The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1842-04-23
vALEDICToRY on HENRY CLAY.

RR CLA1s .
Mr.. CLAY rose and said, before offe ring
the motion which it washls intention TO
submit to the Senate, he desired to make
single observation with regard to a
subject which he was about to leave I'M
finished. He meant the resolutions
which he had submitted, proposing GER
tain amendments to the Constitution OF
the United States. 1t had teen his wish.
prior to his retirement, 10 have Obtained
a vote upon these resolutions, and also to
have replied to the arguments which had
been advanced by their opponents; but,
owing to the feeble state OF his health,
he had been unable TO enter upon re
ply, and, owing to The absence OF several
OF his friends, he come TO the conclusion
that it would be better to commit the sub
ject into the hands of the Senate, to be
disposed Of according TO their Judgment
and discretion, whcI ever 1t might come
up; and he would dismiss this subject
with simple remark In reference to the
conviction which he entertained Of the
propriety of the different amendments
which he had suggested. Those con
vlctions he still deliberately entertained,
notwithstanding all that he had heard
upon the subject.
And now, continued Mr.. Clay, allow
me to announce, formally and officially,
my retirement from the Senate of the
United States, and to present the last mo-
lion which | shall ever make within this
body; but before making that motion, |
trust | shall be pardoned for avalllng
myself of this occasion to make a few
observations. At the time Of my entry
into this body, which took place IN De
cember, 1906, regarded it, and still re-
gard it, as a body which may be compa-
red without disadvantage to any OF 81
miar character which has existed in an-
cient or modern times-whether we look
at it in reference to its dignity, its pow
ers, or the mode of Its constitution; and
| will also add, whether it be regarded IN
reference TO the amount of ability which
| shall leave behind me when | retire
from this chamber. In instituting a com
parlson between the Senate of the Uni
ted States and similar political lnstitu-
lions of Other countries, of France and
gland, for example, he was sure the
comparison might be made without dis
advantage to the American Senate. In
respect to the constitution ofthese bo
. dies: In England, with only the excep
ton Of the peers from ireland and Scot
land, and in France with no exception
the component parts, the members 0
i these bodies, hold their places by virtue
: of no deeg gated authority, but derive
s their powers from the crown, either b,
d ancien, creation of nobility transmitted
a by force of hereditary descent, or b,
> new patents, as occasion required an in
crease of their numbers. But here, Nh
e President, we have the proud title c
a being the representatives of soyereig
10 States or Commonwealths. If we loo
,t at the powers of these bodies in Franc
" and England, and the powers of this Sc
d nate, we shall find that the latter are ia
In greater than the former. In both thos
to countries they have the Legislative pow
is erin both. the judicial with some ms
v. difications, and in both perhaps a NOR
~ extensive pre-iudicial power than is pc
ne sessed by this Senate; but then the va
60 and underlined and undefnable powe
vo the treaty making power, or at least
"a participation in the conclusions of trei
NJ ties with foreign Powers, is possessed b
ut this Senate, and is possessed by neith'
- of The others.
~ Another power, too, and one of inf
as lite magnitude, is that of distributing Il
no patronage of great nation, which
ofI SHARED by this Senate with the Exec
by tive magistrate. In both these respec
m we stand upon ground different from tn
mo- occupied by the House of Peers of En-
land and Of France. And repeat tn;
RI with respect to the dignity which ordl
all arly prevails in this body, and with |
NV spect to the ability of its members du
on ing the long period of my acquaintaa
by with it, without arrogance or Presun
he ton, we may say, in proportion to
led numbers, the comparison would not
he Instantaneous to US compared with a.
ne Senate, either of accent or modern tlm'
Sir, have Iong-full of attraction
,de public service in the Senate of the Tn
ed States ia service which might
yer the aspirations of the most ambitlo
ties heart have nevertheless long deslr
Of to seek that repose which is only TO
he found in the bosom OF ones family
nv private life--in ones home. 1t was
ne. purpose to have terminated my Senate
nm. al career Ia November, 1910, after
,te- conclusion of the political struggle whl
We characterized that year. But learr
Of very soon what my own reflections
,dv deed prompted me to suppose would ia
God place, that there would be an extra S
sion; and being DESTROYS, prior 10 my
tirement, to co Operate with my frie
in the Senate in restoring, by the ad