Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1839-06-28


TO their closets TO wvte out the dOings of
that day for the newspapers of the next.
The discussion was never reported, and It
is probable that not one hundred persons,
except the Senators or Members of the
House of Representatives ever heard 1t.
IL had the great advantage. too. over al
most all the discussions in Washington
that the question must be settled within a
very short time, as on the Alb of March,
Congress must adjourn, and that as It broke
up all the previous organization of parties,
! ,he speakers were really contenGing for a
victory over mems minds the Senate and
the House being as undecided in ;heir opn
ions as any town meeting ever was upon
any municipal subject.
Mr.. Clay opened the argument with an
attempt to show that the principle of pro
lection was not surrendered, and at mos,
only adjourned and that he would show
South Carolina. Congress did not net under
a threat. for as he held out he olive branch.
IN one hand. he would put The sword (Mr
Wilkins Force Bill, SO callcd) in The other,
and in reply to the constitutional objec,
lion of introducing a Revenue Bill in the
s nate, he go, over the objection as easily
as he could, but without having much at
tpntlon to it a, all Mr. Webster me, him.
with his severe and irresistible logic, at
the surrender of law Of Congress to the
ordonnance Of a rebeIhous state. Mr..
Clay replied and Mr.. Webster answered,
IN short speeches, each being sometimes
not more than four, and never over twenty
minutes long. Both were aroused and
both were arguing Tor victory over other
Senators m,nGs,-fo OHIO, and New Jer-
sey. and Maine, and Pennsy wanna, and
Rhode Island, and Connecticut, knew not
what to do. The terrible logic of Web
sler's sentences, so compact, and of weight
80 massive that every word seemed one Of
iron, was making decided impression upon
Clay's battered shield, The agile Ken
tuckan. swift as he is to parry and 10
thrust. was but poorly defending his cause
from harm. South Carolina, whose cause
he had been pleading, had committed too
many sins for him to bear on his own
shoulders in such fight and Webster tore
> them If Calhoun was moving his hawk +
eye with the widest glare. and he Ionged
TO pounce upon the Yankee and try to tear
him to the death; bot the field was kept
, clear, aud no other champion was permitted
20 enter he list. Clay became angry. a,
, his cause became weak aud Webster
grInncd one of those smiles Of his. when
{ he thinks he has victim under his paw
II was clear to every body that Clay wa
a losing ground, and Webster was carrying
all before him. 1t was felt in that electric
atmosphere true eloquence or CONNECTION
ever creates, as it excites the smile upon
the ounlenance Of the auditor, or draws
out his involuntary applause. The fac
= was, Mr.. Clay was no match for Mr.. Web
, sler in the severe end logical analysis ir
r which he had been making his TIT. Hi,
mind had not been disciplined 10 the riglt
t New England school Of question and reply
he had never been taught to weigh every
word, and never to use q word, wl,hou
l some weight He did not know what II
I was to speak ertempore az Coke or ,
Marshall would write. No man was al
last more aware Of the error he had beer
committing in this three hours debate thar
Mr.. Clay himself. The battle axe and the
2 budgeon, he immediately saw. were n,
0 then the weapons for him. The -ledge
Y hammer logic of The Senator from Massa.
a chu.erts. he threw down at once. and r.,
v treating a little to catch his breath he
; rushed again to the contest, as a spearsmal
: upon some noble sleed vino meets maj
: of IRON well enrrenched. but whom he il
/ afraid too closely to approach bul lnto ne
e JOINTS of whose shield he essays to dash
Clay then cane forth Us another man
pumed and caparisoned As gallant cava
. her, who had only read books Of chIvalrv
q and never looked into works of logic -
: law. HIS cOnsumate * aS public maj
n was never more trumphanlIy displayed
e II was then, IN exhorring The Senate I,
p save the counlry-to save MS from civil wa
g - and brother from drenchlur his hands il
t n brothers blood-that the majestic an,
decploned notes Of his aboundlng vulc,
Y shook the Senate into obedience, aud &C
. rualy drenched the llrile audience in tears
Y He was irresistible. Mr.. Webster coldl
e replied, he had argued with him as
II salesman, bnt be had no reply to make, /,
: what however good was nothing but decla
n nation. But decIama,on had won TIT
d palm; the Senate was taken BY storm -
y the House instantly yielded. In u sIng
evening The bIl' IN that body went through
d all the forms OF laW-anJ re appeared II
= he Senate, now without the revenue ob
). elton as the BIZ Of the House! PrthaD
. "A man never won so great victory over
i public body " and such was his lemporar,
:, power, that IN spite of all the Efforts of lh
administration, which was almost supreme
!, IN the Lower House, he carried his we
= known Land Bill also. and could hav
a carried it, If the President had returned |
+. with his veto, by the constitutional ma crit,
d of two thirds. 1t was on tins occasion
y that Mr.. Clay is reported to have said to
y. friend, ii wish now to 90 home forever, I,
a my farm at Ashland for have done al tn,
g good can do IN pubic hfe" But wheI
d h's Land Bill was projected, he is reported
- TO have added to the same friend. "Ah
II my enemies little know me. | will pursu,
r that measure as long as God besses m,
IL | lNILh lLln ,Hlnu boon IL