Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-04-14

opinion OF the lily.
Mr.. CLAY AND THE "CoLUMBUs DEMOCRAT.
The last "Democrat," contains. an article,
from the Montgomery Advertiser" which
purports to give an account of the late misun-
dersta Oding between Mr.. Clay and Mr.. King.
This article makes Mr.. King, perfect saint;
and Mr.. Clay, an insolent and over-5earing
bully. 1t says:
avery man who krows the character of
the two men, can very easilytell with whom
the fault lies. MIR. Clay is well known 10 be
insolent, arrogant, and overbearing in his Ian
guage andmanner in the Senate towards those
who dare t.. differ with him opinion, when on
thecontrary there is no member n either House
of Congress more distinguished for a strict
and unvarying observance of the rules of po-
likeness, courtesy and decorum than Mr.. King.
No matter how wide the difference OF opin-
ion, no matter how warm the debate, Mr.. King
never forgets the habits, the manners or the
language of a gentleman"
Do the loco-focos expect to make political
capital, by disappearing the difficulty be-
tween Mr.. Clay and MIR. King. So far as we
have been able to learn the facts Of the case,
they are these: A proposition was before
the Senate, 10 deprive Blair g. Rives OF
the public printing; in speaking on this prop
sition, Mr.Clay descanted with much severity
on thecharacter ofthe Globe and OF It's editor,
pronouncing the first ga LIBEL and the second
"libellees;" Mr. King chose to, take what haG
been said, as personal tc himself, 1--WE hope Tor
the credit of Mr. King, that he has no hand in
editing the Globe,) and, by way of retort, en-
deavored to bring Mr.. Clay down to the level
of Francis p, Blair, and to place them on
footing of equality as to personal characters;
Mr.. Clay, in his rejoinder, pronounced the as
sertions made by Mr.. King, (thc particular
language used by Mr.. King we have never
been able to learn to be 'untrue false,and cow
ardly;" to this uoreply was made in the Senate
by Mr.. King. What has been the result of
this .disgraceful scene, disgraceful to both par
ties, we have not as yet been able to learn with
certainty, though we feel little doubt that the
matter has been amicable adjusted. This is a
plain statement of the facts, so far as we have
been enabled to learn them; if we hereafter
find that we are mistaken in any important
item, we shall do ourselves the justice
to make the necessary correction. What
blalm is to be attached to Mr.. King, we shall
leave others TO determine; but we do censure
MIR. Clay most severely for two reasons:-for
descending to personal abuse of Francis p.
Blair; and for noticing anyman who could so far
lose sight ofrespect for SELF and for the Senate
of the United States, as to attempt 10 place
Henry Clay, and Francis p Blair, on a foot
mg ofequality. We would advise the editor
of the Democrat, to be little more particular
IN learning the truth of charges made by other
papers, before he republishes them under his
editorial head; and we shall be pleased, if the
Democrat will be kind enough to specify some
of the instances In which Mr.. Clay, shas," tc
use the language of the article which we arc
here commenting on, "iEsulted the dignity O
the Legislative Hall by an exhibition of AFRO
giant insolance, 'for we do not RENE mber any
instance" 1t is right serious charge to bring
against any man, that he is arrogant and inso
lent; and we should not feel ourselves iustifia
bic IN making it, unless prepared to prove it.