Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1842-04-12

wrong, ana cause ample justice to be done.
But | have not meanwhile been unsustained.-
Every where throughout the extent of this great
continent have had cordial, and warm hearted,
and devoted friends, who have known me and Just
ly appreciated my motives. To them if language
were susceptible of fully expressing the acknowl-
ments | would now offer them as the returns
have now to make for their genuine, disnterested,
and persevering fidelity and devoted attachment
But if l fail in suitable language TO express my
gratitude to them for all the kindness thew have
shown TO me--what shall l say-what can say
at all to commensurate with those feelings ofgrat-
itude which | owe to the State whose humble rep
resentatve and servant have been in this Cham
ber2 Here Mr.. Clays feelings appeared to over
power him, and he proceeeed with deep sensbiity
and difficult utterancel
Iemigrated from Virginia to the State of Ken
lucky now nearly As years ago; went as an or
phan who had not yet attained the age of majority
who had nevel recognized fathers smile nor
felt his -poor-pennyless- without the
favor of the great-with an imperfect and made
quate education, limited to the ordinary business
and common pursuits of life but scarce had | set
my foot upon her generous soil when was seized
and embraced with parental fondness, caressed as
though l had been favorite child, and patronzed
with liberal and unbounded munifcence From
that period the highest honors of the State have
Deen freely DeSlOWeu upon me anu dIleTWdTuS, III
the darkest hours ofcalumny and detraction, when
seemed to be forsaken by all the rest ofthe world
she threw her broad and impenatrable shield a.
round me, and bearing me up alof in her coura
geous arms, repealed the poisoned shafts that were
aimed at my destruction and vindicated my good
name from every false and unfounded assault.
But the,ingenuity ofmy assaants is not exhaus
ted, it seems have subjected myself to new ep
thet which | do not know whether it should be ia
ken in honor or derogation | am held up to the
country as a dictator" A dictator The idea of
dictatorship is drawn from Roman institutions
and at the time the office created, the person
who welded the tremendous weight of authority
it conferred, concentrated in his own person, an
absolute power over the lives and property of all
his fellow-czens: he could raise armies: he could
build and man naves; he could levy taxes at will
and raise any amount of money he might choose
to demand; and life and death rested on his fiat.
If had been dictator, as am said to have been
where is the power with which | am clothed?
Had any army2 any navy2 any revenue? any
patronage2 in a word, any power whatever2 if
had been dictator, think that even those who
the most freely applied to me the application must
be compelled to make two admissions: first, that
my dictatorship has been distinguished by no cru
ell executions stained by no blood soiled by no act
of dishonor and, in the second place, Think they
must own 0hough do not exactly know what
date my commission of dictator bears-I imagine,
however, it must have commenced with the Extra
SESSION. that if did usurp the power of dictator,
at least voluntarily surrendered it within short
err period than was allowed for the duration of the
dictatorship of the Roman Commonwealth.
If to have sought at the extra session and at the
present, by the cooperation ofmy friends to carry
out the great measures intended by the popular
majority of 1910, and to have desired that they
should all have been adopted and executed if to
have anxously desired to see disordered currency
regulated and restored, and irregular exchanges
qualified and adjusted ifo have labored to replen-
ish the empty Golfers of the Treasury by suitable
duties; if to have endeavored to extend reliefto
the unfortunate bankrupts ofthe country, who had
been ruined in great measure by the erroneous
policy, as we believed, of this Government, if to
seek to limit circumscrib, and restrain Executive
authority; tito retrench Unnecessary expenditure
and abolish useless offices and institutions if while
the public honor is untarnished by supplying
revenue adequte to meet the national engagements
incidental protection can be afforded to the nation.
al industry; if to entertain an ardent solcitude to
redeem every pledge and execute every promise
fairly made by my political friends with a.view to
the acquisition Of power from the hands ofan hon.
est and confdng People; ifthese objects constitute
man Dictator, why then, suppose must be
content to bear it, although still only share with
my friends, the odum or the honor of the epithet
as it may be considered on the one hand or the
other
That my nature is warm, my temper ardent,my
disposition especially in relation to public service
enthusiastic, | am fully ready to own; and those
who suppose that | have been assuming the dicta-
torship, have only mistaken for arrogance or as
sumption that fervent ardor and devotion which is
natural to my constitution, and which may have
displayed with too little regard to cold calculating
and cautious prudence in sustaining and zealousy
supporting important national measures of policy
which have presented and proposed
During long and arduous career Of service in
the public councils ofmy country especially dur
ing the last eleven years have held seat in the
Senate, from the same ardor and enthusiasm OF
character, have no doubt in the heat of debate,
and in an honest endeavor to maintain my opinion
against adverse opinions equally honest entertain
ed to the best course to be adopted for the pub
lie welfare, may have often inadvertently or I'M