U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Clay, Henry ------------------------------------------------------------------- Aler's History of Martinsburg and Berkeley County, West Virginia by F. Vernon Aler, 1888 Printed for the Author by The Mail Publishing Company, Hagerstown, MD. CHAPTER VIII. Historical Pen Sketches of the Early Residents of Berkeley County by the late Hon. Chas. James Faulkner. Pages 108-113, HENRY CLAY. When this illustrious statesman was Secretary of State under the younger Adams, and when, like the an tiered monarch of the forest, he was almost driven to bay by the fierce blood-hounds of party under the foul and loathsome cry of "bargain and corruption," he sought, in July, 1827, a temporary refuge from this pitiless storm of calumny in a visit to some of his cherished friends in Berkeley County. He spent some days in Martinsburg, and it is needless to say that he was received here with all the enthusiasm due to his exalted genius and patriotism. He decided to pay a brief visit to the Berkeley Springs, and a gentleman now residing in our county, accompanied him in a carriage. When, about 2 o'clock in the day, they reached what was called the Halfway House, a sort of tavern kept by Dick Sheckles, a man of enormous proportions, fat and unwieldy, and weighing near four hundred pounds, they found the old landlord sitting in the shade before his house, indulging in his usual habit in the hot days of summer, of keeping himself cool by burying his feet in the earth and piling it up around his legs nearly as high as his knees. The arrival of the carriage did not in the least disturb the placidity of the unwieldy landlord. When Mr. Clay approached the house his traveling companion presented him to Mr. Sheckles, saying: "Permit me to introduce to you the present Secretary of State, Henry Clay, of Kentucky." With that the old gentleman gazed for a moment at the tall, spare and erect figure before him, and rising to his feet said: "Did you say this was Henry Clay, of Kentucky? Why, I thought he was a great big man like a king!" "No, Mr. Sheckles," said Mr. Clay, "you are more kingly in your proportions than I am. You see in me nothing but a broken down public servant, worn almost to a skeleton by State and the calumnies of my enemies." In May, 1844, Mr. Clay was invited by a public mass-meeting of his friends in this county to visit Martinsburg and to partake of the hospitalities of the county. We take an extract from the letter of invitation, as it contains some facts worthy of remembrance: Martinsburg, Va., March 14th, 1844. To the Hon. Henry Clay: Sir — The County of Berkeley boasts of some historical recollections connected with your fame, which she is not disposed shall at the present period be lost sight of or forgotten. She looks with a becoming pride to that sagacity which prompted her sons some twenty years ago to seek to give in your person that direction to public sentiment which it is now receiving from the patriotism and sagacity of the whole Union. It was here, in this very county — by action of the people in primary assembly, on the 14th of June, 1824, that your name was first presented to the people of Virginia, as a candidate for that exalted station, for which you' now stand nominated in the hearts of near two millions of your admiring countrymen. It was here — in this county — that the electoral ticket was framed and announced, which presents your claim to the suffrages of your native State. The short period which elapsed after the annunciation of that ticket, connected with the circumstance, that your claims were brought in competition with an elder of the Republican party, holding the same general principles of policy with yourself, and also a native of this State, prevented your receiving that support in this commonwealth, which none at that time denied to be due to your patriotism, exalted character and eminent public services. Still Berkeley by her recorded vote, preferred you then, as she has ever preferred you since and as she prefers you now, to all living statesmen, as the representative of her principles in the administration of the national government. She gave you her confidence without reserve in 1824, and she has continued that confidence without change or shadow to the present hour. She has with an abiding faith sustained you amidst all the fierce and bitter conflicts of party, confidently looking forward to the day now reaching its meridian splendor — when your name would kindle its just enthusiasm in every patriotic bosom, and all sections of this vast country hail you as the hope of this great Republic. The invitation was declined for the reason set forth in his reply: Washington, D. C, May 1st, 1844. Gentlemen: I feel greatly flattered, honored, and obliged by the invitation which you have transmitted to me to visit Berkeley County and partake of its hospitality, and by the friendly sentiments which accompany it. I feel, with gratitude, and acknowledge with pleasure, my great obligations to Berkeley, for its uniform and ardent attachment and confidence for me; and I should be most happy, under other circumstances, to meet and exchange friendly salutations with my fellow citizens of that county; but considerations, both of a public and private nature, in my judgment, require of me hereafter to avoid attendance upon large assemblages of my fellow citizens and I hope that the determination, to which I have come, on that subject, will command the approbation of you, gentlemen, and of those whom you represent. So numerous and constant are my occupations and so frequent have been the invitations which I have received, and am still receiving to public assemblages, that lam compelled to be much briefer, in my replies, than I would wish to be. I pray you gentlemen to accept yourselves and tender to those whom you represent my respectful and grateful acknowledgments. I am with great respect, Your friend and obedient servant, H. Clay. Mr. Clay's second visit to the County of Berkeley was in January, 1848. He was then going to Washington to argue a case before the Supreme Court of the United States. Having some days to spare, he determined to spend a short time in this county, with a friend. The presidential question was then agitating the public mind, and it had not been determined whether the nominee of the Whig party would be General Taylor or himself. The private mansion at which he stopped was freely opened to all his friends and there are many now living amongst us who will remember with delight, the wonderful power and fascination of his conversation, when in unrestrained intercourse with his friends. He spoke with his characteristic frankness and freedom of the pending Presidential canvass; made no secret either of his work or of his expectation of receiving the nomination of the approaching Whig convention; read a correspondence between himself and Gen. Z. Taylor, embracing several letters in which the old hero of Buena Vista whilst freely conceding the superior party claims of Mr. Clay to the nomination, and expressing his individual wishes that he might receive it, declares that he had no agency whatever in having his name presented in competition with Mr. Clay's, yet with modest firmness stated, that it was not his business to interfere with the progress of public sentiment, and the convention must be left free to make its selection in the best interests of the party and country. The writer of this has never known Mr. Clay to be more joyous and cheerful than upon the occasion of this last visit to the County of Berkeley. He felt indeed that he was in the house of his friends. He seemed eager to promote universal enjoyment around him. He encouraged the dance, music — caressed the children, told amusing anecdotes to the ladies; and when in his graver moments, he retired to the library, and there, surrounded by many of our citizens, portrayed the characters of our leading public men and expatiated upon what he deemed the true policy of the Government, all felt that they were in the presence of a patriot, orator and statesman, of whom the country might indeed be justly proud. I have pondered over the inquiry, How was it that this bold and unequalled leader of a great party, this noblest type of American manhood, this most prominent orator, patriot and statesman of his day, could never reach the goal of his lofty and honorable ambition — the Presidency? Was he too bold, too independent, too little of the politician to suit the then cravings of party cupidity? Is it a position only suited to men of inferior and moderate abilities? Are all of our really great men to be hereafter excluded from the enjoyment of its honors ? Was it attributable to the secret influences of rival candidates, that Mr. Clay lost his nomination? Was it to be ascribed to that natural jealousy which great, brilliant and commanding minds attract? Was it to the office seeking demagogues who fill our conventions, and who are ever on the alert to find out whom they think the most "available" candidate, without regard to merit? Or was it to that caprice and ingratitude which so often darkens the history of Republics, and which causes them to banish from their confidence, a citizen because they are tired of hearing everybody styling him "Aristides the Just?" These are questions which it may be well at some future day to consider, and to find their solution if possible. ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Berkeley County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/berkeley/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------