New-York tribune., 1842-04-02
Retirement Of fncnry Clay.

certain amendments in the Constitution ef the United
they mad undergone some dcusson aud ne bad been de-
OF obtaining express al the o; the Senate
upon their adoption: but owing 10 the iRrn state o! h
eal,! the pressure OF business in tie Senate and t>p'
cIaiy absence this OF several h> Trends.
e had concluded this be unnecessary; should n
deem himself caile,! upon 10 reply TO the arguments OF such
gentlemen considered! thslr duty oppose the
resolutions. He should commit the subject therefore 10
hands the Senate, be disposed of their Judgement
should dictate: concluding what he had 20 in reaiont3
them with the remark that the convictions he had before en-
ertanei nrega. 10 tie several amendments he SUI de-
berate!y held, after all that he had heard upon The subjects
/ OF thctl.
An, now said Ar. c. allsw TO announce, formally and
officially my retirement the Senate OF the United
States and 10 present the last motion shall ever make m
li, body. But, before make that motion, trust shall
t parouedif avail myself OF the occasion 10 make ic''
observations which suggested 10 my mind by tue pres
entered the >cnate OF tie United States in December
1895 regarded tha; body then, and still contemplate IT, as
body whichInay compare, without disadvantage WITH any
legislative assembly, either OF ancient modern times
whether look 10 its dignity. the extent and Importance OF
lis powers the ability hy which its individual members
have distinguished, constitution II compared N
any respects with III. Senaie either OF France
England that the United States viii sustain deroga
" i respect The mode OF lis constitution, those
bodies may observe that inte House OF Peer, in England
with the exception, but OF Ireland and OF Scoanc-aniin
hold ;lcirpaces under delegated authority. but derive
them from the grant of the Crown transmitted by descent
lave the proGd title Representatives OF sovereign States
I OF distinct and independent Commonwcaitls.
II Ne look again the powers eXercset BY the Sepates
of France and England, and by the s. nat" Of the United
States shall find that the aggregate OF power is mach
power. In the foreign Scnatc this, the judicial pow
invested, although there texislS larger
here But on the other hand. thai vast, unleilncd and un
hetuable povt involved the right cooperate with
the Executive in the formation and ratification OF reatie
enjoyed IN all lis magnitude and weight by tins body
,9te possessed by neither OF theirs; besides which,
there another Of very great practical imporlance,hat OF
sharing with the Executive branch IN distributing tile vast
patronage OF this Government. In both these latter
spects. stand on grounds different rom the House,
Peers either OF England or France dilen as 10 teg
the ability OF il, nenber can with great truth declare
iat during the whole long period ofmy knowledge OF tins
senate ca without arrogance or pr,umplon sustain no
d>advan'aseous comparison with any public body IN an
| cicnt or modern times
Full OF attraction however, seatin this Senate is
sufficient it 10 ill the aspirations OF the most ambitious
heart have long determined 10 orego II, and 10 seek that
rcposc which be enjoyed only in The shades OF private
lie, ani amid the calm pleasures whchbelong to that be-
loved word, home"
Ii my purpose 10 terminate my conncxion with this
body in November 8+0 after the memorable and glorious
political strugsle which s,ngu1shed thar but Learn
ed, AFTER what indeed had Tor some time anticipated
rom the result OF my relec that AN extra session
with political and personal friends in restoring ii
coui be effected the prosperity OF the country blythe best
vse and therefore attended the extra session. II was
called all know, by the lamen,ed Harrison; bu, hi, death
entirely new aspect OF public affairs Had he lived, have
which the country had hoped with confident expccta.
lion would have been corummaed by the corporation o.
the Executivs branch Of the Government And here allow
say. only III regard 10 that much reproached extra
session OF Congress- that believe ii any OF those who.
through the influence oparty .pr or the bias of political
Will look at them spirit OF candor and c justice, their
CONCLUSION, and that of the country generally, will he iai
there exists just ground oicompalat, il is 10 be oGud
not in what was done, butt What was left unfinished.
Had President Harrison lived and the devised
al that session been fully carried out II my intentions
then 10 have resigned my seal. But, the hope feared II
might prove vain hopc that al The regular session The
perfected, the same object altainedin equivalent torm
indnced TO postpone the determinations; and events
OF those measures which had been propose, that
sion, and which appeared throw political
10 attend the present session also, and whether prosper
ily adversely, to share the fortune my friends, But
resolved At the ne time 10 retire as soon as could do
! with proprirty and ,ecency.
From lSld, the period oiny cnley this noble theatre
with short ln"evas 10 the present have enga
ed the public councils a.home and ainoad. otlc
or the value OF the services rendered durin. that long
ic4 q, ,ny nnI ~ orffoo a 'u m i u, 1t eo
~ the best the trucst, the impartial judges When
death has closed the Will pron0unc
ed that appeal and refer lnvsei Nv act and Dul
lie .onduct fair subject for the criticism dgcren
OF my itlowmen but the private motives by which they
have beer prompted are known only the great StarcIer
OF the human heart and 10 myself: and trust NAV
parftoned 10. repeating declaration made thirteen
years that whatever errns-and Doubtless there has
! been Inany-Iay be discovered nv public
service 10 the country can with un>hakcn confidence p
peal that Divine arlcr the the declaration
>onal moive-aye sough, personal aggTandize,rlent
bat that IN all my public acts lave had sole aud single
eye aHd warm AMI devoted heart, directed and dedicated
10 what IN nyJudsemenl believed 10 b= The inere,
| OF my country.
late OF o!.r public ai!ed to incur anIe
traction othe biiees,. unreIentng and tal.
nan caraaer and though always nscnsibe the PAIN
II was Meant 10 iniict, have borne general with com
po>ure and without pointing his breast
HaT rs have done IN perfect and undoubng confidence
Tor Tue Ultimate triumph oi justice and OF trsth and in tie
entire persuasion that time would in the eH settle all things
as they should be- and that whatever wrong injustice.
might experience al The hands OF man. lie 10 loHal hearts
open ard fully known! would end the n.crl.
table Gsneusaons OF His providence rectiiy all error re-
dre,, all uraDg, and ample justice TO be ,ioae
But have not meanwhile hecn unsu,;aiAet. Every
where troughou; the OF tl great continent have
had cordial, warhtred and devoted friends who have
known me and justly appreciated my motives. To them
language WeTe susceptible OF fully expressing my ac
Acknowledgements i would now offer them ali The
have make their genuine, dislte. sled and
seyer1ng fidelity and devoted attachment But il al in
suitable language 10 express M gratitude them all
The kindness they have shown lera shall sav-wta.
cai say az ali conlmenserae With those feelings graft
ute which owe 10 the state soe humble representative
and servant have been in this Chamber Here Nj c.,
eeiLas apEsa5,ed 70 oyerpower him. and lie proceeded
enigatet! from Virginia tothe State of kenttckv now
hsariy or'y-ve years aSe went as orphan who had
h9 et aain. the age OF laorlty-"ho had recog
nize i fathers smile nor te his poor-penn,lt
with ut The favor Of the great-wi an Imperfect and in
adequate ed1cat!on imitcd 10 the ordinary business aud
common pursuits of lite but had set my foot upon
her elr2us soil when was seized and embraced With pa
rta! oiihss caEe>sed as thoug had been aYorit.
child and patronz-d with liberal and lnbounde nnnit
cence From that period The hsIes, honors Of the Sra,e
have been freely bestowed upon and arrsar in the
earliest hoar OF calrmnv and detraciion when seemed r.,
De ioahen by all the rest OF the world She threw her broao
ana mFenetrabls shield arocnd me and bearng me M
aolt IN her courageous arms, repeIed tie to.oned ba
that ware aimed a! my destruction and vndicaed
naLn- rem every false and unouncied assault, =. q -
Butt te ns-suty OF my assalas never exhausted and
'et7, have subjected myself TO .pitiel which
20 nnt know whether should be- taken in honor or -rn
shtion am held Up 10 the country dictator a die
iaor The idea OF dictatorship drawn from Roman in
stuuols and al l tine the Office created the person
VINO Welded te tremendous weigh, authority il coatcr
red concentrated N his person an oItc newer
t. lives ana property OF all his eI!owczea, cond
ra>e armies :e could build and naves he could levy
thaes Al WIZ. ana cae any amount O. money be- might
chooc todeIiand and lie and death re sled on his fiat
haa been dictator, as said have been where
ule power win which was clothed! Had any army
any ih'H any revenue any patronage word any