The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-02-17
MR.. CLAY's RESOLUTIONS,


MIR. CLAY'S RESOLUTIONS.
While the debate is dragging along in the
Senate at the rate of speech day on one set
OF Mr. Clay's Resolutions, the honorable gen
tleman has already prepared and presented ano-
ther set TO that body.
II is singular, it is marvellous, that in the pre-
sent exigency Of affairs, while the country is
suffering in every part Of it, and bleeding in
! every pore, for want of prompt, decisive and eff
ficient relief by Congress, Mr. Clay is wander
ing away into the world Of theories, debating
propositions for amending the Constitution, get
ting up general and iruitess resolutions, for use
less and endless discussion, and while he con
| stantly denounces distractions himself is as
constantly deoling in distractions, and nothing
else. Is this the Mr.. Clay of 1911, 1912, 1913,
1914, 1915? No, no the Mr.. Clay of that
day was man who, as member OF Congress,
gave his whole heart and soul, and all his ac
knowedged talents and vigor, to the cause Of
his country-to It's defence, and the mainte
nance OF its honor, and 10 It's urgent demands
for succor TO its revenue, credit and finances
The firstling of his heart was the rslng Of his
hand. He pushed measures, present measures,
| necessary measures, and was behind no one in
practical effort in earnest and unhinching zeal
for whatever The crisis demanded
Not SO, the MIR. Clay of 1912. No. not So.
AT moment when the Government is embar-
raised, on all hands and the country still more
4 "A III AN ~
contents himself with orations upon the Consti-
tuition, and discourses about general principles
For present relief, he has nothing to propose
With what is proposed he finds fault he sug-
gests nothing.
Nearly three months Of the session are already
expired, and what has Mr. Clay done for gene
raj reliets Why, The whole sum and substance
of his patriotic labors, is this; he has consulted
with his friends he has submitted certain bar
rem resolutons-ba barren, because If passed, they
produce no result without being followed by acts
OF Congress, which may as well be passed
without them as with them. These resolutions
he signifies his intention TO take up, at some
time hereafter. He trusts they may be adopted,
some time after that; and in the course OF the
discussion, he hopes TO remove the objections Of
some friends; and these 'various resolutions up
on various matters of public moment to be ia
and adopted at some time, are the only medicine
for the State which Mr.. Clay proposes.
As to the object of this movement, it cannot
be well misunderstood. Without committing
himself, or intending to commit himself to any
particular legal provision, Mr.. Clay will content
himself with general principles, plausible in
their exten nal appearance, having apparently
something Of the grandeur Of comprehensive
ness about them, but brought to no point, and
fixing on their author commitment to no spe-
cific and well-deiined line Of action. And as
Mr.. Clay $50 we understand /, given out) retres
from the Senate on the 3lst day of March next,
(precsely,) he will then have platform, such
as he desires to stand upon, aud standing upon
it, to meet coming events. That platform Will
consist of the following materials, wv; the speech
at Hanover courthouse, in 1910, (one-term prin:
ciple, SC. the resolution for alterations in the
Constitution, and speech thereon; these various
resolutions on various matters OF public mo-
uleHi, anu speech t1cIeoIl' anu Hdppy
prospect will be held out to the country, that
when it shall have suffered every possible evil,
for three years longer, under the present Admin
istraion-from which, in the mean time the
leaders Of both the great political parties will be
urged to withhold all co operation and assist
ance-a better state of things will arise, under
a new Administration, conducted upon the prin-
cipies Of Mr.. Cidys resolutions!' How just
and reasonable 1t is only three years that the
country is invited TO undergo its present distress
es it is nothing but an exhausted revenue EN-
barrassed commerce, ruined currency, the pros
raion Of all credit, the impovershment of every
class, and every interest--this is all that the
country is requested to submit to, until after the
brief, the very brief period of three or four years,
when an efiectual Improvement Of public affairs
may be attempted under other auspices This is
the whole object Of Mr.. Clay's present demonstra!
ton As 10 the merits of the resolutions them
selves, il may be truly said that their matter is
either quite commonplace or quite questionable
But more Of this hereafter.
MR. CLAY-READ AND PONDER