The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-03-20
Political.
From the Washington Globe.

From the sketch gwen py our Reporter
pf Mr.. Claws three days speech, It VIII
he seen that it closed with the most Of
feu.iye and direct personalities aimed at
n venerable Senator who has been al
most 40 years in Congress. That "tot-
,ering" aye should have been made the
subject Of Mr.. Clay's mockery-nay
more, than by his gestures he should
have mimicked or rather caricaturcd the
decrepitude Of n venerable patriot who
was gloriously fighting the battles Of his
country in the revolutionary war, when
the scoffer was in his nurses arms-when,
after he had insulted man of more than
eighty years of age, that he should have
"dared" him TO retaliate, and made the
SENATE chamber the scene of bullying
defiance which would have disgraced a
decent bar room, was not to have been
expected from Senator, much less one
aspiring to the Presidency. But it was
in perfect keeping with the rest of Mr..
Clay's peroration. His profane appeal
to the "holy EcangeHsts Of Almighty
God" in q vein of ridicule-and his re-
currence TO his "reminiscences as brag
his success of his gaming career, he told
Mr.. Smith, 'yon shant out bras me = was
calculated to make by standers suppose,
that Mr.. Clay forgot that he was in The
Senate.
For the honor of the country we are
happy TO say, that no one of any party
is found TO defend the shameful part
which Mr.. Clay played Oh this occasion
in the Senate. There was not, we be-
lievs single member Of that body that
did not feel its dignity humbled in the
eyes Of the crowd that surrounded II, by
the conduc, Of an individual, who it had
pretended would lend dignity even to the
Chef Magistracy Of our country.
Tho conduct of Gen. Smith was such
as became him well. 1t suited his age
and his history. He did not feel that it
was necessary for one who had distin-
guished himself in some Of the hottest
conflicts Of the revolutionary war for
one, who had met the British before Bal
timore in the late war, and driven them
from the spoils almost within their grasp,
to prove his courage upon the floor Of
the Senate. He chose rather to cvince
HE hrmness there, by declining the inde-
ceut contest to which he was "darcd,"
and by maintaining the decorum and
dignity which belonged to the body of
which he was member. If he had
thought fit to have taken a different
course, what an occasion was presented
10 him. He might have contrasted his
sturdy and green old age, with the pre-
mature decay Of which Mr.. Clay had
complained in himself. He might have
told him that the hand of time did not
half so soun palsy and set the frame to
.ottering, as the poison Of dissipation
and the shock of Incorporate passions !;
and he might have pointed to the par
ticulars in which he had corrected GER
tain lapses of Mr.. Clay's memory, to
show, that the weight of eighty winters
on his head had not made him half SO
forgetfuI, as n reckless temper had made
the man who had assailed him.
Mr.. CLAY passed to the consideration
of the financial remarks of the Senator
from Maryland (Mr. Smith.) The Sen
ntor commenced his remarks by saying
that he had been accused Of being too
friendly 70 manufacturers. A mere ma
licious accusation, said Mr.. Clay, was
never made by created man. Ii any
one should repeat the charge, let him be
referred to me and will take my solemn
oath, on the holy EcdngeEsts Of Almighty
God, that since have known any thing
of his course, in either house, he has
been most determined foe to nanufac-
turers.
Mr.. Clay called for the sinking fund
act of which the Senator from Maryland
had accused him Of ignorance. How
did the Senator know that was igno-
rant of that act Mr.. Smith disclaimed
the words imputed to him. He had ne
yer accused any member Of this body of
ignorance, and hoped he should never so
far depart from Senatorial propriety.]
The Senator, continued MIR. G.. supposed
me to be ignorant Of that act. There
are two errors which frequently find
place in some minds: one is the error
of magnifying our knowledge, and the
other is the error Of depreciating the
knowledge Of others; and the honorable
gentleman must excuse me if say that
he is prominent example of the exis-
tence Of both errors. "ss"s
After alluding to the friendship which
ne had always exhibited towards the
army and navy, Mr.. Clay touched the
subject of Internal Improvement. lie
had said that there would he left lS mil
lions, after modifying the Tariff upon
the plan he proposed. But he did not
wish TO retain revenue of Is millions.