New-York tribune., 1891-12-26

brain was always sufused with t..s alcoholic poison
that destroyed all the possibilities for good which he
possessed That his habits and Eltemper reduced him
TO state OF political impotence that Thomas Marshall
with approximate justice styled him sublime black.
guard female Temperance lecturer, taking her
irOm MP. Parton said: 81 Henry Clay was drunkard,
and' as consequence his sons were all morally low
some novelwrter describes him dancing upon
dining-tabe for the amusement of the guests Mr..
Edward Everett Hale, in " The Cosmopolitan Magazine
OF october 1891, says: Mr.. Clay so steadily
engaged at the gambling table at Client that 1t was
difficult to keep him Mt the meeting; that his passion
for gambling was bitterly used against him In the
canvass OF 1874, and II is probably true that had he
not been open to the charge OF gambling, he would
have been chosen President"
The last attack upon his memory-in "The Chicago
News"-makes him ont a roue, who left his post Of
duty at Washington to follow, In his sixty sixth
year, mulatto grandnieco OF General Washington
10 Nsw-Orleans. A drunkard, a blachguard gambler,
a roue what morei Nothing is left now to fill up
the measure Of abuse but to make him out liar and
thief. Mr.. Edward Everett Hale gives little credit
to Mr.. Clay of the Commissioners Of Ghent.
Fortunately, his statement that Henry Clay
steadily engaged the gambling table at Client that
II was difficult to keep him at the meeting" Is dsproved
by the evidence of Mr. Clays contemporaries Governor
Winthrop says Mr. Clay had been the leader OF the
War party the floor of Congress- and had been more
instrumental than any other In bringing about
dent Madison Of the five Commissioners to Ghent
to negotiate the treaty which resulted in the peace
between Great Britain and the United States" and
says Governor wentz, NO has ever questioned
the great Importance Of Mr.. Clays services on that
commission
The Hon. Henry W. Hilliard said "Havng urged
the country 10 vindcate its rights by war, Mr.. Clay
was equally prompt and energetic in securing an
honorable peace. . The fisheries and the
nayip of
culties in bringing the negotiation 10 friendly Issue.
The British commissioners insisted upon recognition
in the treaty of the right OF Great Britain to navigate
the Mississippi from its mouth TO It's source right
which had hitherto been enjoyed In consideration OF
the privilege granted to citizens Of the United States
to fish within the British waters, and 10 dry and cure
their fish upon British soil. Some Of the American
commissioners thought ii best to perpetuato this stp
ulation but Mr. Clay announced his unalterable de-
termination never TO consent to purchase temporary
and uncertain privileges within the british limits at
the expense OF putting foreign and degrading marx
upon the nobest of all rivers His views pre-
vailed. Mr. Clay returned to his own country with
the proud consciousness OF having placed her honor
and her rights upon footing which the whole world
would respect.
The Hon. John ]. Crittenden, the Rev. Samuel
Hanson Cox and others equally competent have borne
similar testimony. 1t has been pointed out by one
of his biogaphers that the distinguished services rem
dplomatist and bis marked personality attracted the
admiration and the attentions OF the most distin-
gulshed men OF Europe.
II is well known that IN the dispatches of the
American Commissioners at Ghent Of October 20.
1914 they speak diScOuragngly OF the prospects OF
peace "Mr: Clay's private opinion, aowever,' says
Mr. Cotton "was encouraging, and he wrote
n private confidential note to Mr.. Monroe secretary
OF State, to that effect 10 be used at his discretion
This was Sd evidence OF Mr. Clays sagacity. lie saw
that the British Commissioners had taken untenabe
ground, from which They could easily be driven by
weapons drawn from the history Of their own negotia
lions for centuries; hence his private note to Mr..
Monroe"
Letters to Mr.. Clay written before the meeting OF
the Commissioners from Mr. Crawford at Paris. Mr..
BayaId and Mr.. Gallatn at London, and Mr. KusseL
At stockholm all speak discOuragngy of the prospects
OF peace. Mr.. Gaiatin wrote: Iol a:e su!hGenuy
aware of the total change OF our affairs produced by
the late revolution and the restoration OF universal
peacc in the European world from which We ale alone
excluded well organized and large army is at once
liberated from any European employment, and ready
together with superaburdant naval force, TO act I'm
mediately against us. How il-prepared we are 10
meet 1t In a proper manner no one KNOWS better uah
Yourself" etc.
Mr.. CLAW was hopeful and sangunc, while his col
,oaares were depressed This seen in letter from
Nr Crawford 10 Mr. Clay, dated Paris, July 0, 1874
He writes Il acknowledge with much pleasure your
very Interesting letter OF the cd inst by The hands o.
Mr. Connell. 1t appears that we differ In opinion
upon two points You believe that the British GOV
eminent will not hesitate make peace leaving the
ouestion of mpreSsment wholly out U view. lou
anpear also TO believe that the events Of the present
campaign will have favorable effect upon your
! negotiation. / sincerely wish you may be right but
I am strongly inclined to believe that the result Will
| prove your opinions incorrect" etc.
Is 1t at all probable from these statements mat
ttn
Henry Clay was SO steadily engaged al tnc
| Gambling table at Client that it was din
cu,t IN heop him AT tie meeting Mr..
| Edward Everett Hale evidently understands very
| little of Henry Clay's character, or he would
| know that he was the last man to have lett 10
| others-even for the seductions OF the gambling
| table-the negotiations Of II treaty OF euch lmpor
,ance IS that Of Client he would know that Henry
| CLAY never performed obscure or even common
| nart- In anything. "On the contrary from the day
| ON which he entered the public servi,e until that
on which he passed the gates OF DEATH he was never
a follower but always a leader" Destined Tor
| lender said John c. Brecknrdge, "he everywhere
asserted his destiny. In his long and eventiul hie nc
came in contact with of adj ranks ana professions
but he, never felt that he in the presence OF "a
man superlor to himself. In the assemblies OF the
neone M the BAR in the Senate-everywheIe within
tbe circle OF his personal presence, he assumed ana
maintained a position of pre-emnenee.'
And Mr.. Hale forgcts-perlaps he has never hear'i
that "patriotism was with Henry Clay an absorb
ing passion Honor and patriotism were MS
great and distinguishing traits" Mr. Clays services
AT Client have long since been judged The 1uos-
ment OF Mr.. Monroe, Mr.. Madison, his colleagues,
and his contemporaries has preceded and pronounced
Tho trdcment OF history and il is too late TO rob
him OF his laurels IL .,.,
In september 1915, Mr.. Clay returned to his own
country lie had been reelected to Congress our our,
ing his absence and was secOllu uhle, cHoseh
snssaEer Of the House The following month, octo-
her 40 ISIS. Mr. Madison Acknowledged his merit
and abilitiess by Offering him. through Mr. Monroe,
anu h s'Jistnn IN Russia since the overthrow OF
France says Mr. Monroe Russia has acquires saglT as
10 these states" In 1915 Mr.. Madison wrote NM
Selt TO Mr. Clay offering him place IN ms eapi,cs ,t