Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-02-14


1t hindlcs and sustains. But how shall describe
the storm of his oratory when at tho highcst2
When having for several sentences rolled along
gathering more and more force at every period, il
at last reaches tho climax, and bursts upon you in
all tho energy and majesty of passion7 At these
moments every one felt that tho gift of cloqucnce
was the most commanding and enviablo, which Pro
violence confcrs on man. thought of the man be
fore me, thus rising high above all i'll n talent which
more than all othe- moves and governs mankind
and wondered ,ohy lac wished to bs Prssidcnt-wh,
no wished to busy himself in tho White House, ant
to exchange the thunder of Jove for the sceptro OF
Pluto7 But thus we constituted. We canno,
consent to remain stationary, but must from the
laws of nature, desire to be advancing even if we
70 from better to worse. Certainly hon estly had
rather have been Henry Clay on Monday, than to
WELD the power of President of the United States.
Thore is moro glory in making the multitude shi-
ver as If i'll an ngue fit, with the vehen,cncc of your
soquencc, than in giving and taking away Offices.
The letter which closes this article is from the
N. Y Commercial, and gives apparently fair &C.
count of the occasion of the passages between Mr.
Clay and Gen. Smith. The writer correctly dc.
scrbes the nature of MIR. Clay's first spesch-whch
was merely tho statement and not the argument.
All who know him, know that he was most power
full in reply, and that he would pass those who
assailcd his positions like whirwind.
WAsHrNoroN Feb 4
MI Clay commenced his speech IN reply 10 Mr..
Hayne, emo other tariff and free rade advoc
lh"rsoay Tins speech, far as hs went that day.
lated Ia general principles Of the Tariffs history
and its operation on southern, western, and northern
interests lie exhibited more of his oraory than he had
q chance to do in his opening speech Your New York
Editors who in advance of the publication OF that first
speech, pulled It, as the brilliant and able ecrt
Hs lShn ,,.L God thp,rSe tyec
epithets TO distinguish this latter and higher effort from
the former The speech which Mr. Clay now deliver
whole ground of the protective system The first speech
which met with such exorbianl applause simple
but very clear exposition of the principles Oh which he
rested his resolution The mastsrly manner in which
Mr. Clay conducts legislative business,
NANTES, than III this instance lie first took his
ground for the debate by submitting his resolution, and
made slisht demonstration without in any expos
Tug HIMSELF then waited quietly till his advsrsaries had
put out all their s,rensth and Inc meets them and
At one blow, demolshcs them. i have seen MIR. Clay
IN his earlier days. AMI effective and brilliant effort
he never made than this. But, in reading his speech,
oil ms eye-hs commanding GESTURE his tones OF passion
and feeiing-hu there will still remain TO you his lucid
and vigorous argument Mr. Clay's second day de-
voted to his main argument He FIRST took sevcally
all the objections 10 the protective principle which had
heen urged by Mr. Hayne by others treated them in
fair and genemanlke nner and scattered them
winds. tIayne was uneasy, and twice interrupted the
orator, but such interruption seemed give him fresh
matter and additional vehemence.
casons, had the effect draw involuntary plaudns from
the auditory which of course were promptly reprimand
ed by the chair who threatened clear the galleries and
lobbies The ehuke from the Chair, in addition to the
sense Of proprety is uniformly conspicuous III the de-
por,nent of the auditory attending the halls of Con-
gres' and had the proper ettect-bu', STILL every now
and thcn the Glove of passage, there
was general rushing like the effect of violent wind
upon the forest, which strongly Indicated the feeling
of the auditory IS would the 'suppss dis"
repeat, that it is Mr.. Cays manner which gives
much effect to his speeches II you take his language,
Ia wT find rEahla II
except cearness and MISUNDERSTANDING certainly which
have the eec, produce the snudderug, delicious,
horror, which, in some passages. is prodGced by Mr.
Clay's voice and manner. have also remarked that, in
his printed speeches. reported by himself he does do
jnsucs to himself His dicton better in extempoaneou
man IN written discourse probably from the that
he learned TO at the county court bar before he
gave much attention 10 writing But, to return TO Mr.
Gays topics-AfleI finishing Mr.. Haync, and all the
anti tariff champions, he took up Mr. Smith, OF Maryland
iavore of mine my former letters may testify
and therefore, it will not so much surprise YOU that
should extract from Mr. Ciays speech the passage in
which Mr. Smiths name is mentioned, without much
compliment 1t was in fact an episode in Clay's speech
The Senator from Maryland, Mr.. Clay said, has re-
minded that the friends of the protective system
the MAJORITY aud he hopes will exercise power
with moderation, justice, and aienal feeling. Mr.. Clay
was always ready and willing to meet the minority on
terms of justice ffaernal feeling &c. But. said he the
remark comes with an Ill grace from the Senator from
maryland He too, IS member oil the ma jority-is on
The SIDE OF power and supports the measures of the ruling
administration. How has that pow er been exerc.cd
which has uniformly been sustained by the votes of the
Senator? Look back to 90 when this adminis,r ton
went into power. Wa then the seekers of Office,
those lean and servie menias stealing into this House,
and into the Presidents mansion, begging their bread
From the Vastly deep these spirits came at the signal Of
success, and cngng the sides of those gen.
tlemen Of the from whom they expected their
REWARD, and asking, that the honest, faithful and expo
enced servants OF the public should he displaced
room for them. Ask he mother and her children whose
dependence the prescribed husband and father,
what mercy shown them BY the Of which
the honorable Senator is influential member! Ask
those who thrown upon the world poor and unprepared
hy hP pDIntnn
oil power OF all which left TO them what the
oIbearance of The which the Senator from Ma
ryisnd has officially and zeaously supported? Sir, for
myself neither desired mercy expected justice,
the hands OF this Born in the midst Of the
revolu,ion-in the favored spot, Hanover county, Va
the residence of Patrick eny where the spirit of
slstance to lawless power FIRST awakened and when
tho partzan. Of power extended no mercy, I scorn
alike those who exercise, and those who submit OPP
preston!
W Van Buren, meetings have been held in the
cities of New York and Albany in Utica, and in
Onandags, Montgomery, and other counties, las
well in Philadelphia at which violent rosolu-
tions of csnsure en- tho Senate were passed and
tho mO Of hat body