
forty-five years since, was himself quite
unnamed. Others were much more at.
fected, and many of the oldest Senators
were in tears many times while Mr.,
Clay was speaking. Mr.. Clay left the
storm and turmoil of public life. as he
thought forever, with an enviable rep
utation for craftsmanship. for patriot
ism and for eloquencc. aud his last act
was to present the credentials Of Mr.
Crittenden as his successor, and te
speak of him in the most excellen,
terms. Seven years later Mr.. Clay re
turned to the Senate and served unit
he died.-Be;s: Periey Poore. in Boston
Rud0eE