The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-08-31
lCinclnnatl Fnauirer.l

mas witnessed in the senate of the
r-1ited States Of which there is no
Trereut. and Of which it is not likely
here will ever be a repetition. Colo
reI Benton, in his Thirty Years in
tbe Senate" speaking of this event,
savs. 1t was the first occasion of the
ki1d. and thus far the last, and it
might not be recommended for anyone,
except another Henry Clay, If another
ehplld ever appear" on that day
Herrv Clay delivered his valediotory
address and retired from the position
h. had occupied in public life since
1895 At an early age he was appointed
~ nh a vacancy in the United States
senate by his adopted state, Kentucky.
His youthful appearance suggested
h had not reached the age required
nv the constitution-he was barely 30
Years old-and being questioned on the
subject he replied he would refer that
question TO the state which had hon
cred him. From his first entrance into
the senate he assumed a leading part
in the deba ties. for. which his eloquence
60 fervid. mis- viii so strong. and his
courage so daring admirably fitted him.
These qualities. added 10 his great tai
entz. gave him the lead and supremacy
IN his party
In 1871. after serving his term in the
congress from Kentucky. and was
chosen speaker at a time when war
with Great Britain was pending. He
espoUsed the war with great power.
and AT its conclusion in 1914, he was
one Of the commissioners appointed
with John Quincy Adams, Jonathan
Russell. James a. Bayard and Albert
Galatin. to negotiate the treaty of
Client and arrange the terms of peace.
He was reelected to congress before
his return from Europe, and was again
elected speaker. and in 1917 was re-
elected without opposition. In 1923 he
was again elected speaker. He re
signed from the house of representa-
tives in 1926 to accept the position OF
secretary of state under the admins
tration Of John Quincy Adams.
After his long term of public service.
Mr.. CLAY had determined to withdra W
from the senate and retire to private
life The election of General Harrison
afforded him the opportunity. but the
brief regime of the president. who died
in the first month of his occupation of
the executive chair. rendered the vic
tory of the Wing party a barren one.
and Mr.. Clay remained to engage in
the efforts 10 afford some relief to the
financial sufferings which prevailed.
II having been previously understood
that Mr. Clay would take the Occa sion
IN presenting the credentials of his
successor. Mr.. Crittenden. on the 3ist
Of March. 1912. TO make some valedic-
tory remarks. the senate was crowded
II was in the old senate chamber, now
the supreme court room. which was SC
much smaller than the present cham
her that the auditorium could not hold
the crowd which filled the Hobbies sur
rounding the chamber. and the door:
were left open. that the thro1g outside
might hear.
After some preliminary business, Mr.
Clay rose to make a motion.
And now" said Mr.. Clay. ALLOW M
70 announce formally and officially my
retirement from the senate of the Unit
cd states. and to present the last mo
ton l shall ever make in this body
But before I make that motion / trus
] shall be pardoned if l avail myself o
he occasion to make a few observa
tons which are suggested to my min,
by the present occasion.
Full of attra action as this seat il
the senate is, sufficient to fill the aspir
atoms of the most ambitious heart.
have long determined to forego it an,
% seek that repOse which can only b
enjoyed in the shade of private life
and amid the calm pleasures which be
long to that beloved word home.
From 1906. the period of my entr
on this noble theatre, with short in
tervals. to the present time. / hav
been engaged in the public councils d
home and abroad. OF the nature of tn
services rendered during that long an
arduous period of my life ii does no
become me to speak; history, If sh
deigns to notice me. or posterity.
the recollections OF my humble action
be transmitted to posterity, are tn
best. the truest and the most impartia
judges. When death has closed tn
scene, then her sentence will be pro
nounced. and 10 that I appeal and re
fer myself. My acts and public cor
duct are affairs subject TO the crit
Cism and judgment of my fellowmen
but the private motives by which the
have been prompted-they are know
only TO the great searcher of the hu
man heart and myself. and l trust
may be pardoned for repeating a dec
laration made some thirteen years ag,
that whatever errors-and I doubt nc
there have been many-may be di:
covered in a review of my public serN
ices 10 the country / can with VI
shaken confidence appeal to the d
vine Arbiter for the truth OF the dee
laration that | have been influence
by no impure purpose. no persona
ACKNOWLEDGMENT. but in all my publ
acts l have had a sole and single ey'
and warm and devoted heart. de
voted and dedicated to what, in m
judgment, I believed to be the tru
interest Of my country.
During that long period. howeve
nave not escaped the fate of otht
public men. nor failed to incur censuI
ana detrs Ction Of the blacklist an
most unreleuting and most malignaI
,n-rHgt'r and though not always il
sensible 70 the pain il was meant
infi1t. ] have borne il in general wit
'onpoSure and without disturbanc
waiting as I have done in perfect an
unoouhtinE confidence for the ultima'
triumph of justice and truth and
me entire persuasion thai time would
me end settle all things as they shOu
But T have not. meanwhile. bee
u0SuSfained. Everywhere throughol
me extent of this great continent
rave had cordial. warm hearted ar
devoted friends, who have known n
and justly appreciated my motives. 7
mem f language were susceptible
idiiN expressing my acknowledgment
would now offer them al the retuI
nave 10 make for their genuine. di
interested and perSevering fidelity ar
devoted attachment But If I fail
suitable language to express my era
-.31e 90 them for all the kindness the
nave shown me-what shall I say
what can I say AT all commensura
with those feelings of grC titude whiC
] owe 10 the state whose humble re-
res NATIVE and servant I have be-
IN this chamber" CHere Mr.. Clay
FEELINGS appeared TO overcome him, al
n prnrnrEHd with dfFE0uIS,-A