Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 June 1883 — THE GREAT TRIUMVIRATE. [ARTICLE]

THE GREAT TRIUMVIRATE.

Some BeeeUeetimM'«f Cl*y, Webster end [Old Fogy, in the Courter-Jonm*LJ John C. Calhoun, Henry Clay and Daniel Webster entered Congress almost simultaneously. They were regarded as the three greatest statesmen of the country in their day. They were all men of very great ability; bf V«ty different feh&racter Bf mind a£well as style '&t oratory. „ They also differed widely ok many questions of public policy. On the 4th day of March, 1850, Mr. Calhoun entered the Senate Chamber, supported on the one side by his colleague, Judge Butler, and on the oth«* by Senator Mason* bf Virginia; whb tescorted, him to his se«. He Was Sd palft and temaciatea that Re Jfloked, at mbst litStiliy & cSarfisUa. mis health had been failing him for a year, fed during that tihae he appeared oqly occasionally in the Senate. .After resting a short time, ,by the aid of another, he roae and said, in.feeble tones, that he had prepared and had printed the remarks he intended to offer, but, as he felt too feeble to perform the task of delivering them, he must ask.the favor of Senators to allow his friend, Senator Mason, to read them. The request was of course granted. That speech was but little more than a recapitulation of the sentiments he had often expressed on the slavery question. An intelligent writer thus describes the scene: “The reading of this speech by Mr. Mason—the Senate Chamber tod galleries filled to overflowing—-the appearance of Mr. dalhotm; standing, aft all knb% h(B did; upon tne brink of the grave, trapped in & cloak, his long; bushy hair hanging wildly down the side of hiS pale, emaciated, face; his countenance lighting lip ana his eye flashing oiit of its deep socket as he cast it around on Senators when certain passages were read, as if to arrest their attention and enforce his words with its wonted fire, was a most unique, impressive and dramatic scene. He was, by the voice of a friend, uttering his last and most emphatic words in that illustrious body, of Which he had long been one of the most distinguished members. It was his last appearaiiee in the Sehate; of this he and all others were conscious. As he left his seat, supported by hiS venerable colleague, Judge Butler, and by Mr. Mason; the Senators gathefed around hind to express their sympathies and bid him an affectionate and eternal adieu. Supported by his two friends he then passed slowly out. Impressive as were his last words, his owu appearance was in comparatively more so.” Twenty-seven days thereafter, March 31, 1850, he died, aged 68 years and 13 days. His death was announced in the Senate the next day by his late colleague, Judge Butler, on which occasion Mr. Clay and Mr. Webster delivered some touching and eloquent remarks. They, too, Were to follow their early companion in a little over two years. Mr. Clay’s extraordinary labors in originating and effecting the adoption of the compromise measures in the Congress of 1850 greatly impaired his health. After the close of that Congress, March 4, 1851, he went to New York and took passage from there to Havana, hoping to derive benefit from a milder climate. He remained in Havana but a short time, as his health did not seem to improve, and then proceeded home by way of New Orleans and Mississippi. Though afflicted with a distressing cough, he came to Washington at the commencement of the Thirty-second Congress, but the fatigue of the journey so weakened him, and his cough so increased, that he was not able to take his seat; nor was he able to leave his room. His son Thomas came on and remained with him to the end. He died on the 17th of June, 1852, aged 75 years, 2 months and 17 days. His death was announced the next day in both houses of Congress, and eloqnent eulogies were pronounced upon him. The funeral solemnities took place the second day after his death. The remains were placed in the rotunda of the Capitol for some hours, and were viewed by thousands. They were then sent to Ashland, his own beloved home, where they now repose. Thus another of the great triumviate had passed away. The third still remained, but soon to follow his great compeers. Daniel Webster died at his favorite home, Marshfield, Mass., surrounded by his family and a few devoted friends, on the 24th of October, 1852, aged 70 years, 9 months and 6 days. He was then Secretary of State uflder President Fillmore.