Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-02-16

which document II was Statet, ce. nv S
according TO him, was decisive. When coupieu
with the refusal of Great Britain to take part III
Congress, it effec.ualy put an end to the pro,
ject Of assembling one sirnilar TO NOSE w'I" nav
met at Vienna, AxIa-Chapelle, Layoacn anu
Verona
Mr.. Clan and General Smih-Many exas-
gerated and false statements relative TO the COIL
troversy between these two gentlemen nave oeeh
put forth. The following is account OF 1t, given
by an "eyc witness" through the National In
teIligencer. and which we have heard iron other
sources, may be relied upon. The public should
know the truth, and the whole truth, aud not be
misled by exparte testimony:
In the course of his speech on the 9th instant.
Mr.. Clay, adverting to previous declaration OF
Gen. Smith that he had been charged with be-
Ing too friendly to the manufacturers, sa'd,
aneyer was more groundless accusation brought
AGAINST a illuminated mans" and promised,
should 1t be renewed. il Gen. Smith would only
appeal to him. he would be ready to lake his oath
,hat he had never known ga more determined
enemy to the manufactured than the Honorable
Senator from Maryland Mr. Clay also motto.
ed the fact Of Gen. Smiths having appointed,
while acting as pro ten,pore President Of the Sc
nate, a committee of five Senators, on Internal
Improvement. Of whom only one was favorable
to the right Of its exercise. When Mr. Clay
sat down, Gen. Smith rose and endeavored TO
defend himself against the impntation OF hostil.
ty to the manufacturer, by referring to several
votes of his previously to 1922. la that gear he
said that he had resisted what be called the at
tempts Of the manufacturing interest, to dictate
al, nd h,d cph q inf OIL
bv MIR. Clay" Here would remark, that the
.:veteran ~enator's'' memory was at fault; for
Mr. Clay introduced no bill concerning the Ia
riff, in 1892. Gen. Smith probably meant the
bill of 1890. which Gen. S. opposed in argument,
and did not vote on. being absent when the vote
was taken. This bill was introduced, not by
Mr.. CLAY, who was then Speaker, but BY Mr.
Baldwin. But, whatever bill Gen. Smith meant,
he admitted that. FRAN the year 1922, he Opp0s-
ed the manufacturers He made sumo explana-
ton of his views and his difficulties in the ap-
pninment Of committees. At the beginning, |
believe. of his remarks. he disclaimed any inten-
ton TO wound Mr.. Claws sensibilitv bv his allu.
sion. made in consequence of previous alusion
by Mr.. CLAW to the subject of "age;" but men
toned compliment to Mr. Clay's personal APP
pearance. which iadv had paid. MI. Clay rose,
with much good humor. thanked the lady, who
ever she might be, for her compliment, remark
ing that it was specially deserving of his graft
tude. be ause it was the second time in life now
long that such a compliment had ever been paid
to him. He received Gen. Smiths statement as
to the time when his hostility to the manufactur-
ing interest began snd piayfuiy animadverted
on his misfortune, with his alleged devotion to
internal Improvements, in having Guessed" So
badly IN selecting a committee to take care of
them. On the subject of cage Nr. Clay de-
MED that his observation that subject was cal
culated to provoke the displeasure of any Sena-
tor-certainly he had no alIusion to the age of
the Honorable Senator from Maryland-for he
remembered too well that
"Oid politicians che W on wisdom past,
And totter on in business to be last I"
So soon as these words, quoted from Pope,
were uttered, "the gallant old Revolntioner''
bounced up in a fury. and exclaimed. 81 totter,
sir-you say I tottcr-I-l-I totter-you'il al
ways find me ready, sill, to correct your errors
Totter, Observation-Disclosures Here
Mr. Clay laughed. and SO l believe did every
man, woman. and child. in the House. | saw a
dog that looked as il he would laugh If he only
knew how. fit was Hobbies, | believe, who
proved that the faculty of laughing is what main
ly distinguishes human from irrational nature |
The 8. venerable Senator's" rage waxing warm
err. he said, looking very intentIy at Mr.. Clay.
Is he could take ueW of the gentleman's course"
Here Mr.. Clay, in decided, but by no means
angry tone, exclaimed @Take it-take it," Gen.
Smith said something about the occasion not be-
ing proper, &c. &c but still holding out the
idea that it was in his power to convict Mr.. Clay
of something or other very helnous. Mr.. Clay
then said with warmth, % dare you" "You
dare me. sir!'' said the venerable but foam
ing Senator; and he rung the changes for mi
mute or two on the words ..you," and - dare"
and "me." and "I" and "sir," until at last
he sank into his seat.
The above, to the best of my recollection, is
true account of the Incidents which occurred at
ter Mr.. Clay concluded his argument on the 9th
INST. # any portion of it is inaccurate, invite
correction from some one Of the multitude pre-
sent, who was attentive to what passed. am
very sure that no such spectator. if he regard his
own character, would put his name to the state
ment re-published in the Enquirer Misrepre-
sensations on the subject, equally gross. have APP
peared in the parbed report and editorial COM