Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-07-16

wards, 1920, Mr.. Clay renewed his efforts,
and notwithstanding there had been no mateal
change either in the internal condition Of the
South American States, or in the relations
which we bore to them they were crowned with
success-a most striking testimony to his fore
sight, and an enviable tribute to his wisdom. II
was in the course Of his speech on this subject,
in the House of Representatives, in March,
1920, that he shot those arrows which wound
cd so deeply the pride Of Gen. Smyth, and
Mr.. Nelson Of Virginia, and Gen. Smith Of
Mary yland-wounds which have doubtless bled
ever since, and which will never be healed,
until they see Mr.. Clay prostrated. Vain
hope! Mr.. Clay possesses a buoyancy and
| elasticity Of mind which no opposition can
affect-which no reverses can repress. Does
! the moon heed the dogs that bay at her! No
| moro does Mr.. Clay heed the barking at his
heels OF the faction that pursues him.
Speaking Of Gen. Smith, OF Maryland, Mr..
! Clay made the following observations:
"The gentleman from South Carolina, Mr..
Clay said, had professed to concur with him in
a great many of his general propositions; and
| neither he nor any other gentleman had DIS
| agreed with him, that the mere recognition Of
the independence of the provinces was DO cause
of war with Spain-except the gentleman from
Maryland, (Mr. Smith, to whom he recom-.
| mended, without intending disrespect to him,
to confine himself to the operations of com
| merce, rather than undertake to expound
questions Of public law; for he could assure
tho gentleman, that, although he might mako
| some figure, with his practical knowledge, in
the one case, he would not in the other No
man, Mr.. C. said, except the gentleman from
Maryland, had come out with what he would
! call tho hardihood to contend that. on tho
ground Of principle and nero public law. the
exercise Of tho right Of recognizing another
opwer is the cause Of war;
Mr. Hugh Nelson's share Of the compliment,
is in the following words:
Even my honorable friend near me, Mr..
Nelson, has made speech on our side, and
we should not have found it out, if he had not
told US that he would vote against us. AL
though his speech has been distinguished by
his accustomed eloqucnce, should be glad,
Mr. Z. said to agree on a cartel with the gen.
tlemen or the other side Of The House, to give
them his speech for his vote. The gentleman
says, his heart is with US; that he ardcntly de-
sires the independence Of the south. Will ho
excuse me for telling him, if he will give him
self up to tho honest feelings Of his heart, he
will have much surer guide than by trusting
to his head, TO which, however, am far from
offering any disp,ragement!"
Ofth Hero Of Black Rock, Gen. Alexan-
der Smyth, of Wythc, Mr. Clay thus speaks:
"An honorable gentleman from Virginia,
(Mr. Smy:h, who, when he has been little
in this House, will learn to respect his powers,
calls il all usurpation on the part Of this House.
Has the gentleman weighed the terms which
no employed If mistake not, the gentleman,
in the debate respecting tho power to make in
ternal improvements, called that too an usur-
patton on the part Of this House. That power,
too, however, he admitted to belong to the
Executive, and traced it to an imperial source,
informing us that Caesar or somebody olse, had
exercised it, Sir, the gentleman has mistaken
his position here: he is military chicftain,
and an admirable defender of executive au-
thority, but he has yet TO learn his horn-book
as to the powers Of this branch Of the Legs
lature."
We have no doubt the hostility of these
three men to Mr.. Clay may be referred to the
speech from which tho above quotations are
made. 1t may serve as a lesson TO others, to
be careful how they throw out tannts and wit
ticsms against an opponent. If they fall on
hgh-minded men, they will be ciprocated in
kind, or forgotten. But, if on men of malig-
nant, unforgivins tempers, they will never be
forgotten, until ample revenge be had.-.Adr.