Georgia Historic Newspapers

    THIRTY-SECOND CONGRESS,
FIRST SESSION.
IN SENATE, Wednesday, June 30.
DEATH OF THE HON. HENRY CiXy.
[OOHCICDIO FEOa Ist IU.U.J
badge of mourning for thirty day*, as a testimony
of the profound respect this House entertains for
the memory of the deceased.-
Ruotred, That the officer* and members of the
House of Representatives, in a body, will attend
the funeral of Henry Clay, on tha day appointed
fir that pnrpoac by the Senate of the United
States.
Rrtolced, That the proceeding* of this House,
in rotation to the death of Henry Clay, be commu
nicated to the fimilv of the deceased by the Clerk.
Rctolttd, That as a further mark of respect for
the memory of the deceased, this House do now
adjourn.
Mr. Ewing rose and said : A noble heart has
ceased to beat forever. A long life of brilliant and
aelf-devoted public service is finished at last, and
we now stand at its conclusion looking hack
through the changeful history of that lifoto its be
ginning, eonP:rn[>oraiiootn with the very birth ol
the Republic, and its varied events mingled in
our heart* mid our memories—with the triumph
and calamities, the weakness and the power, the
' adversity of a country we love so much. As we
contemplate this sad event in this place, the shad
ow* of the past gather over us ; the memories of
events long gone crowil upon us, and the shade?
of departed |iatriots-eein to hover about tin, wait
ing to receive into their midst the spirit ot one
who was worthy to struggle with them inacoin
mon ciuse, and to share in tiie rewords oi the.r
virtue*. Henceforth he must he to us us one ol
them; < m
They say he was ambitious, if so it was a griev
ous fault, and grievou-ly lias lie answered it. He
has found in it naught butdisapjsii itment. It lias
butservel to aggravate the mortiiicatiou of hi*
defeats, and furnish' an additional luster to the
triumph of his foes. These who come after ti«
may. ay, they will, inquire why hi* statue stand*
not among the statues otthose whom men thought
ab!e*t and worthiest to govern.
But bis Ambition was a high and holy feeling,
nnselftsli, magnanimous. Its aspirations were for
his country’* good, audits triainph was his coun
try’s prosperity. Whether in honor or reproach,
in" triumph or defeat, thut heart of his never
throbbed with one pulsation save for her honor
and her welfare. Turn to him in that last best
lined, and crowning glory of a life so full of public
service and of honor, when his career of personal
ambition was finished forever. Rejected again
and again by hi* countrymen ; just abandoned by
a party which would scarce have had an existence
without his genius, his courage, and his labors,
that great heart, l-vcr firm and defiant to ttic os
sa,dt* of lii» enemies, but defenseless against the
ingratitude of friends, doubtless wrung with the
bitterest mortification of his life ; then it »»«, and
under such circtimspmees as these, the gathering
storm rose upon his country. * All eye* turned t.'
. hi® ; all voice* culled for those services which, in
the hour of t>ro*perity and security, they had so
carelessly rejected* With no misanthropic cha
grin , with no morose, selfish resentment, he for
got all hut his country and that country endanger
ed. He returns to the scene of his labors and his
fame which lie had thought to have left forever.
A scene —that American Seif# Chamber, clothed
in no gorgeous drapery to dazzle the eye of fancy,
shrouded in no superstitions awe or ancient reve
rence for hereditary power,■ hut ton rejecting
American mind more full of interest, ot dignity,
and of grandeur than any spot on this broad earth;
not made holy by religion's consecrating seal, hoe
htoi as lie enters there, tremblingly, but hopefully,
upon the last, most momentous, perhaps inert
doubtful conflict of bis life. Sir, many n gay
tournament lias been more dazzling to the eye of
fancy, morn gorgeous uinl imposing in the display
of juwclry and cloth of gold, in the sound of her
alds’ trumpets, In the grand array of princely beau
ty and of royal pride. Many a battle-field lias
trembled beneath a more ostontutioim parade of
human power, and it*conquerors have been crown
ed with laurels, honored with triumphs, and
apotheosized amid the demigods of history; Imt
to the thoughtful, hopeful, philanthropic student
ot’ the annuls of his race, never was there a con
flict in which such dangers were threatened, anch
hope.* imperiled, or the hero of which deserved a
wuriner gratitude, a nobler triumph, or a prouder
monument. , , , .
Sir from that long, anxious, and exhausting con
flict he never regained his mortal strength. In the
lust battle for his Country’s honors mid his coiili
trv’s safety lie received the mortal wound which
“laid him low ; and we now mourn the death of a
martyred patriot. ~ , „
But, never, in all the grand drama which the
story of Ids life arrays, never has he presented a
suborner or a more touching spectacle thau in
ttuwo lint (lays of his decline and death. Broken
with the storms ot State, wounded and scathed in
immv a flerv conflict, that aged, worn und decay
e l b*dv In "such mournful contrast wit - the never
JyltKj strength of his giant spirit, he seemed a
orou l and sm-rod, though * crumbling monument
of the glory past• Standing amongst ns like some
ancient oofosssl ruin amidst the degenerate und
more diminutive structures of modern times, its
vast proportions magnified by the contrast, ho re
minded us of those days when there wore giants
in the land, and we remembered that even then
there was none whose prowess could withstand his
jirm To watehfliiin in that slow decline, yielding
w ; tli dignity, and a* it were inch by inch to
that last enemy, u* a hero yields to a conquer
ing foe, the glorious light ot his intellect blazing
atill in oil it* wonted brilliancf, and setting at do
nance the clouds that vainly attempted to obscure
it lie was more full of interestthun In* the day of
Jiis glorv and his power. There are some men
whose brightest Intellectual emanations rise so little
superior to tho iutitioci* ot the niiminl, wc
are led fearfully to doubt that, cherished truth ol
the soul’s Immortality, which even in despair, men
press to their doubting hearts. Jlut it is tit the
dentil of such a man as lie that we are ro-u<snred
bv tho contemplation of a kindred though superior
aJiirit of a soul which, immortal, like his fame,
knows no old age, no decay, no death.
Tins wondrous llghkof his unmatched intellect
mav have dazzled a world ; the eloquence of that
Insnlred tongue mav have enchanted millions, but
there are /ew who'have Bounded the depths of
that noble heart. To see him in sickness and in
lu-ultli in joy .and jti sadness, in tho silent watch
os of the night, and ill the busy daytime-tins it
was to know and love him. To see tho impetuous
torront of that resistless will, 'ho hurricatio ot
those passions hushed in peace, breathe calm atm
geutlv as * summer zepliyr :to lesl jj l ® gethle
pressure of that hand in the grasp of frni;idsiup
which in tho rage of fiery conflict could hurl i cor,
and detianca at his foe ; to see thut eagle eve tvliic.v
oft would barn with patriotic ardor or flush with
tlio lightning of Ids utiger, beam with the jfinditest
expressions of tenderness and afl'eoiion—then it
wa*, and then alone, wo could learn to know and
feel that tliohoart was warmed by the same sacred
tire from above which enkindled tho light of
of hi* resplendent intellect. In the dcuth of such
n man oven prtriotism itself might pause, and for
a moment stand aloof while friendship siicd u tear,
of Borrow upon his bier.
“Hlsltfe was gentle : anil the elements
Ho mlxeM In him, that Nature iiilghtstunil lip
Anil s.y to all the world, Thin tan a man f"
* jj ot. 0 t. who ean estimate Ills country’s loss.' What
tongue portray the desolation which in this hour
throngeiltliis hroud land hangs a gloomy pull over
his griot' stricken countrymen ( llow poorly can
words like wine translate the eloquence of a whole
people’s grief Or a patriot’s death. For a nation's
loss'let a nation -wourn. For that stupendous ca
lamity to our co'refry and mankind, he tho
heavens hung with bifid:; let tho wailing elements
clmnt his dirge, and the universal heart of man
throb with one commonpan# of gfh t anil anguish.
Mr. Caaklo said ; Mr. Speaker, i roust try to lay
u single laurel leaf in that open coffin which is al
ready garlanded by the eloquent tributes to the
illustrious departed, which have been hoard in this
now solemn Hull—for I come, sir, from the district
of hi* birth. I represent on this floor that old
llanover so proud of her Henries—lter Patrick
lll.urv and Iter Henry Olay. 1 speak for a people
among whom he has always had as earnest and
devoted friends as were ever tiie grace mid glory
of n patriot nml statesman.
I ulmil attempt no sketch of his life. Thirf you
l'avo had from other and abler hands thau mine.
T .'ll yesterday that Ufa was, of hi* own free gift,
tiie property of It's country; today it belong* to
her r'istory. it is known to all, and will not be
forgot,‘eo. Constant, stern opponent of his po
litical school as bus been my State, I say for her
that uowltcre in this broad hind are Ids great quali
ties more ad.'uired. or his death more mourned t bun
In Virginia. Well may this bo so ; for she is his
mother, and lie was her sou.
Mr. Speaker, whsn I remember I no party strifes
ill wliieli lie was so n.'uch mingled, and through
which « e all more or less have passed, and then sur
vey this scene, uml think how lur, as the lightning
lias borne the news he is g.m.o, halt-masted flags.
are drooping and elu.ro i-b.-lls are toiling and men
are sorrowing, 1 ean but feel that it is good tor mini
to die. For when death enters, oh, how the mi- j
kindness and jealousios, and rivalries of life do
vanish, and how. likeiueenso from an altar, do peace !
and friendship and all the sweet charities of mjr
nature rise around the corpse which was once a
nun.
And of a truth, Mr. Speaker, never was more
of veritable, noble manhood eased in mortal mould
yliau was found ill him to whose memory this brief
all q humble, but true and heart-felt tribute I- paid.
But 'lis eloquent voice is bushed, his high lu-art is
stilled. Like » shook of corn full ripe, lie Im
bed! gathered to his fathers. With more than
thi-ee score years and ten U)>on him, and honors
clustered thick about him, in the lull possession
of uw.’h>“ded intellect, and all tho consolations of
Christianity, h® has met the fate which is evitable
bv noiie. Lamented bv all his countrymen, his
name is "bright On fame’s immortal roll. IL> lias
fiuUhod his co.'rso. and lie has Ids crown. Wliat
more fruit can hi. 1 ' bear 1 \\ hat can- give it that
Henry Clay lues nov gained f
t hen. Mr. Speaker, around lus tomb should be
heard not ouly tiie dirge that wails Ids Jo-s, but
the jubilant imthem widen sounds that on the
world's great battle-field auoti, " r victory- ha* been
won, amither incontestable grcav'mss uc’nieved.
Mr. Chandler, said: Mr. SpcaXJ'r. it w tlid
seem as if the solemn invocation of the honorable
gentlemen from Keutuev [Mr. Ewingt was receiv
ing an early answer, and t Hat the heat oils are hung
in black, and the wailing elements are slnghii.g
the funeral dirge of Henry Clay. Amid this ele
mental gloom and the distress whieii pervades the
nation Ut the deatli of Henry Clay, private grief
should not obtrude itself upon notice, nor personal
anguish seek for utterance. Silence is the best
nxpoocit of individual sorrow, and the heart that
kunweth its own bitterness shrinks from an expo
sition of its affliction.
Could I have consulted my own feelings on the
event which occupies the attention of tiie House
at the present moment, l should even have f or - i
borne at’emianee hero, ai d in the solitude and
siloueo of my chamber, have mused upon the ter
rible loss on which has been administered to the
people and tiie nation. But I represent a constit
uency who justly pride themselves upon the un
wavering a rtoehun-nt they have ever felt and mani
festo i tojiccry Clay—a*constant, pervading, he
rv .Ltarv ffive; 'l' o Bri n has taken up the father's
affection, and atn ’d • tlm professions of political
attachments to otih. r*. whom tin-accidents of party
have made pronniien ’,* n 'l the suocess of party hoi*
made p.iv.erlu!. true to M* own instincts, and trne
to the sanctified legacy Jl" *"* lather, he has placed |
the name of 11 -nrv Clay foi ward and pre-eminent i
as the exp "tent of what is gt-fgtest i-.i statesman
ship, and purest in patriotism. 4 n> * * !r , I
when party (baity caused otiier attachments to N
avowed for party nse*,th® preference tva< limited j
to the occupancy of office, and superiority admit- ;
ted for Clay, iu all that is reckoned above party ,
estimation.
Nor ought I to forbear to add. that as the senior t
member of the delegation winch represents my j
Oomtnonracalth, I am r>-quested t * utter the setitj- j
ments of the people of. Pennsylvania at large, j
who yield to no portion of this pre.it Union, in
t. -air appreciation of the talents, their reverenoe ;
. ’ y|ie lof.v patriotism, their admiration of the j
statcri*** 0 ** 1 ' 0 - and hereafter their love of the
memory o' Henry Olay.
I cannot thereibre.' be silent on this occasion, j
—ut,slice to the affections of mV constitu- j
v ev even tliofriß * painfully feel how inadequate i
to the reverence and love niv people have towards
that'states:rum, mu '- ,K M lh « 1 iia ' e 10 otter 0,1
this mournful occasi m.
I know not. Mr. Chairman, where now the na- j
Uou it to find tli* men she needs in per.b-citlier |
other calls than ti'.°*« of i x> !‘ ti '-'** »re holding in
abeyance the tataaU which the nation n»y need, i
e>r else a generation is to " a ** undist.npmshed hy
tiie greatness of our states ' nel '- tk® nybie •
winds that have swayed the Sv“ !, * tc ’ ono . ve, J ur ’ !
vivesin the maturity of poworfij, intellect, care
fully disciplined and nobiv exerviaa. *• Mav He |
who has thus far Messed our nation sp. ire *‘ ) J he r l
and the world, that of which the world n. osl al ' )
ways envy oor country the pcsscssiou. But m
bnsim ss is with tiie dead.
Tile biography of Henry C.iav, from his ehlld-*t 1
hood upward, is too familiar to every American, I
for me to trespa-a on the time of this honk-, by a j J
reference directly thereto; end the honorable gen- ! I
tlemso who have preceded me have, with sffectivn ] t
*,« hand and appropriate deiicocy, swept twey ;h* 1 i
dust which nearly four score years have scattered
overspent of the record, and have made our pride
greater in liia life, and our grief more poignant at
bis death, by showing some of those passages
which attract respeetto our republican institutions,
of which Mr. Clay’a whole life waa the able sup
port and most suecessfal illustration.
it woti : then, be a work of supererogation for
me to ret W that effort, though inquiry into the
life and ouriuol of Hmirf Clay would present new
themes for private eulogy; new ground* for pub
lic gratitude.
flow rare is it, Mr. Speaker, that the great man,
living, can, with confidence, rely on extensive per
sonal friendship, or, dying, think to awaken a sen
timent of regret beyond that which includes tiie
pulflic loss or the disappointment of individual
hopes. Yet, air, tiie message which yesterday
went forth from this city, that Henry Clay was
dead, brought sorrow, personal, private, sj>ecial
sorrow to the hearts of thousands, fitaeh of whom
felt that from his own love for, hi* long attachment
to, liis disinterested hopes in, Henry f lay, ho had
a particular sorrow to cherish und express, which
weighed upon his heart, separate from the sense
of national loss.
No man, Mr. Speaker, in our nation, had the art
so to identify hmiseif with public measures of the
most in. •neiitous character, and to maintain, at
tiie same time, almost universal infection, like tliat
great state-man. from his boyhood,
wa-> with national concerns, and he dealt with them
n» with famiiiar tilings. And yet his sympathies
were with individual enterprises, affec
tions, joys und sorrows ; and while every patriot
bowed in humble deference to bis lofty attainments
and heartfelt gratitude for his national services,
almost every limn in this vast Republic knew that
the great statesman was, in feeling and experience,
identified with liia own position. Hence, the uni
versal iove of the people; hence, their enthusiasm
in ail times, for his fame. Hence, sir, their present
grief.
Many other public men of onr conntry have dis
tinguished themselves, and brought honor to the
nation, by superiority in some peculiar branch of
public service, but it seems to nave been the gift
■t Mr. < jav to have acquired peculiar eminence in
every path of duty he was called to tread. In the
earnestness of debate, which greut public interests
and distinguished opposing talent* excited in this
House, he had no superior in energy, force or ef
fect. Yet as the presiding officer, by blandness of
laugiiage. and firmnesa of purpose, he soothed and
made orderly ; and thus, by official dignity, he
commanded the respect which energy had secured
to him on tiie floor.
W herever official or social duties demanded an
extreme of his power, there was a pre-eminence
which seemed prcscriptivoly" his own. In the lof
ty debate of the Senate aiuftlie stirring harangues
to popular asserrn,.ages, he wus the orator of the
nation, and of the people; and the sincerity of
purpose, and the unity of design evinced in all he
saicl or*did, fixed in the public mind a confidence
strong and expansive as the affections he had won.
Yeur after year, air, has Henry Clay been achiev
ing the work of the mission with which he was en
trusted ; and it was only when the wurmest wish
es of his warmest friends were disappointed, that
he entered on the fruition of a patriot's highest
hopes, and stood in the full enjoyment of that ad
miration and confidence which nothing but the
antagonisms of party relations could have divided.
How rich that enjoyment must have been, it is
only for ns to imagine. How eminently deserved
it was, we and the world can attest.
The love and tiie devotions of his political friends
were cheering and grateful to his heart, and were
acknowledged in ail his life —were recognized even
to Ills death.
The contest in the Senate Chamber or the forum
wrs rewarded with success achieved, and the great
v ietor could enjoy the ovation which partial friend
shin or the gratitude of the benefitted prepared.—
But tho triumph of his life was no party achieve
ment. It was not in the applause which admiring
friends und defeated antagonists ottered to his
measureless success, that lie found the reward of
his labors und comprehended the extent of his
mission.
It was only when friends and antagonists paus
ed iu their contests, appalled at the public difficul
ties and national dangers which haabcen nccumu-
Jating, unseen and unregarded; it was only when
the nation itself felt the dungcr, und acknowledged
tho iuelficacy of party action as a remedy, tout
Henry Cluy euleululed’tlie full extent of Ids'power,
and enjoyed the reward of their saving exercise.
Then, sir, yon saw, and I saw, party designations
dropped, and parly allegiance disavowed, und
anxious patriots, of all localities and name, turn
towards the country’s bencluctor as the man for
the terrible exigencies of the hour ; and the sick
chamber of Henry Cluy became the Delplios,
whence were given out tile oracles that presented
the means and the measures of onr Union’s safety."
There, sir, and not in the high places of the coun
try, wire the labors and sacrifices of half a een
turytobe rewarded and closed. With his right
yet in thut Senate which he had entered the young
est, and lingered still the eldest member, he felt
that his work was done, and the object of his life
accomplished. Every cloud that hud dimmed the
noonday luster had been dissipated ; and tiie re
tiring orb, which sunk from the sight of tiie na
tion m fullness and in beauty, will vet pour up tho
horizon a posthumous glory thut shall tell of the
splendor and greatness of die luminary that lias
pussed away.
Mr. liayiy, of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, although
I have been all my life a party opponent of Mr.
Clay, yet from my boyhood I have been upon
terms of personal' friendship with him. More
titan twenty y ears ago, 1 was introduced to him by
my father, who was his personal friend. From
thut time to this, there has existed between us as
great personal intimacy as the disparity in our
years, and our political difference would justiiy.
After 1 became a member of this Ilou?e, and upon
Ins return to tho Senate, subsequent to iiis resig
nulion in the warm regard upon his part tor
the daughter of a devoted friend of forty y ears’
standing, made him u constant visiter at my house,
and frequently a guest at uiy table. These cir
cumstances muke it proper, that upon this occa
sion, i should pay this last tribute to his memory.
I not only knew him well as a statesman, but 1
knew him better in tho most unresorved Hoeial in
tercourse. The most happy circumstance, us -1
esteem it, of my political life bus been, that 1 have
thus known each ol our great Congressional tri
umvir.
i, sir, never know a man of higher qualities
tlian Mr. Ulav. His very faults originated in higdi
qualities. YVithgrcater self-possession, with great
er self-reliance than any man 1 ever know, he
possessed moral und physical courage to us high u
degree as any man wiio ever lived. Confident iu
his own judgment, never doubting as to his own
coulee, muring no obstacle that might lie iu liis
way, it was almost impossible that ho should not
have been imperious in liis character. Never
doubting himself as to what lie thought duty and
patriotism required at his hands, it was natural
that lie should sometimes have been impatient
whl’ those more doubling und timid than himself,
ills were finalities to have made a groat general,
as [hey ware qualities that did make him a great
state.'iililli an.'! tlicoJ qualities were so obvious
that durln’' the dark?«t period of our lute war with
t;rent Britain, Mr, Mucdson bad determined, at
one time, to muke him Ceneral-in Chief of the
American army.
Sir, it is but a short time slnoo tho American
Congress buried the first one that went to the
grave of that great triumvirate. We are now cull
ed upon to bury another. The third, thank Cod.
still lives, uiid iong may lie live to enlighten his
country men by his wisdom, and act them the ex
ample of exalted patriotism. Sir, in the lives and
clnirueters of these great men, tlioreis miwil re
sembling those of tiu>. great triumvirate of the
British Parliament. It differs principally in this :
Burke preceded Fox and i'itt to tho tomb. Web
ster survives Clay and Calhoun. When Fox and
i'itt died, there were no others to fill tlioir place.
Webster still lives, now that Calhoun and Clay
are dead, tho unrivaled statesman of his country.
Like Fox and i’itt, Clay and Calhoun lived in
troubled times. Like Fox and i’itt, they were
eaeli of them the )c .dor of rival parties. Like
Fox nml i’itt they w ere idolized by their respective
friends. Like Fox and I’itt, tßey died about the
sumo time, end in the public service ; /rod a* has
been said of Fox and i'itt, Clay and Calhoun died
with “their harness upon them.” Like Fox and
i’itt—
“ With ware than mortal powers eoffowed,
ltoiv high they soared above the crowd ;
Ttn-irs was noeommon party race,
Joshing by duik intrigue lor place—
Jake tabled gods their mighty war
Shook realm, und nations in lie jar.
Den,Mill elicit banner, proud to stand.
Looped up the noblut ol Die land.
*****
“ Here let tlicir discord with then die.
speak not lor those a separate doom,
VI horn fate made brothers in Lire tomb;
But search tire land of living ut, n,
Where will thou had their tike againf”
Mr. Venable said: Mr. Speaker, 1 trust that I
-hull be pardoned for adding a few words upon
this sail occasion. Tho life of the illustrious states
man which has just terminated is so interwoven
with our history, and the lustre of liis great name
so profusely shed over its pages, that simple admi
ration of his high qualities might well be my ex
cuse. But it is a sacred privilege to draw near; to
eoutompiatu the end of the great and the good. It
is profitable us well as purify to look upon and
1 realize tiie office of death iti removing all tliat can
excite jealousy or produce distrust, and to gaze up
j on the virtues which like jewels have survived his
powers nj' destruction. Tho light which radiates
j. .mi the life of a great and patriotic statesman is
often dimmed by the mists which party conflicts
throw around it. But the blast which strikes him
down purities the atmosphere which surrounded
him in life, uud it shines forth in bright examples
and » ell earned renewu. It is then that we wit
ness the sincere acknowledguicnt of gratitude by a
people who, having enjoyed the benefits arising
from tiie cervices or an emme t statesman, embalm
his name in their memory und hearts. M,■ should :
cherish such recollections as well from patriotism '
as self-respect. Ours, sir, is now the duty, in the j
midst of sadness, in this high place, ia the lace of |
our Republic, and before the world, to pay this tri- I
buto in acknowledging tho merit* of our colleague j
whoso name has ornamented me .Journals of Con
g ,ss for near half a century. Few, very few. have
ever combined the high intellectual powors n»d dis
tinguished gifts of the illustrious Senator. Cast ia
tiie'finest mould by nature, he more than fulfilled
the anticipations which were indulged by those
v. looked to a distinguished career as ti,« certain
result of tliat zealous pursuit of lame and useful
ness upon which be entered in early life, t f the
incidents of tliat life it is unueeessarv for mo to
speak—they are as familiar as household words,
a 'iJ mn *t [>c equally familiar to tlioso who eosie |
ait, r us. But it is useful to refresh picmory by re
currence to some of the events which marked his
' \Ye know, sir, that there is much that is
in eoiuuwn ; n tiie histories of distinguished men.
Tiie cieuieuu irhich constitute greatness are the
same in all times: hence those who have been the
admiration of their generation* present in their
!i\,s mu,'ll which, although really great, ceases to j
be remarkWc, bee use illustrated by such numerous :
examples—
" But there are which should not wane away, I
AgJ names that must not wither.”
Os evicli deeds the life of Henry Ciay affords
many and bright examples. His ox n name, and j
those with WUOU) lie associated, shall live w th a 1
freshness which time cannot impair, and »h:ne j
with a brightness which passing y ears eommt dim.
11 s advent into public lire was as remarkable for
the circumstances ns it was brilliant in its effect.
It was at a time in which genius and leaiuing,
statesmanship and eloquence, mode the American
Congress the most august body in the world. He
was tiie contemporary of u race of statesmen —
some ot whom theip administering the Govern
ment, and others retinue Hud retired from office—
presented an array of ability tu-.su i-iaosed incur
history. The elder Adams, Jeff*raj- Madison,
Clinton, and Monroe, stood before the Republic iu i
tiie maturity of their laaie; whilst Calhoun, jofar.
Quincy Adams, Lowndes, Crawford, Gaston, and
Ciie.cs, with a host of others, rose a bright gal ax v ,
upon out horizon. He who won ids spurs iu suet '
a field cameo Ids ku'ghthood. Distinction amidst !
such competition vsu true renown—
" The fame which aai xaisrinsfjr himself is best— !
Ifox he may call his own. -
It was such a fame tiiat he made for himself in
that most eventful «ra in our history. To u,c, sir,
the reerticotiou* of that day, and the events which
distinguish ft, are filled with anuvcrjKvwinginterest. !
I never can forgot uiy enthusiastic admiration of ,
the boldne**. the 1 1 qucnce. and the rairiotisei of
llvury Cloy during t e war of i.'l2. In the bright j
emiy’of talent whieii adorned yhe Congress of the ■
United State*; Hi the cvufiiot growing out of the j
political event of that time: in the struggle? of j
party, and amidst the gloom and disaster* which
depressed the spirit* of most men. and well nigh I
peralized the energies ot’ lire Administration, his |
cheerful lace, high bearing, commanding eloquence
and iron will, 'gave strength and consistency to •
those elements which finally gave not ouly success
hut glory to the country. When dark clouds mot- ]
cred over ua, and there was little to save from des- <
pair, tho country looked with hope to Clay and .
Calhoun, to Lowndes, and Crawford, and C'heves,
and looked not iu vain. The unbending will, the |
unshaken nerve, and the burning eloquence of
Henry C!«v did a* much to command confidence | ;
and sustain hope a* even the news of our first vie- ;
tnrv after a sucee'sion of defeat*. Those great j
nes are now canonized in history; he, too, has
S4 * 'to join them on it» pages. Associated in j ’
Caamber on tiie annunciation of hit doath. And]
we this dav unite iu a aimilar manifestation of re- |
vercntiat regard to him whose voice shall never
more charm the car, whose burning thoughts,
borne on tha’. medium, shall tD more move the
heart* ofiistening assemblies.
In the midst of the highest specimens of onr
race, bo wasalwavaun equal; he inisa humainonyrt
men. -Bold, skillful,. and determined, he gave
character to the party, which acknowledged him as ,
a leader; impressed liis opinions upon their minds
and on attaeainent to himself upon their hearts, j
No man, sir, can do this, without being eminent- J
ly great. Whoever attains this position most
first overcome the aspiration* of antagonist ambi
tion, quiet the clamour* of rivalry, hold in cheek
the murmurs of jealousy, and overcome the in
stincts of vanity and self-love in the masses thus
subdued to hi* control. But few men ever attain
it. Very rare are the examples of those whose
plastic touch forms the minds and directs the pur
pose* of a great political party. This infallible
indication of superiority belonged to Mr. Clav.—
He lias exercised that control during a long fife;
and now through onr broad land the tidings of hi*
death, borne with electric Sliced, have opened the
fountains of sorrow. Every city, town, village,
and hamlet will be clothed with mourning; along
our extended coast, the commercial and military
marine, with flags drooping at half-mast over the
bereavement; State-houses draped in black pro
claim the extinguishment ofone of the great lights
of .Senates: and minute guns sound hi* requi
em 1
Sir. during the last five years I have seen the
venerable John Quincy Adams, John C. Calhoun,
and Henry Ciay pass f rom amongst ns, the legis
lators of our country. The race of giants who
“ were on the earth* in those days” is well-nigh
gone. Despite their skill, their genius, their might,
they have sunk under the_stroke of time. They
were our admiration and our glory; a few linger
with us, the monuments of former greatnesß, the
beacon-lights of a past age. The death of Henry
Clay cannot fail to suggest melancholy a*so«iations
to each member of this House. These walls have
re-echoed the silvery tones of hisbewitching voice;
listening assemblies have hung upon his lips. The
chair which you fill lias been graced by lus pres
ence, whilst hi* commanding person and unequal
ed parliamentary attainments inspired all with de
ference and respet. Chosen by acclamation be
cause of his hieh qualifications, he sustained him
self before the House and the countTV. In liissu
premacy with bis party, and the uninterrupted con
fidence which he enjoyed to the dav of Ins death,_
lie seems to havealmost discredited the truth of
those lines addressed to Casar—
" All cannot be at all time* first;
To reach the topmost step of glory; to stand there
More hard. Even swifter than we mount we tall."*
If not at all times first, he stood equal with the
foremost, and a brilliant, rapid rise knew no de
cline in the confidence of those whose just appre
ciation of his merits had confirmed his title to re
nown.
The citizens of other countries will deplore his
death; the struggling patriots who on onr own
continent were cheered bv his sympathies, and
who mint have perceived iiis influence in tho re
cognition of tlieir independence by this Govern
ment, have taught their ehildren to venerate his
name, lie won the civic crown, and the demon
strations of this hour own tho worth of civil servi
lt was with great satisfaction that I heard my
friend from Kentucky, [Mr. Breckinridge,] the im
mcdb.te representative ot'Mr. Clay, detail a con
versation which disclosed the feelings of that emi
nent man ill relation to his Christian hope. These,
Mr. Speaker, are rich memorials, precious remi
niscences. A cliristiun statesman is the glory of
liis age, and liis memory will be glorias'iu after
time*: it reflects a light coming from a source
which clouds cannot dim nor shadows obscure. It
was my privilege, also, a short time since, to con
verse with this distinguished statesman on the
subject of his hopes in a future stute. Feeling a
dcop interest, I asked him frankly what were his
hopes in the world to which lie was evidently hast
ening. “I am pleased,” said ho, “my friend, tliat
you nave introduced the subject. Conscious that
i must die very soon, 1 !ove to meditate upen the
most important of all interests. I love to converse
and to hear conversations about them. Tiie vani
ty of the world and its insufficiency to satisfy tiie
soul of man has been lon g a settled conviction of
my mind. Man’s inability to secure by bis own
merits the approbation of God, I feel to bo true. I
trust in the atonement of the Savior of.men as the
ground of my acceptance and my hope of salvation.
My faith is feeble, but 1 hope in His mercy and
trust in liis promises.” To such declarations I
listened with the deepest interest, as I did on an
other occasion, when he said : “ I am willing to
abide the will of Heaven, and ready to die when
tliat wilUhail determine it.”
He is gone, sir, professing the humble hopo of
a Christian. Thut hope, alone, sir, cun sustain
you, or any of us. There is ono lonely and crush
ed heart tliat lias bowed before this afflictive event.
Far away, ot Ashland, a widowed wife, prevented
by feeble health from attending liia bedside, and
soothing liis painful hours, she has thought even
the electric speed of the intelligence daily trans
mitted of liis condition too slow for her aching,
anxious bosom. She will find consolation ill bis
Christian suomission, and will draw ataof comfort
that stich a case admits from the asHrance that
nothing was neglected by the kindness of friends
which could supply her place. Mav tho guardian
ship of the widow’s God be her protection, and
liis consolations her support!
Mr. Haven said: Mr. Speaker, representing a
constituency distinguished for the constancy of its
devotioij to the political principles of Mr. Clay,
and for its unwavering attachment to his fortunes
and his person—sympathizing deeply with those
wiiose more intimate personal relations with him
have made them feel most profoundly this general
bereavement—l desire to say a few words of him,
since lie lias fallen amongst us, and been taken to
liis rest.
After the finished eulogies which have been so
eloquently pronounced by the honorable gentle
men who have preceded me, I will avoid a course
of remark wfilch might otherwise bo deemed a
repetition, and refer to the bearing of some of tiie
acts of tho deceased upon the interests and desti
nies of my own State. The influence of his pub
lic life, and of his ’purely American character, the
benefits of liis wise forecast, and the results of liis
efforts for wholesome and rational progress, arc
nowhere more strongly exhibited than iu the Stute
ofNewY’ork.
Our appreciation of liis anxiety for tho general
diffusion of knowledge and education, is mani
fested in our twelve thousand public libaries, our
equal number of common schools, and a largo
numbor of higher institutions of learning—all of.
which drew portions of tlieir support from the
share of tiie proceeds of tho public lands, which
his wise policy gave to our States. Our whole
people arc thus constantly reminded of their great
obligations to the statesman whose deatli now
afflicts tiie nation with sorrow. Onr extensive
public works attest our conviction of the utility
and importance of the system of internal improve
ments he so ably advocated; and their value and
productiveness afford a most striking evidence of
tiie soundness and wisdom of his policy. Nor
lias liis influence been lesp sensibly felt in our
agriculture, commerce, und manufactures. Every
department of human industry acknowledges his
fostering cure, and the people of New Y'ork arc,
in no small measure, indebted to liis statesman
ship for the wealth, comfort, contentment, and
happiness so widely undgenerally diffused through
out the State.
Well may New York cherish liis memory and
acknowledge with gratitude tho bcuofits tliat his
life lias conferred. That memory will be cher
ished throughout tiie Republic.
Whan internal discord and sectional strife have
threatened tne integrity of the Union, his just
weight of character, h;s large experience, Ins
powers of conciliation and acknowledged patriot
ism. have enabled him to paeifv the angry pas
sions of liis countrymen, and to raise tiie bow of
promi -e and of liopc upon the clouds which have
darkened the political horizon.
lie 1 as passed from amongst us, ripe in wis
dom and pure in character—lull of years and full of
honors, ilo lias breathed his last amidst the bless
ings of a united imj grateful nation,
He was, in my judgment, particularly fortunate
in the time of liis death.
He iivud to see his country guided by liis wis
dom, come onca again unhurt out of trying sec
tional difficulties and domestic strife; and tic has
closed his eyes in death upon tliat country whilst
it is in the enjoyment of profound ponce, busy
with industry, and blessed with unequalled pros
'"lt'ciin full to ihi lot of but few to die amidst so
warm a gratitude flowing from the hearts of tlieir
countrymen; and nonw can luagc a brighter ex
ample or a more enduring fame.
Mr. Brooks. Mr. Speaker, I rise to add my
humble tribute to tla memory of a great and good
man now to be gathered liis tatliers. I speak
for and from a community, in wiioss hearts Q en
shrined tiie name of him whom we mourn; who,
however much Virginia, the land ot his birth, or
Kentucky, the land of his adoption, may love him,
i*. if possible, loved where 1 live yet more, if
idolatry had, been Christian or allowable, cvcu,
lie would have been an idol. But, as it is, for. a
quarter of a century now, liis bust, his portrait,
or some modal, has been ono ot our household
uods, gracing not alone the saloon, and the halls
of wealth, but the humblest room or workshop of
almost every mechanic or laborer, l’roud monu
ments of his policy as a statesman, as my collcaguo
lias justly said, are all about us, and we owe to
him, in a gobd degree, our growth, our greatness, j
our prosperity, and happiness as a people.
The great" field of Henry Clav, Mr. Speaker,
has been bore, on the floor of this House, and in
the Otiier wing of tiie Capitol. He lias held other
posts of higher nominal distinction, but they are
ail eclipsed by the brilliancy ot his career as a
Congressman. What of glory be has acquired, or
what most endears him to liis countrynjon, linvo
been won here, amid those pillars, under theso ]
dome* of the Capitol.
quark monumeutum circumepice.
Tho mind of Mr. Clay has been the governing
! mind of the country, more or leas, ever since ho
has been on the stage of public action, in a tr.i
nority. or a majority—more, perhaps, even in a
minority than fit i'n’e majority —he seems to have
had somu commission, divine as it wore, to per
suade, to convince, to govern other men. His
patriotism, )iis foresight, liis grand conceptions,
have created measures which tiie secret fascination
of iiis manners, or liis irrcsistablc elo
quence without, have cuabicd him almost always
! to frame into laws.
; Adverse Administrations have yielded to him.
| or been borne down bv him, *r he has taken them
capt ive as a leader, and carried the country and
Col’izrc** with him. This power he lias wielded
now for nearly half a ecu’.in v, with nothing but
Roman eloquence to back him. Aud yet, when
lie came here years ago, be came from a then
frontier State ot'this Union, heralded by no loud
trmnoct offame, nay, quite unknown, unfortified
i even ‘bv an v position,''social or pecuniary: loqnote
' bis own words, bis .only “heritage hayl been infan
; ey, indigence, aud ignorance.
; "ill these days, Mr. Speaker, when mere civil
; qualifications for high public place—when long
| civil training aud practical statesmanship are held
suborom-te—a most discouraging prospect would
! be before our rising young were it not for
some such names, as Lowndes, Crawford, Clinton
Carton. Calhoun, and Clay, scattered along the
oaass nfourhistorv, as stars, or constellations in
a cloudlet* shv. They shine out, and show us
that if the Chief Magistracy cannot be won by
such qualifications, a memory among men can be
£ hold upon posterity as firui, as lustrous -mj ,
more I.OL-Vishible. In the Caritolum of Rome
there are long r>ws of marble saw, on whicn are
recorded the name# ofthe Roman Consuls ; but
the eve 'wanders over this wilderness ot letters but
to light uo and to kindle upon some Cato or C icero.
To win such fame, thus unsullied, as Mr. Clay has
won, is worth any man's ambition. And how '*u*>
it won ! By eOr.rtit'.g the shifting gales of popu
larit v * No. never! By tnwiiing to the schemes,
the arts, end seductions of the demagogue I Nov- |
er, never! HL hardest battles as a public m*2—lus 1
greatest, most iiluataicus achievements— liayebeen «
against, at first, au advwso public opinion. To j
.. an imperishable name. Re mis often braved j
1 the [s, _.iiat>le popularity of the moment. That sort i
ofeo’iragowc.hni in a public man, I deem the highest ;
of ail courage; wax. xort of courage most necessary
under onr f nn of goto, naumt to guide as well as
to Save a Stale, Mr. Clay wa* used of—more ’
than any ,-el.lic man I ever knew —me*, physical .
courage, v. eaUt, indispensable though it be, »fi 1
share hut with .tha UrvAo—but moral courage, to !
dare to do t ight, amid ai! to do wrong, !
is. a* it s, ms to me, tiie very hignei joceies, the j
noblest iitHtwm nnderinsritutiauslikeoiira- “I had i
rather be r ght than Re President,” was Mr. Clay’s i
sublime reply when presel l to refrain from some
measure that would mar hu perularitv. These
lofty words were a clue to his whots character—
the secret of bis hold upon the heads as wed a*
the hearts of the Am.rican people—nay, the key to
his immortality.
Another of the keys, Mr. Speaker, of his uni- I
vers*! reputation, was his intense nationality.— j
'' ,ie . n taunted but recently, almost within "onr j
hearing, a* it were, ou Uvo floor of the Senate, by a i
!>;n b tor i as being a Southern man nn
fiuthful to the South, his indignant but pst- !
nq.ie exv.amsrton way: ‘‘{know no South —no]
£ii>t, no West.*' The country, the :
• “No poavnp, Wemmna. tempore,
fuattnmn iff gradual eom 5...... - rnn q
Cw as tri Kit* et ntiu., qiiur. utmje, c.dee,”
’.line*front Lalrinvt.
11 ii-hole country _ loved, adored, reverenced such a I
■ I man. The toll of Virginia may be hi* birth place: j
• . the sod of Kentuckv »U! cover his grave—for, i
, ; what was mortal they claim—but the spirit, the
i j soul, the genius of the mighty man, the immortal
j part these belong to his country and to his God.
’ j Mr. Faulkner. After the many able aud elo
; quent addresses to which we have listened this
; ' morning. I fear, sir, that it will not be in my pow
-1 | er to add anything to the interest ot this occasion.
’ , Aud vet, representing as 1 do in part that State
• I which "gave birth to the distinguished man whose
j j death has this day been announced on this fioor, ,
■ ! and having for many years held towards him the ;
I most cordial relations of friendship, persona! and '
' political, I feel that 1 should foil K> discharge an :
appropriate duty, if I permitted this occasion to 1
1 pass by, without some expression o: the feeling i
| which such au event is so well calculated to elicit. '
1 It is true, sir, that this' intelligence does not fall ,
j upon our cars unexpectedly: for months the public 1
; mind has been prepared for the great national loss t
which we now deplore ; and y et, as familiar as the J
; daily and hourly reports hsve made us with his I
1 j hopeless condition and gradual decline, and al- •
'• I though
> “ Like a shadow throws
1 Softly and sweetly from a passing cloud.
Death fell upon him,'*
) it is impossible that a light of such surpassing
splendor should be, as it is now, forever extin
i guiabed from our view, without producing a shock,
- deeply and painfully felt to the utmost limits ot
this great Republic.’ Sir, we all feel that a mighty
5 intellect has passed from amongst ue; bnt, happily
, for this country, happily for mankind, not until it
- had accomplished to some extent the exalted mis
> sion for which it hnd been sent upon this earth—
i not until it had reached the full maturity of its
usefulness and power —not until it had shed a
>• bright and radiant luster over our national renown
r I —not until time had enabled it to bequeath the
; rich treasures of its thought and experience forthe
guidance aud instruction of the present and of
s succeeding generations.
> I Sir, it is difficult—it is impossible—within the
• limit allowed for remarks upon occasions of this
e kind, to do justice to a great historical character
I like Henry Clay. He was one of that class of men
- whombealiger designates as htminee eenlenarii—
- men that appear upon the earth but once in a cen
. tury. His fame is the growth of years, and it
- would require time to unfold the elehtenla which
- have combined to impart to it so mnclt of stability
and grandeur. Volumes have already been writ
, ten. and volumes will continue to be written, to
f record those eminent and distinguished public
services which have placed him in the front rank
i #f American statesmen and patriots. The highest
talent, fired by a fervid and patriotic enthusiasm,
has already and will continue to exhaust its pow
ers, to portray those strikiug and generous mci
_ dents of his life, those shining and captivating
" qualities of his heart, which have made him one or
* tne mos tbeloved, as he was one of the most admired
of men: and yet the subject itself will remain as
fresh aud as e’xhaustless as if hundreds of the best
* i intellects of the land had not quaffed the inspira
j j tion oftheirgenius from the cvergushingand over
_ flowing fountains of his lame. It is impossible
~ that a reputation so grand and colossal as that
| which attaches to the name of Henry Way, could
rest for its base upon any single virtue, however
’ strikiug; nor upon single aet, no matter how
marked or distinguished. Such a reputation as he
, has left behind him cotjld only be the result of a
_ long life of illustrious public service. And such
’ it truly was. For nearly half a century he has
” been a prominent actor in all the stirring aud
eventful scenes of American history; fashioning
’ and moulding many of tho most important rneas
j. ures of public- policy by his bold and sagacious
r mincl, and arresting others by his unconquerable
j energy and resistless force of eloquence. And
' however much the members of this body may dif
fer in opinion as to the wisdom of many of his
’ views of national domestic policy, there is’ not one
| Upon this-floor—no, sir, not one in this nation—who
. will deny to hint frankness and directness as a
’ public mun—a genius for statesmanship of the
j highest order—extraordinary capacities tor public
t usefulness, and an ardent and elevated patriotism,
j w ithout stain and without ropioaeh.
J In referring to a career ot public servico so va
ried aud extended as that ol Mr. Clay, and to a
. character so rich in every Jreat and manly virtue,
[• it is only possible to glance at a few of the most
( prominent of those points of his personal history
[ which have given to him so distinguished a place
, in the affections of his countrymen.
In the whole character of Air. Clay, in all that at
j tached or belonged to it, you find nothing that is
i not essentially American. Born in the darkest
period of our revolutionary struggle—reared from
’ infancy to manhood amongst those great minds
which gave tho first impulse to that mighty move
ment, he early imbibed and sedulously cherished
these great principles of civil aud political liberty,
j which ho so briliantly illustrated in his subsequent
public career, and which has made his name a
watchword of hope and consolation to the oppressed
j of all the earth. I n his intellectual training he was
j the pure creation of our own republican soil. Few
•if any illusions are to be seen in his speeches or
writings to ancient or modern literature, or to the
thoughts and ideas of other men. Mis country—
’ iU institutions— its policy—ife interests—its desti
, ny form the exclusive topics of these eloquent ha
, rangucs which, whilst they are destitute of the
elaborate finish, hnvc all the ardor and intensity of
thought—the earnestness of purpose, the cogency
J of reasoning, the vehemence of style, and the
burning patriotism which mark the Jiroduotious
of the great Athenian orator. ®
. One of the most distinguished characteristics of
Air. Olay as a public man, was his loyalty to
J and to the honest convictions of his own niiucff
lie deceived no mun—he would not permit his
own heart to be deceived by uuyof those seduo
• tive influences which too oiten warp tlicjudgincnt
of men in public life. He never paused to consider
’ how tar any step which he was about to take
would lead to his own personal advancement; he
never calculated what lie might lose or what he
might gain by bis advocacy of, or his opposition
* to, any particular measure. His single inquiry
was, Is it right i Is it inaceordanco with the Co
nstitution of the land J Will it redound to the per
_ manent welfare and interest of the country? When
~ satisfied upon these points, his determination was
* fixed—his purpose wins immovable. “I would
rather be right than President,” was the expres
, sion ofliis genuine feelings: and the principle by
' which lie was controlled in his public career—a
" saying worthy of immortality, and proper to be
■ inscribed upon tho heart of every young man in
this Republic. And yet. sir, with all of that per
’ sonal aud moral intrepidity which so eminently
marked the character of Air. Clay—with his well
.. known inflexibility of purpose, and unyielding
: ‘ determination—such was tho genuine sincerity of
his patriotism, aud such his thorough coraprelion
, sion of those principles of compromise upon
which the whole structure of our Government was
founded, that no one was more prompt to relax tho
, rigor of his policy the moment ho porceived that it
, was calculated to disturb the harmony of tho
States, or endanger in any degree, the stability of
j" the Government; With him, the love of this Union
.. was a passion—an absorbing sentiment which gave
. color to every aet of liis public life. It triumphed
. over party; it triumphed over policy; it subdued
the natural fierceness and haughtiness of hit tem
perand brought him into the most kindly and cor
dial relations with all those who, upon all other
1 questions were deeply and bitterly opposod to
[ him. It has been asserted, sir, upon high medical
authority, aud doubtless with truth, that his life
was, in all probability, shortened ten years by the
arduous and extraordinary labors which he assum
ed at the memorable sossiou of 1850. If so, be has
1 added, the crowning glory of the martyr to the
spotless fame of the i-atbiot ; and we may well
hope that a great national pacification, purchased
at such asacrittce, will long continue toccuicnt tho
bonds of this greakaud glorious Union.
1 Mr. Clay possessed, in an eminent degree, the
qualities of a great popular leader, and history, 1
. will assume to say, affords no example, in any
Republic, ancient or modern, of any individual
that so fparlcssly carried out the convictions of
his own judgment, and so sparingly flattered the
, prejudices of popular feeling, who for so long a
period, exercised tho same controlling influence
over the public mind. Karncst in wliutcver meas
ure he sustained—fearless in attack—dexterous in
defense—abounding in intellectual resources—elo
quent in debate—of inflexible purpose, aud with
a “couratre never to submit or yield,” no man over
lived with higher qualifications to rally a despond
ing party, or to lead au embattled host to victory.
That he never attained the highest post of honor
able ambition in this country, is not to bo ascribed
to auy want of capacity as a popular leader ; nor
the absence of those qualities which attract the
fidelity and devotion of “troops” of admiring
friends. It was the fortune of Napoleon, at a
critical period of his destiny, to be brought into
collision with the star of Wellington, and it was
the fortune of Henry Clay to have encountered,
in his political orbit, another great and original
mind, gifted with equal power for commanding
success, and blessed with more fortunate elements,
concurring at the time, of securing popular favor.
The struggle was such as might have oeen antici
. pated from thp collision of two Buell fierce aud
powerful rivals.
For near a quarter of a century, this great Re
public lias been contulsed to its centre by the di
visions which have sprung from their respective
opinions, policy, and personal destinies; and even
now, when they have both been removed to a
higher and better sphere of existence, and every
unkind feeling has been quenched in the triumphs
of the grave, this country Btill feels, and for years
will continue to feel, tho influence of these agita
tions to which their powerful and impressive ,
! characters gave impulse.
1 Bnt I must pause. If I were to attempt to pre
| sent all the aspects in which tho character of this
j illustrious mail will challenge the applause of his
-1 tory, I should fatigue the House and violate the
just limit allowed for such remarks,
j I cannot conclude, however, without making
! some more special allusion to Air. Clay, ns a na
■ tive of that State which I have the honor in phrt
| to represent upon this fioor. We are ull proud,
; and very properly proud of the distinguished men
; to which our respective State* havo given birth.
It is a just and laudable emulation, and one, in a
confederated government like ours, proper to be
I oneouruged. Aud whilst men like Air. Clay very
i rapidly rise above tho confined limits of a State
j reputation snd acquire a national fame, in which
| all claim and all have an equal interest, still there
! is a propriety and fitness in preserving the relation
I between the individual and his State, Virginia
! has given birth to a large -.umber of men who
; have"by their distinguished talents and services
I impressed their names upon the hearts and memo-
I rice of their country men; hut, eertaiuly, since the
I colonial era she lias given birth to no man who in
tho massive aud gigantic proportions of his charao
: ter, and in the splendor of his native endowments,
' can be compared to Henry Clay, At an early age
i he emigrated from his native State, and found a
home in Kentucky. In a speech which he deliver
i cd in the Senate of the United States in February, [
■ 1812, aud which l well remember, upon the occa j
; sion of his resigning his seat In that bodv, ho
j expressed the wish that when that event should I
| occur, which has now clothed the city in mourning, j
1 and filled the nation with grief, “that his earthly I
j remains should be laid under the green sod of
! Kentucky, with those of her gallant and patriotic j
1 sons.
j Sir, however gratifying it might be to us that
l those remains should be transferred to his native
! soil, and there mingle with the ashes of Washing
j ton, Jefferson, Madison, Lee, and Henry, we enu
: not complain of the very natural preference which
he has there himself expressed. If Virginia did
! give him birth, Kentucky has nourished him in
! his manhood—ha* freelv lavished upon him her
I highest honors—has shielded him from harm when
the clouds of calumny and detraction gathered ■
i heavily and loweringly about him, and she has
watched over his fame with the tenderness and zeal |
I of a mother. Sir, it is not tc be wondered that he
! should have expressed the wish which he did, to ;
I be laid by the side of hergallant and patriotic sons. I
! Happv Kentucky 1 Happy in having an adopted
! son so worthy of her best honors. Happy in the j
i unshaken fideiity and loyalty with which, for near j
I half a century, these honors have been so stead- J
J ft«tly and gracefully accorded to him.
j Sir, whilst Virginia, in the exorcise ot her own *
: just judgment, has differed from Mr. Clay in some 1
! of his views of national policy, she has never at
auv period of his public career, finled to regard
him with pride as one of her most distinguished
sons; to honor the purity and the manliness
of his character, and to award to him the high J
credit of an honeet and sincere devotion to his ,
country's welfare. And now, sir, that death tas •
»xtin<’uisiied forever the workings of that mighty ;
inteiioft, and /ealed in eternal silence tlioijp elo- |
queut lips upon -hose accents thousands have so !
often hung in rapture. I shall stand justified m ,
saving that a yraii of lamentation wul be beard
from her people-her whole people, reverberating ,
through her fountains and vallevs. as deep, as ,
genuine, snd ss sincere s* that which I know wil ,
swell the noble hearts and the nearing bosoms ot i
the oeopie of hit own cherished and oeioved Ken
tucky.
Sir, as I walked to the (TapM this morning, eve
rv object which attracted my ere admonished me
tint s national.benefactor hail departed from
amongst*,. Ije i* gone 1 Henry, Clay, the idijlof
his mends, the ornament sf she senate chamber,
the pride of his country, he whose presence gath- |
ered crowds of his admiring fellow-men around j
him, u if he had been one descended from above,
has passed forever from our view.
• Bis ■(»!, enlarged trosi in jrflsboub, has goo*
To that refalgesi world where It ssiS awha
to liquid light, and flosl on sees of bttM "
But the memory of hie virtue, end of hie service*
will - be gratefully embalmed in the heart* of kis
countrymen, and generations yet unborn will be
taught to lisp with reverence and eutbusissm'the
came of Henry Clay.
Mr. Barker,'of Indiana, said: Mr. Speaker, this
is a solemn—o con?eeratcd hour. Audi would not
detain the members of the House from indulging
in the silent eloquence of their own feelings, so
grateful to hearts chastened as oars.
But I cannot restrain »u expression from a bosom
I*l n_ed with its tullness.
When my young thought* first took cognizance
of the fact that 1 have a country—auy eye was at
tracted by the magnificent proportion* of Henry
Clay.
Tlie idea absorbed me then, that he was. above
all other men, the embodiment of my country's
genius.
I have watched him; I have studiedhim; I havo
admired him—and, God forgive me ! for lie wa„
but a man, “of Use passions with us”—l fear I
have Idolized him, until this hour.
Bn: Ue has gone from among men; aud it is for
rsnow to awake and apply ourselves, with renew
ed fervor and increased fidelity, ‘to the welfare of
the country tit loved so well and served so truly
and so long—the glorious country yet saved to ns 1
A os, Henry Clay lias fallen, at last I —as the ripe
oak falls, in the stillness of the forest. Bnt the
verdant and gorgeous richness of his glories will
only fade aud wither from the earth, wiieu his
country's history shaii have been forgotteu.
“ One generation paaaethaway and another gen
eration cometh.” Thus it hath been from the be
ginning:fund thus it will be, until time shall be no
longer.
A esterdav morning, at eleven o’clock, the spirit
of Henry Clay—so long the pride and glory of
bis own country, .and the aSmiratiou of all the
world—was yet'with us, though struggling to be
free. Ere “ high noon” came, it had passed over
“ the dark river,” through the gate, into the ccies
trial city, inhabited bv all the “just men made
perfect.'
May not our rapt vision contemplate him there,
this day, in sweet communion with the dear
friends that have gone before him?—with Mad
ison, and Jefferson, and Washington, ami Henry,
and Franklin—with the eloquent Tullv. with the
“divine Plato,” with Aaron, the Levite, who
could “ speak well”—with all the great aud good,
since and before the flood!
His princely tread has graced there isles for
the last time.' These Halls will wake no more to
the inairic music of his voice.
Did that tall spirit, in its etherial form, enter
the courts of the upper sanctuary, bearing itselt
comparably with the spirits there,'as was his walk
among men !
©ill the melliflnons tones of his greeting there
enrapture the hosts of Heaven, comparably with
his strains “ to stir men's blood” on earth !
Then, may we not fancy, when it was announced
to the inhabitants of that • better country: He
coves ! — lit comes ! —there was a rustling of angel
wings—a thrilling joy— up there, only to be wit
nessed once in an earthly age ?
Adieu!—a last adieu to thee, Henry Clay!
The hearts, of all thy countrymen are incited,
on this day, because of the thought that thou art
gone.
Could we have hold the hand of the “ insatiate
archer,” thou liadst not died; but thou wouldst
have tarried with us, in the full grandeur of thy
greatness, until wo had no longer need of a coun
try.
But we thank our Heavenly Father that thou
wast given to us ; and that thou didst survive so
long.
We would cherish thy memory while we live,
as our country's jew el—than which none is richer.
And we will teach our children the lessons of
matchless patriotism thou hast taught us: with
the fond hope that our Libkbty and our Union
may only expire with “ the last of earth.”
Air. Gentry suid: Mr. Speaker, Ido not rise to
pronounce an eulogy on the life and character aud
public services of tho illustrious orator and states
man whoso death this nation deplores. Suitably
to perform that task, a higher eloquence than I
possess might essay in vain. The gushing tears of
the nation, the deep grief which oppresses the
hearts of more than twenty millions of people,
constitute a more eloquent eulogium upon the life
and character and patriotic services of Henry Clay,
than the power of language can express. In tio
part of our country is that character more ad
mired, or those public services more appreciated,
than in the State which I have the honor, in
part, to represent. I claim for the people of that
State a full participation in the general woe which
the sad announcement of to-day will everywhere
inspire.
Mr. Bowie. I rise not to utter tho measured
phrases of premeditated woe, but to speak as w ould
my constituents speak, if they stood around the
grave now opepea to receive tho mortal remains,
not of a statesman only but of a beloved friend.
If there is a State in this Union, other than Ken
tucky, which sends up a wail of more bitter and
sincere sorrow than another, that State is Alary
laud. In her midst this departed statesman
was a frequent and a welcorn* guest. At
many a board, and many a fireside, iiis t.:
bier form was tho light of the eyes aud the idol
of the heart. Throughout her borders, in cottage,
hamlet and cities, his name is a household word,
his thoughts are familiar sentences. Though not
permitted to be first at his cradle, Alarylaud would
be last at his tomb. Through all the phases of po
litical fortune —amid all the storms winch darkened
his career, Maryland cherished him in iter inmost
heart, as the most gifted, patriotic and eloquent of
men; ana for him daily, to this hour, prayers
ascend, night and morning, tor his temporal and
eternal welfare. Maryland would, in the language
of inspiration, exclaim, “This dav hath a priucc
and ruler fallen in Israel I” Daughters of Ameri
ca weep for him who hath “ clothed you in scarlet
aud fine linen!”
Tho husbandman at his ploughs ths artisan at
Abe anvil, the scumen on the mast, will pause and
drop a tear when ho hears that Clay is no more.
The advocate for freedom in both hemispheres,
ho will be lamented alike on the shores of the Hel
espout and the bunks of the Mississippi and
Orinoco. The freed men of Liberia, learning
and practicing the urt of self government, and
civilizing Africa, have lost a patron and protector,
a father and friend. America mourns tho depar
ture of a luminary, which onlightcncd and illustra
ted the continent; tho United States, a counsellor
of doepest wisdom and purest purposo ; mankind
the advocate ol' human rights and constitutional
liberty.
Air. Walsh said : Mr. Speaker, tho illustrious
man whose death we this day mourn, was so long
my political leader—so long almost the object of my
personal idolatry, that 1 eanuot allow that lie shall
go down to the grave, without a word at least of
affectionate remembrance—without a tribute to a
memory, which will exact tributes ait long as a
heart shall be found to beat within the bosom of
civilized man, aud human agency shall bo adequate
in any form to give them an expression, and even,
sir, if I bad no neart-fclt sigh to pour out hers—
if I had no tear for that coffin’s lid, I should do
injustico to thoso whoso representation in part I
am, if I did not in this presence, and at this time,
raise the voice to swell the accents of the profound
est public sorrow.
Tho State of Maryland has always vied with
Kentucky, iu love and adoration of liis name.
Her people have gathered around him, with all the
fervor of a first affection, and with more than its
duration. Troops of friends huve ever clustered
about Ills pathway with a personal devotion,
which each man of them regarded as the highest
individual honor—friends, sir, to whose firesides
the tidings of his death will go with all tlie with
ering influences which are felt when household
tics are severed.
I wish, sir, I could offer now a proper memorial
for such a subject, and such an affection. But as I
strivo to utter it, I tool tho disheartening influence
of tlie well known truth, that in view of death all
minds sink into triteness. It would seem, indeed,
sir, that the great lcveler of ourrace would vindi
cate his title to be so considered, by making all
men think alike in regard to his visitation—“ The
thousand thoughts that begin and end in one,”—
the duolation here—the eternal Hope hereafter —
arc influences felt alike by the lowest intellect and
the loftict genius.
Mr. Chairman, a statesman for more than fifty
vears in tho councils of Ids country, whose pecu
liar charge it was to seo that the Republic suffered
no detriment—a patriot for all times, all circum
stances, and all emergencies, has passed away from
the trials and triumphs of the world, and gone to
hi* reward. Sad as are the emotions which such
an event would ordinarily excite, their intensity is
deeply heightened by the matters so fresh within
the memories of us all:
“ Oh! think how to his latest day.
When Death, just hoveriDg, clniai'd his pity,
AVith I’alinurua' unalter’d mood,
Firm at his dangerous post lie stood,
Each call for needful rest repeil’d.
With dying hand the rudder held;
Then, while on freedom’s thousand plains
One unpolluted church remains,
Whose iK sceful bells ne’er sent around
The bu.ody tocsin's maddening sound ;
But still, upon the hallow'd day
eoavuke the swains to praise and pray,
While faith and civil peace are dear,
Greet hi* cold marble with a tear.
He who preserved thqn —( 'lay lies heee.“
In a character, Mr. Speaker, so ill»*trions and |
beautiful, it is difficult to select any point for par
ticular no: ice from those which go to make up its ,
noble proportions; but wc may now, around his |
honored grave, call to grateful recollection that in- i
vincible spirit which no personal Borrow could
sully, and no disaster could ovoroomo. Be as
sured, sir, that he has in this regard left a legacy
to the young men of tho Republic almost as sacred
wnd as dear as that liberty ot which liis life was a
blessed illustration.
AVe can all remember, sir, when adverse political
results disheartened his friends, and mad* them
feel even cs men without hope, his own clarion
voice was s'.ili heard in the purpose and the pursuit
or rights, a- bold and as eloquent as when it first
porelaimeil the freedom of the seas, and its talis- j
tnanic tones struck off the badges of bondange
from the iands ot the Incas aud the plains of Mar- |
thou.
Mr. Speaker, iu the exaltation of the statesman
he did not forget tho duties of the man. 11c was
an affectionate adviser on all points wherein inexpe
rienced you'h might require counsel. He.was a
disinterested sympathiser iu personal sorrows that
called for consolation. He was ever upright and
honorable in all the duties incident to bis relations
| inhfo.
To an exist® to* so lovely, Heaven in its mercy
gr-r’ed a fltti. g and appropriate close. It was j
the j aycr, Mr. Spca er, ot a distinguished citizen \
who died some, year* since in tlie metropolis,
even while his spir t was fluttering for its final 1
flight, that he might depart gracefully. It may
not be presumptuous to say that what was iu that '
instance tho aspiration of a ebivalric gentleman,
was in thistho realization of the dying Christian, in |
which was blended a that human dignity could ,
require, with all that Divine Graee had conferred; !
j in which the firmnes- of the man was only trans- j
: ecftded by the fervor of the penitent.
| A short period before his death he remarked to
| one by his bud-side, “That he was fearful he was
| becoming selfish, as his thought* were entirely
| withdrawn from the world, and centered upon :
| eternity.” This, sir, was but the purification of
| his noble sj irit from all dross of e*rth —a happy j
illustration of what the religious ntuse ha* so
•weetly sung—.
Xo sin to stain—no lure to stay
The soul, os home she springs :
Thy sunshine on her joyftil way,
Tliy freedom in her wings
Mr. Speaker, the solemnities of this hour may j
soon be forgotten. AVe may come back from the i
new-made grave only still to show that we con- :
aider “eteri Hv the bubble life and time the endur- j
ing substance/’ We may not pause long enough
bv the brink to ask which of us reveaiers of day i
shall next be et rest. Bnt be assured, sir, that upon i
the records of mortality will never be inscribed I
a name more illustrious than that of the statesman,
patriot, and friend whom the nation mourn*.
The Spanker. The Chair ask* leave togive no
tice to the Ut ure, that the Senate and Hous* will
form a procession at the National Hotel to-morrow
at twenty niitv.te» past eleven, to accompany the
remains of Mr. Clay to the Capitol for funeral cer
emonies. The remains will pass thence to the cars ;
and depart fur Kentuckv.
The question was then put on the adoption ; 1
of the resolutions proposed by Mr. Breckinridge, J !
and thevwere unanimously adopted.
And the House adjourned till to morrow at 12 j
o'clock, m.
! Switzerland. —The federal Assemhiy is con
voked for the sth of Julv,
Tlie executive Council of Berne pronounced, on
the 16th ult., the dissolution of the Association of
Grntli, and ordered the expulsion of all it* mem
bers who did not belong to the canton. The rea
sons put forward for this proceeding are that the
association propagates socialist and communist doc
trines among the people; that ite tendency is hos
tile to the government; end thet the association is
in correspondence with communist issociations
abroad.
Stork. —A storm of mingled wind, rain and
hail passed over this city on Friday evening, and
for a time, accomplished much damage ; some
buildings were prostrated, and others unroofed,
and many fine abide trees destroyed. Extensive
and serious injury, we learn, has been done to the
corn erop in this vicinity.—JfadSpooMtjr Journal
12m ias*.
Ur. Clay was admitted to the bar on the 4th of
October, 1790, nearly fifty-three veers, sgo end was
tile ddett lawyer i» Kentucky.
FUNERAL OF MR. CLAY.
The funeral took place on the Ist inst. In every
direction there were tokens of sorrow for the event
which the nation now deplore*. The public buil
ding* and private residcucos were hung with bad
ge* of mourning, bells were tolled, miuuto guns!
fired, and flag* fletv at half tnast. Secular busi
ness v.a* generally suspended ; in fact all classes
seemed to be desirous of paying every proper
mark of rospaettothe memory of the illustrious
decease^.
At an early kour Pennsylvania avenue was
crowded with" persons of both sexes, and of all
conditions, especially in the vicinity of the Na
tional Hotel, where the corpse lay.
The procession moved at a few minutes before
twelve o'clock in the direction of the Capitol, in
the following order:
The German A'agers and the National Grays,
’ with ther furled bauners shrouded in erapo.
The Marine Band.
The Physician (Dr. Hall) who attended the de
ceased, and other gentlemen, intimate friends of
the departed.
Tho Committee of Arrangement*—Messrs.
Hunter, Dawson. Jones, of lowa, Cooper, Bright
and Smith, wearing white sashes, aud the commit
tee to accompany the corpse to Kentucky, Messrs.
| Underwood. Jones, of Tennessece, Cass, Fish,
i Houston and Stockton.
1 The I’all bearers—Messrs. Cass, Mangum, Dodge
! of Wisconsin, Pratt, Atchison and Bell—wearing
black scarf*.
The Funeral Car. This w s prepared under tit#
superintendence of the undertaker, Mr. Anthony
Buckley, assisted by Mr. Haslup. The main body
; of it was covered with black cloth, with broali
■ silver lace around the upper portion, serving as a
cornice ; and below nearly reaching to the ground,
were festoons, and rich silk tassels at the loops.
Upon this base was a quadrangular structure—the
highest point six feet front the ground—(on this
rested the coffin.) It was, likewise, coated with
black cloth, studded with silver stars aud border-
I ed with lace of the same material. The top was
spanned by a bow-like frame, the outer edges of
which were covered with silver lace, and attached
were festoons of intertwined black and white silk.
Thus the trimmings afforded a bright relief to the
otherwise sombre mass. Surmounting the canopy
was a large gilt eagle, partially enveloped with
crape. The car was drawn by six white horses,
each of which was attended by a groom, in white
livery.
Immedintelv succeeding the corpse were the
Kentucky delegation in Congress and others, as
mourners. Then followed members ot tlietkmate
j and House of Rcpresontativess accompatped by
j their respective officers, appropriately designated.
Alaior General Scott, in full suit of black, in
company with Commodore Morris, and other
officers of the Navy, and of the urnty, in Uniterm.
Tile Alayor and members of the City
together with twenty four citizens ot' Baltimore
apjminted at a public meeting to visit Washington
on the mournful occasion, in behalf of that city,
and join in honoringthe obsequies.
; Tho Mayors and City Councils, respectively, of
Washington. Georgetown aud Alexandria, with
corporation officers.
Tho procession closed with a long line of citi
zens. including many Government officers and
strangers. At about fifteen minutes past noon it
reached tho ('apitol grounds, when the corpse was
removed to the Senate chamber, followed by those
who were privileged to the floor of that brunch of
Congress.
Immense crowds had collected on the premises
at an early hour, and but few comparatively of tho
thousands were enabled to obtain seats in the gal
leries. As a consequence, many liugered in tho
rotundo aud in tho Hall of Representatives, and
on the eastern portico and adjacent grounds, all
j evidently much interested in the attondaut pro
i ceedings.
In the .Senate the scene was most impressive.
The dense mass of spectators manifested by their
quiet demeanor their consciousness of the solem
nity of tlie occasion.
At twenty minutes past twelve the President of
the United StateseutereU the chamber, in company
with the Secretary of State, and followed by tho
Secretaries of war, the Navy, and the Interior,
and the Postmaster General and the Attorney
General of tlie United States. The Diplomatic
Corns were largely represented.
Av hen these gentlcmau were seated in the res
pective positions assigned them, the Senate was
called to order by the Prcsidcht pro tempore.
The funeral procession then entered tho cham
ber, preceded by the committee appointed to ac
company the remains of Air. Clay to Kentucky,
i and by the committee of arrangements. The corps
1 was followed by tho pi#-bearcrs, the relatives of
1 he deceased, tfiu immediate friends, and tho Ken
| tucky delegation in Congress as mourners,
j The coffin was placed in tho area near the Seo-
I rotary's table.
■ The members of tho House of Representatives,
I preceded by their officers, then came into the eliam
! ber and occupied the scats assigned to them, tho
Speaker occupying a position on the left of the
President of tlie Senate.
Ladies were now privileged to enter, aud within
a brief space of time the lobbies wore almost ex
clusively tilled by them.
The utmost silence prevailed throughout those
proceedings.
The Rev. 0. AL Butler, Chaplain to tho Senate,
rose at th i desk and read the fifteenth chapter of
I tho first epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians, com
l tncncing ut the thirty-sixth verse. This conclud
! od, lie delivered the following discourse, namely:
“ How Is the strong stag brsken aud the beautiful rod."
! —Jeremiah 48, 17 v.
I
j Before all hearts and minds in this august as
: semblagu the vivid image of one man stands. To
some aged eye he may come forth, from the dim
1 past, us hs appeared in the neighboring city of hi*
! native State, a little and ardent youth, full of pro
j mise, of ambition, and of hope. To another lie
j may appear as, in tt distant State, in tho courts of
j justice, erect, liighstrung, bold, wearing fresh so
! rensic laurels on nia young and opun.brow. Some
I may see him in the earlier and some" in the later
I stages of his career on this auspicious theatre of
! liis renown; and to the former tie will start out, on
back-ground of the past, as h* appeared in the
I neighboring chamber, tall, elate, impassioned, with
j flashing eye uMd suasive gesture, and clarion voice,
; an already acHiowledgcd “ Agamemnon, King of
Men,” and to others lie will again stand in this
chamber “ the strong staff” of the bewildered and
! staggering State, anti “ the beautiful rod,” rich
with the blossoms of genius, and of putric tie love
and hope, the life of youth still remaining to give
animation, grace, and exliaustlcss vigor to the
wisi lorn, tho’expericuoe, and the gravity of age.—
Toothers iie may bo present us ho sat in the chara
■ ber ot sickness, cheerful, majestic, gentle—his
i mind clear, his heart warm, his .hope fixed on
I Heaven, peacofuly preparing for'liis last great
| change, l'o the memory of tho minister of God he
appears as tlie penitent, humble, aud peaceful
Christian, who received hnn with tne affection of a
tathor, and joined with liiut in solemn sacrament
and prayer with tlie gontleness of a woman and
humility of a child. “Out of the strong came
i forth sweetness.” “ How is the strong staff brok
-1 en and the beautiful rod 1” But not before this
i assembly only does tho venerable image of the <lo
j parted statesman this day distinctly stand. For
more than a thousand miles—East, AVest, North,
| and South—it is known and remembered, that at
j this place aud hour a nation’s representative as
semble to do honor to him whose fame is now a na
tion's heritage. A nation’s mighty hoart throbs
against this Capitol, aud beat* through you. In
many cities banners droop, bells toll, cannons
boom, funeral draperies wave. In crowded streets
aud on surrounding wharf*, upon steamboats and
upon ears, in fields, in workshops, iu homes, in
schools, millions of men, women, aud children,
have their thoughts fixed upon this scene, and say
mournfully to each other, “ This is the hour in
which, ut the oapitol, the nation’s representative*
are burying Henry Clay.” Burying Henry Clay ?
Bury the records of your country’s history—bury
the hearts of living millions—bury the mountains,
the rivers, the lakes, and tho spreading lands from
sea to sea, with which his name is inseparably as
sociutied, aud even then you w ould not bury Hen
ry Clay—for lie is iu other land* and speaks in
other tongues, and to other times, than ours.
A great mind, a great heart", a great orator, a
great career, have been consigned to history. Bho
will record his rare gifts of deep insight, keeu dis
crimination, clear statement, rapid combination;
plain, direct, and convincing logic. Site will love
to dwell on that large, generous, magnanimous,
open, forgiving heart. She will Unger with fond
ffeligjit ou the recorded or traditional stories of an
eloquence that was so masterful and stirring, be
cause it was but himself, struggling to come forth
on tlie living words—because, though the words
were brave mid strong, and beautiful and melo
dious, it was felt that, behind them, there was a
soul, braver, stronger, more beautiful, aud more
melodious tlio.ii language could express. She will
poiut to a euroer of statesmanship which lias, to a
remarkable degree, stamped itself on the public
poUcy of the country, and reached in beufloccnt
practical results of fields, the looms, the commer
cial marts, and the quiet home* of all tho litnd,
where his name was with the departed father, and
is with the living children, and will bo with suc
cessive generations, an honored household word.
I feel, os amen, the grandeur of this career. Bnt
as an immortal, with this broken wreck of mortality
before me, with this scene a* tho “ end-all” of hu
man glory, I feel that no career is truly great but
that of him wiio, whether ho be illustrious or ob
scure, lives to tho future in the present, and link
ing himself to the spiritual world, draws from God
the life, the rule, the motive, and the reward of all
his labor. So would that great spirit which has de
parted say to us, could he address us now. So did
lie realize in the calm and meditative close of life.
I feel that I but utter the lessons which, living, t
were his last and best convictions, and which, dead, j
could he speak to ue, his solemn admonitions, i
when I say that statesmanship is then only glo- I
rious when it is Christian, and that man is’ then I
only safe and true to his duty and his soul, when j
the life which he lives in tho flesh is the life of j
faith in the Bon of God.
Great, indeed, is the priviledge, and most honor- !
able and useful is the career of a Christian Ameri
can statesman.
ll* perceives that civil liberty came from the
freedom wherewith Christ made its curliest martyr
and defender free. Ho recognises it a* one of tfie
! twelve manner of fruits on the tree of life with
5 which its lower branches furnish the best nutri
| ment of earth, hangs on its topmast boughs, which
wave in Heaven, fruits that exhilarate the immor
-1 tals. Recognising the (states God’s institution, he
i will perceive that his own ministry is divine.
. Living consciously under the eve and in ihe love
land fear of God, redeemed by the blood of Jesus,
sanctified by His spirit, loving His law. he will give
himself, in private and in public, to the service of
his Saviour. He will not admit that he may act on
| less lofty principles in public than in private life,
| and that he must be careful of his moral influence
; in the small sphere of home and neighborhood, bnt
need take no heod of it when it stretches our con
| tinents and crosses seas. Ho will know that his
moral responsibility cannot be divided and distrib
• uted among others. When he is told that adher
ence to the strictest moral and religious principle
. is incompatible with a successful and eminent ca
! reer, he will denounce the assertion as a libel on
, the venerated father of the Republic—a libel on the
1 honored living, and the illustrious dead—a libel
against a great and Christian nation—a libel
against God himself* who has declared and made
•■godliness profitable for the life that is.” He will
i s'rive to mage laws transcripts of the character and
institutions, illustrations of the providence of God.
Ho will scan with admiration and awe thepurposcs
of God in the future history of the world, in throw
ing open their wide continent, from sea to sea, as
the abode of freedom, intelligence, plenty, pros
perity, and peace, and feel that in giving his
emergies with a patriotic love to the wel fare of his
country, he is consecrating himself with a Chris
tian’s zeal to the extension and establishment of
the Redeemer's kingdom. Compared with a ca
reer like this, which is equally open to those whose
public sphere is large or small, how paltry are the
trade of patriotism, the tricks of statesmanship, the
rewards of successful baseness! This hour, this
scene, the venerated dead, the country, the world,
the present, the fnturc, God, duty, heaven, hell,
speak trumpet-tongued to all in the service of their
country, to bficare how they lay polluted or un
hallowed hands.
“ Upon the ark
Os her inagniflcentand awful esuse,”
Such is "the character of that statesmanship
which alone would have met the full approval of
the venerated dead. For the religion which always
had a place in the convictions of his mind has also,
within a recent period, eutered into his experience
and seated itself in his heart. Twenty years since
he wrote, “l sui a member of no religious sect,
and 1 am not a professor of religion. I regret that
lam not. I wish that I was, and trust that I shall
be. I have, and always have had, a profound re
gard for Christianity, the religion of my fathers, ,
and for ita rites, its usages, and observances.” That ,
feeling proved that the seed sown by pions parents
was not dead, though stifled. A few vears since
its dormant life was re-awakened. He was baptized
in the communion of the Protestant Episcopal j
Church, and during his sojourn in this city he was
in full communion with Trinity Parish.
It is since his withdrawal from the sittings of tha
Senate that I ha ve been made particularly acquaint
ed with his religious opinions, character, ana feel
ings. From his first illness be expressedto ms the
persuasion that it would be fatal. From that pe
riod until bis death it has been my privilege to
hold with him frequent religions services, and
souvsrsationi with him in his room. Heavsrrsd t* 1
me his full faith in tho greet leading doctrines ot
the Gospel—the fall and sinfulness of man, the
divinity of Christ, tho roality and necessity cf the
Atonement, the need of being born again by the
Spirit, aud salvation through faith in the crucified
Redeemer. His own personal hopes of salvation
■ic ever and distinctly based on the promises and
the graoe of Christ. Strikingly percoptibjo on his
naturally impetuous aud impatient character was
the influence of graco in produciugsitbmissionand
“patient waiting lor Christ” and for death. On
one occasion he spoke to tuo of the pious example
of ono very near and dearto him, as that which fed
him deeply to feel and oartuestly to seek for him
self the reality and blessedness of religion. On
one occasion hetold me that lie had been striving
; to form a conception of Heaven; and he enlarged
j upon the mercy ot that provision by which our
I Saviour became a partaker of our humauity, that
onr hearts and hopes might fix themselves on him.
j On another occasion, when he was supposed to bo
'• very near his end, I expressed to him the hopo that
his mind and heart were at peace, and that he was
able to rest with cheerful confidence on the promi
ses and merits of the Redeeinor. Ho eaid with
much feeling that he endeavored to, and trusted
that he did, repose his salvation upou Christ; that
it was too late for him to look at Christianity in the
liftlit of speculation; that he had never ilotibtod
of Its truth; and that ho now wished to throw
himself upon it as a practical and blessed remedy.
A'erv soon aftorthis 1 administered to him tho Sa
crament of the Lord’s Supper. Being extremoly
feeble, and desirous of having his mind undivert
ed, no persons were present but his son and ser
vant. It was a scone long to bo remembered.
There, in that still chamber, at a week-day noon,
tho tides of life all flowing strong around us, three
disciples of the Saviour—the minister of God*, the
dviug statesman, and liis servant, a partaker ol' the
like precious faith—commemorated their Saviour’s
dviug love. He joined in the blessed sacrament
w’ith great feeling aud solemnity—now pressing
bis bauds together, and now spreading them
forth as the words of the service expressed tho
feelings, desires, supplications, and thunksgivings
of his heart. After this he rallied, and again I
was permitted frequently to join with him in reli
gious services, conversation, and prayer. He grow
in grace aud in the knowledge of our Lord aud
Saviour Jesus Christ. Among the books that ho
read most were Jay’s Morning aud Evening Exer
cises, tlie Life of Dr. Chalmers, and the Ohristiau
Philosopher Triumphant in Death. His hopo eou-
I tinned to the end, tliough true and real, to do tre-
I miilous with humility rather than rapturous with
, assurance. When ho felt most the weariness of
i his protracted suffering*, it sufficed to suggest to
j him that his Heavenly Fatlior doubtless knew that,
after a life so long, stirring aud tempted, such a
\ discipline of chastening and suffering was needfttl
; to make him moot for the inheritance of tho Saint*,
j and at once tho words of meek and patient acquies
; cnce escaped his lips.
j Exhausted nature at length gave way. On the
I last occasion when I was permitted to offer a brief
I prayer at his bed-side, his last words to me were
that lie had hope only in Christ, and that the pray
er which 1 lmd offered for his pardoning lovo aiid
1 his sanctifying graoe included everything which
! the dying need. On the oveniug previous to his
departure, sitting an hour in silence by his side, I
j could not but realize, when I heard him, in the
' slight wanderings of his mind to other days and
other scenes, murmuring the words', “Jfg mothtr !
mother ! mother /” aud saving, “ift/ dear wife,” as
ffshs were present, 1 could not but realize then,
and rejoice to think how near was tho blessed re
union ol'his weary heart with the loved dead and
with Iter—our doar Lord gently smooth her pas
sage to tho tomb!—who must soon follow him to
his rest, whose spirits even then seemed to visit
and to cheer his memory and liis hope. Gently
he breathed liis soul aivav into the spirit world.
“llow blessed the righteous when they die!
When holy souls retire to rest
How mildly beams the closing eye !
llow gently heaves the expiring bresst!
“So fades a summer cloud away ,
So sinks the gale when storms are (fer;
.So gently shuts the eye of day;
So dies ths wave upon the shore 1"
Be it ours to follow him iu tho same humblo
aud submissive faith to heaven. Could ho speak
to us the codusels of his Inteat human, uud of his
present heavenly experience, sure I ant that he
would not only admonish us to cling to the Saviour
in sickness and in deuth, but abjure us not to de
lay to act upon our first convictions that we might
givo our best power and fullest influence for God.
and go to the grnvo with a hope unshadowed by
the long worldliuessol thc past, and darkened by
n# films of fear and doubt resting over the future 1
Tlie strong staff is broken and the beautiful
rod despoiled of its grace and bloom; but in tho
light of the eternal promises and by tho power of
Christ's resurrection, we joyfully anticipate tho
prospect of seeing that broken staff creot, and that
beautiful rod, closed with celestial graco, and blos
soming with undying life and blessedness, in the
paradise of God.
Tlie reverend gentleman then concluded the im
pressive burial service aecordiug to the proscibed
form of the Protestant Episcopal Church.
The silver plate covering the glass iu tho coffin
was then removed, and Senators and Representa
tives, officers ol the urmy and navy, members of
tho diplomatic corps, aud others, drew near to look
for the last time upon what remained of the loved
aud distinguished patriot.
The corpse wus afterwards removed to tho
rotuivlo, where it was plaood on aliaudsomo podeH
i tal eight feet iu length, and four in breadth, the
base exhibiting two stops, twelve inches in width
on the sides. It was covered with black velvet,
and constructed by Mr. William Douglass. Tlie
patent metallic coffin was richly mounted with sil
ver, and a massive breastplate bora the simple
inscription.
llknby Clay.
A large and beautiful wreath of flowers lay upon
it.
The crowd in the rotundo w»s extremely dense;
and to the excellent arrangements of tho Alarslial
of the District of Columbia and the Committee of
Arrangements, tlie public were cnablod t* gaze for
the last time upon the face of the dcceaaod.
At half-past three o'clock tho corpse wus remov
ed to the railroad station, in charge of the Com
mittee of Arrangements and pall-bearers, oscortcd
by a large number of privutc citizens, and by the
volunteer companies—tho National Greys, tho
Walker Sharpshooters, the Continental Guards,
and the Boone Riflemen, aeorps recently organized.
The Alariuo Band playod funeral music during the
march.
The coffin was deposited in a special e*r, which
was trimmed with mourning.
There were thousands of persons of both sexes
at the depot, aud fur out on the line' of the railrond,
to witness the departure forevor of the remains of
ono who has long and favorably boon known iu
our midst, the scene of his most glorious Senatorial
triumphs. As if in accordance with tho general
gloom, the heavens were covered with dark clouds,
which soon discharged their contents like foun
tains of tears at the sad event, and subsequently a
beautiful rainbow spanued the firmament.
There was Sabbath stillness throughout the
aftornoon and night, secular business having been
almost entirely suspended ; aud never before have
we seen more grief manifested at the demise of a
great public man at tho nation’s capital than on this
occasion.
But he is'gono Irom among us, only to be re
membered as one of the most illustrious of earth.
Deeply as the country feels its loss, it may derive
some consolation from the possession of counsels
which all havo learned to reverence as the product |
of Ins 'fiagaeious and elevated patriotism. The
statesman is no more. Alay his words live a
precious heritage, to ward off tho perils of sectional
strife, and to .strengthen and perpetuate tho preat
constitutional fubric witli which his name is in
scjiarably associated.
Olivequies of Henry Clay in New York.
The remains of Air. Clay did not reach this city
until after three o’clock, I s . AI. on Saturday, con
siderable delay having been occarioued by stoppa
ges at Trenton, Princeton, New Brunswick, New
ark and other places on the road, where the inhab
itants vied with each other in demonstrations of
respect for tho memory of the deceased. There
was a large concourse of people at Jersey City, and
the funeral arrangements there showed that the
citizens were solicitous to spare no possible token
of sorrow. Public and private buildings were
shrouded in mourning, flags wore carried at half
mast, and minute guns were fired. In front of the
public offices in Montgomery street, was Uiaplay»d
ths motto:—
“ The nihes or the just
fimell sweet ami blossom in the dust.’’
Over the f*rry guto through which tho funeral
oortege passed was hung a broad piece of canvass,
trimmed with crape, and bearing the following iu-
Hcription:— •
M Dear heart! our love for thee remains,
Though thine for us be borne to Heaven,
Thy worth, each patriot utill retain*,
And shall from eire to non be given.”
TheMcraey city Continentals, an a £unrd of hon
or, and the officer* of the lludaon Brigade, accom
panied by a band ot* music, escorted the funeral
committee to tlie new ferry boat, Philidelphia, ou
board which the Mavor and Common Council of
New York, the two whig general committees, th©
Clay Festival Association, and the Washington
Grays, were assembled to receive the body.—
While the boat was crossing tho river, cannons
were fired from] the battery, and the fortifica
tions in the harbor, from tho Cunard steamship
Africa, from Brooklyn heights, from Williams
burgh, and from other points. The various steam
boat bells were also tolled, as well as tho church
balls, and tho Battery was densely thronged with
spectators.
I It was about 4 o’clock when tho boat reached the
pier at Castle Garden. The coffin was convoyed
| ashore by members ot the Clay Festival Associa-
I tion, and the mournful procession was then
| formed in the following order
I A large body of Police with Rave? and Stars, shrouded
with Crape.
The Sergeant-at-Aruis of the board of Aldermen.
Board of Aldermen.
The Sergeant-at-Armsof the Board of Asßifclant'Aldermen.
Board of Assistant Aldermen.
Whig General Committee.
Genaral Committee of Democratic Whig Younjr Men.
Carriage?* containing Thomas U. Clay, Henry Clay, jr., and
other relatives of the deceased, with Sanator*
Casa, Houston, Stockton, Jones, Un
derwood, and Jiah.
Adkins’ Band.
Jersey City (76) Continental Corp;
Dodworth’s Band.
Hearse drawn by eight white horses with sable head plumes.
Washington Grays.
Co'y P., Capt. Little, in a hollow square, aa
, Guard of Honor.
Olay’aPeetiv&l Association, as Cbiaf Mourners,
Carriages.
First Ward Police, in a hollow square.
Citixcns in genaral on foot.
This cortege moved up Broadway, amid an irn
meuee throng of people lining the walks on eithar
side. Most of tho storekeepers on the route com
plied with the request of the committee of arrange
ments by keeping their establishments closed while
the procession parsed, and many of them displayed
badges of mourning. Among tlie inscriptions sus
pended in Broadway, was the apt quotation from
Shakspeare:—
“ His life was gentle, and the elements
F© mixed in him, that nature might stand up
And say to all the world, thiswa* a man—
According to his virtues let us iwe him
With all respect and rites of public burial.”
The Governor's room in the City Hall was appro
priately prepared lor the reception of the remains,
and after they had been slowly borne thither the
crowd pressed forward eagerly but quietly to obtain
a glimpse of the features of the deceased. No per
son was admitted to the room, however, until Sun
day, except the guard of honor, and others privi
iedged, and even the coffin waa not opened as had
been anticipated, for the committee in charge hav
ing found that exposure to the light in Baltimore
partly discolored the body, prudently determined
to keep the sarcophagus closed until their arrival
at Lexington. The rumor that the burial case bad
opened in I’hiladelphia was untrne.
"During Sunday, thousands of persons wers per
mitted to visit the Governor's room, and see the
sacrophaeus, and many of them brought bonqnets
and wreaths of flowers to strew upon it. At two
o’clock yesterday morning the remains were re
moved from the City Kail and placed on board a
steam boat anchored in.the North river, thence to
be transferred to the morning boat for Albany,
whither they have been accompanied by the Sena
toral committee, the committee of the Common
Council, a committee ortho Clay Festival Associa
tion, and tho \\ ashington Grays. The object of
this arrangement was to prevent the mingling of
funeral solemnities with the rejoicings of yesterday.
Many clergymen in this city and Brooklyn made
the death of Henry Clay the theme of their dis
courses on Sunday, and we continue to receive in
telligence from all sections of the Union of the
sincere sorrow which is everywhere experineed in
reference to the national bereavement. — Coin. Ad€.
Rntop.Eo Extensive Shipwreck. —Le Canadian,
a paper published at Montreal, Canada, states that
there are painful reports in circulation relative to
numerous shipwrecks said te have taken place in
the Gulf of St. Lawrence, during one ofthe recent
hurricanes. It is said that the schooner Alliance,
armed by the British Government, so r the protec
tion of the fisheries, lias perished nearest. Paul’s
Island, with all on bora: that fifteen schooners
were lost in the vicinity of the Megdaleu Islands,
and that twentv-two pilots have been drowned.—
The secures ofthe rumor could not be ascertained,
and hopes are entertained thet the story it with
out fonndatiow,
” WEEKLY
(Cjjrmudc ik
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA.
WEDNESDAY MORNING, JULY 14, 1862.
A National Onion Convention
Will bo held in the City of Philadelphia, upon
tho Ist day of August, 1552, for the Nomination ot
Daniel Wibstek for the Presidency of the U.
States, and n suitable candidate for the Vice Presi
dency. for the support of tho Union Party of the
Natiok, in Novemlier next.
Delegates from 10 States now hold themselves
in readiness for this step ; other States arc reques
ted to choose suitable representatives without de
lay.
Friends of the Union, and of its great Champion,
you are uow called upon to give evidence of yonr
devotion to that cause, which has onlisted the ta
lents of tho most eminent, and the sympathies of
a mighty nation.
The immediate formation of local Webster Union
Associations is earnestly recommondcd.
The above announcement was received yester
day by mail from Philadelphia, and is the first in
timation we have had of this now movement on
the political chessboard. It is already known that
Mr. Webstbb has beoii nominated by tho “Ameri
can party” in Convention at Trenton, Now Jersey,
and it has likewise beon chronicled tliut, in a con
versation with Mr. Tallmadge, of New fork City,
he remonstrated against the farther use of hiß
name in connection with the’offlco of President.
We presumo, therefore, that this call of a Conven
tion is without his knowledge or privity, and possi
bly may not meet his approbation. lienee, it is
fair to infer, tho movors in the matter intend to
press his claims upon the country and run him re
gardless of his wishes. If so, and he should be
before tho country, wo will cordially unite in his
support. He is known to tho country, and is
equally distinguished in the councils of the na
tion and in the Cabinet for his profound statesman
ship, and cnlurged and liberal patriotism—to tho
former of which, howover patriotic they may be,
neither of tho prosont nominees have any claims.
The one being indebted for his nomination ex
clusively to his obscurity, and his accidental ap
pointment as a Brigadier-General in the Mexican
War—an office which, according to his own ac
count, he resigned because of his total unfitness;
while tho othor is alone indebted for his position
before the couutry, to his glorious triumphs on the
battle-field. These facts no fair-minded man, who
values his reputation for veracity, will attempt to
gainsay. And yot. the freo and independent vo
ters of America, if wo but yiold to tho dictation
of the Conventions which nominated them, must
be confined to tho soleetion of the first officer in
the world, from sach material I Evory considera
tion of duty and patriotism revolts at such an
idea; and we earnestly and sineorely hope the
Peoplo, the sovoreigua of the laud, may assume
thoir propor responsibilities, and place before the
country a man eminently worthy of tho confidence
and support of tho American peoplo. Buell a man
is Daniel Webster.
Wesleyan Female College.
It affords us sincere pleasure to chronicle the
continued and increasing prosperity of this institu
tion, as indicated by tho Catalogue (just issued)
for tho years 1851 and ’62, a copy of whloh lias been
sent us. From it wo condense the following sum
gnary, showing a greator number of pupils than
any eollogiate institution in the Htute, male
or fomale:
Senior Class 88
Junior Class 48
Sophomore Class 48
First Class 28
Irregular Students 18
Primary Class 88
: When we refteotthat tliero aro four other (similar
institutions in tho Statu, all having nearly as many
pupils—beoidoß innumerable High Schools and
Female Academies, in which all tho brauches of
un elegant and accomplished education aro success
fully and very thoroughly taught,—it presents a
picture of progress in the Education of the fair
daughters of tho State, which cannot ftiil to excite
the just pride of every Goorgian. No intelligent
mind oan doubt, or calculate, the influenoe which
these institutions are d«Btiued to exercise upon the
future history of Georgia, when their graduates
shall number thousands of the mothers of the
State, upon whom will devolve the pleasing and
responsible duty of developing tho intellectual, and
cultivating tho moral faculties of their offspring.—
If it bo true, and wo presume it will not bo denied,
that, as a general rule, no ono exercises so groat an
influence in the formation of character os the
Mother, then it is of tho utmost importance that
her montal and moral faculties be well cultivated
and thoroughly developed, if we would, as philan
thropists and patriots, confer tho greatost blessings
upon posterity. Hence it is that wo witness, with
such unalloyed pleasure, the continued prosperity
of iVetltyan Female College; and we siueerely
hope that the day has passed in Georgia when any
similar institution shall languish because of inad
equate support—for it will aflbrd unerringevidcncc
that the fathers and mothers of our noble common
wealth are not sufficiently impressed with the im
portance of educating their daughters.
Premising that tho course in Wesluyati Femafe
College is vory thorough, including the anciont and
modern languages, the higher branches of mathe
matics, and the kindrod sciences, and the elegant
accomplishments, we subjoiu a list of the “ Booed
of Inetraction" :
Ecv. Edward H. Mynas, A. M., President and
Professor of English Literature.
Rev. Gkouqe W. W. Stone, A. M., Professor of
Mathematics and Natural Science.
Rev. Osborn L. Smith, A. M., Profossor of In
tellectual Philosophy and Evidences of Christianity.
Rev. Wai.tku R. Branham, A. M., Professor of
History and Moral Philosophy.
Mr. P. G-Guttenberger, Professor of Music.
Miss Ootavia M. Jones, Instructress in Primary
(Department.
Miss Lucinda Amelia Tilden, Instruotress in
French and Ornamental Department.
Miss Fbancksca It. Guttknrbrger, Assistant in
Music.
lor the details of the Course of Study, the pro
bable exponses, &c., we refor those desiring the
information to the Cataloguo.
Augusta Free School.
We havo been furnished by the Principal, and
take great pleasure In laying beforo our readers,
the following statistics, showing the numbor ol
Scholars who have received instruction at tho Au
gusta Free School during tho year now nearly
closed, and the average daily attendance:
From tho Ist Ward, ‘JO Hoys, «1 Girls.
“ “ 2d “ 26 “ 48 “
“ “ 8d “ 1)4 “ 80 “
“ “ 4th •• 104 *• 107 “
Total 275 Boys, 241 Girls.
In addition to these, about sixty others have been
in attendance at times during the year, from Har
risburg, Hamburg, Factory, Savannah Road, &e.;
and the average Alaily attendance has boen nearly
four hundred.
This is a picture upon which the citizens of Au
gusta may look with inflnito pleasure—especially
when they recur to the benefits the School is con
ferring upon the youth of the city. Indeed, the
only reflection that cun in any degree mar the
beauty and effect of it is, that thero is only one
such school in the city. ThuukH, however, to the
liberality and philanthropy of John W. Houghton,
a second one will soon be in operation ; and we
trustthe City Council will ere long tukethc respon
sibility of establishing a third, in the upj>er part
of the city.
All experience teaches that uothiug more eor
tainly contributes to increase the population and
to aid the permanent prosperity of a town or city,
than well organised schools. Hence, apart from
all considerations of our duties to tho youths of
tho city and to society, us a matter of interest, we
should not neglect the performance of a work of so
much importance, and one calculated to confer
such lasting benefits upon the children and society
of the city.
] Honors to Mr. Clay in Georoia.— ln Griffin a
town meeting has been held, appropriate resolu
’ tions adopted and a committeo appointed to aelect
| an orator to pronounce a Funeral Oration,
j Dr. H. V. MiLLKit'has been selected by a oom
; mittoe, appointed at a public meeting in Komo, and
haa consented to deliver an Eulogy on the 6th of
August next. In explaining the objoct of the pre
! liminary meeting, the Hon. Wst. H. Underwood
[ took occasion to pay a just and eloquent tribute
to the illustrious -lead.
Honors to Mr. Clat in Macon. J-Furauant to a
call of the Mayor of Macon, a large number of citi
zens assembled in that place, Friday last, to testi
fy their sense of the great loss tbo country haa
sustained in the death of Mr. Clay. Appropriate
resolutions were adopted, and aoommittec appoint
ed to Bclect a suitable person to delivers eulogy
upon the character and services of the deceased,
and to make the necessary arrangements for the
occasion.
An Old Friend with a Xew Face.
Ocr city reuders cannot have failed to notice the
great improvement effected in the appearance of
the corner-store of oor neighbors, Clark <fc Co., by
the application of a few coats of paint to the exte
rior of that building. This paint is of the drab or
“ neutral tint” recommended by Downing— a color
which harmonizes beautifully with trees, grass or
shrubbery, and has a 0001, neat and refreshing ap
pearance. It is, to our eye, far more pieasiug than
the glaring red and white colors in common use,
and is much better suited to our hot und sunny
climate. But, “dc guttHnu non etl ditputuruUm,"
—and we hardly expect the “entire public” to
agree with us in this matter. We merely chronhle
the adornment of our neighbors’ “ outside” as an
evidence of the many improvements which arc go
ing on about town, and hope to see more of our
dingy'and time-stained buildings rejuvenated and
improvod in the same pr a similar manner.
Kai* ! —The parched earth was, Saturday after
noon, refreshed by a brisk and heavy shower of
rain, accompanied with thunder an d lightning
The crops, in this vicinity have been suffering
considerably from drouth of late, and we trust this
shower, though of short duration, will exert a ben
eficial influence on the prospects of our agricultu
ral friends. We of the city have suffered much
from heat and dust the past week, and rejoice in
anticipation of the eool freshness and invigorating
air of the quiet “day of rest" which is approach
ing.
Tbs Uok. Ukoeox R. Gaum will deliver the
Address on the presentation of the prizes to be
awdta to the Orators of the Sophomore Claes,
at the approaching commencement of Evoay
CotlHli
A Colon Whig—• Ourselves,
As we do not hope or desire to please every body,
wo ore novor surprised to learn that our sugges
tions and opinions are not univnrsally ppprovod,
even by our political associates. Nor indeed, docs
suoh disapprobation give us any concern, for wo
are not uudor any obligations to parties or individ
uals, politically; and are at perfect liberty to pur
sue whatever course our judgiucut dictates, with
out reference to who may or may not bo dis
pleased thereat. Os course, it is always a source
of gratification to us, to know that our opinions
and views arc approved by our friends, simply be
cause approbation ia more grateful than disappro
bation.
“ A Union Whig” objects to our suggestion to
the \Y hig party in Georgia, not to take part in ths
present canvass, as between Pnutca and Scott, and
thinks the election of Piaacawill do more to per
petuate the Union than'tbat of Ills adversary. For
oursolves, wo attribute no such infliieuoo to any
man us President. Both parties have adopted tbs
Union platform in its totality, and are pledged
against agitation, and both their candidates are
equally pledged upon that question to tho sums
line of policy. Wo do not fear anymore danger
to the Union from Gen. Scott's than from Gen.
Piekcb's uleclien, and none from cither. Our ob
jections to Gen. Soott, are, that ho has no claims—
is a mere military man—favors the annexation of
Canada, and because we believe in his hands the
patronage of the government will bs dispensed by
his Froesoil supporters. On the slavery qnestion,
Gen. Soott has always shown himself as sound as
Piikci. Neither of them advoeato it, and both
raftisod to write letters defining their position,
either for or against, the compromise.
Our objections to Mr. I’iKKOB are: Ids obscurity
and unfitness for the office, and his “ obnoxious
principles ” on the Tarift', tho land distribution,
and the improvement of harbors and rivers. Tliut
ho is a man of very ardinary abilities, below me
diocrity even, is abundantly attested by tho fact
that he was ten years in Congress and never ac
quired a reputation fbr ability. Indeed, so obscure
was ho, that when he wus nominated, not one man
in ten in tho United States knew who he was, or
recolieetod ever to have heard of Idm. And such
was tho thorough conviction of his friends of his
obscurity, that the press teemed with responses to
tho enquiry, “Who is General Franklin Pierce?”
Think you that suoh a man can be paossd off up
on tho couutry for a “man of more ability'than
any of tho four candidates”—Scorr, Kino, or
Graham ? Although we regard this as faint praise,
yet it is muoh more then, in onr opinion, lie merits.
While we ecoord to Mr. Toombs all tho ability
and patriotism claimed for him by “ A Union
Whig,” wo by no means concede to him tho dis
tinguished merit assumed by our correspondent,
that lie “ cannot b* deceived in the mutter.'" Mr.
Toouns paid like tributes to General Taylor, and
was a much more earnest and zealous supporter of
him than wo imagino ho will over be of Mr. I’ikkcb,
and evon he would scarcely cluiin for himself such
an attribute, with the events of the lust four
years fresh in hia recollection.
“A Union Whig” desires to preserve the Whig
party, by going into tho ridioulous scramble of
running a Union Pieros and Kino ticket, ngsinst
a Firc-M|ing Secession Pierce and Kino ticket.
What are Whigs to gain by that 1 They uro
merely to the appeals of tho supple
mental democrats, who abandoned the Union party,
and sought refuge in tho Baltimore Convention.
Suppoee Union Whigs again unite witli them, liavo
we any assurance they will show any bettor faith
in future, than previously ? Wo have no such
guaranty ; and when they deceive us agniu it will
be our fault.
Ths difference between tu and our correspon
dent, results from the fact that lie considers the
Union I'srty still in existence, while we consider It
effectually and completely dissolved by the aotion
of its constituent elements, lienee, it is our pur
pose to resume again tho advooaoy of those princi
ples, which we regard as necessary and proper to
develope tho resources of the Republic and con
tribute to eecure the prosperity of tho people,
while he is yet clinging to the Union Platform. We
are quite sure lie will ero long see the error of his
way, and foil baok upon his Whig principles.
In conclusion, ws may remark that Mr. Jeneinsi
needs no defence against the fling made by our
correspondent at him. And we shall pass over
also his allusions to his devotion to his country
above party. This is a more grandiloquent flour
ish, thrown out for the boys, tho use of which no
one better understands than.“ A Union Whig."
Editor of the Chronicle d" Sentinel:
Dear Sib— 1 have just road your article of Friday
: morning, the 2d instant, on the situation aiid proa
n' peota of the Union Party, with tho profoundcst
e regret. You counsel inactivity for tho presorva
t tion of the Whig party. I have served long and
j faithfully in the ranks of that party; but, sir, with
me, Country is now, has ever been, and shnll con
tinue to be, above Party. I honestly believe, in
a the oontest now before us every man should take
T sides. I further believe, General Fikuok’s election
will do more to perpetuate the Union, upon true
~ principles, than that of his adversary. Upon tho
great question of the day, Gon’l Pierce is with us,
c and there cannot bo shown a single act Or speech,
of his life unfavorable to us. You havo already
shown whore Scott stands. In a letter to a gen
tleman In this county, the Hon. Robert Toombs
, says of Pierce, that “ho is a fair, just, sound and
I upright man, with more ability than any of the
four candidates; and has, throughout the whole
, slavery agitation, acted with energy and fearless
I promptitude in favor of the just rights of the South.
As botiveen him and Boott, I prefer his electiou,
I and I think that the Union Party ought to give him
its support. ” Here, sir, is tho deliberate opinion
f of a man well known to us, our chosen Represent
ative—a man of ability und patriotism—a man who
cannot bo deceived iu tho matter, and wins would
I never dcccivo thopoople.
1 cannot, then, but say, as I said in the outsat,
that 1 regretyouroourso towards Mr.PiExcu, whoa
he has such a tribute from a truo-hearted Southron.
i Speaking of tho Whig Platform, Mr. Toombs says,
“entrusting it to Storr&Co., is like set!mg up
wolves to tako oaro of the lambs.”
You speak of Gen’l Pierce’s “ obnoxious prinol
, pies.” This sounds very strange to my ears.—
Why, Mr. Editor, have not yon, and other Whig
leaders, been proclaiming all over Georgia, for the
last two years, that tho old issues were absolete—
I and that there was but ono question now worthy of
, the attention of the people? Now, how stands.
I General Pibroe on that question—for or against us!
Mr. Toombs says he is with us. You havo already,
and justly, pronounced Soon against us. Yet,
with this difference in the position of these two
men, you counsel inactivity —a polloy ruinous to
the Whig Party, and which will, if pursued, bring
it so low in the estimation of all true men, that it
never can be rallied again. Mr. Jenkins may, liko
Achillos, remain in bis tent, while tho enemies of
the oountry are rallying to elect Gen. Scott ; but,
sir, the People will not be spectators of this %ht.
The people intend to stand up to a Northern man
who has proved himself a Patriot in the last great
crisis, and they ought to do it. Ido not know a
single Union Whig in this county who is not will
ing to stand by Pikrck and tho Country ; and wo
desire the perpetuation of tho Union Party in order
to give him an effective support. What consum
mate folly now to dissolve this great and gknioue
Party ! Ought we not to wait and soe if oar prin
ciples, which have been professed, are faithfully
carried out ? For one, I cannot thir.k the Union
Party is dissolved.' I cannot think ‘that the men
who have for the last two years struggled together
will now separato wlieyi thero arc such reasons for
remaining together, and fighting one more battle,
at least, for the Country.
“A Union Whju,”
from old WiUcte.
Re-Uxiox of the Democraot.— The Charleston
Mercury , but reeeutly the highest authority with
the Fire-eaters und Secessionists of Georgia, allud
ing to the anticipated re-union of tho Democracy
in the Presidential election, romarks:
“ This re-muon, as far as it is real, is an amalga
mation of the Union or Compromise, the Hontheru
Rights anil the Frecsoil parties,—and uil of them
professing to have given up no principle. It m
quite eleur then that the object of that union is
nothing but party success iu tho approochingeleo
tiou, and that the South must share it, (if indeed
the South is not cheated ont of all share) with the
Frseaoilura.”
Wmo Ratification Meetino in Savannah.—.
We find iu the Georgian tho following notice of the
ratification meeting in that city. It is a remark
able feet that Savannah is tho only point in Geor
gia at which a meeting has been held to ratify
either of tho nominations. >
“The Whig Ratification Meeting Inst night was
attended by a very respectable number of the ciri
zens of Savannah. In its organization Col. W. T.
Williams, a veteran member of tho party wss
mado Chairman, and Mr. Woodbridge choaeu
Secretary. Moat of the Evening wan occupied by
Judge Fleming, ono of tho Georgiu delegate* to
the whigßational Convention, in what wc must
admit to have .>een a very able argument, aa ad
dressed to the Whig party in favor of the nomi
nees of their Convention.
- The Judge was most attentively anil respect
j fully listened to, and frequently applauded. Ha
was followed by Major Bacon, in some remarks
prefatory to a preamble and resolutions, endorsing
the action of the Baltimore Whig Convention, <te.
His address was at times vociferously applauded,
and his preamble and resolutions unanimously
adopted. The meeting then adjourned, with three
ehsers for the Whig ticket.
Oolrtiiori-e Delegates.— The following gcntle
men have been selected as delegates to represent
the Constitutional Union Party of Oglethorpe
county, in tho Convention wldoh assembles in
Millcdgeville on tiie 15th inst:
C'ol. B. F. Hardeman; Col. B. W. Hubbard, Dr.
Wm. 8. Metre and Jos. H. Lumpkin, Jr., Esq.
New Cotton. —Capt. J. B. Reid, of Viotoria Co.,
Texas, showed the editor of the Advocate recently f
full open bolls of Cotton, gathered from his field on
the 23d es June. This is what we call early crop
ping. By the middle of July the Captain expects
to have his bands in the field picking.
Fancv Dress Ball, at Madison Springs.— We
are informed by Mr. Watkins, the proprietor, that
there will ho a Fancy Dress Bail at Madison '
Springs, on or shout the 12th of August. The
lovers of fun, frolic, and mystery, and all who are
wont to trick themselves ont in tantastio disguises,
will be delighted with the promise of enjoyment
which tbie announcement holds out, and should
be on the alert for the latest novelty in the way of
costume, immediately.
The New School Presbyterian Churoh now com
prises 140,680 oommuniceuts, being an increase of
576 during the loet year. The number of chnrchea
ie 1602, ministers 1827, licentiates 180.
»■
It is thought that David Meriwether, Esq.,’ wlft
be appointed to fill the vacanty in the United
States Senate occasioned by the death of Mr. fer,