The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1840-02-06

Led in the same strain. He told us
ne had written home at the time that
he had forced this compromise from
4 the Senator. (Nothing more likely;
At would be only part Of his system
ATTIC attempt at glorifcation.) He
said he had written to his friends that
Mr. M Clay was fiat on his back and
4 must must give up this compromise. He re-
1 peated this beautiful and classical
phrase, "hat on his back" several
times, applying it to Mr.. Clay. He
meanly referred to the difference re-
specting the policy which existed be-
tween MIR. Clay and Mr.. Webster at
the time. Mr.. Webster, he said, had
supplanted Mr.. Clay in the affections
i OF the friends of the American sys-
tenn, and therefore, added he, it was
j compromise or humiliation with the
Senator from Kentucky! Loud
laughter again followed this extrav-
aganza; and Mr.. Calhoun, apparently
seized with a sudden consciousness
that every body present would be-
IIlieve all this talk the result Of after
thought, and not consistent with his
professions at the time, began to pro-
test most earnestly that it was not
i attertlought-that such were his i'm
pressions at the time--and that his
private letters would prove his asser-
tons.
4 Will you believe that after all this
fanfaronade, Mr.. Calhoun did gra-
!. ciously condescend to allow Mr.. Clay
some grains Of merit for what had
4 been done in the compromise? Yes,
he really acknowled that although Mr..
. Clay "acted from necessity some
. merit was due to him. | wish YOU
. could have seen the look Of painful
4 scorn Mr.. Clay wore, as with a slight
inclination of his head and wave of
;. his hand, he acknowledged this aston
ishing mark of literally from the
. Nullifier.
4 But after granting that some merit
was due to Mr.. Clay, he went on to
say that the obligation was long can.
celled so far as South Carolina and
) the whole South were concerned
Then came a whole tissue of mere
Wanting about his own exploits
how he, backed by South Carolina
} had pulled down the tariff system
how he himself had given it the frs,
blow which had the effect, more than
all other things combined, to bring
back the government to its origina,
principles. But it is needless to fol
low this fallen man through all hi:
f vagaries and vain boastings. HI
) made, on the whole, such an exhibi
: ton, that it were charitable idea tc
/ entertain, that he is half crazed-that
his Wanting ambition has overset his
mind.
The reply of Mr.. Clay was worthy
) of his best days of oratory. He said
most truly that he had made no allu
; sion to the compromise at frst-nc
reference to the events of 1S25-nol
: to Notification. He thought it ex
: traordinary that Mr.. Calhoun had al
luded to the last mentioned subject
) especially, since he had gone over tc
the authors and advocates of the
PROCLAMATION, Force BILL, and all.
i Mr.. Clay kept the Senate and the
galleries and the reporters in a roar
Of laughter, when he took notice Of
i Mr.. Cahoun's gasconade about him
} (Mr. Clay) being fiat on his back, &c
&c. "The Senator says he was my
master!" exclaimed Mr.. Clay--"Why
, sir, | WOULD NOT o,cn HIM AS NJ,
: SLAVE !" Mr.. Clay paused awhile
/ after his remarks, as if expecting
some answer on the instant-but
there was none. He turned rounc
to the Senators on, all sides, success
lively. 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 MAsrER!!!'
No man who was not present car
imagine the effect Of this simple ex
!, preston. The illustrious Statesman
: and orator of Kentucky ridiculed
! with all his power Of wit and sarcasm
the laughable egotism' Of Calhoun, il
saying that HE had compelled Mr.. Clay
: to introduce the compromise, and hac
written letters declaring the fact
; But, when he noticed the remark that
, he had acted under necessity, he rose
: to height Of true, hearty, impress
: i've, and commanding eloquence
) which have never known to be sur
passed in all my acquaintance witt
j Congressional oratory.
t He said he did indeed act under;
necessity. but not Of a personal ma
E ture, no, no, as far from that as pos
: sible. He saw the situation of thu
: Senator from South Carolina and hi
friends. He saw the condition t
: which they had brought the State Q
!. South Carolina, by their unwise an,
r. r.