The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-04-01


tanned when he introduced these amendments re
NAMED unchanged And now he hoped that he
would be allowed TO announce formally his retirement
from the Senate of the United States and he trusted
that he would be pardoned for awaiting himself OF the
occasion To make lew observations with regard To
himself He remarked that he entered the Senate Of
the United States in 1906 and at that time he regard
ed it, as he now did, as body which might be com
pared, without disadvantage, TO any legislative BODY
that ever existed either in ancient or modern times,
whether they looked TO its dignity, its powers or TO
the mode of its constitution, and, he would also add,
as to the amount Of the ability which he would leave
behind him on his retirement. In comparison WITH
the Chamber of Peers OF France and the House OF
Peers of England-he was sure II could be made WIN
out the least disadvantage to the American Senate
and with respect the constitution OF those bodies
their members held their places IN virtue OF no dele
gated authority but derived their power by acreatlon
of the Crown, transmitted through course OF mere
dtary events the lssaing OF new patents bul mere
different state of things existed for Senators held
the proud title of representatives OF sovereign
States, of Commonwealth. He had long been IN
the service of the United States and he now desedo
seek that repose which was to be found only IN the
bosom of his family, in private life and at his home.
1t had been his purpose to terminate his senatorial
career in November 1910, after the conclusion OF the
struggle which characterized that year; but having
at that time learned that an extra session OF congress
was to be called and which his subsequent reflections
prompted him to think was inevitable he telt desl-
rous prior TO his retirement, to cooperate WIN ms
friends and with the Senate OF the United States, III
restoring the prosperity OF the country, by the adop-
ton of the measures which, IN their judgment, were
best calculated to accomplish the object and there
fore he concluded to attend the extra session was
called as was well known. by the lamented Harris n
But he died. and the succession which took place pro-
duced new aspect in the public affairs OF the coun
try Had General Harrison lved he Mr.. Ciay) ala
not entertain particle of doubt that every measure
which it was hoped would have been accomplished al
the extra session would have been successful by the
corporation of the Executive branch with the Legs
atve branch and he hoped that he might be allowed
to saw with respect, that if there be any one who,
free from party feelings and party bias, would reflect
with candor and Justice, he would approach to the
conclusion to which he MIR. Clay thought that the
country would come that, if there was any thing to
complain of in connection with the extra session, 1t
was not so much as to what was done, but what was
left undone Had Harrison lived, and the measures
which were so desirable been carried out, he would
have resigned his seat he did not do So because he
INDUCED the hope, the VAIN hope, that, AT the regular
session of Congress, what had been lett unaccom-
plshed at the extra session would have been
plished in some of the forms proposed that there
would be some equivalent; but events soon after the
extra session. events resulting through aaure to ac-
complish objects at the extra session, events which
| seemed to throw on his friends every where APP
| parent defeat induced him to attend at the
regular session, and whether in adversely or
prosperity to share the fortunes OF his friends
| Notwithstanding, he came here with the purpose
/ which he was now ABOUT 10 IetIt
| as soon as he couli, from the public councils.
| From lS06 the period of his entering the Senate,
down the present time, with but short intervals he
had been engaged in the service OF his country or
the nature and value of his services during that long
career it did not become him to speak, but history II
il should deign to notice him, would he did not doubt
transmit to posterty impartial record But, on
one subject he might speak without vanity His pub
lie acts and conduct were SUBJECTS and tar subJec =
of public judgment, but the private motives OF ms
! -, oh hoI al m n lhn
part which he had taken, could be known only to the
Great Inspector of human hearts and to himself and
he trusted that he might be pardoned for repeat
ing an observation which he made thirteen years ago
| Whatever errors he may have committed, and doubt
| less he had committed many many, since he entered
the public service he might appeal to the Benign Beng
for the truth Of the declaration which he made with
great pride and confidence that he had been acuated
by no motives, witn view toPersonal aggrandlzement
in the advocacy of measures upon which he had been
called to act but he had eye and single eye and
heat and single heart devoted to the best interests
of his country During this long period, he had not es-
capped the fate of other public men; he had been the
object of bitter and unmeasured detracton and calum
| nv; and he had borne it, he would not say almost
with conpo sure bur he had borne it without creating
any disturbance here. He had borne it with an UNI
shaken confidence that the triumph of truth and JUS
tice W as certain and that time would settle all things
as thew should be settled He had borne it under the
conviction that no injury to him would result from II,
/ nd that He to whom they were all responsible
| would acqu him, whatever injustice he might eX-
porience at the hands of those who maligncd him
Buthe had not been unsu-t tanned dnilng this time,
Eyerywhe on this wide spread continent he had
enioye, the benefit Of warm hearted, enthusiastic
friends who appreciated justly the motif es by which
he had been actuated and lthe had suitable language
he would here make 10 them puhllc acknowledge
mentf their kindness and affection, If he had been
guilty Of want of expression of gratitude towards
those friends what should he say, what could he say,
at all with the many tokens OF aplroba-
ton ceived iom those whose Senator he had so long
been He emig atcd to Kentucky tdriy-hve years
ago and went there orphan, as one who had
not attained majority; orphan who had never
recognized fathers love. He was poor and pennl-
less without the favor of he great with an imperfect
and inadequate education, and limited to the
means for this one object. lie had scarce
ly nut his foot on the soil of that State
before he was embraced with parental iondness, and
carcssed like her own child and from that day to
this her choicest honurs, always unsolicited, mad peen
showered upon hinG When be stood, in the darkest
moments OF his existence, abandoned by the world,
and illuminated by hs own countrymen, she threw
around him her impenetrabe shield and, bearing him
alott repealed the attacks of magnity and deracton
1t was him. therefore, an unspeakable pleasure that
he " as shortly to return to his home, and that he
would eventually deposit and the day was not Tar DIS
tant his last remains under her generous soil where
sleep her gallant and patriotic sons An erthet had
recently been applied to him, whether tor the purpose
of honor or detractlon he did not know. He had
been held up to the country Dictator. The idea
of dictatorship drawn IRON Roman lnstl-
tutions and when it was created the person who
was invested with that authority had concentrated in
his person all the powers of State all the property
and the life of every citizen were IN his hands ne
could raise armies without eyies and revenue without
| law Now if lie Mr. Clay had been Dictator
! what would have been the power with which he
would have been entrusted Would he not have had
an army, navy, revenue, and distribution OF the
patronage of the Government But had he any
, hover IN short. whateveri If he had been Dicta-
tor, he thought that those who lately applied the
epithet must admit two things First, that his dicta
torship had been distinguished by cruel executions
that it had been stained by no blood, and soed by nc
act of dshonor. And although he did not know
when the commission of dictatorship bore date--he