The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1841-02-25
CLAY AND WEBSTER.

StateSHeH, was maze Dy MI
Mangum of North Carolina, in the course
OF his speech OH the Prospective Pre-emp.
tlon bill, in the United States Senate.
January 81. 1t was induced by rude
and indecent attack, by that file-gnawins
viper, William Allen of Ohio, upon the
latter gentleman. No one who properly ap-
Preclales the great men Of our country,
will regret any assault. upon them by their
vlndictive enemies, which has tendency
to bring out more distinctly their true vir.
tues, and to place before the American
People, more plainly, the character Of
their numerous and patriotic services.
Mr. Webster and Mr. Clay both stand
upon pedestal. grounded in the respect
and affection Of their countrymen, entire
ly too elevated to be in the slightest de.
gree injured by the earth-worms that are
forever Shining its base, and vainly striv-
ing to perforate its solid foundation.
We quote from the National Intelligent
lcer, of the 28th January.
In the great debate upon the Land Bill,
the day before yesterday, in reply to Mr.
Allen, of Ohio. Senator Mangum distin-
guished himself by an able and effective
speech, i'll his happiest manner. The
speech will be reported at large in due
course; and we shall not forestall the read.
ers qualification i'll the perusal bv any at.
tempt to analyze it. There was one pas.
sage of the speech, however, which we
cannot refrain from describing to our read
ers. 1t was in reply to particularly VEN
omous assault upon Mr. Webster by the
Ohio Senator, i'll reference to his opposi-
ton to the proposed appropriation of three
millions of dollars to be placed at the dis
erection of General Jackson, by way of
amendment to the foriifcalion appropria-
ton bill, at the close of the session of
Congress. 1894, '35, for any purpose he
might elect in reference to either the land
or naval service; which amendment came
to the Senate late in the night of the Sd
Iof March, being the last day and night of
the session. .--. -
In reference TO this allusion, Mr. Man.
gum said he well remembered that night.
He had understood that schism had tax
en'place among the members of the party
i'm power,a portion of them being in ia.
jvor of the elevation of MIR Van Buren, to
the Presidency, while another portion
were not willing to trust him. 1t had
been said on the floor Of the Senate that a
hundred and fifty sail of French vessels of
war were off our coasts; reprisals had been
asked by tM President, which, if granted,
would precip plate us into war with
France in 4s hours. And all this, for
what? 'Why, SIR said Mr. NJ. If we
could have been forced into war, the ap-
peal would be irresistible to the popular
feeling in favor of continuing the Hero
of New Orleans" at the head ofthe States
to guide the contest. Hence, that portion
of the Cabinet-the Lower Cabinet he be-
lieved it was-who were in favor Of elect
ing Gen. Jackson for third term, had
only to plunge the country into war,
and the work was done. therefore felt
(said Mr. N.Y. that to break up the reign
ing dynasty was indispensable. looked
to a war with apprehension; not that
feared the proves of the enemy abroad,
but the success Of the enemy home. And
here suffer me to say--perhaps | ought
not to say it, yet will say-that in all
probability that war was averted by the
genius and wisdom and sagacity of one
man (alluding to Mr. Clay) sitting in a
committee-room of this Capitol. be-
ieve, if the secrets of that committee
could be brought out to light they would
still further enhance reputation which
is the property and pride of our country,
and would add one more to the long list
of the public services Of that distinguish
ed man. When the report from the Com
mit,ee on Foreign Affairs on the subject
of our relations with France was brought
into the Senate, it was adopted, with some
slight verbal amendment of the resolution,
not changing the object of it, almost I'M
unanimously. The prospect of war, with
all the party hopes built upon it. was
gone. But afterward, on the last night of
that session, i, was proposed to insert, by
amendment in an appropriation bill, an
item of three millions Of dollars, to be
placed at the absolute discretion of the
Executive. Such measure was unusu-
al; the amount was large, the demand
sudden; but it was pressed with eagerness
by the emissaries, or, let me say, by the
assiduous friends of the President. who
were seen fitting in the Hobbies and ca
gerly conversing with their friends, then
possessing an ascendency in both Hous.
es of Congress. The President himself
was in the Capitol. His servi,ors-his
agents-his personal and political friends
were busily engaged in persuading men,
bers to give the appropriation their APP
probation and support. They were una
BILE, however, to kindle up the spark of
war. That had been too effectually ex-
tiuguished in the committee-room and lis
extinction had been confr in the Sen.
ate. But, should this gram, be made, the
chances were ten to one that we should
at once see it fame out in state of actual
hostilities. 1t was on that occasion that
the honorable Senator from Masssachu.
sets (Mr Webster) rose in his place, and
threw off one Of the most convulsing
bursts OF eloquence ever listened to. |
rise mt here tn defend that Senator: he