The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-04-12
CONGRESS-.
RETIREMENT OF HENRY CLAY.

! In SEFATE,-1 uesday, March 81.
Mr.. CLAY said that before proceeding to
make the motion for which he had risen, he
/ begged leave to submit on the only occasion
afforded him, an observation or two on IL diff
! ferent subject. Ii would he remembered that
/ he had offered on Il former day, some resOlu-
! tons going to propose certain amendments in
/ the Constitution of the United States They
| had undergone some discussion, and he had
been DESTROYS of obtaining expression of the
| sense of the Senate upon their adoption; but
owing to the infrm stale of his health, to the
pressure of business in the Senate, and especi-
ally 10 the absence at this moment of several
of his friends, he had concluded this to be I'm
necessary; nor should he deem himself called
upon to reply to the arguments of such gentle
men rs had considered it their duty to oppose
the resolutions. He should commit the sub
lect, therefore to the hands of the Senate, to
he dispose of us their judgment should dictate;
concluding what he had to say in relation TO
them, with the remark, that the convictions he
had before entertained in regard to the several
amendments, he still deliberately held, after all
that he had heard upon the subjects of them.
And now, said Mr.. G.. allow me to announce
! formally and officially, my retirement from the
Senate of the United States, and to present the
last motion shall ever make in this body But
! before | make that motion, | trus shall be
pardoned, If avail myself of the occasion to
make few observations which ere suggested
to my mind by the present OCCASION.
/ | entered the Senate of the United States in
! December, 1906. | regarded that body then,
and still contemplate it, as body which may
compare, without disadvantage, with any leg
/ islative assembly, either of ancient or modern
times, whether look to its dignity, the extent
and importance of its powers, or The ability by
| which its individual members have been die
tngui>hed, or its constitution. If compared IN
any of these respects with the senates either OF
France or of England, that frhe United States
will sustain no terogation. With respect TO
the mode of its constitution, of those bodIes
NAV observe that in the House of Peers in Eng
( land, ith the exceptions hut OF irelhnh anu OIL
Scotland-and in that of France with no excep,
tion whatever-rhe members hold their places
under no delegated authority, but derive them
from the grant of the crown, transmitted by de-
scent or expressed in new patents OF nobility;
while here we have the proud title of Repre-
sentatives Of sovereign States, OF distinct ana
| independent Commonwealth.
! If we look again at the powers exercised ny
the Ssuates of France and England, and by
the Senate of the United States, we shall find
that the aggregate of power is much grea,er
here In all tie members possess the legisia-
five mower In the foreign Senates, as IN this,
the judicial power is invested, although there
! il exists in n larger degree than here. But, on
the other hand that vast underlined, anu uhde-
Unable power involved in the right to co -ope-
| RATE with the Executive in the formation and
ratification of treaties, is enjoyed IN all ITS mag
nitude and weight by this DO ly, while 1t Is pos
.e.sed by neither of theirs; besides which there
| il another of very great practical Importance
that of sharing with the executive branch IN
distributing the vast patronage OF this govern
ment. In both these latter respects, we stand
on grounds different from The House of Peers
e;tber of England or France. And then as to
nf IFS
and ordinarily as to the ability of its members,
can with great truth declare that during the
whole long period of my knowledge of Be-
nate il can, without arrogance or presumption,
sustain no disadvt ntageous comparison with
anv public body in ancient or modern times.
Full of attraction, however, as 4 seat IN Thu:
Senate is. sufficient as il is to fill the aspIra
tions of the most ambitious heart, l have Ions
determined TO forego it, and 10 SEEK that repost
which can be enjoyed only in the sha les Of
!, nrivate life, aud amid the calm pleasures which
belong to that beloved word 'hoIne.'
> Ii was my purpose to terminate my connex
inn with this body in November, 1910, afte
the memorable aud glorious struggle which dis
: tineuished that year; but learned soon afte
what indeed had for some time anticipated
, from the result my own reflections, that a.
extra session of Congress would be called; ant
felt DESTROYS TO cooperate with my politlca
and personal friends in restoring, IT It could b
effected, the prosperity of The country by III
hest measures which their united cOunsels nigh
: be able to devise; and therefore attended tn
extra session. Ii was called, as all know, b
the lamcnted Harrison; but his death, and tn
consequent accession of his successor produce