Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1840-01-16

Mf. WEBSTER at the time. Mr.. WEB
sTER, he said, had supplanted Mr.. CHA,
in the affections ofthe friends ofthe Anne,
rican system, and therefore, added he, il
was compromise or annlhilation with the
Senator from Kentucky. Loud laugh.
ter again followed this extravaganza
and Mr.. Calhoun, apparently seized with
a sudden consciousness that every body
present would believe oil this talk the re-
suit of atter-thought, and not consistent
with his professions at the time, began 10
protest most earnestly that il was not at-
ter-thought-that such were his impress.
sions al The time-and that his private
letters would provo his assertions.
VIII you believe that after all this fan
faronade, Mr.. CALHOUN did g~raclously con-
descend to allow Mr.. CLAY some grains of
meri, for what had been done in the com.
promise? Yes, he really acknowledged
that although Mr.. Clay "acted from ne.
cessity," some merit was due TO him. |
wish you could have seen the look oil
playful scorn Mr.. CLAY wore, as with a
slight inclination Of his head and a waive
OF his hand, he acknowledged this aston.
ishing mark Of hberality from the Nullif-
er.
But, after granting that some merit was
Que to Mr.. CLAY, he went on 10 say that
the obligation was long cancelled, so far
as South Carolina and the whole South
were concerned. Then came a whole
tissue OF mere Wanting about his own ex-
ploits-how he, backed by South Carroll
ma, had pulled down the tariff system
how he himselfhad given it the first blow,
which had the effect, more than all other
things combined, to bring back the Go.
vernment to its original principles. But
it is needless TO follow this fallen man
through oil his vagaries and vain boast.
ings. He made, on the whole, such
an exhibition, that it were a charitable
idea to entertain that he is half crazed-
that his vaulting ambition has oversct his
mind.
The reply Of Mr.. Clay was worthy OF
his best days of oratory. He SAID, most
truly, that he had made no allusion to the
compromise Mt irst-no reference 10 the
events of 1S25-nor to Modification. He
thought il extraordinary that Mr.. CAL.
HoUN had alluded TO the last mentioned
subject, especially, since he had gone
over TO the authors and advocates of the
PRocLAMArIoN, Force BILL, and all.
Mr.. CLAY kept the Senate, and the gal
leries, and reporters in a roar Of laughter,
when he took notice of Mr.. CALHouN's
%gasconade about him Mr.. CLAY) being
fiat on his back, &c. &c. "The Scna-
tor says he was my master!" exclaimed
Mr.. Clay" Why, sir, ! WOULD NOT own
HIM AS MY sLAvE!" Mr.. CLAY paused
a while after this remark, as if expecting
some answer on the instant--but there
was none. He turned round to the Sena-
tors on all sides, successfully, and, with
a look and gesture more expressive than
any words could be, said, slowly and
scornfully, as if he would hiss the very
thought" He my maSter!r"
No man who was not present can ina.
CINE the effect Of this simple expression.
The illustrious statesman and orator Of
Kentucky, ridiculed, with all his power of
wit and sarcasm, the l~aughable ego,ism
OF CALHOUN, in saying that lie had COM
PEELED Mr.. CLAY to introduce the com.
promise, and had written letters declaring
the fact. But, when he noticed the re.
mark that he had acted under necessi-
ty, he rose to a height of true, hearty,
impressive, and commanding eloquence,
which have never known TO be surpas-
sed, IN all my acquaintance with Congress.
sional oratory.
He said he did indeed act under n ne.
cessity, but not Of a personal nature ; no,
no, as far from that as possible. He saw
the situation of the Senator from South
Carolina and his friends. He saw the
condition TO which they had brought the
State of South Carolina, by their unwise
and incorporate course. He saw the ma.
ton on the eve OF a civil war. He wish.
ed to prevent it. He wished 10 prevent
the efiusion of human ~blood-of the blood
of brothers and countrymen. He had
another object: the preservation Of the
erea. interests Of domestic industry. He
wished TO save them. He saw that, at
the next session, the whole system would
be swept by the board. These were the
motives which aciuated him. He was
influenced by a necessity ; but it was the
necessity of advancing the interests ofthe
whole country, and averting distress and
ruin from a brave, gallant, but misguided,
State.
One of the most powerful passages in
this speech of Mr.. CLAY, was that in
which he repealed the attempt Of CAL
HouN to speak for the whole South, and
to pronounce sentence or HENRY CLAY,
in the name oil the whole South. 1t was
a rebuke which Mr.. CALHOUN will never
forget. Mr.. CLAWS manner and tone
were such as become a patriot and states
man, addressing, from his elevation Of pu-