Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1842-04-23

ton and calumny; and he had borne it, he
would not say almost with composure, but he
had borne it without creating any disturbance
here. He had borne it with an mistaken conf.
dence that the triumph Of truth and justice was
certain, and that time would settle all things as
they should be settled. He had borne it under
the conviction that no injury to him would re.
suit from it, and that He to whom they were all
responsible would acquit him, whatever injustice
he might experience at the hands oil those who
maligned him. But he had not been unsusaincd
during this time. Everywhere, on this wide
spread continent, he had enjoyed the benefit OF
warm. hearted, enthusiastic friends, who appre.
ciaed Justly the motives by which he had been
actuated; and, If he had suitable language he
would here make TO them public acknowledge
ment for their kindness and affection. II he had
been guilty Of want Of expression Of gratitude
towards those fiends what should he say, what
could he say, at all commensurate with the many
tokens Of appreciation received from those whose
Senator he had so long been? He emigrated TO
Kentucky forty five years ago, and went there as
an orphan, as one who had not attained majority;
as an orphan who had never recognized faith.
er's love. He was poor and pennyless, without
the favor Of The great, with an imperfect and
inadequate education, and limited to the means
for this one object. He had scarcely put his
foot on the soil OF that State before he was en-
braced with paternal fondness, and caresscd like
her own Child and from that day TO this, her
choicest honors, always unsolicited, had been
showered upon him. When he stood, in the
darkest moments OF his existence, abandoned
by the world, and illuminated by his own
countrymen, she threw around him her impene
trabe shield, and, bearing him aloft, repealed the
attacks OF malignity and deracton. 1t was 10
him, therefore, an unspeakable pleasure that he
was shortly to return TO his home, and that he
would eventually deposit, and the day was not
far distant, his last remains under her generous
SOIL where sleep her gallant and patriotic sons.
An epithet had recently been applied to him,
whether for the purpose Of honor or detracton
he did not know He had been held up TO the
country as Dictator. The idea Of Dictatorship |
was drawn from Roman institutions, 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, he could
raise armies without leves and revenue without
law. Now, if he (Mr. Clay had been Die
tator, 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
II he had been Dictator. he thought that those
who lately applied the epithet must admit Two
things. First, that his Dictatorship had been
distinguished by no cruel execution that it had
been stained by no blood, and soiled by no act
OF dishonor. And although he did not know
when the commission Of dictatorship bore date
he supposed however, from the extra session
with or usurped the power Of Dictator he had
voluntarily surrendered it much sooner than the
time fixed by the Roman law for its continuance.
II an endeavor, at the extra session, and at this,
by CO operation with his friends to carry out the
measures for which they contended in 1910; il a
desire to sec disordered currency and the ex-
change regulated; if desire to replenish the
empty ccffeTs Of the Treasury by an imposition
OF suitable duties; if desire to extend relief to
the unfortunate bankrupts OF the country, who
had been ruined, in great measure, by the poll
cy OF this Government; if desire with The CO.
operation OF his friends to limit, restrain, and to
check the Executive branch of this Government
if desire to preserve the honor and credit Of the
country by adequate and suitable provisions SUI
Iicent for the purpose Of fulfilling the public en-.
gagements; if faithful promise and an ardent i
desire to carry out and redeem the pledges which Y
were made by his friends when they were strug. 0
Cling for an acquisition OF power-if these con. 7
sttuted him dictator, then he supposed that he a
must bear the odum of the ep!thet. His dispo u
'tion in the public service had been enthusiastic
le was ready TO own; and those who supposed a
hat he had entertained desire TO dictate had only
mistaken his ardor in debate, and his patriotic D
xerions 10 fulfil the trusts under which he held n
lis seat. During lis long and a!duous services
n the public councils, and especially during the y
asst elven years service in the Senate Of the n
United States, with an ardor Of temperament and 4
IN enthusiasm OF character, he had no doubt-in Il
he honest pursuit and endeavor to maintain the
opinions which he entertained in opposition to
hose which prevailed on the opposite side with
IL anil int 10