The Savannah morning news., 1902-07-13
REMARKABLE SCENE
IN THE SENATE.
It Was When Henry Clay Delivered His
Farewell Address,

But scarcely had set foot upon that
generous soil before l was caressed
with parental fondness, patronized
with bountiful munificence, and
l may add this-that the choic-
est honors, often unsolicited
have been showered upon me; and
when 1 have stood, at is were, in the
darkest moment of human existence,
abandoned by the world. accused by
large portion of my own country
men, she threw around me her i'm
penetrable shield and bore me aloft
in her courageous arms and repealed
the poison shaft of malignity and ca
mummy aimed for my destruction and
indicated my good name from every
false and unfounded assault.
1t is to me an unspeakable pleas
ure that l am shortly to return to
her friendly limits and that l shall
hnally deposit-and it will not be long
before that arrives-my last remains
under her generous soil with the re-
mains of her gallant and patriotic
sons who have preceded me.
Il go from this place under the hope
that We shall mutually consign to per-
petual oblivion whatever personal col
lisions may at any time unfortunate
ly have occurred between us, and
that our recollections shall dwell in
future only on those conflicts of mind
with mind, those intellectual strug-
giles, those noble exhibitions of the
power of logic, argument and elo-
quence, honorable to the Senate and
to the country, in which each has
sought and contended for what he
deemed the best mode of accomplish
ing one common object, the greatest
interest and fhn q nninacG of 0ilr
beloved country. To these thrilling
and delightful scenes it will be my
pleasure and my pride to look back
in my retirement.
Benediction Upon All.
May the blessing of heaven rest
upon the whole Senate and each men,
Der of it. and may the labors of every
one rebound to the benefit of the ma
ton and the advancement of it's own
fame and renown, and when you shall
retire to the bosom of your constitu-
ents may you met with that most
cheering and gratifying of all human
rewards. their cordial greeting of Well
done. good and faithful servant
And now, Messrs. President and
senators, 1 bid you all long, lasting
and a friendly farewell"
I have from a gentleman, Mr.. John
B. Fry Gan intimate friend of Mr.. Clay
who was present, a description of the
scene. He says that Mr. Clay had been
speaking but a few moments when
senator after senator dropped his head
upon his desk to hide his emotion.
Mr.. Clay was one of the most grace
full speakers, in appearance the person
ification of dignity and noble hearing.
He was perfect master of the language,
and in tone and look of passion he
exhibited combination of suavity. dig
nifty and power. His illusions to his
humble origin and the deep pathos
with which he spoke of Kentucky and
acknowledged his obligations to her
moved every heart, and the emotion
which checked his utterance brought
tears from all his hearers.
There was not a dry eye in the Sen
ate chamber. The hushed suspense of
intense feelings and attention pervad-
ed the crowded assemblage as he con-
cluded his speech and sat down. For
nearly half a minute after he finished
no one spoke. Men of all parties
seemed equally overcome by the pa
thos and majesty of that farewell.
Mr.. Preston of South Carolina rose
and remarked that what had just TAX
en- place was an epoch in legislative
history, and from the feeling evinced
he plainly said there was little dispo-
sition to attend to business. He, there
fore, moved that the Senate adjourn
The motion was unanimously agreed
to; but even then the whole audience
seemed to remain spellbound by the
effect of those parting words of Mr..
Clay.
I'm AL probability" said a distin-
guished senator, describing the scene
eve should have remained longer had
not Mr.. Clay himself risen and moved
toward tho area. when, the restraint
being moved, senators of all parties
came forward to say farewell"
AS MIR. Clay rose to leave the cham
Der he encountered Mr.. Calhoun. For
many years they had been estranged,
and the only words which had passed
between them had been harshly spok-
en- in debate. And now as they met
they remembered only the political
companionship of twenty years stand
ing. J':.. intervening differences which
had chilled their hearts toward each
other were forgotten. The tears
sprang to their eyes, they shook each
other cordially by the hand, and in
terchanged a God bless you"-and
parted
Mr.. Clay remained in the city some
time after he rad resigned his seat in
the Senate, and on April a dinner
was given him by senators and men,
bers of Congress, and on April IL
grand ball was given him by the citi-
zens CT Washington.