Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-01-31

tinp tnc uIs uiItn'S u'seu dS"'" '"'o Wv
! eminent scheme, during the previous sluges
Of that bill.
He commended that military operations
against the Florida Indians were necessary;
and this bill provided for nothing efficient
ofthat kind.
He also remarked. that if the Admins.
'ration would bring forward an efliclen,
measure. he would 90 most heartily for it.
This bill, he predicted, would fail to become
a law. The friends of Florida ~ the
other house would be reused, and never
allow it to pass that body; they would in.
sist upon some other mode of operation.
Mr. Preston dwelt at some length, on
these views.
The question on the passage of the bill
was carried in the affirmative. Ayes "a,
NAYS IS.
The Sub>Treasury Bill was then taken
up, and after having been read, section by
section, Mr. Clay rose and made speech
against the bill. which for argument and
eIoquence, he has seldom surpassed, and
which unclaimed to the last the attention of
his large audience.
present to you an imperfect and curso'
ry sketch of his remarks.
MR.. CLAY'S SPEECH.
Mr. Clay said that he felt it to be his
duty, before the fnal vote was taken on
this bill. not to make speech. but to say
few truths about it. lie came to the Senate
this morning though suffering from indls-
position, resolved if the measure was
pressed, to execute this intention. The
bill said he is TO pass this body. The
decree has gone forth! 1t is decree of
urgency, too. The llltle delay of week.
which was asked for, to give time for the
filling up OF vacancies IN these seats, for
the arrival Of senators who will be elected,
has been refused Il was going to say,
scorJully refused by the decree. 1t has
been refused by the votes Of two senators
who Go not t:uly represent the sentiments
OF their constituents, and IN the absence OF
two, who, i here. would Justly and lalth-
fully represent those sentiments.
The bill is to pass also by majority
,rhich is less than q majority Of the Senate
Yes, sir, measure more dlretul than any
which ever became a law in this country,
is to be sen, forth from the Senate by less
: than q majority! Nay, sir, if the two
senators from Tennessee had adhered to
their seats with the same teDaclty that
z some senators Oh the other side have exhl
bhed IN adherlng to their seals, aud if the
delay which was solicited had been grant.
d ed. there would have been majority
j. against the bill
After these and other preliminary obser.
) vations, Mr. Cay began to consider the
D Bill IN view of It's adoption to the present
e crisis. What, The asked] is the prcsen
condition OF our people? Sir, there is one
general, prevailing distress from one enc
:. of the country to the other. a our grea
! staples have declined in price and arc do
= clning The country presents the mag,
; OF body IN which one half has been strucl
e with palsy: for in one half there has beer
e suspension Of specie payments, and o
u business operations and trade.
e Those who are acquainted with Nj
}. Clay's powers Of picturesque and pathetic
n sentIug sketch of the present embarrass
e ments and distress, he produced powerful
q lmoressIon
IS lie wished to heaven that in this gloom
i we could see one CLEAN to light US TO
II prospect Of happiness restored, and prosper
~ returned. But, 50 far from improving
d the price of all our staples will 90 down
At aud this continual dccIenslon would resuI
e not from iCant Of markets, or from lnabiIIt
e to get these staples to market. On tn
Il point, Mr. Cay dwet with great mnul c
70 ne.s and effect. lie had never know
y such season of distress IA bat inst pas
'e or that which yet lies before US. Ever
;" part of our country is now bleeding; al
j. the only man who regards it with uncor
% Germ, Is he who might do most to remed
~ the evil. The physician of the Whit
D. House. is the only man who contemplate
}" this wide scene of rum and misery, wuho,
Is sympathy, without feeling, without an
10 emotions but those connected with his ow
Interests, or those If his partlsans.
az Mr. Clay then referred to The causes
'e This state Of things, and prominent nmor
IL them he placed the removal Of the depo
" ties, and that series Of measures again
y" the finances, the commerce, and all the b.
'e sness interests Of The country, which mar
ny ed the course OF the last administration al
u" continued to be the policy OF The DONNA
lar party.
on From this review he turned to ask VIII
remedy Tor these evils was proposed
those invested with the powers OF Cover
ment? The sub-Trcasury Bill.
lie examined n first rs Us friends rom
cry sent It. What Is 1t? Does it he aske
3 | propose any relief? Does it hold out Il
re ground OF hope Does 1t tender any CO
ISOLATION or comfort to an oppressed peopI
'"' NO, SIR, 1t Is SIMPLY a bill to exact from t
a people specie IN payment Of dues to |
he Government, and to pay out specie to
,ho who have demands on the Governmer
~, This Is all. After all its numberess 1t
'''e tons, It's cumbersome machinery, it pl
the tends TO hold our nothing more.
,a,. This remedy [conliuued Mr. Clay] dc