New Orleans daily crescent. [volume], April 13, 1860, Morning, Image 1

About New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866

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'8 l OLY STAIUE INAUGURATION.
liNTIls raus 'T a6 TU olT IPOPJLATION.
TRNMMNDOUtII PROCEtSION' I
s.Pa, f0, OW BU0Iv*lnEsa.
I . 'friS t)aTo N.
The inauguration oi the C.ly Statue, yesterday,
was bleased by .i. though rather warm weather,
and was redm~akfe 't orlbtg bytfir the greatest
public spectacle ever wttnessedin this city. The
only previous rvea at ,all to be likened to it was
Gen, Taylor's tritupbhal entryon his return fom
Mexico, some fourteen years ego; and that nas a
display far behland the one offered yesterlay.
Ilegs to the geee.
The fsingenn' ftoui al the buting In the city
and on the riveri *e i aerrily in te breese.
Not a fag any*ii. da i:o Ittle, tgltha . waig t
hung oUt; tagotý 1Osuo, g~d all other owners
of foreign A mrgs, th Amerctl in hang
ing their ae nr i oltwar4 walls. On the
-levee the sight was maganileent. The five oesix
miles of steamers and shipsall had theifcolors out,
fortede sort of rainbow flounce for the city,
on the river idd.
8uspealen of sUslteess.
There never w~a ity n Ner w when the
suspension of b ellu was so pi Levee,
andflntton, and W Levese, a,
and 'Magaine itreata, were quiet d dited,
even more than on the Sabbath; whilst the great
shopping thorbaghfares were equatll so. No
places remained open, anywhere, sav colnee
houses, little groceries, oonfeotlonerie nd fruit
and cigar shops. We never, on saysaq u, wit
nessed such a p e total suspesre:eof bash
ness; no legal holyi , Sdl bbath, or a other ocesa
sion that we ca.,e , w such a hush
on the roar anitdAt.sol omi ee.
wsmowear She 15alge.
The weather being bright and altogether favor
able, the turnout was uni~ ereal. Not only the men
and boys, but the ladles and the little ones, all in
gayestattire, tripped along the hundreds of streets,
formed tides on the principal avenues, and aggre
gated into billows as they neared Canal street,
which was the grand eraterof the day.
The Sightes on Canal street.
The Statue of Clay, enveloped in the national
colors, was the cynosure; situated n the center of
a broad intersection, from which it could (and can)
bheseen from north, south, east and west; ahappy
ttion for the Statune of the "Great Commoner."
a Ta'h ng;t4 Statue, from the east, on Canal street,
was the gtnd platform of the day; a splendid
affair, half a square in length, rising as it receded,
in.order to give the eeaspants of its multitudinous
benches and chairs afir chance to see. This plat.
form was entirely'surrounded by marbled canvas
drapery, reaching to the ground; sad was like
wise surrounded by fifteen or twenty tnll masts,
each mast Insporting an Americean shield with a
dTack of nags spread out, and asstreamer and gilt
ball at the top, and all these masts connected by
festoons of the richfest and heaviest evergreen.
qn the front stood 4 tell double-colutoned arch of
the Moresque style, on which was emblazoned the
name, " Henry Clay," whilst American flags were
disposed about it in such a way as to aid the arch
in sheltering from the sun the orator's stand be
neath it. The whol. epsarance of this arrange
ment was magnficesnt; thi, very far, ahead of
enything of the kind ever liufs gotten up in New
n~ae...
The Watlrtudes
Of spectators that gorged Canal street and every
other street above and below it, were altogether
tremendous. The street and banquettes were
mostly monopolized by the sterner sex; the broad
balconies, versendahs bd windows, on both sides
of the street, for squares, as well as on the other
steet were flush with ladies and children; look
ing, in their gay and varied dresses, like so many
huge bouquets, fresh gathered from the gardens of
Paradise and clustered together by some Titanic
hand. The Grand Ah d bling
Of the Military, M ays ,iRpOea, bevolent So
cieties, and other eo , w1 course the
agitation on and ol eset, before the
procession was foira .t 1 d out in great
strength; such anastemblage~ias never before
witnessed in this city.., The particulars of all this
will be best given In our account of
hn Pqedos.on
An artillery salM wasii the signal for starting.
. ,The long lines of solceties which filled the streets
to unknown distances, fell in, one by one, accord
ing to their places in-the programme. After Col.
Walton, the Grand Marshal, and his aids, started
down Royal q considerably inore than an
hour elapsed 1.--te last end of the procession
got off. e 5litary
Followed the Grand Marshal and his Staff, and
were out in great sta.gth. Major-General Lewis
and Staff led; neaj.. l.the Louisiana Legion,
nnder Brigadler , including the Or
leans Battalion g another down-town
conlpanies, and the lerist from Donaldson
ve; then came the First Brigade, under Briga
dier-General Tracy, including the Washington Ar
tillery, Continental Guards, City Guards, Louisiana
Grays; the Mississippi Rifles, from Jackson, and
the Cadets, from Mobile. All this was merely the
military escort to the grand procession of the
day. The First Grand Dlvlsion
led off with a long line of carriages, in which were
seated the Clay Monumental Committee, the Jack.
son Monumental Committee, and other gentlemen
identiliedwith enterprises in honor of theillustrious
dead. Then came the
Free lnasons
In a degree of strength and splendor never before
seen here. A long cavalcade of the Knights Tem
plars, gorgeously appareled in frocks and mantles
of.white, bearing the scarlet cross of the order,
black cockades with white and black plumes, yel
low top boots, drawn swords, all on white horses,
aqd their cross on every saddle-cloth, were at
the head. After these were the various Lodges
and Degrees of Masonry in their rich regalia,
from Entered Apprentice to Royal Arch, Knight
Kadosh, and Thirty-third Degree. The Knights
Kadosh were a splendid feature in their dress
of richly embroidered black velvet and cock
'ades; and the length and strength of the Ma
turnouttwas an astonishment to everybody.
.&tah- the Masons, followed a line of carriages,
containing the orator of the day, W. I H. HRUr,
Esq., the Mayor of the city, Aldermen, city and
State officers, Representatives, Army and Navy
officers, Government officers, and the gray-haired
Veterlans of Chalmette,
With their tattered flag, riddled by British bullets,
and eaten by time. After all these (a very long
line) came the Shipping Agents and Ship Masters,
with the celebrated full-rigged fourteen tun
Ship West Winud,
braced on a truck drawn by sid horses; manned
by a merry crew of four men and ten boys, and
four miniature cannon over her bows, iring salutes
on the way. This was a very great sensation;
thousands seeing the little ship for the first
time, and admiring it and its crew aecordingly.
oMarshal, C. W. Pescay; Captain, S. P. Johnson;
First Lieutenant, A. Freitas; ,Midshipman, W.
Smith; Boatswahi, John Rogers; Gunner, W. Davis;
Second and Third Gunners, W. Perry and John
Brown ; Qoartei&*aster, Peter Mackay; Seamen,
Peter Brewer, Joseph-Pierce, Joseph Pall, W. Low,
W. Wells, W. Shepherdson, and W. Foerestr. The
erec had to do some quick and tallelnbEi#pp;t
ous points, to keep the masta~et. rait the
age and banners whiob h -e acretheatseer. s.
eship came up Camp st~et., theflag. of the
three ibwspaper offieesahang Straghbtdwin. The
sailors commenced climbing, to pass the wage over
NEW ORLEANS AIL R
PUBLISHED EVERY DAY, SUNDAY EXEPE, BY J. O. NIKON, AT No. 0i . ý Ti ',.
VOLUME XIII. " FRIDAY MORNING, APRIL 13, 1860." .UM.. .
the masts; but just as they got to the spot, a gust
of wind raised the Picayune flag to a horlsontal
fow; the Crescent flag followed suit, but one cor
ner of it sunk just low enough to kiss, co
quettishly, the gilt ball on the top of the main
mast; and the Delta flag also raised itself, and
gave the little ship a free pasiage. After the
abip passed, the lags drooped down again.
The singularity of the he thing was remarked by all
who were in eight of it. The fligs, accidentally,
oibred a happy illustration of genuine newspaper
courtesy.
Another line of carriages followed the little ship;
in these were Protestant and Catholic clergymen,
and other gentlemen whom we had not time to
make out; and afcief these, a handsome body of
professional medical gentlemen, lately graduated.
The Fire Department
led the second grand division. It was a powerful
and most splendid turnout; astonishing every
body, in view of the immensity of the other turn
outs, to which so many of the firemen belonged.
The Algiers and Milteburg comqpanies were in
the line; every city company turned out except
one, which we think wasNo. 22; and many of the
companies were out in as great force as on their
own and xelttsive fourth of March parade. From
an elevation onCamp street, we took inat a glance
s.ome six or eight squares of firemen, walking four
abreast, in a straight column, and in close ranks;
the shirts,sra, white and blue,designated the dif
ferent companies in the undulating column; we
never before saw the firemen to such advantage;
it was a splendid siglit. After the firemen came
The Printing Press,
On a covered car, with stand, cases, printers at
work sticking type, and others at a press striking
off little neat sheets, and scattering them broad
cast to the crowds as they passed. The subject of
the print was a handsome ode to Henry Clay, by
"KNettle McL." The
(ermnn Draymeln's Society,
In their neat regalia, came next; a very large
body of stout-looking men. Other societies fol
lowed, of which we did not get the names. The
Benerolent Association of the
Solns of Loulsiana
led the third grand divislon, having with them the
Young Men's BenevlentAssocilation; a large and
splendid turnout, comsrthing the best of the creole
population. These- ere followed by a very nota
blo feature. in the
Yonussg .ien's Chrslnlas{t ,AOein.nllo,
escorting the Confederationtn tlihd'onng Men's
Christian Assoceations of thliTnltedsitates and the
British Provinces; a long'ie of fine-looking men,
mostly young, who evidentlyfelt that they had not
come to New Orleans for nothing. Mr. Robert
Gribble was the Grand Marshal; his aids were Dr.
H. 5. Forwood, and Messrs. A. G. Bakewell, I. D.
Gribble, and R. G. Latting. Walker Smithl, Esq.,
President of the Confederation, appeared in his
proper place. This body attracted much attention,
throughout the whole long march. The
Sons of Tcmpethance
were out, strong and handsone,-with their banters
and recalia. The
B. B. of G. Y. .I.,
Louisiana Wigwams Noo. 1 and 2, were out in a
force which surprised the masses not familiar with
that order. The
Scotch Rlte IMasons
next came in great force, the different lodges and
degrees wearing the richest of regalias, and form.
ing a brilliant section of the procession, three or
four squarps in length. The
Srrewmen'a llBenevolent Asnoelatona
Was immense; the largest single body in the pro
cession: four abreast, close ranks, for more than
two squares; their blue scarfs,-black hats and
coats, and white linen pants, giving-them, as a
whole, a most imposing appearance.
WVe tHnve not Rssam
To tell all about the other societies that followed.
A just description of yesterday's pageant would
fill our whole paper, to 'the exclusion of every
thing else.' The New Lusttenos Society was out in
great strength, and made a most beautiful and ele
gant display. The Spanish Benevolent Associa
tion, the Hebrew Association and others, were
handsomely represented in the apparently inter
minable procession. The German Mechanics' So
ciety was out in tremendous force; as a body,
coming up Camp street,they offered a splendid ap
pearance.
The boys of the 11ev. Father J. Moynihan's school
on Dryades street, under charge of some of the
clergy, and the boys of several of the Fourth Dis
trict public schools, under charge of Mr. Parham,
the Superintendent, made a show which surprised
and pleased everbody. The graduates and stu
dents of Dolbear's Commercial College, a large
body of flue looking young men and boys, brought
up the rear of the procession.
The reader n-ill just consider that the banners,
flags, ornaments, bands of music, etc., dispersed
throughout the immense procession, included
nearly everything of that kind in the city and
surrounding country. The procession, dense as it
was, men walking four abreast, was nearly four
miles long; had it been spread out like ordinary
processions, the city would not have been long
enough to contain it.
The head of the procession returned from the
down-town circuit, and was far up-town, before
the tail of the procession had budged from Canal
street. It was a turnout altogether gigantic, mag
nificent, unprecedented in this city. We must now
conm to Canal street and the
Itnnuguratlon ('eaenlounles
For an hour's time the multitudinous procession
was occupied in coiling its long length into Canal
street, the Masonic fraternity occupying ground
near the Statute, the military forming in a line en
closing the Statue at one end and resting on the
speaker's stand at the other and keeping open the
elliptic area of ground between stand and Statue,
which faced toward the former. Other companies,
societies, orders and associations as they filed into
the wide street ranged themselves as near as pos
sible to the central scene, and, with the general
crowd, densely packed a vast area of space. Every
window on both sides the street was blocked up
with eager gazers, who swarmed and clustered on
balcony and housetop. We heard it estimated that
fifty thousand pairs of eyes were gazing when the
Statue was revealed and the beams of a New Or
leans sun first bathed it in a baptism of light. A
more benignant sky could not have smiled upon its
christening. We think the above estimate of the
number present was not over the mark. The scene
was most animating and interesting-indeed, it
might be termed magnificent and impresasire-with
its various features of uniformed and regalia'd com
panies, associations and orders, its vast throng of
lookers-on on all sides, its waving flags and ban
ners, the beautifully decorated stand, and in the
midst of all, the Statue, its colossal outlines barely
showing through its gorgeous drapery. The beauty
of New Orleans was sufficiently represented by an
innumerable and brilliant array of ladies wier
ever there was room for them to locate in sight of
the Statue.
Unvelling the Statue.
Amid the thunders of artillery and the stormy
masic of scores of bands, the striped and starry
drapery fell from the muffled form of the Statue,
and unveiled its magnificent proportions-the sig
nal for the wildest enthusiasm among the vast mul
titude, while sky-rending and continuous shouts
from tens of thousands of throats hailed the im
posing effigy of the loved and honored stateaman.
The effect was absolutely electrical when the.ita.
tue was first exposed, and everybody seemed in
sane with excitement.
When the applaudatory Qlamor had subsided,
Mayor Stith stepped forwatd and requested the
Grand Marshalt to announce three cheers for Joel
T. Hart, Eaq., the Scuptor, who, with Judge T. G.
Hunt, flanked one side of the Orator's desk, and his
Honorand Col. Robert J. Ward the other. They
were given with deafening empaslds, Mr. Hart ris
ing and bowing acknowledgment to the salute.
The Dedatenton.
"When the assemblage again became hushed and
still, the high officers of the Maeonie fraternity,
standing on the pediment base of the Statue, dedi
cated the work with the solemn and mysterions cer
emonies of the Order. This was a most inter
estingat Imopoelg featare of the occasion.
The Ode.
The Committee of Arrangements having changed
the programme somewhat from its published form,
Mr. Overall declined reciting his promised ode.
The Oration.
Grand Marshal Walton announced the Orator of
the day, and Wat. H. HBcr, Esq., arose and de.
livered the beautiful and eloquent oration which
we give below. As the sonorous and powerf.l
voice of the speaker enunciated the flowing pe
riods which told the patriotic virtues and achieve
ments, the private worth and public noble-doing of
the subject of eulogy, we saw the cheeks of many
an old Clay Whig wet with tears, called forth by
the lfod ,remeinbrances of Harry of the Weat,
which the glowiq g words of the orator had con
Jaredbaokhtomand. a w
The oration was a triumphantly brilliant efiort,
and altogether worthy the grandeur of the occa
sion-the cap-sheaf and splendid climax whieb
crowned with becoming success and lunster the va
rious events of the inauguration. Though the posi
tion of many of the myriad of auditors was very un
comfortable, and a fiery sun played upon the great
majority, the oration was listened to with breath
less interest by all "ywho could get within hearing
distance. Rapturous applause frequently broke
in upon the speaker, for the enthusiasm was irre
pressible :
In the year 1852, a number of public-spirited
and patriotic citizens, desirous of manifesting their
veneration for tihe character and public services of
Hemty Clay, formed themselves into a society
named the " Clay Monumental Association of New
Orleans.'' Their object, as their name indicates,
was to erect in this city a suitable monument to
the illustrious man whose memory they designed
to honor.
They determined to erect a bronze statue of MIr.
Cloy, and they fixed upon this spot for its location,
w-i the permission of the cit± authorities.
On the 12th of April, 1836, the corner-stone of
the pedestal was laid with becoming solemnities.
The work of making the statue was entrusted to
Mr. Joel T. Hart, of Kentucky. The Association
displayed their good judgment In committing this
important work to a native sculptor, whose dis
tinguished reputation in the world of Art gave an
earnest of its admirable execution; and who, born
by the side of the illustrious patriot, and having
early learned to contemplate his greatness, would
bring to the performance of his grateful task a
genius glowinug with the enthusiasm of unbounded
personal admiration.
Equally judicious has been the selection of this
site for the statue. In the most frequented tho
roughfare of our city--in the very heart of the
metropolis, overlooking the Mississippi, the great
avenue of our internal commerce, and one of the
strongest natural bonds of the Union-it stands
conspicuous; a noble and permanent ornament of
New Orleans, and a fit monument of the gratitude
And now that this patriotc undertaking is
crowned with completion, we have assembled to
day, beneath the open heavens, to celebrate with
appropriate ceremonies tile gratifying event. The
city has assumed its garb of holiday ; the artisan
has laid aside his work; the stores and places of
business are forsaken; the courts and public offices
are closed. The large attendance here of the mili
tary in glittering uniforms, and of the civic societies
in tasteful decorations; the throng of citizens of
all classes and occupations, who crowd the ample
area where we stand; the groups that fill the sur
rounding balconies and windows and housetops;
the presence on this platform of the highest digni
taries of the State and city, and of the numerous
distinguished visitors from other communities, who
have come among us, combine to lend unusual
conseqnence to the occasion, and to invest it with
a splendid interest.
n the .saenfrthe Association whose organ I
a , td' you, fellow-citizens of Louisiana, and of
other portions of our glorious Union, and to others
who manifest by their presence a generous sympa
thy in our proeeedingS, I extend a hearty, free and
American welcome.
The custom of perpetuating the memory of illus
trious men by statues or paintings is derived from
tihe remotest antiquity. The ancients were wont
thus to typify their gods in orderto inspire their
youth with sentiments of religious piety; whilst the
images of their great captains, their kings and
rulers, their sages and statesmen, served consant
ly to impress upon the people salutary lessons of
emulation, patriotism and virtue.
In modern times, throughout the civilized world,
this custom still prevails. In Europe every polished
nation abounds in monuments to its illustrious he
roes. lu our own country we have not been un
mindful of the advantages to posterity thus con
ferred, nad of our duty to our own foeelings; and in
most of our larger towns monuments and statues
have been erected to the memory of our distin
guished men.
It is the instinct of virtue to do honor to Genius
and Patriotism. To do so by the enduring means
of the Fine Arts is to illustrate the progress and
proficiency of our age in those accomplishments
which evince the highest degree of culture and re
finement in a nation.
The desire of posthumous fame is a powerful in
contive to public virtue. So uncertain are popular
favor and power at all times, so much alloyed by
envy hatred, malice and all uncharitableness, that
a wise men looks rather to posterity than the pre
sent for his reward and the realization ofhis golden
dreams of glory. In doing honor to the dead, the
living are but discharging a pious duty: and it is
by a beautiful and unselfish Intuition that a virtu
ens and patriotic people is led to feel a proud
pleasire' in such holy offices.
Prompted by these feelings, wt are here to-day
to dedicate this statue-the statue of Henry Clay !
Behold his life-like Image stands before you! No
royal robes adorn his person; no crown, no scep
tre, no badges of ancestral glory. No sword is by
his side to tell of battles fought and won - no baton
to indicate the pomp and power of authority. A
plain man, in the simple garments of a citizen; his
image challenges not our admiration through the
adventitious aids of rank or the tinsmel ornaments
of ruilitar glory. But he stands before us as we
knew hin--as we loved and honored him. The em
bodiment of the Genius, of the wisdom, of the elo
qgenee, of the courage, of the public virtue, of the
self-sacrifice, of the patriotism which filled the
measure of his country's glory, and made his tlame
and tfame imnortl.
Henry Clay wats bor n in nover county, Vir
ginia, on the 12th day of April, 1777. His parents
were very poor, and whe lhe was of tender years
his father died. This event left him dependent en
tirety on his own resources, and he thus early set
forth upon tie thorny path of life, leaning on no
friendly arm, but unaided and nnsopported, to
achieve the great destiny that awaited him in the
future. Having enjoyed slender educational ad
svantsgea--advantges very far inferior to those.
now ithin thie reach of every child in this commu
nity-we find him at fourteen years of age, and
with only three years' schooling, employed in a
drug-store in Richmond. This situation he soon
left, to act as a scribe in the offre of the Clork of
the Court of Chancery. Here he contracted the
acquaintance, and was enabled to enjoy the in
structive conversation of many of the ripest law
yers and ablest minds of Virginia--a rare advan
tage, and wont to be undervalued by youth, buh
which nhe had the good sense fully to appreciate
and improve.
He seized enterly and gratefully the outstretched
hand that .sought to guide his youthful footsteps
through the darkness with which circunmtances
had enveloped them.
On becoming licensed to the practice of the law,
his ambitious and adventurous spirit led him to re
move to Kentucky; and before he arrived atth
age of majarity he commenced his professional
careen in that State.
Obscurity and indigence did not dismay his lion
heart, bat seemed rather to quicken his powers
into action, and to strengthen in him the indom
itable spirit ofself-reliance for which he was ever
remarkable. His diligence, his fidelity, his ability
and eloquence achieved for him immediate suc
cess, and he rose at once to the highest rank at a
bar where there were many lawyers of merit and
eminepce.
This high-professional reputation ho maintained
throughout his life. I will not weary yon by refer
ring to the various important causes in which he
participated, although many of them involve high
questions of constitutional law and personal rights,
which would, doubtlesas, interest yon; b ut as a
member of that noble profession, Ifeel a pridein
pointing to hisand in claimingtllat it was from the
study of the enlightened and phllosophicaltprlnci
pies of the science of the lw, he drew thoe ele
I vated, enlarged and catholic views of eonntita.
tional'goverrmeut, of Public and personaul rkh ts,
sad that love of r/gayttd Marti on hicc tbie
phMr Clay w ý bn thrrxde pratice of his
profemon, to 0ngag5 In i. aaMo extended duties
of political life. Iected to o Leglslatureu of
sntuamky IuI,, he mT be emntdered to have
then enlteimslf ath i tvlee of his couny.
th 188n he was elected I hlieaato of the United
states for an Ufrsaed term,nd was agasin elected
to that body In 865, to All another vacancy. HIs
national career seems thus trahgely to have conm
m-nceed at a point of distination whero the glory of
the most suocesful of our public men nsually Cal
mlnatee.
ieturned to the House of Resresentatives in
Congee, at the expiration of his Senatorial term,
in 1811, he ncst entered that body. HIS fame hb.
preceded Idmo. In the graphi language of Mr.
noloiho : "bin, ste stp w from the door of the
H-oose to the |Speakr'a obai."
Through maeoafe.ae COgM he continued to
fil this dntlngeisbe and dlplYgi oaus position for
about tiirtee. Uloy e. His c tent litty andwitr
oems-the ad ptly td 0 it buemeanoc
the njutice redses and eo wrhich arrk
ed. hI daoboos of queotioua#$ofater, woo for him
the reopect and losoofea ltical oppo
nents: To hav itend thia station for so
long a peeid Itl on such a as
occurred idthse th tery of r blie a to.
this onuntr h . n
But Mr. Clay did noteontet a h elf simply with
the duty of ei og overa boratlof o oft.dh
oun . 8 He p eted to I nto bof ne
ansiso. His labors to "wrse mosl ardoona
and Itncesat; and It in believedu that durin this
time he exorcised an inat pat over the Hrouse
each as no statesman ever wielded before or
since.
From this theater of his d he was called to
act as one of the cnmmbolouir of the United
States in negotiating a os1.y in 1814 and 1815,
and oanbsequoently to e ptle post ofntecretary
of State during thie oadmlngision of Mr. hAdams.
In 1831 he war elected to Iaqante of the United
States, and continued a meeheripf that body until
1842, when he resigned his seat aed retred to pri
vate life. In t184 he was, however called from
his retirement to occupy again, and for tho.flitth
time, a seat in the Senate; and he continued a
member of that ongust bedy'up to the time of hia
death in June, 1852.
It is not my object, nor would It he becoming in
me on an occasion like thisto enter pon the din
cnssion of those meamures efpublapollcywhich ie.
advocated during his long life. " I am not here to
rake oil the rwarm ashe from the embera of eon
troversies which have supentteir fury, and are dy
ng away, or to fapn the Ard of thosea which still
burn." But it in proper tobring before your minds
some of his leeling measores and views, which,
sometimes bping the oourie'of our national pol
icy and sometheed opposing it, llusetrate his cphr
acter as a statesman.
Mr. Cloy has been called " the Father of the pbol
icy eofinternal improvegetote by' the Generan Gov
erinent." As far hack a 1t.7 hie opinions ne
this important nubject ere foreshadowed in the
Sfenate, in hi speech on the eotomac Bridge bill.
It in trone that this picy had been preiously nre
commendedby Mlr. Jfferson. Mr.Madinon aleso e
curredt the aubjectwithaipfobatist. Butshen,
nsder the advocarcy of lrasdlyin 1810, It was pro
posed to net asIde for ijnt.oalin ilprovemente a
fund, to be hpaid into the Hat ohnl Tpesenry by the
Hank of the United States then rechartered, Pres
ident Madison vetoed the 'il dpopn the groond of
its ncolstitutionarity. Pre.ldent Monroe, his oe
caonr, in his eorst annual meege, in anticipation
of renewed egislation on the subject, took occa
asion to pronomce his clear opihion that Congress
id noat possess the power under the Constotution.
Aginat the authority of lhese dihtinguished
statesmen, Mr. Clay stood foeeth the leading advo
cate of the power. Arneiobution introdocedinto
the. ouse declaring that Congress possessed the
power to conatruot military reads, post-roadseand
canals, called forth from himsappeech of masterly
ability and eloquence. The argument of Mr.
Madison had been, that the Coestitution should be
I amended no as to confer thisnpower upon Con
grewn. lit. Mr. Clay pressed the resolution, con
sidering that if the Homse decided against the
power, it was gone-gene forever-unless restored
by a constitutional amendment, which be showed
it was impracticable to seek or expect. Mainly
througlh bis exertions the resolutlon passed the
Hoone by a handsome majority, and the power of
I Cengress over the subject was far the ireo time
emulratieapls ioelo~o.L
Dioubts among statesmen may still exist as to
the correctness of Mr. Clays views upon this sub
et. Yet imporwant works of public improvement
been since undertaken and completed by the
Government, and to him more than to any other
statesmanof his era, is the country indebted for
the permanent benefits they have conferred. The
traveler upon our noblest national highway, the
great Cumberland Road, sees in the striking monu.
ment which has been erected to his genius, and
which bears his name inscribed upon its shaft, a
just tribute of gratitude to the enlightened patriot
ism of the Father of Internal Improvements. Nor
will I be considered as trenching on forbidden
ground when I cite as a corollary from the prin
ciples of constitutional interpretation he advocated,
the recent recommendation to Congress by Presi
dent Buchanan that the General Government
should lend its patronage and aid to the construe
tion of a great national railway to the shores of
the Pacific.
In April, 1810, Mr. Clay delivered his first speech
in Congress in favor of the policy of protecting
and encoouraing domestic manufactures. Of this
policy, familiarly known as the American system,
ie continued, throoghoat his entire life, the stead
fast and devoted friend. Mr. Benton referred to him
asits " founder." It aimed to effect the entire inde
pendence of our country of all foreign nations as it
respects our essential wants. The system proposed
that, "whilst imposts should be mainly, and under
modifications might safely, be relied on as a fit and
convenient source of publice revenue, the duties on
foreign fabrics should he so adjusted and arranged
as to afford a gradual but adequate protection to
American industry; thus lessening our dependence
on foreign nations, by securing a certain and ulti
mately a cheaper and better supply of our own
wants from ou oown abundant resources."
In the advocacy of this comprehensive and truly
national policy, Mr. Clay, at different periods, en
countered the strenuous opposition of the greatest
intellects of the country. At one epoch Mr. Web
ster, whose views upon the subject subsequently
underwent a change, opposed it with all the mas
terly peower of his gigantic mind; whilst thewhole
energies of the disciplined logic of Mr. Calhoun, in
his later days, sought to break it down. In the
discussion of no subject during his life has Mr. Clay
displayed more splendid or more varied powers of
eratory-more vigor and profundity of argument
-a greater extent of information and a tiore ad
mirable patriotism.
Sustained by the wathfulness of its great founder,
the principle of protection involved in tie system,
modified according to the increasing strength of
our manufactures and the demands of the National
Treasury, withstood the assaults of its opponents,
and is still to a certain extent, the polcy of the
country. Its beneficent influences have been
shown in the development of our national enter
prise, its the encouragement of the mechanic arts,
in opening and multiplying diveraified avenues of
labor, it sweliiug the tide of industrial immigra
tion to our shores, in securing at home the vast
profits resulting from a conversion of ray" materials
into manufactured articles, and in the creation of
new ties of interest binding more closely together
the different portions of the Union.
In 1832, propositions being introduced into the
Senate in regard to fixing the price and the trans.
fer of the public lands, it was moved to refer them
to the Committee on Manufactures, of which Mr.
Clay was a member. In spite of the incongruity of
the subject with those legitimately falling within
the province of that committee, and notwithstand
lug earnest the entreaties of Mr. Clay and his re
monstrances against a course soextraordinary, the
motion prevailed.
"The design was," said he, "to place is my
hands a many edged Instrument, which I could not
touch without being wounded." It was supposed
that, in view of the approaching Presidential elec
tion, and actuated by motives of personal Advance
ment, he would be tempted to advocate the de
mands of the new States to the public domain, in
hopes of tlheir favor, and would so incur the dis
pleasure of the old; or, that bya course of silence
and inaction, he might seek to avoid all responsi
bility in the matter. How fallacious were these
expectationsl The patriotic statesman at once
applied himself to the duty thus ungraciously im
posed upon him, and soon reported to tihe Senate a
bill containing features so eminently jast and based
npon such sound policy, that it passed the very
Senate which had hoped to embarrass its anthor.
The measure was subsequently concurred in by the
House of IRepresentative by the unusually large
vote of 9t overd0. It was defeated by the veto of
the Exectuive; but through its means and the
wise course of Mr. Clay upon the subject, many
plans for the plunder of the public lands, were
then and aftorwards frastaled, and in 1841 many of
the important features of this bil became a law.
I cite this history not merely as dip - hiog te wis
dom ofMr. Clay. and the rasourceseor n greattuiel
ilect, and the ~iplnenme he exerted In iii. eoselts of
I the nation, but as illustrating his feartesness of all
persotnal onsequeneesn lthe faithful discharge of
public duty.
To the consideration of the subject of th$ -
tional currency Mr. Clay, throushoant hi Jlf"te.
voted hia seal esd ' 1its
Ingeedetrthe ceilioneofof
aonlrra ta of ta ý e
Is tI aeor' u w toe. a caurne of ves
daced by rr. Oelsn, p oropeag poeio
President Mr. Clay esamedown fom e
ohir to dad Itoedavocaie the eeemaure. T
G ovechange - ien y thr.
Ilayeo any im.ortant mesewr aE atironl hpol
datng a public lie of nearly belf ac entory. .Te
reasons which led to thri ehansg he frankl
avowed. ahesvy debt, the remlt otthe late war,
weighed like an neeabus pon the ltay, lsdther
wrl a general nt onal dn slal arame
The eyes of the whole people were tred to the
Government ontherea oneble tapeeation that the
L agislature wouo id 4ie uonre mtere or --re
d ane be p ai and 'more ar tpreheenas
of the Incrhtaeeof hisr ont scpes ato tho
Bull ooavlcaof b e absolate necespi ty, he did nW
hesitate to annmosace publicly isl changof oe
ion, when he srarrve hbelteae d' himself be.in_
hisSpeaker's cH o. Hie kaetbli well thathi
candor weas liable to misconstructiona-his motlive
en to anPaedjetn and sp piaso. It was like
him to maeest th res onsibili. face to face, with
t geo of er onlona reetae.
Wh. this ibmb eet agaiin san ebefore Conres
- '832, he adsooated the reehyrtr of the B·k.t
The mennurefalled, s is welt kowothrough the
etp of the rePldd dt. The Ia bnsCoagr
tO til veto, and tothe ue. nrt removal of the
depoitse, and indeed to the admlnistration of Ge.
ekThson and Mr. VanaBren, web open, determined
and dauntless. Mr. Clay became on all occasions
li ourageoum, skillful and acknowledged leader.
Though thwarted in carrying thirogh their meas
ure, the opposition enjoyed the satsfaction of
seeing them approved of by the people, In the
memorable Preidenlial contest of 1840. The n
timely death of Gen. Hiarrison prevented the real
lzation of the expectations of his party. Bat the
eslection of thatngt hed patriot was no less a
verdict of the people in favor of the pellcy which
Mr. Clay had so long and constatenly advocated
before the country. Since that time, some of the
measures of the great Whig party, of which he
wae the life and soul, have been laid aasideormodi
lied; but let nycandid mind tern te the history
of that party, and however mush he may dissent
frsl Itst tenets, he cannot but .dmit that its aila
were patriotic and national, pore, comprehensive
ad repobliecan.
Hitherto I hare spoken only of some of th,.s
measures of domestle policy In which Mr.+
bore a prominent part. I peas now to review
briefly his course with reference to the foreigne
lations of our country.
It has been said by a distingnished statesman,
whose name I take pride in mentioning--by Me.
Crlttendetiuthat "to Mr. Clay belonged the states
man's portion of the glory of the last war with
Great Britaoin;" and the concurrent testimony o
hles cotemporarices has aseigued to him the honor
of being its moot prominent and effective advocate
and supporter.
When, In 1812 President Madison sent a cood.r
dential communication toCongress, recommending
an embargo upon vessels then in port for sixty
days, the measure was strenuously opposed in the
House. Mr. Clay, then Speaker of the House, stood
forth its defender, assuming the bold ground that
It was "to be viewed as the direct precursor to
war." The measure was adopted, and was shortly
followed by an open declaratione of war with og."
SUnder the Berlin and Milan decreusof Napoleon
our ships.and their cargoes had been seized andti
confiscated by the French. The British, by their
orders in Council, continued during the same time
to perpetrate like outrages upon our flag and
propeerty These wrongs were justified by each
nation upon the novel plea that they were also
pepetrted with impunity by the other. Dlsatis
iledwith our policy of neutrality, they despised
our supposed weakness. At length France, yield
ing toounr remonstrances, was induced to forego,
so far as we were concerned, the hostilities perpe
trated under her decrees. But the haughty and
domineering spirit of England was reluctant to re
train from further aggressions apon us, and she
continued for a ear after to harrase our com
merce, to violate our flag, to stop our ships upon
the high seas--nay, even under the shadow of our
own shores-and to impress into her hateful ser
vice American citizens. In a space of some two
months and a half, twenty-seven merchant ships
were taken by British cruisers and condemned as
prizes by British Comrt of Admiralty ; and it was es
timated that up to the time when war was declared,
7000 seamen had been impressed, in flagrant viola
tion of our rights under the established principles
of the Law of Nations.
Outrages such as these, the people of this coun
try, mindful of their ancestral glories and instinct
ively imbued with the spirit of liberty and Inde
pendence, could not long tolerate. To portray
them in the strains of fiery indignation and impas
sioned eloquence which Mr. Clay employed, was
at once to flush the cheeks and stir the heart of the
nation. The patriotism of the people became
kindled into a blaze. The powers of his oratory
at this time seemed indeed wonderful. He spoke
like one onspired. His words glowed with genius
and patriotism. In one of his bursts of eloquence
he enunciated a principle in relation to the right of
impressment as claimed and exorcised by Great
Britain, which has stood and is now the acknowl
edged principle of the Law of Nations. Speaking
ofthe certificates of protection to our seamen,
authorized by the act of 1796, he said: "Sir, Gov
ernment has done too much in granting these paper
protections. I can never think of them without
being shocked. They resemble the passes which
the master gives to his negro slave : 'let the bearer
Mungo, pass and repass without molestation.'
What do they imply? That Great Britain has a
right to seize all who are not provided with them.
From their very nature, they must be liable to
abuse on both sides. If Great Britain desires a
mark by which she can know her subjects, let her
give them an earmark. Theeoft- tliaufloat fronm
the nst heads of oour ships should be the only cre.
deslotals of our seomnen.'
Dring the war he wielded an incflence almost ab
solute in the House-among such illustrious states
men as Lowndee, Calhoun, Cheves, Peter B. Porter,
and others. He showed the nation how to breast
the storm and was most active end zealous in de
vising and advocating plans to provide for our
efficient armament.
Wherever the recruiting drum was heard, our
youth pressed forward in crowds to answer its beat
--going forth to war in vindication of our country's
honor. Need I remind you, Mr. President, how, in
your own and his beloved Kentucky, in the short
space of a few weeks, your illustrious ancestors,
the Johseons, raised, equipped, and took the field
at the head of a regiment of mounted men, a thou
sand strong, the flower and the strength of your
noble State? Ask these fronliermen, who left their
rural homes, what more than anything called
them forth, andthey will tcll you it wns the voice
of Henry Clay that rang like a clarion through
their native swoods. Yes, sir, he was the war
genius of the Republic.
It was proper that a war which he had been
a instrumental in originating, Mr. Clay should be
selected as one of the Commissioners to conclude,
by negotiations of peace. Accordingly, on reeeiv
gin such an appointment, he resigned theSpeaker
ship of the House of Representatives, to commence
Shis carer as a diplomatiet. I am not permitted
i now to recall to you in detail the services heo ren
t dered in this new scene of public life. Thetreaty
of Ghent is so closely identified with his name that
to enumerate its advantages is to sound his praise.
iYet I mustnot omit to mention that whenlt wts pro
posed to conrode to Great Britain a continued right
a to navigate the MMIsIssIppi river from Its mouth to
its source, he opposed it at the outset, and finally
declared that he would affix his signature to no
ttreaty which should make the contemplated con
cessilon.
In sight of that noble stream that bears upon its
nample bosou the wealth of all the wide and treit
ful West, it is proper that this statue seould stand,
r to commemorate the incalculable blessings which
t his foresight and determination contributed so
1 largely to secure for the exclusive benefit of his
osuntry.
But a.is was only one of the beneficlal results
Sflowing from the war. Our prowess had been
atested; ouar sense of notlouol honor had been rin
dicated; our arms were hung up bound with lau
Srets; and we stood among tile powers of the
earth, a nation commanding respect, and ready
eand able to enforce it.
a The claims of our Government against France,
grlowing out of her aggressions upon our com
a merce, to which I have already allunded, afforded
d another opportunity for Mr. Clay to guide the for
eignpolicy of the coantry. A treaty had beep
concluded with France, by which a pecuniary a
a demnity for her spoliatinas was to b paid to us In
installments. The first paymeat Sat hal!ng been
f made according to the engagesmenl pfthlitreat
e General Jacktson. in a message to (.hOegrec, in 1,1
y cember, 1834, called attention to th faot, andi.
a terms of characteristic bolos eapaas
if measre sanetioun lalrneh
r. in case the French hrs t
s- ausembliBg, the pb
I- tinee ullgatiu,,-" oth
f mnala. Te l h iia:
Reves a r el
a. Fesident; led Its pYLnta*, and le
i- _Lfviusaton, Mlnise-at Pari, had his
puprte tendered to b1$, Is +
waptzw the e so
-, -yexltIsiasa Itgaea
#6 &
-o s of. foe ode
.mrr. .ay+, whaOtto Irr
their ow
on it every bu .d .bet }
xe, o ex taa
Another retisthe. . he
eoreme of tmg' . .* eso o . .i .
Inao the e lmmt est in
ikhd Committee c t
iy t j the es!te th
hig sanciteodo his aoet' dcled d o
ow r I t win lsdo I m I . enlt h
ngaadros tlen enn.c f the ,
Senated that ltlns'olve to.ive prnle tera ttj
the spartilo of this decine ar do so.
Inaspeech ree :fo N
eseratsy withhsdotm~ y bu.ae heind
his bda erlltendquency of te m eaa DF r
stated tht peoplaevb d ftdno pre icpre ofo t d
onte prt rn the.lovlke poicyuernowm a igcol.li
jdgrnot eon the hcon tent oft w f o m
wards their ownmsbjeoto-.a t
a new field of opilDelon, perE
war, would expose tas to- ,
powers, who might, iwdlnkprieteg tu
iti heriso the Father, of s ieyr
ivted more than ea other o.ra. actle r
ter policy to pareserve the peace hono"
othe sense of imperiWjmeeer obtll somy w
It was in the calm sad matored e
these coun.els that his voiee was last e"-V.edon
Hi eth. p of the Interview etwee
bisS thldbxp4atlttO
almostscse onr shores. Pie asses
Yorks the eof that' ward
ed him the h a" e eamn trlmsjb *esf
o1inhtmtoselg ses ofhi s.a
addresses wore es
nut shsouts of applanse e *t '1
seemed to ring t1roughoolth A
land. The honor of a seetin.
the Nation was voted to Win, MIEe
the Capitol wee san noie rrepted o
speeches bad, nesaetime, .advocated ea ot
hsy on~epat wtha his conity, bu ad nfSia~~
Isteetall aid.wintboldened byetheu mom
of his brilliant eloquence and fleshed bey tfha se
pleases of the people asi the pryee, ho ee sed t
overturn the, established policy of our, coony.
ant presumed to hold up before us now ligts by
which we were to read the writings of oesiummw,
and to furnish isa with siranes nteurpretations
the cherished counsels of Washington.
Arrived at the seat of eou Iational ioverntseet
a nd after receivIng distisgolahed honosr, he ouht
importunately and at lash obtained an istervw
with Mr. Clay, whe life was fast ebbing away.
e saw him. -
The great tateman lag preth ed pot hi
couch, suffering under the weightof ear and dis
ease. He thanked- oreuth for the honor of his
visit. He told ohimin f his love of flber. .tanddhis
bropathyfoisoppearemdbehndtry. ~h.llse idae
time he added that be ttoa proise l ht
quance of his noble nature. He pointod out the
wisdom, the advantage the jatice andtheapreM t
om or our unlnterrupd neutraly wlhisk had
preserved as from being Involved in the tangled
web of Ehropoae poullncthmr cone& o os
nnprecedented prosperity, and efisetina e
ample more for the cause of liberty throghout the
world than arms could have achieved.
What a legacy of wisdom for posterity is there
in these last counsels of the dying etatesman
conusels unloosed for from one whose voice on
earth was deemed silenced under the trials of dis
ease. Thus have we beheld the evening sun,
slowly sinking in the west beneath a veil of clouds,
and seeminly at rest, suddenly burst forth again in
the full glories of his golden splendor; to illnmine
the surroun ling horizon in a blase of light ore his
broad disk disappeared behind the hills to his diur
nal slumber.
This remarkable interview was soon made pub
lie. It challenged the deliberate consideration of
reflecting minds, and aroused them to a just sense
of iatriotie duty. The spell which Kosauth's ge
nlun and oratory had woven was broken. The
purpose of his further joarneaings became vain;
and before he lest our a shores for his native Europe,
he had learned, through the wholesome yet kindly
rebuke admlnistered by the dying lips of He
Clay, how little that man comprehends of the spirit
and intelligence of the people of he Uted
States who endeavors to lead them astray from the
faith of the Fathers of the Republic.
Among all the Important services of Mr. Clay,
throughout his long and eventful cereer, tgae ae
none more conspicunous, orbetter enttllngbito
lasting gratitude of his ontry than his
the preservation of the Union. is p
love of his whole country. No na
hemmed it In. His ompenseh.ove
losing sight of the geographical lines tltis
upon the map the different 8tate of; the ,
considered these States as sections of a common
country, one in history, one in origin, one in lan.
guage, one In government, one In afflction, and
Sone In glory. His heart was wrapped up in the
Nation. To disunite its component parts-to sMp
arate them into distinct nationalities-would have
been to destroy his sublime patriotism.
It was this exalted patriotism which indnced
t him, on every occasion where the permanency of
the Union was involved, to stand forth its bohldeat
most earnest, and most effective champion.
When the question of the admission 9f Mlsouri,
occupied the public mind, which Mr. Jeoeraonde
ol ared "the most momentous that had ver ,rthreat
- ned the Union"-every patriot in the lanud tret.
rbled for the fate of the country. The shemea of
r other statesmen had tailed to furnish a remedy
I equal to the emergency, and dbinion, like a black
cloud, lowered upon the oountry.
Mr. Clay, coming into the eonneils of tle nation
in the midst of this gloom, breght with him wise
messures of conciliation. At first his plans were
a rejected; but he persevered with a spirit nn
daunted. They at length prevailed, and peace and
good-will were restored. The honor of saving the
country was, on all sides, awarded to him, and his
praises were on the lips of a grateful people. Mr.
a Benton called him "the pacicater of ten millions
I of freemen," and it is in speaking of this act that
.Mr. Crittenden has said it was "the greatest civil
triumph ever achieved by mortal mn." .
The second occasion when Mr. Clay earned the
. title of the savioer of his country, and again signal
SIced his devotion to the Union, was In 1835, durtng
t the portentous times of ulliflcation in South Caro
a lina. The people of that chivalrous State had p
rposed, with the most settled determination, the
a tariff laws of the General Goverment. They ad
passed, in convention, an ordinance decleelngthe-e
laws unconstitutional, null and void, and menacing
a resolute resistance to their enforcement in the
State. The Legislature, on asenibling, ratidfied
this ordinance, and at once set about the efleotive
organization of the mlitia, and the prepla.lt of
materials for war, with the avowed purpceaof ,l.
staining tIe attitude of the State by an p to
S On the 10th December, 1832, Gen. Je
a his celebrated proclamation, deno.ne!
measures as treasonable, and a.lgigbae.t aid
Speople of the State to G their alleg! e.
o days after this, I whio. hern0 hAlt all
South Carolina to etapsp win ber p~tlp f
seril Civil warog se4 talilo. well
|- known courage m a.r. ae will of GOhnJnised
d left no hope that be would nwehwe from the ctarse
r| he had adopted, oder a nstrn sense of hil
n the spirited and. hpat o eoole of r
s -la were reso dueI e reesateno. t
en with a end , inls ut * s.lu.g
a vesnnmento 4lh is . o I es. fe ..
ad - esrlentre of my hsflefh ca
|et bc to tlbaac, wiNhsh mia ld
fitds niid age exi 41-i
pt,, :day,
o ih l sllds whom oo owo _ .
fr u esihtlne & s td .harm w
i ouoins, and their on hos a ifjm -
Itpayementas-flled my b itsh agm nas wrii
U ..g .Iri
Tarr
{fit
li.e
Borei
q
'0·'
PZ. 0
the f*il o
to kt&
~gof
the
most irofound h
tu
r. eaof s fls
·ibb
natthaenl ntile a
lath onif
,ply i fp t " 1E8 t k·
firstetatesruganii I ea o a ,
the rfeognitone of thon rse
sidtat we h a
ontion
Hreh, hal e taen a tab
Torder. aThere wee enhewold no
absbtue toatfhiend *fldeo bbre
depthe . He eIered t the
the meattatrleanuei is
nsas of hi. maateroarert~m
dthe hiton o lhit.
tion a nd. En. n
moat1 pof~pnni
atr power a
ndae a i
nlP
dph. HeCrreed r
wes fhich; astery over t m
tio n ad las was
mos jt prfud .
rntng. ra kaw,
tdtl polwe hroos te
art., this noctre
ag, ie roro
aoat at
Whk
wiohettoioqf ,~ ~
-os -A11 oe f11
enug treto epi; ie.
apingotemanag
trt ndbnrte i
U PI
to aar d , s h hips of400 . `
agetilepar or lh of i "~ UJ
fndearn t . e
d oe" ~'lseIateie
Sian e sFaith heaatl ',
wht asaad f oh
waynt ehee& pae awya
S orely, Bnal to ie
t e have ll,4j .
a lodtya
lhlaea$hmL I~id ;ii
beee
'ptalaLd9 ibj'g, ni
stamped him a al bratrr o
descrbe, n- ca ppetly. sAs
heto;ttlndafere faairr
tfea to dg a. ftio
Ssoul shenMIh peas away 9az'~
I kwely, dd t hve to- Y
to havli.1
h -ommon a:ý
ritaaamin9,, to tbe
I-d
a'cvfdrs2 a
a 1lh dd
p. hs aý c3,
-oy hr fier tlý
Oa me Pý- A
1~~_~_~,L·~n4*l~~~C%~
eat;. ldr"". ý', ; C"F-.
e' ;?ear «`-