The Charlotte Journal

THE HON. HENRY CLAY.

This distinguished and illustrious Senator and Statesman, is still battling for the interests and welfare of the people. With the most persevering energy and laborious industry, he struggles onward against all the obstacles thrown in his path, by that desperate faction, which would subvert everything to accomplish their purposes.--In spite of party venom and malignity, in ages hence, the name of Henry Clay will stand emblazoned on the pages of history, a monument of human greatness and patriotic devotion to the cause of his country. When the memory of the poor reptiles that crawl and besmear his path with their slime is no more, he will shine in all the splendor of true greatness.

Before the last Declaration of War against England, when the "British Lion" swept over the seas triumphantly, and his "deep-mouthed" cannon reverberated from one extremity of the globe to the other, Henry Clay stood in the legislative hall of the nation, and urged upon Congress with burning eloquence the necessity of a Declaration of War against that arrogant and insolent power. Through his influence in a great measure, may be attributed that declaration. When sent as Minister Plenipotentiary to negotiate peace, he secured the unrestricted navigation of the Mississippi: a measure of vast consequence to the west. When our Commerce languished, we see him active in bringing forward the American protective system, which caused the trade of the nation to revive like the Phoenix from its ashes. Under this system the national treasury became replenished; manufactures increased, and soon the Government was enabled to pay off its large national debt. So soon as these objects were achieved, we see him when the Union was upon the eve of a mighty convulsion, stepping forward like an angel of peace, and calming the mighty tumult. Again, when the country under misrule and corruption, has sunk to a state of anempoyed prostration, we behold him coming forward, regardless of toil and fatigue, slander and abuse, and wielding his mighty powers to retrieve its lost prosperity.--The debt of gratitude, due this illustrious Statesman and Patriot by the American People is immense. If the present generation neglect his merit, posterity will erect a monument to his greatness, which will overshadow the fragile fabrics reared over those pseudo statesmen whose waning greatness, rests but upon the tongue of party.