Newspapers / The Durham Recorder (Durham, … / Sept. 29, 1842, edition 1 / Page 1
Part of The Durham Recorder (Durham, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
UNION, THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS THE GUARDIANS OP OUR LIBERTY. Vol. XXII. THUisDAir, i:irri2Jini2U ate. lias. .To. 1143. ?m i LIFE AND rUIIUO SERVICES or IIL.MIV CLAY. cturm i. ' girth and rfil- tl ely d.jt-TW Vi l-b'jr e l!akee-SlaWim L I4(tPtmh -leary- Kr-aotr ta Kaatae tyDeot at a Debating Rcilj lacwrart a e-Ke'nl frattuinorf Ceo ia waarh a liit.ik"- kuacclf If a arfvaeaire Ur mI ej nf gradually Cmaacp4latba Hate i, Ktt ajrOppo'et laa Abe a4 Seai IM La- -ia elected t Iba Ueae'et A araab'fl iaaft erf hm b a.H Aff.u Col- Dwo Appear ai laa Bar tut Aan obetaj.nnl inteitHW nilk f tr-io Nt Ynh. He gar Ciat is Hkti of H.novrr raa-ti. V''. II wan bora) oa lie I2i) of A tod. 1777. im a tli-trirt nf coua Kf f.4iitlry known IM ! OO'g Ithofhnod e, ihe Slathe$. Ilia f lbrr. a D pui eler grass. di"dduiintIieteMloiiinry war, !'! niaill anl mock mb.rrird e in andeen ct il lien, nf whvin Henry wi I'i fifth, to I1' ' of an tffcrtion- n llief. The eumtittf parent dd net pieee raeos in her eone a -(.aical location; ad l!i an jam of er wen Mr eneeived no other iotifurtiun ih 4 a such ae eou'd b nbuiord ii the og-e t'un !ch4 hiea, alill common in the lower pan of-Viiginta, t which pIing,read inf. writing. '!! arithmetic tra taught. la ITJi. hn "ther, who had become on I, ia a aeinl snaniage, with Mr. II r j Waikina, removed t-s W.mdford eiar. Ketiackv, laktng all bar ehd ittn. wuh , ihe, tirp ion of Iltnry atl bi mUt brother. It at mty s ihj.i nf rr('t Ui .Mr. Vlt), t'ui bt dtpritf d al ai tulf an a( nl hi aa ikvr'a eunel.rrtiitrauiin n,rarr. Sl.a a woa l graal Uanih of ra nd, nj of ibt uim-Ml UuJtnirta lovard brr chitdrao. Ha vaiontj fiat jrraranM whebalt bilfaih.r; aad. eonaruamlf , hit eiroow aacat ia tarlr IT, if n aeioally indi-fi-o", vara atich at ia aubjaei bun f qaa'.ly I brd naS labor. II baa pltiufhad ia ornS.J, nmr a upmtr dir, wi'hnal tba, n wiilinulna oilier cliihioii than fair nfoanaburg tmvera ndjfatrta ahiiU He haa ofiaa tan to Mill vih train I ba frnund intii io'l r; I Nir; and thart are ihot wh remember j bit foathful tittt to Mre. D'iricoii ; mi!! on ta Pamunket riter. On auch! oeratona hi gentM rqtipment wta a horte, with a bfiMIe mdn of rope, and no aad lie. Uion ttit hnree would be th'toit a bf, eomaintng thret or four buthela nf wheal or torn. O i lint bag, ihe future atatemtn wulJ mount and go to mill, gal tht grain grouud, and return with it home. Al the agt of fxurlten, ht waa placed in a email retail autre. ke; t by Mr. Ki'-b trj Denny, near the Miiket-hout in the. cny ol Kichmon'l. lie remained here - till the ni year. 1792, when he wat, trantlerred 10 the dice of the Clerk of I'm High Court of Chancery, .Mr. Pelerj lintley. There he became icqiiainted; with tht venerable Chancellor W ihe.. attracted bit friendly attention, and en-j joyed tht benefit ol hia inttroetion andjCUy mil apeak," eiiimed a member. e tnteriaiion. I he Cbanceller being un able to write wli, in conarqenre of the gout or rheumatiam ia hn right thumb, be thought himtalf of employing hia young, fiiud a an aminueniie. Thit wat ijiay. With every manifeetation of at fortunate circa natatica for the fathtilett ireme embarrattment. ha rote, and, in hia b iy. Hia attention wat thua called to Ida contuMin, b-gan by aaying: 'Gtntlrmen iiiuclurt of tenirncet, ht wrote ihtm d wn from tht dictation af hit employer: a nd a Uste f.r tht ttudy nf (Srammar waa Cftted, which w a noticed an I encourag ed br the Chancellor, upon whose re comatemlaunn he read Hairis't llermet.; rint add to hit agitation by teeming to no Tonka Diverion nf Purley, BihopUice u. and after fliuniluring and blushing Liwth'e Grammar, and olhet artmlar worka. ' For hit himlwritinr,thtrti it tII r mirkaht y neat anJ'regtiiar, .Mr. Clay n( d Hnt-t ami litniJity, a id launched into chi.fly imlehtetl 'o Mr. Tmley. Chan- n mj.ci with a promptitude and pro re'.lir Wythe wa a paion)ite vnnry nf priety ol elocutinn, which eiriied genrr Uretk He wa at one time occupied aHirire. in preping reont of hi leciMn. and j To the f.mdiar with the perfect self C'i n-iicnt.iu nMn tl of the Court of xi.a-a.inii nl Mr. Cl.v'a manner in after Appeal, by winch inie ol hts were rr ,e upon all occomoii. the most trying. afed; and in thi work hcjwasauit'ed ' and uneiperlrd, tin inaiance wi'.l pre- l hia amanuensi. Alter Ilia iepoit;oni in smus.ng contrast; for thtttidencej were published, he tent eonir to Mr. ' i, not on record I of hi eer having failed ... Jelloraiin, John Adam, Minuit l Adam, for an instant in hit ictouicre 01 repancn and nth.r. In th'se'c ipicthe'employ Dr arguntenl in debait. , fd II. Clay 10 copy parfcular psesages Shortly alter ihts early essy in public from (ireek authors to whom refrrenera aprakiog, he was admiit'd aa a praclition ba.l been made. Nt understanding a er bifire the Fayeue Court of Quarter single (2r-rk character, the yoU g opyitt, Settion. a court of general jurisdiction, had 10 Iran ci iba by intra iin Idler after Uuaineaa soon poured in npu htm, and lener. during the ri-st term he had a handsome Leaving the office nf Mr. Tinaley the prarlire. H.a manners and addreta. both l.uerpmol 1735. ha cut l rede w..h ia personal intercourse and before ajtirj. the la e R.bert Bm.ke. E-q.. the Attor were uuUMially cpt.eat.ng. Frank ia nv O.ner.1. foNe,.y U.ernor of Vs. t h,a tenttmen... and bold and con Hi. only regul .r ,mlv of .he law n.., ai.ieai ... raainUining i the.n he U d d..,., ,ht rear 1797. that he lived with foon-l-u m of a clur.c er for incer.ty and Mr. Jriok;: b ws. imp . that h.mo;, wl.tch. am.d all .ha hock. .of La ahold ..oi. in the da.U aceiiet he wil neste'l, ami m the presence of the emin ent men whn a he a i often .heard nd aaw, be in ihe way of gathering much va loable leg.l information. During b' re aidence of tit or leten years ii Rh mond; he becam aeqiiniel with a I r aioi ( the emmetit Virgmtan of ihe r.od. wh i l.ed in thn cut. or wee Ihe lub t of rejorti.ig to it w.t't E Im md PraL'iflrm.Fparftr Roae. Chief Jaaiiro ilaial.a!l. Ba.biel W al.ifta. TViefc. ban. Call, I'opeland. Are. C)a io oeea. Mina. bo IimI Ihe (od fortoan - hear Pair irk t!eBrtM. before the Ciinai Cmit of the UaiiidStateafif iho Virfiaia Diauirt. no the qteaifoa of lie pjmm t Kritteh debit; tod (tia befora the !loat of Dlej;U of ViDginia. on a rlkioi of tht aapernumrrtrv o(Seere ia iba aertk nf tba Slate rfurinf iho Reto Imionary War. Mr. Clay reesembera ifaat teraarbable man, hit annekranra and hia anner, diatineily. Tbo impreatioa of hia eloquent rmwere remaining on hit ini ia. that ineir charm rontitted main ly ia one f the finett teirtt eer beard, in Lie gracelul gr-tiiculatina, and tlm ta. riny ai'd forrt nf 'Xprrtaioa wbirh ht eibibiied in bie fee. Henry CNv quttcJ Richmond in No eember, 1797. hie tltleai brother baring died while ht yet retided in that ciy. Bearing a liernt f'om tht jdgt of thn V-rjmn Court of Appeal to prac ite law, ho eatkb!ihed birne'f in Islington, Ken in' ky. . Ho wat without pa rout, with not iho countrnar.ee ol influential fiiend, a d tleatitue nf tht meant of paving hi weekly board. I remember, eaye he ! ia bia epeerh of June, 1812. at luting ! ton." how comfortable tliooiht I thonlj I be, if I could make 100 Virginia i ey pr r f far; and with what delight I re. ceited tht firai fifteen ahilitng fee. My hpt were more than realized. I imrot diaiety ruihrd into a Urratirt praetire.' i Brf r retumipg tht actit retpontibi litirt i f hit prnftation, he df toted hiro t if wih attiduity aeteral monihe to hit 'el eiaJira. Etta a) thai period tbo bir of lriingtia a emtnent fr io ali litr. Artto-g it mrmbtia were George Nirholat, Janea ilugl et. Jhn Orecken rdge, Jami-e Riown, Wm. Murray, and othere, wboae reputation wet aufllcirnl to dmeounf e tht moil tiout-beaned enmpo 1 1 lion. Out irut geniue ia rarely anae compnird by a C"neioune t of ua pow er; and the Ineniilrre and onknnnn youth fivm Virginia frarleuty entered tht fild. whirb, to n lea intrepid epirn. would hat artmtJ pre-oeeupitd Ht toon commanded consideration and rftpect. Ht wa familiar with tht leehniealiitea of practice: and early hhiie ol butineta and aonlication. enabled him to eflVct an ea fV mattery nf tht catee entruaed 10 hi charge. Ida awhile appreciation of eha rtcter, knunlrdge ol human Citure, and fcu!t ea ol i.r.wi.ni, rendnrd dim pe euli.rlv tn'erfnl in he apnealt to a in- ryj and ht obiatned grral celebity for hie adroit and carelul, management of crimi nal caatt. . An nneedote i related of him about the time ol hia ftrat entrance upon hia pro (eainn, nhidi ahowt that, ntithtnd ing hit fi'it capariuee, he had toint na . .1 ir i ... L. i . L I uta uiiuuenrv 10 uTcimr D'iiw mrj were fairlr leeird. He bed joined a tie baling tonrty, amlai one wlthemeetingi iuileaMljoy.andihrowingherarmtaboni the toe wa about to be tken upon ihe hia neck kVaied him 'in the eyet of the qi.elion ui.der diutiion, wfcen he re jerowded cnutt. Although taken wholly aurkd in a but audible whitper.tliat;by turpriae. and hardly flattered by blan- the luhjeci did not appeir to him to 'irr Lten tihausted. !), ont t ut the qneeiion yet-Mr. who overhead the half heaitiling rematk. The chairman inttunily took the bint. and nodded to the jomg lawyer m token of hit readineaa lo tear whkt ha bad to . ofAr 7(rruM anconcioutlr addreating i ... -. a hia lello memuert at tht liinunal, lo which he had perhaps often nude imagi nary appeal in hi dreams of a aucceta- lul liebnt at the bar. Hia audience did for a moment or iwo. and Hammering nut a repetition of ile wonln "Gentlemen of ! the Jur v." he auddeniy shook olT all eigne r - . . WiCai cnange. ami .o .c..r....... tiliU warlre. lias neer oeen Bnaa.cn m polluted. In the poesion ol these at tribute, beyond ihe reach of cavil or of question, i M be lound the steret of that inalienable attachment among the ast bo ly of hn friend, which lut lollowed him throughoiii' hi career. , Oiie of thn mot important cues, in which. Mr. Cl.y was cogged during the .a . B I. .. 1. ak firat three or four yeart nf bia profeti'oa . rode of the ceartt ol Ktatarky, and ai tiCe, aa ibat ia nbich b na eapl-y batten toetbibit tba et-jeei of nor raeajoir ed to (Uftnd a Mr. Plielpe, indicud lor .on that Mora citeajdcJ fi.ll, nharo bit roofdrr, . Tbi wnwaa waa tbo via nf b amry beim to bo iierwoera wih tba a irtpoeubla farmtr, and hadbitbeno lej (hit'ory nf Lit country, m J a nko'e nation a bUneleta and cor reel Ua. Oat dy, in haled bra at a cHatspioa wnithy sf t'-e her on hoote, taking aooto a!T net at a ' beet tiara nf the repebhe. At eaity aa 1797, Mut Pbelpe. her titter in law, aba lel-' when iba peapJ -of Kentucky .were about ld a gas, and thot her ibrooh the betrL j electing a contention m fwa a new en Tia poor girl bad only tint In cxrti:a, J aiitati a ol that atatt, Mr. Clay enay bt Stater, yo bate kUtd ear, and es aaul to hate enaaaienetJ bit political ra-pired- tirtat mterett wat tif lud in tht rerr. Hi firl i ffort were made ia behalf eat e. and tht eiun wat rmwiied to oer-' 'flowing oa ibe day f trial. Of the fact ' of iho homicide there could bt an doubt, It wat rommilted la the preaer.ro of wt- aten, end tbo nnl oort'ion wa. to what data of crimet did tht offence be- ( long. If it were pronounced murder ia tht ' firti degree, ihe life if the wretehel pri- eoner would bt tba forfeit; but, if mn alatghter. aha wouUI btpunithed merely by confinement in tht gaol or pennentia rr. Tht legal contet aa long and able. I The eff-rtt of the cwnrl for ibt proteeu tioa were airennoue and earnett; but Mr. f 'lay turreee'ed not oulr ia taring the . life of hit clieqt, but to roorrd tht jury in her beba'.l by hit eloquence, ihtt ber puaiahmrnl waa made at light at the lw would allow. Ha gained much define; lion by iht ability he displayed in tb'ta ' mo-;ee,and tlieoceforihlit waa eootidered a grit' orject to enlitt hit attiatanco tir all erimii ai toil en the part of the defendant It ia a lingular fct. that in the eoi.rte of a ery eztenaite practice in the count nf eroiinal jnri'pradcnre, and in tht delrnce nf a large number of imlu iduala arraigned . fur capital offence, ht refer had 'one ol h:t client! tentrncedfto death. Ano her caae, in oh'cb be'acqnired tcarrely lett eeiebuty, waeahonly aRer ami incurrca lemporary nnpopuiariiy oy ward tiied in Harritnn county. TnoOer- hit coarea. Timt, howeer, ia daily mina. father and ton, had been indicted miking more apparent tht witdom of hit fr murder. The deed of killinr waeieouotrl. proted to the entire eniafactioa ,nf the I Couit. and wat contidered in rggrattted . murder. Mr. Clay'e cffoiU wrrt there- j lore directed to eating their lie. Tht trial ocrupifd fit dart, and hit rlnaing appeal to the jury waa of the nn-et turripg and pathetic drtrrioiioa. It proted irre. tiit bU: lorihty n turned a teidict f manalanrhter. not tatiebed wi n Hut eignal trtamph, l.e moted anjarrett of jiulgment, and. after another rlay'e ron tet. pretatled in thie alio. I be eon ttqiience wa. that tne priaonert were . . ilicharg.d wmIiooi eten the puniabmenf nf iha crime, nf bich the jury had found diem guilty. An emitting incident orenrrrd at the eonclution of thia trial. An eld. withered, il-fatoted Carman woman, who wat the wife of the elder pnnner, and the mother nf the yniineer. nn bring inlormed of iht turrett of the final motion for an arrett nl judgment, and iht conarqucnl acquitul ol her hubnd and ton, ran toward the V nupf advocate in the eiceti of her grati difhmenta Imm audi a tourca, young Clay arqtiined himtelf upon the occasion with a grace and good humor, which won him new applauto from ihe tprciatnr. All great emotion claim reaper); ind in tint inttanre eo far did the eympalhiea of the andtrnce go with the old woman at to ditett of ridicule an act, which, in the recital, may aeem to have partaken prin- ripallr of the ludicrotit. N-.ioiiliMMidmg hit eitraerdinary sue rrss in all ihe criminal suits entrusted to him, the abilities displayed by Mr. Clay ai this period in civil case were no leas brillintaml irtumpl ant. In suite grow ing out of the land laws of Virginia and Kentucky, be) wis especially diatinguish erl; rapidly acquiring wraith and popular iiy by his practice. It is related of him, that on one occasion, in conjn notion with another attorney, be waa employed to argue, inTthe Fayette Circuit Court, a question of great difficulty one, in which tte inerets of the litigant pnrties were deeply invoI-ed.At tht opening of the court, something occurred to call him away, nd the whole management of the I . It i c oeoieo on nia asiociaia counsai. Two dayt weie apent in discutsing the points of lew. which were lf govern the instruciiona of the Court to the jury, and cn all of the point. Me. Clay a colleague was foiled by his antagonist. At the end of the second day, Mr. Clay re-entered the court. He had not heard a word of the testimony, and knew nothing of ihe course which the tlUcutsion had taken, but, after holding a very abort consultation with his colleague, he drew up s statement of the form in which he wished the in structions of ihe Court to bt gicn to the jurv, and accompanied h'n'petition with a ittw nb'ervaiioiiB, an entirety notei anu .v.isfartorv. that it'wai cranied without the least hes tnion. A corresponding verdict was intntlyjreturned:and thu the caae. which had been on the paint of being decided againat Mr. Clay't. client, was decided in his favor in less than half an hour alter the young lawyer had enter ed the Courthouse. For an enumeration nf the various cases in winch Mr. Clav wai about this time enjpeed, and in which his merest waa at narked at his talents were nbviou. wa 7rt tUc;,ou,Je7to .h.;. mu of bamta liberty, aad at the ruk of toeing that brer ta.f nnpuUr fatnor, which w.a bearirg o ha baik brately towaid tbt haen u wnrluly proptriiy anJ renown. Tba mai important fealnr in the In for a new eontitntin. aubmiurd to the people of Kentucky, waa a protitioa fvt ita piotpecute eradieatioa ofalattry from tht tt by meant of a gradual tmn ipaUm ol thott belJ in bnndagt. Again! thia propaaal a tremradout eatery waa at onre raited. It wat not to be qwetnon-d that tht voice of tht tntjoriiy a rehemently nppnted to it. Duty enng Clar did aot bti-itait aa to hit eonrtt. a that tpic it of eelf eacrifire, wbirh he hat tinre displayed in to many treat public evergenciet. without tmpping to reckoa the didantga to himtelf, he boldly arrayed bimtell on the tidt of thoe friendly to emancipation. In the cantata. wnicn prremea me ttcctioa oi metnoert oi tbt contention, ht eiertcd bimetl with all tht euergy of hia nature in bthalf ol thai riute, which he belicted to bt the eae of troth ami nl jot tire. With hit iet and pea ht acutely labored to pro. mote the choice of delegate, who wen 'pledged to it eupport. Ht failed in the fulfi.ment of hit philanthropic intentionr; Mr. Clay haa ant faltered in hia tiewt opna thia great qneetion. They art now whatihty were in 1797. In maintainir.g lha policy of thit arhemt of gradu.l amaecipauon he hat eter beea larlct and CintteenU let it-not be imagined, I however, that he haa any tympathy with , tnai ineendiary epirii. wn eh would eeem P aeiuate aot oi tut cumoiera lor im mediate aad anconuitional abolition at the preterit time. 11 m tie we were far lighted, atatetman-like and eegaeiout in i i i . . i i . lie ihcu io me general inon, no or ly nl till conieinporauee, ouini potieruj; and hit pun enriched beyond the embr rataiueni of ihe pretent hour inti tbt future. A . more juai, practicable and beneficent acheme than hia, for lha ar comnlithment nf a consummation aode muily to be withed by humanity at large. could not have been etied. . It rctemhled that adapted in Penntyl tania in the year 1790 at the inttanre ul Dr. Franklin, according to which the gt ntriiiia in being were 10 remain in bon dagt, but all their effaprini, born alter i arcifiep day, were 10 be Iree ai the age ol I want) -eight, and in the mean time, were 10 rcrene preparatory inttructioa to qua lify them for the enj ivment of freedom Mr. Clay thought w.th many othere, that aa ihe elate tiatea had tet e'tlly the right to judge, every one esdumely for itself, in retpeet ihe inintutioa ol domeiua nt err. the proportion of tlatet In ihe white population in Kentucky at that time wa to inconsiderable, that a ayaiem ol guJual emancipation might havt been adopted without any hazard to the aecu- rity and intrret'S of the common wralin." Notwnhtanding t'i laiiura ol Ma ex anions in arrea in J the continuance of negro servitude in Kentucky, he has re vrr shrunk from I'm avowal of his senti ments uoon the ttihicci. nor from their piactiesl manifestation in his professional and political career. For ssvoral years. whenever a slave brought an action at law for hit liberty, Mr. Clay volunteered at hit idtocate; and he a! way a aueceeded in obtaining a decuion in the slave! favor. Oppression in every shape would aeem to have routed the moat ardent tympathiea of hia loul, and to havt entitled hia indig ntnleloquenca in behslf of its unfriended object. The impulses, which urged him al this early day to lake the part of the do- mettie bondsmen of his own state, weta the aame with thote which blazed forth with auch volcanic brilliancy when iha question! of recngniiing South American and Grecian independence were preaent ed to the consideration of slsrdy and cal culating Congress. Dunn? the adminiatration of John Adam in 1793-9, the ftmoue alien and sedition lawe were passed. The popular opposition with which these extraordina j ry measures were received, ia still vivid ly remembered in the U. States. By iht "alien law,' the president was authoris ed to order any alien, whom he ihould judge dangerout to the peace and eafcty" of the country to ueparl out ol me wr- .iinrv within auch lima'" as he should ;...i..l i..n nnnn . n.nult of heinr ,..s, r. - , y - , -j iiimmiimiH Ia, a l-rm aal nzceauiUV .w. ..... A Th. .. ...i;,...n 1naiirned to numah the ahuan of aof ch and the pre. It impoed a heavy pecuniary fine and im ! priaonoient for a number of yean, upon; Henry Ulay. wno prompuy aiwsnsva l . ... ... I.I I I......LI il,. ..Il I.TIIIf such at ahould combine er eonipire to father to oppott any messure of gotara J meni, apon .nib wil.; Pn atter, publish, e.. any fle srndlont and malirinoa wtitiag: againat ihe g-v-emaent of tbt United SaUs or the Pie tideat." tif. ' ' -' - ' Mr. Clay stood forth oae ef the earli est champion ef popular right! ia oppo tuion lo ibee memorable law. Kew tucky wta one of the firl Siaea thai launched their tbandera , ag.intt them; and though many ape.kere came f-r ward to g We exprrasioa to the ini'ignaiioe which wat awtll'ng ia the pubhe bent, aoae succeeded to well ia e nking the rtpontie chord at ear yeang lawyer. Ha waa soon regarded aa the leading epi rit of the eppoeiiioa party; and ii wa about thia nma that the i le ol the great commoner wat bealnwed epnn him. A gentleman, who waa prevent at the meeting where tneae o&nouone lane were cucuted, deacribea Ihe eueel pro duced by Mr. Clay'a eloquence aa ttiffi eult adequately la deecribe. The p-pn. lace had assembled in the fisldt ia the vi cinity of Lesingion, and were aval ad dretted by Mr. George Nirholsi, a dis tinguished man. and a powerful tpesker. The tpeecb of Mr. licholaa wat long and eloquent, and bt wst greeted by tht mutt enthusiastic cheen aa be con cluded. CUy being railed for. prompt-! ly appeared, and made one of ibe mott exiraordinuy and impreeaie harangnea eter addressed lo a popular asemblv. A strikieg etideoce of ita ibiillmr and effective character may be lound ia the fact that when he ceaeed thtrt tret no sAoif no tplautt. So eloquently bad he interpreted the deep feelingt ai the multitude, that they lorgni the orator in the absorbing emotions he had produ ced. A higher compliment Can hardly be conceived. The theme wat a glori one oae lor e young and geoeioua mind. filled with ardor to behalf ol human liber iyand be did it juatice. The people took Clay and Nicliolae upon their ahoul dora, and forcing them into a carriage. draw them through tht streets, amid bout nl applauae. What an incident for an orator, who bad not yet comi ltteil hit twenty-second ycail Four yean afterward, when Mr. Clay wat absent from lha county el Fayette at iha Olympian Spring, ht wa brought forward, without bit knowledge or previ ous content, ai a caadidaie, and elected to the General Attembly ef Kentucky. He soa made hie influence fell in ihat bdy. In 1804, Falit Grundy, then an adroit and well known politician, made an attempt in the fogielatur to procure the repral of a law incorporating the Isl ington insurance Office. He wa oppos ed at etery atep by Mr. Clay; and the war of word between the youthful de blersdrew to the House throngs of spec isior.- Ciundy had managed to aerure htlorehand a majority in hia faror in the Houe, but the member of the Seoa e flocked in to hear Clay apeak, and eo cogently did he present the impolicy and unconstitutionality of tht measurt under diai'uss ion, thai they refuted to asnction it after it had been pasted by ihe other branchand a virtual triumph waa thua obtained. It is recorded of Mr. CUy, that, in the course of the legislative session of 1603. he made in effort to procure the removal of the test ai gottrnmenl from Frankfort; and hit tprech on the occasion u laid to hate bten an inimitable specimen of ar gument and humor, trankfort it pecu liar in ita appearance and situation, being tunk, lika a huge pit, below the surround ing country, and entironed by rough and precipitous ledgee." " We hate," aaid Mr. Clay, the model of an inverted hat. Frankfort is ihe body of ihe hat. and the land adjacent are the brim. To change the figure, it ia nature's great penitenti ry; and if the member of thia Houee would know the bodily conuition oi uie prisoner, let them look at these poor crea tures in the gallery." As he aaid this he pointed with his fin per to half a den figurra that chanced, at that moment, to be moving about in the gallery, more like animated akeletona than respectable compounds of flesh and blood. The objects thus designated, seeing the attention ol the whole astern-J bly suddenly directed towsrds theni, dodged, with ludicrous haste, behind h railing, and thn assembly thrown in to a convulsion of merriment. This or gumentum ad hominem proved irreiti ble. The members ol the house agreed that it waa espendient to remote the aeat nf tio'ernmeni, but it wat lubsequently found impossible toa(re upon anew lo cation, and thn Legislature continuea lo hold it sessions at Frankfort. It wat an early reiolution of Mr. CUy, thai no litigant, rich or poor, ihould hae occasion lo say that, for lha want oi conn el he could not obtain justice at etery bar where Mr. C. could appear for him. Cel. Joseph Hamilton Datiest, at thai time United Statea Dialrict Attorney, aad a man of influence and dietinciion. Itatl . . . k..,. nn Ur I Rush, a reepeetable citizen, and'a latern- coniiniueu an un ura """"J " keener at that place. 1 ha bar at r rank ! fort declmnd inti luting an acUon for iht - , ltter against Col. D. Ha appealed In ill caae, auu oiuugn, n -"'a ten. In the argument of a preliminary que.uon. Mr.Olay lelt it bi. duly f a imadrert, with eooe anteritr. apna tl conduct of Cel. D who, after she ed . jonrnmeal of the f'onit, lt!rae a oo'e In him. remonelrating againti I i evnrae, and ripreanmg a with that it l nld not be preeerv4 ia. Mr. Cly iw tliew ly replied, thai he had onrlnulen V caae of Mr. Buah frcna ten- if tints thai be ahnnlJ enbo.n lo no dirlaiion aa In hit aaaaa.pan.nt nf ii. athirk ahnuld ba ae.rdingtn hie own judgment eIuiiye- ly ; btt thai hebuld koid bimelf raepon- , aibl for w hateer be did or eid. ia ot ont of cnart. A challenge enned, Mr. Clay aerepted it. and proceeded to Frankfort r. .i . i. i.i. .. . i . w..i heea iatiietl. There, by ibe interposi tion f mutual friend, the atT.it waa ac commodated ia a manner hcaouble to bih pnie. In lha amnion nf 1800. thn relehriteal Aamn Buir waa arrteied in Ken'trkv, a a charge of being engaged in aa slWgil waibke enterprise. The egcity atd penetratioa of that extraordinary man. were ind eated in hia application m Mr. Clay to defend him. Mr. Clay bet evei". w-aw -w aj w wtiiv'iw aw e.w aa " ky, ti ll ihe proeeuiina was goundtcst, and waa instituted by CoL Davieft, wbem we bate already eentinner, who aattam m an tal th t taal aWasa-mav a.f aT.! 1 1 na.tt mM Btsl kl Bar 0ta awawaaealt at tvaslimtan; at aaa, HnsifUatn www as iana wwieriini w wen aj at wHIl wt and who disliked Buir because ba had -killed Hsrailma ia adue', ind waa, mure - oer, eppoeiie ia polities. Mr. Claflell . l:--i- ...i t .. i i n ... ll-ai wjtwymtnj iwia.i. nun, p ,c count el hia being arrested ia a Si.ie tlit tsnt from his on p. on sceounl of hia mis fortunes, and Ihe distinguished itationa he bid filled. 8 ill he declined appear ing for biin, until Burr gave bin wtittn asturinee that he wst engaged in no en lerprise forbidden by liw, and aone thst wse not known and approved by the Ca binet at Weahingtoo. On receiving these seurances, Mr. CUy sppeared for him; and thinking that Burr ought not to bo dealt witti aa an ordinary culprit, bt de. clued receiving from kirn any fee, al though a lihtrtl one was tendered. , Burr waa acquitted. Mr. Clay ahert ly after proceeded m Washington, and re ceived from Mr. Jeffeitoa an aeeoual of iha letter ia cipher, which had been writ ten by Burr to Geo. Wilkmaon, and other information of the eiiminsl design of ta t wa n a n n Burr. jtir. uiay nannea me written a tursnct kbottmentiened to Mr. Jtffrrsoa . it the rtqntst of ihe lstter. . . On ii? reiutn from Ghent, Mr. Cliy made a briel enjoura in the cny ol New York, and among other placee of inie , rest, iitoJ the Federal ('ourt. then in ssition. escorted br hit fneud. the late Mr, Smith, thee Mirslull. formerly sSe nslor from New York. On entering the tnorwoem, in the City H.H, Hi eye of the bench, bar, officers, and atendne apon the enurt. were turned upon Sir. C. who waa invited to take a east on the bench. which he pnliulyderlinod. and look position in the bar. Shortly afttr, a small gentleman, apparently advanced in yssrs, and with bushy, gray hair, whom Mr. Clay for an inttnt did not recog nise, approached him. Ill quickly per ceived it waa-Col. Burr, who tendered bit hand to laltttt Mr. Clay. The Inter dielined'receiving it. Tht Colonel, ne vertheless, wa n 't repulsed, but engg ed in conversation with Mr. Clay, re marking.Jtl'at he4hnd understood that. be-., ides the treily nf peace., the American Commissioners had negotiated a g ui.J commercial convention with Great Bri tain. Mr.' Cbv replied Coltilv. lhattuch a convention was concluded, and that us terms would be known aa soon ss ii wa promulgated by public authority. Col. B. expressed a wish t have an hour'i inter view with him, and Mr. C. told htm where he stoppedbut the Col. never called. Tht TabltKMounlain, in Pendleton district. South Carolina, i sn awful preci pice of nine hundred feet. Very few persons who hite once caat a glimpse into ihe almost boundless abyie, can eter again exercise sufficient fortitude to ap proach the margin of the ehaam: almost everyone looking over involuntarily falls lo the ground, senseless and hopeless, and would inevitably be precipitated and dashed to atoms, were it not for the mea lures ol cau'ion and security that have always been deemed indispensable to safe indulgence to the cunoity of ihe visitor snd the spectator. Every one on pro ceeding to thn spot whence it it ususl to gaze over the wonderful deep, haa in hia or bar imagination a limitation, graduated by reference to distance! with which the eye hai been familiar; but in a moment, eternity aa it were, is presented lo the astonisneii aentea, anu me oosnr-vria in stantly overwhelmed. He soon recovers . . .i i - from the first surprise, and in a wild deli rium surveys a scene which for a time he ia unsbla to define by destttption or limitation. Os Sxoar. We once knew a man who told only one story, and that wat aboal a gun. Hit difficulty waa to in induce thia ilory; and be at last luccead ed by the use of hi font When tttting after dinner,hewould elirpp underlie tableland create a hollow aound. Then, God blesa me! what'a that? a gunt By the bve, talking about gans;" sail thcoeime hn ttory.
The Durham Recorder (Durham, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Sept. 29, 1842, edition 1
1
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75