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

POLITICAL L..


II WAsRIseros. Jan. 3, 1870.
MOST INTERESTING DEBATE IN THE Sc
NATE-MR CLAY AND MIR CALHOUN
MR.. CALHoUN'S PUBLIC DECLARATION
OF ALLIANCE WITH THE SPolLSMEN
The Senate chamber, to-day, was the
scene OF the first great debate tina, has TIA
ken place in Congress this session. TIL, re
was an encounter between MIR. CLAY and
Mr.. CALHOUN, in which the latter was
most completely beaten, vanquished, and
hnmbled, in the estimation of all honora.
Bile men, who witnessed his miserable, in.
effective attempt at explanation and de-
fence.
The discussion arose thus: The bill.
introduced by Mr.. CALHOUN, some days
since, TO cede the public lands TO the
States in which they lie, on certain con-
ditlons, had been referred TO the Commit
tee on Public Lands. To-day, MIR. CLAY
took occasion TO express his regret that,
IN consequence of indisposition, he was
not present when the bill was referred, as
he wished to make some suggestions as
TO the commitment.
Mr.. SoUTHARD moved to reconsider
the vote on the reference, for the purpose
Of enabling MIR. CLAY to make his re.
marks.
Mr.. CALHOUN expressed, in rather a
p~etulant tone, his annoyance at the mo.
ton. He felt, doubtless, that it interfered
with ministerial arrangements, to which
he had become a party.
Mr.. CLAY urged the motion to recon-
slider. He said the bill was neither more
nor less than a proposition to gire the pa
trimony of the United States to the new
States ana this measure was TO be refer.
red to a Committee, four out of five of
whom are from States which are to be made
recipients of this munifcent donation
In the course Of lis remarks, Mr.. CLAY
asked whether this WAS an Executive mea-
sure? or whether, in regard to il, the AID
mlnistratlon was neutral and uncommlt.
ted? 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 followed
close upon the announcement of those
amlcable relations.
These illusions threw Mr.. CALHOUN
INTO a perfect passion ; and after several
hourishes about the lndecorum Of any in.
curry INTO his private relations with the
President, and of his still being a friend OF
STATE rights, he began to argue that the
fact of SO many members from the new
State being on that Committee, was one
Of the strongest reasons why it should be
sent thither.
Mr.. CLAY, in reply, repeated his wish
that the bill should be referred 10 some
Committee, composed Of members from the
old as well as the new States. In allu.
sion, also, to his former remarks, he in
sisted that it was of importance to know
whether the measure had the sanction and
~countenance OF the Administration-whe.
Their, in fact, it was an Executive mea.
sure. Rumor did not limit the union be-
tween the Executive and South Carolina
Senator to pirate friendships merely.
Mr.. CALHOUN, in despair of terrifying
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 enginery, par
iicularly, against the compromise, and the
American system.
Mr.. Clay defended his political course
with all his admirable powers ofargument
and eloquence. | will refer to some OF
his passages hereafter. They are wor-
thy Of particular tote.
With regard to the compromise bill, he
said, most truly and emphatlcally, that no
man ought to be more indebted TO IL than
the Senator from South Carolina, john
G. CALHOUN. Had it not been for that
bill, the "honest Nulllfer" might not
have been present and alive this day.
Mr.. CALHOUN again rejoined, and ia
the worst possible temper and taste. He
commenced with h manifest perveIsion OF
Mr.. CLAWS ~allusion 10 his indebtednt SIS to
the compromise. He represented Mr..
CLAY as saying that if any one should be
thankful to him MIR. Clay for hat com.
promise, it was Mr.. CALHOUN.
Mr.. CLAY cried out across the chamber
tho, sir, not to me-indeb,ed to the
compromise was my remark"
Mr. CALHOUN still went on, putting his
own version on the observation. He said
he had no reason to be thankful for that
compromise. 81 forced it upon the Se-
%nator," continued he, in the boastfuI and
ridiculously egoiistical manner he ever
exhibited-"l WAS HIS MASTER ~ This
e~ffusion OF vanity and disqualification
was so absurd, that several of the Sena.
tors on the side to which he has gone
orer, smiled, while MIR. Clay, himself,
and Mr.. PRESTON, and Mr.. SOUTHLAND,
and Mr.. ~CRITTENDEN. and several others
on the opposite side of the chamber, laugh
ed outright, in which expression OF rldicule
more than two-thirds Of the audience Join