Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1831-10-20


70 remark, IA connection with this subject.
.nst, from the commencement of his p0liti
car caresr up to the present time, his great
est Efforts have been made as Frequently In
opposiuonto, as IN concurrence with the 20
puiar ieeiing and apparently in both cases
WI IN equal success. We have seen, that his
iifst appearance IN Kentucky in the political
iieiu' was IN the character of an advocate of
me unpopular doctrine OF the emancipation
VI me slaves On the occasion Just mention.
ed, he placed himself in direct opposition 10
the popular sentiment In the subsequent
party division between the friends Of the Old
and New Court, which for so many years
disturbed the State. Mr.. Clay acted in like
manner with the party which was considered
unpopular, bnt which he finally sustained by
ms great eloquence and talent against all op
position. Lastly. on the interesting occasion
OF the election of President of the T.. States
by the House of Representatives, in 1925.
ne employed his influence. and gave his vote
IN favor Of the candidate who might have
been iairly considered as the least popular
OF The three, whose names were before the
House. These remarkable cases, occurring
al different periods in the course of his life.
sufficiently evince that in the regulation of
ms political conduct, he has been governed
ny hAed principles, and not by selfish re-
Safd Tor temporary popularity.
IN The year 1909, Mr. Thruston, another
senator IN Congress, having resigned hi.
place, Mr. Clay was called upon to occupy it
Tor the remainder Of his term, which was
two years and took bis seat accordingly in
inc senate at the close of that year. As the
hfst speech which he had made during his
former service as Senator, was in favour of
fiae'faes improvement, so il happened, by A
fainer singular coincidence, that the first
"h'ci! he had made during his second &c rm
was IN support of the encourag cement and
protection by Government of domestic many
Jaaafes The hostile attitude assumed 10y
some OF the great foreign powers towards the
United States, had at this time induced our
leauihS politicians 10 calculate the prnbahili
" oil war, and TO see The necessity Of making
preparations for it in adeance With this
general purpose, bill was brought into the
senate TO appropriate sum of money for
procuring supplies Of cortiage, sail cloth, and
other articles of use in war During the pro
gress OF this bill through its different stares.
an amendment was proposed. providing that
preference should be given to articles of
American growth and manufacture, here
yer 1t could be done without material detri-
ment to the public service AT the present
day, when the great advantages resulting
from The possession oil home manufactures
are so generally admitted, it will hardly be
Thought possible that such a proposition
should have been resisted, and least OF all by
me representatives. of this quarter of the u
mon The amendment was, however, urgent
iy opposed by Senator from Massachusetts,
ana long debate ensued upon the general
question OF expectancy Of the protecting po-
hcy, IN which Mr.. Clay maintained the same
opinions which he has ever since supported
with SO much zeal, talent and success, as to
nave acquired the honorable title Of the Fa-
ther OF the American System.
Mr. Clay Mas chosen mcpber Of the III
oil Representatives of the United States in
toi being then thirty five years Of age, and
was Immediately elected Speaker. During
the long period of his congressional career,
which lasted. with two short intervals, from
this time TIL his entrance into the Depart
ment OF State in 1925. he was regularly c.
iected Speaker of each successive House oc
Representatives, We believe, without opposi-
ton. II is admitted. in fact. by all, that in
discharging the arduous and honorable du-
tles OF this place, he was singnlarly success
III: Though emineniIy prompt, firm and de-
cisiVe, The frankness and urbanity oil his man
ner prevented any one from taking offence,
and rendered him a general favorite
As is well recollected he took an early and
very active part in the measures for recogni
zIng The independence OF the South Ameri
can States Ills first attempt. for this pur-
pose, IN 1917, was not successful; but he re-
newed his melton at the next session, aud az
ter warm debate it was carried by haud-
some majority.
The services Of Mr. Clay have been ac-
cordIngy acknowledged with enthusiastic
gratitude by the patriots of Spanish America
His speeches in Congress we're REPEATEDLY
read al the head oftheirarmies, and the thanks
of then Legislative Assemblies were publicly
offered him on several occasions. Among
the various testimonies Of appreciation be-
slowed upon his course on this subject, one
of The most emphatic and honorable proceed
ed from an eminent citizen of this Common.
wealth. Some time after the event we have
just noticed, in the year 1875, "a Representa-
tive In Congress from Southern State. who
had been from the beginning violently oppo-
sed TO the recognition of the independence
of Spanish America, thought proper TO allude
in terms of severe censure to the influence
which Mr.. Clay exercised in their behalf
His remarks upon this subject drew from Mr.
Webster the following powerful and pointed
reply.
pains have been taken TO prove, that the
whole policy of our Government respecting
South America, is the unhappy result of the
influence OF a gentleman formerly filling the
Chair Of this House. To make out this. re