Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-02-28
REPORTED FOR THE NATIONAL isrELLiGEscER
Eighteenth Congress.
SPEECH OF MIR. CLAY.

SPEECH OF MIR. CLAY,
On The BIZ for obtaining The accessory .Si.rreys
on The subject Of Roads and Canals.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
$50 JANUARY 81, 1894
Mr.. CLAY rose IN reply 10 Mr.. RANDOLPH.
1t had certainly he said, been far from his in
tention again to trouble the committee on the
present subject. He felt restrained, not only
ny consideration of the time that had al
ready been spent upon ii, but also by the
State Of his own health but allusio,is so FREE
quent, and of such II marked character, had
been made to him, Especially by the honor
able gentleman who had Just taken lis seat, !
that he trusted 1t would not be deemed aires.
pass on the cummttee If he should briefly no.
lice some of them.
The gentleman from Va. (Mr. Archer for
fhe general character of whose discussion he
felt the highest respect, and whose intelligent
mind never led him to say what was not az
least, wnrthy of serious consideration, had OBJ
served, IN the course of his sperch, (Which
regret that only heard in part,) that he was
quite sure would cUnced- that, in ascertain
ing what were lawful means Ia be taken for
carrying into effect either of the granted DOW
ers In the constitution, a cOngruiy would be
required IN such means with the power tn be
Executed. To this then nodded assent and
now repeat the expression of INV concur
'S'~e- a'ui ohb'bit IL W tie 10
say, whether there is any discrepancy between
roads and canals as means, and The trans
portaton OF troops aud muntions of war as
an end between good reads as "A means and
The transportation of The mail as an end be-
tween roads and canals as IA means, and the
regulating and facilitating of internal com
inercc AS an end.
Another gentleman from Va. Mr.. Steven
son, whose speech had the pleasure of hear
ing throughout, alluded To speech of mine,
delivered on IA former occasion, and which con-
tanned, AS he commended, sentiments in uppu-
sition tn. those expressed by me in the pre-
sent debate. Although think il s0mew hat
unfair to travel of the proceedings of this
House IN search of arguments advanced on a
different occasion and in another body vet
Whatever others may say, |, for one have
never felt the slightest difficulty in owning
any and every part of the course have pur-
sued, and in a.owng the motives by which
have been actuated. Ii is true that was on
posed to the renewal of the charter of the
old Bank of the u States. NV opposition
toit arose from various motives, involving moi
merely the constitutional question, but the ex-
pedIency of The measure ,dInt that did
not, al that time believe that Congress could
copstitutonaliy, grant the incorporation. But
on another occasOn, after much experience
mad, in a state of war and in the most prri,
ious times, of the urgent necessity of srch an
institution, did farther considerations
change my opinlun, and, in having done so.
stand IN company with some of the best, the
wisest, aud The purest men of our country,
and especially with that man who most de
serves the gratitude of this country for the
establishment of this government, ] mean the
late Chief MagisiIste of the u. States, and
with one not less honest, though less disIin-
guIsied, the present Governor of Virginia.
The conviction was forced upon us by me-
cessity and the lights of experience But,
while acknowledge this, must, at the same
time, be permitted TO say, that think the
gentleman who urged this has utterly failed
of establishing the slightest contradiction be-
tween the principles then held and those on
which advocate the present bill. His failure
70 most signal. He first assumes it for grant
ed that, il Congress does not possess the pow :
er OF incorporation, IT has no power to make
internal improvements and then be urges nv
objections against the former power q dis
prove the existence of the latter. But am
sure, that, to do away this assumptions NAV
appeal not only to his own candor, for never
admitted what he asslmes,) hut to the exam
pie of his own state, which has, at this mo-
ment, Board for Internal improvements.
sanctioned and aided by the state Ieejsla-
tire, and yet not Incorporated and to the
example of this government which made the
Cumberland road without granting any act of
incorporation TO effect it. So that. even
granting him the full benefit of the oplnion
formerly held and expressed in the Senate
and which he now quotes against me, IL does
not advance him ons step in bis argument.
A member on my right, (Nr. Randolphl
has done me the honor tu notice an argument
brought forward some or 10 days ago, and
although he set out with declaring that ne
should treat it with more respect than had
treated that of the chief magistrate, / think,
1 may appeal TO the committee to- decide
whether he has redeemed the pledge. Sir,
n growing old. have bad some little mea-
sure ofexperenee 10 public Iifp and The re-
suit OF that experience has brought me 10 this
conclusion, that, when business of whatever
nature, is 10 be transacted in deberative as
sembly, or 10 private life, courtesy, foTbear-
ance, and moderation, are best calculated 10
bring It to a successful conclusion Sir. my
age admOnishes roe to abstain from involving
myself in personal difficulties would to Gnd
That could say am also restrained by high
CT motives. Icenainly never sought soy col
hs'on with the genteWaD from Va. My stu
auon, AT this time, is peculiar, il it be nothing
else, aud might, 1 should think, dissuade at
leastS generous heart from any wish TO draw
me lnto circumstances &C personal alteration.
nave experienced this magnanimi;y from
some quarters Of the House. ButI regret
mat, from others, Il appears 10 have received
no sncn consideration. The gentleman from
yTg'nM was pleased to say that in one point
- least, he conceded with mc-in an humble
estimate OF ny grammatical and pathological
sssWfsneats> lknOw my deficiencies. was