EULOGY OF MR. BROOKE. MR. BROOKE then addressed the Senate :— Mr. PRESIDENT As an ardent, personal admirer and political friend of the distinguished dead, I claim the privilege of adding my humble tribute of respect to his memory, and of joining in the general expression of sorrow that has gone forth from this Chamber. Death, at all times, is an instructive monitor, as well as a mournful messenger; but when his fatal shaft hath stricken down the great in intellect and renown, how doubly impressive the lesson that it brings home to the heart, that the grave is the common lot of all-the great leveler of all earthly distinctions! But at the same time we are taught, that, in one sense, the good and great can never die; for the memory of their virtues and their bright example will live through all coming time, in an immortality that blooms beyond the grave. The consolation of this thought may calm our sorrow; and in the language of one of our own poets, it may be asked "Why weep ye, then, for him, who having run The bound of man's appointed years, at last, While the soft memory of his virtues yet Lingers, like twilight hues when the bright sun has set ?” It will be doing no injustice, sir, to the living or the dead, to say, that no better specimen of the true American character can be found in our history than that of Mr. CLAY. With no adventitious advantages of birth or fortune, he won his way by the efforts of his own genius to the highest distinction and honor. Ardently attached to the principles of civil and religious liberty, patriotism was with him both a passion and a sentiment—a passion that gave energy to his ambition, and a sentiment that pervaded all his thoughts and actions, concentrating them upon his country as the idol of his heart. The bold and manly frankness in the expression of his opinions which always characterized him, has often been the subject of remark; and in all his victories it may be truly said, he never "stooped to conquer." In his long and brilliant political career, personal considerations never for a single instant caused him to swerve from the strict line of duty, and none have ever doubted his deep sincerity in that memorable expression to Mr. Preston, "Sir, I had rather be right than be President." This is not the time nor occasion, sir, to enter into a detail of the public services of Mr. CLAY, interwoven, as they are, with the history of the country for half a century; but I can not refrain from adverting to the last crowning act of his glorious life-his great effort in the Thirty-first Congress, for the preservation of the peace and integrity of this great Republic, as it was this effort that shattered his bodily strength, and hastened the consummation of death. The Union of the States, as being essential to our prosperity and happiness, was the paramount proposition in his political creed, and the slightest symptom of danger to its perpetuity filled him with alarm, and called forth all the energies of his body and mind. In his earlier life he had met this danger and overcome it. In the conflict of contending factions it again appeared; and coming forth from the repose of private life, to which age and infirmity had carried him, with unabated strength of intellect, he again entered upon the arena of political strife, and again success crowned his efforts, and peace and harmony were restored to a distracted people. But unequal to the mighty struggle, his bodily strength sank beneath it, and he retired from the field of his glory to yield up his life as a holy sacrifice to his beloved country. It has well been said, that peace has its victories as well as war; and how bright upon the page of history will be the record of this great victory of intellect, of reason, and of moral suasion, over the spirit of discord and sectional animosities ! We this day, Mr. PRESIDENT, commit his memory to the regard and affection of his admiring countrymen. It is a consolation to them, and to us, to know that he died in full possession of his glorious intellect, and, what is better, in the enjoyment of that "peace which the world can neither give nor take away." He sank to rest as the full-orbed king of day, unshorn of a single beam, or rather like the planet of morning, his brightness was but eclipsed by the opening to him of a more full and perfect day "No waning of fire, no paling of ray, But rising, still rising, as passing away. Farewell, gallant eagle, thou 'rt buried in light- The resolutions submitted by Mr. UNDERWOOD were then unanimously agreed to. Ordered, That the Secretary communicate these resolutions to the House of Representatives. On motion by Mr. UNDERWOOD Resolved, That, as an additional mark of respect to the memory of the deceased, the Senate do now adjourn. 31 OBITUARY HONORS TO THE MEMORY HENRY CLAY. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THE Journal having been read, a message was received from the Senate, by Asbury Dickins, Esq., its Secretary, communicating information of the death of HENRY CLAY, late Senator from the State of Kentucky, and the proceedings of the Senate thereon. The resolutions of the Senate having been read MR. BRECKIN RIDGE rose and said: Mr. SPEAKER-I rise to perform the melancholy duty of announcing to this body the death of HENRY CLAY, late a Senator in Congress from the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Mr. CLAY expired at his lodgings in this city yesterday morning, at seventeen minutes past eleven o'clock, in the seventysixth year of his age. His noble intellect was unclouded to the last. After protracted sufferings, he passed away without pain; and so gently did the spirit leave his frame, that the moment of departure was not observed by the friends who watched at his bedside. His last hours were cheered by the presence of an affectionate son; and he died surrounded by friends who, during his long illness, had done all that affection could suggest to soothe his sufferings. |