The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1838-04-27


lana become independent indeed. lie /
preferred raising revenue from duties ,
on imports. 10 liqaidsie our national debt,
and meet lhe current expenses Of the
government, rather Than have recourse 10
direct taxation. : measure always 0bnox'
ions 10 the people. especially oil rePubli-
can government. In country 50 widely
spread as this. embracing such a great
variety Of soil. climate. and productions;
II j. not to be expected . unaalmiiy Of
opinion can exist among our statesmen
and legislators. on these important points.
Local interests will clash, loeai jealOnsles
will arise. and local feeling sometimes
will cause men Of good hearts and honest
intentions TO Lose sight Of their para
mount obligations 10 sustain our union-
This was strongly manifested IN 1872,
during the discussion OF the iaTili bill.
when The doctrine Of notification was
promulgated By several eminent states
men Of tie South. vas then at Wash
ingion. and shall never forget the high
excitement that prevailed. Nor shall i
ever forget, while memory lasts, the
services that Henry Clay then rendered
to our country. All the horrors Of civil
war were r0l.lag into ia!eS clouds. ready
TO burst in f1ry upon rs. The temple Of
our liberty yi5raled. as il shakea by the
earthquake Of faction, aud The torch o!
freedom grew dim in is socket. EEen
hope. The sheet aacilnr Of ilie soul. could
scarcely keep she slip of state TO i's
mooring. Amidslihis scene 81 coaluslan.
the storm gathering rev force with each
returning day. the session nearly CLOSED.
despair throw ing iis r"il around many oi
the sinutesi hearts, Mr. Clay appeared
with the olive branch &c compromise.
Calm aaI dlgnilisi, Wl,h peace beamins
up0a his c0uuienance. anil the big tears
rolling from lis eyes, he portrayed. ia
glowing calors, the necessity nf PreseEE-
ing. unbroken. The sllaen cards Of our
union, tia, had been dyed in Tie richest
blood Of our fathers. lie then presented
a hill which proposed the gradual reduce
ton Of duties on imports, until they should
reach the standard conienIed lor BY The
South. In this plan, he recognized the
payment 0f the national debt. and the
ultimate reduction of The llrln. 10 reFe-
me that should only meet the necessary
expenses Of the government. The bril-
liancy Of that short hnnr Mr.. Clay has
never eclipsed. Il was the climax nf
earthly glory, a nnbler act than TO con-
quer worlds. The sun Of reconciliation
rose in all its spiendor. the dark clouds
of discomfort and civil t!isoord vanished,
and tears Of JOY hung on many cheek.
like dew drops in a summer morning.
II I remember rightly, this was about the
middle Of June. aud or the 26ih, his bill
was finally passed by bath branches "f
Congress. aud received the sanction Of
the President, thus saving our country
from the greatest Of all evils, civil war,
that hung over US, like a sword suspend
ed BY a single hair. Tha. act alone was
sufficient 10 place the name Of Henry
Clay on the list Of immortal fame, and
gives him stronger claim 10 the gra,i-
tude of his country, Than any man now
upon the theatre Of action. The man
who preserves his country lInm self de-
structinn, does more than he " il" leads
fleets anil armies ~ Triumphant; victory.
lie who possesses the rare talent Of calm
ing TIL raging pillows OF passion, is wor-
thy of the highest honors than can be
conferred. Il is heavenly gift, shin
lug ornament, national blessing.
As a mediator to settle personal dis
pu!es, Mr.. Clay is also remarkably hap
py and successful. Honorable coaces-
sion ard mutual forbearance he has al
ways pracliscd and inculcaIed. lie has
often healed fostering wounds between
others, by single application of the pa
nacea OF his native good hunor and plea
santry. lie is emPhaiicslly peace ina
ker. ~a
He has uniformly taken a conspicuous
part in every leading question lat has
been agita,ed in Congress. His sympa-
thies have always been alive Gnr other
nations, whom he saw struggling for Ii
berty.
He was the first who strongly advo-
Gated The recognition of the independence
Of SouIh America. His success in effect
ing this, unqneslionabIy prevented other
nations from entering into an alliance
with Spain against the southern patriots.
The services Of Mr.. Clay were highly
appreciated by them, aud formally re-
eognized by uIeir Congress. Ills name
is interviewer with their history, as their
advocate and benelacior.
Suffering Greece ais. reused his ten
derest sympatIIies. lie urged. with ali
the powers OF his unrivaIled eIuqucncc,
the propriety &c sending commissioner
to tina, classic land. lie was strongly in
favor Of having the public lands appEo-
priated to the advancement OF internal
Improvements and eduration. He has
been jealous advocate for the colonial
ton Of free negroes. On the great ma
tlOnal or Cumberland road, beautiful