The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1840-02-06
Correspondence of the Baltimore Patriot,
+ WASHINGTON, Jan. 8, 1910.

! Correspondence Of the Baltimore Patriot.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8, 1910.
Most interesting debate in the Senate
mr.. Clay and Mr.. Calhoun-Mr.
| Calho'aa's public declaration of aM
Gnce scih the spoilsmen.
] The Senate chamber, to-day, was
the scene of the first great debate
that has taken place in Congress this
session. There was an encounter be-
tween Mr.. Clay and Mr.. Calhoun, in
which the latter was most completely
beaten; vanquished, and humbled, in
the estimation Of all honorable men
who witnessed his miserable, ineffec-
tive attempt at explanation and de-
fence.
The discussion arose thus: The
bill, introduced by Mr.. Calhoun some
days since, to cede public lands to the
States in which they lie, on certain
conditions, had been referred to the
committee on public lands. To-day
Mr.. Clay took occasion to express
his regret that, in consequence of in-
disposition he was not present when
/ the bill was referred, as he wished to
make some suggestions as to the COM
mitment.
! Mr.. Southland moved to reconsider
the vote on the reference, for the pur-
pose Of enabling Mr.. Clay to make his
remarks.
! Mr.. Calhoun expressed in rather a
Ipetulent tone his annoyance at the
motion. He felt doubtless, that it in
terlered with ministerial arrange
I ments to which he had become a
4 party.
i Mr.. Clay urged the motion to re-
consider. He said the bill was nei-
: Their more nor less than aproposition
} to give the patrimony of the United
, States to the new States, and this
measure was to be referred to COM
). mittee, four out of five of whom are
from States which are to be made re.
}, cipients of this muniicent donation!
;. In the course Of his remarks, Mr..
Clay asked whether this was an Elk
ecutive measure? or whether in re-
gard to it, the Administration was
neutral and uncommitted? He said
he would not have put this query, had
not rumor spoken of certain friendly
; and confidential relations between the
Senator from South Carolina and the
, President, and had not this bill follow.
: ed close upon the announcement Of
, those amicable relations.
These illusions threw Mr.. Calhoun
; into a perfect passion; and after sew.
i feral f1ourishes about the indecorum Of
: any inquiry into his private relations
/ with the President, and of his still be-
: ing friend of State rights, he began
to argue that the fact Of so many
} members from the new States being
: on that committee, was one of the
, strongest reasons why it should be
) sent thither.
Mr.. Clay, in reply, repeated his
t wish that the bill should be referred
to some committee composed of mem.
: bers from the old as we'll as the new
, States. In allusion, also, to his for.
: mer remarks, he insisted that it was
Of Importance to know whether the
measure had the sanction and coun-
) tenance Of the Administration-whe.
: Their, in fact, it was an Executive
measure. Rumor did not limit the
union between the Executive and the
: South Carolina Senator to private
, friendship merely.
Mr.. Calhoun, in despair Of fortify.
ing himself, began an attack on the
policy and the measures of Mr.. Clay
: from the moment that statesman took
a lead in politics. He turned his en-.
ginery, particularly, against the com
promise and the American system.
Mr.. Clay defended his political
course with all his admirable powers
of argument and eloquence. | will
! refer to some Of his passages hereaf
) ter. They are worthy Of particular
note.
5 With regard to the compromise bill
i he said most truly and emphatically
l that no man ought to be more indebt
f ed to it than the Senator from South
3 Carolina, John G. Calhoun. Had i
!. not been for that bill, the s'hones
: Nullifer" might not have been pre-
, sent and alive this day.
: Nr. Calhoun again rejoined, in the
| worst possible temper and taste. Ht
commenced with a manifest perver
sion of Mr.. Clay's allusion to his in
: debtedness to the compromise. III
a represented Mr.. Clay as saying tina
/. if any one should be thankful to hin
fE(Mr. Clay) for that compromise, i
e was Mr.. Calhoun.
s Mr.. Clay cried out across thu
+ chamber-sNo sir; not to me-in
]. debted to the compromise was my re
Ell mark"
+ Mr.. Calhoun still went on, putting
/ his own version on the observation