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sixteen dollars a year。
Yours； etc。；
A。 LINCOLN。
1852
EULOGY ON HENRY CLAY； DELIVERED IN THE STATE
HOUSE AT SPRINGFIELD； ILLINOIS； JULY 16； 1852。
On the fourth day of July； 1776； the people of a few feeble and
oppressed colonies of Great Britain； inhabiting a portion of the
Atlantic coast of North America； publicly declared their national
independence； and made their appeal to the justice of their cause
and to the God of battles for the maintenance of that
declaration。 That people were few in number and without
resources； save only their wise heads and stout hearts。 Within
the first year of that declared independence； and while its
maintenance was yet problematical； while the bloody struggle
between those resolute rebels and their haughty would…be masters
was still waging；of undistinguished parents and in an obscure
district of one of those colonies Henry Clay was born。 The
infant nation and the infant child began the race of life
together。 For three quarters of a century they have travelled
hand in hand。 They have been companions ever。 The nation has
passed its perils； and it is free； prosperous； and powerful。 The
child has reached his manhood； his middle age； his old age； and
is dead。 In all that has concerned the nation the man ever
sympathized； and now the nation mourns the man。
The day after his death one of the public journals； opposed to
him politically； held the following pathetic and beautiful
language； which I adopt partly because such high and exclusive
eulogy； originating with a political friend； might offend good
taste； but chiefly because I could not in any language of my own
so well express my thoughts：
〃Alas； who can realize that Henry Clay is dead！ Who can realize
that never again that majestic form shall rise in the council…
chambers of his country to beat back the storms of anarchy which
may threaten； or pour the oil of peace upon the troubled billows
as they rage and menace around！ Who can realize that the
workings of that mighty mind have ceased； that the throbbings of
that gallant heart are stilled； that the mighty sweep of that
graceful arm will be felt no more； and the magic of that eloquent
tongue； which spake as spake no other tongue besides； is hushed
hushed for ever！ Who can realize that freedom's champion； the
champion of a civilized world and of all tongues and kindreds of
people； has indeed fallen！ Alas； in those dark hours of peril
and dread which our land has experienced； and which she may be
called to experience again； to whom now may her people look up
for that counsel and advice which only wisdom and experience and
patriotism can give； and which only the undoubting confidence of
a nation will receive？ Perchance in the whole circle of the
great and gifted of our land there remains but one on whose
shoulders the mighty mantle of the departed statesman may fall；
one who while we now write is doubtless pouring his tears over
the bier of his brother and friend brother； friend； ever； yet in
political sentiment as far apart as party could make them。 Ah；
it is at times like these that the petty distinctions of mere
party disappear。 We see only the great； the grand； the noble
features of the departed statesman； and we do not even beg
permission to bow at his feet and mingle our tears with those who
have ever been his political adherentswe do ＇not＇ beg this
permission； we claim it as a right； though we feel it as a
privilege。 Henry Clay belonged to his countryto the world；
mere party cannot claim men like him。 His career has been
national； his fame has filled the earth； his memory will endure
to the last syllable of recorded time。
〃Henry Clay is dead！ He breathed his last on yesterday； at
twenty minutes after eleven； in his chamber at Washington。 To
those who followed his lead in public affairs； it more
appropriately belongs to pronounce his eulogy and pay specific
honors to the memory of the illustrious dead。 But all Americans
may show the grief which his death inspires； for his character
and fame are national property。 As on a question of liberty he
knew no North； no South； no East； no West； but only the Union
which held them all in its sacred circle； so now his countrymen
will know no grief that is not as wide…spread as the bounds of
the confederacy。 The career of Henry Clay was a public career。
》From his youth he has been devoted to the public service； at a
period； too； in the world's history justly regarded as a
remarkable era in human affairs。 He witnessed in the beginning
the throes of the French Revolution。 He saw the rise and fall of
Napoleon。 He was called upon to legislate for America and direct
her policy when all Europe was the battlefield of contending
dynasties； and when the struggle for supremacy imperilled the
rights of all neutral nations。 His voice spoke war and peace in
the contest with Great Britain。
〃When Greece rose against the Turks and struck for liberty； his
name was mingled with the battle…cry of freedom。 When South
America threw off the thraldom of Spain； his speeches were read
at the head of her armies by Bolivar。 His name has been； and
will continue to be； hallowed in two hemispheres； for it is
'One of the few； the immortal names
That were not born to die！'
〃To the ardent patriot and profound statesman he added a quality
possessed by few of the gifted on earth。 His eloquence has not
been surpassed。 In the effective power to move the heart of man；
Clay was without an equal； and the heaven…born endowment； in the
spirit of its origin； has been most conspicuously exhibited
against intestine feud。 On at least three important occasions he
has quelled our civil commotions by a power and influence which
belonged to no other statesman of his age and times。 And in our
last internal discord； when this Union trembled to its centre； in
old age he left the shades of private life； and gave the death…
blow to fraternal strife； with the vigor of his earlier years； in
a series of senatorial efforts which in themselves would bring
immortality by challenging comparison with the efforts of any
statesman in any age。 He exorcised the demon which possessed the
body politic； and gave peace to a distracted land。 Alas！ the
achievement cost him his life。 He sank day by day to the tomb
his pale but noble brow bound with a triple wreath； put there by
a grateful country。 May his ashes rest in peace； while his
spirit goes to take its station among the great and good men who
preceded him。〃
While it is customary and proper upon occasions like the present
to give a brief sketch of the life of the deceased； in the case
of Mr。 Clay it is less necessary than most others； for his
biography has been written and rewritten and read and reread for
the last twenty…five years； so that； with the exception of a few
of the latest incidents of his life； all is as w