The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1842-03-12
SPEECH OF Mr. CLAY
Upon his Pesolut'ons concerning The Tar
,1 and other great objects Of public
Polly.
IN SEN AT E March 1.

htt. y LHt IbSt anu h'biNHE'' Wv
Senate nearly a, follows: Mr.. President:
Th resolutions which have ust been
read, amt which are to iolm the subject oi
the present discussion, are of the greatest
imporrances involving interests of the
highest character. and system Of policy
which, m my opinion, lies al the bottom
of any restoration oflhe prosperity Of the
county. In discussing thcm, would
address myself tc you in the language of
plainness, Of sobernHss, and truth did
NOT come heIe as if were entering Il gar
den full of flowers and of the richest
shrubbery. To Gull the tea roses. the japcn
icas, the juSmines and woodhiues. aud
weave them inlo garland e the gayeSI
colors, that By the ucauty Of their a4sorl-
ment and by their f'ayrance may graft
fy far ladies'. Nor is 1t my wi>h--il Is
far. far from my wsh-to rvve and
subjects of parry character, or which
nigh! he calculated to renew tie auimosi-
ties which unhappily have hitherto pre-
vailed between the two great political par
ties in the country. My course is far dit
!ereni ii"m this: it Is t" speak TO You OF
the sad condition al our country ito
Point ont not he rem To ard original, but
the. proximate, the immediate causes
which have produced and are likely To
continue our di,lresses. and to suggest
remedy. II any one, in or out Of the
Senate, has imagined it To be my intcn
ton, ON this occasion, to indulge in any
ambitious display Of language, To attempt
any rhetorical lights, or To deal il any o.
ther figures than figures Of arithmetic, he
will find himself greatly di-appoined.-
The farmer, if e is IL iudicIurs man,does
moi begin 80 plough MI he has first laid
of his land, and marked it oil al proper
distances by planting sIakas w which
his ploughmcn are to be. guided in THEN
movements; and the ploughman acror-
DINGHY fixes his eye upon the stake oppn-
site To the end of The destined !urrov and
then endeav"rs to reach il by Il sllai9hl
and direct turrow. These resolutions ure
my stakes.
Bur, before proceed to examine them
let nc first meet aud obvlale certain Oh
iecliors. which, understand, have been
or may be urged against them generally.
! learn that il IS SAID Of t csc tc,oIulionS
thal they present. only general pror"si-
tons. and thar. instead OF dis, ,huuld al
once have Introduced SCI a;a'e bills, an;
entered INTO detail and shown in VIVA,
manner propose t" accomplish The b.
Jects which the resolutions moIo se' Lei
me here say, in reply, thai Ihc ancient
principles and moGe Of Legislation which
has ever prevail ed fum lhe fountains al
this Government, has been To fix fist IL
pom lhe general principles " hch are To
guide us. and lhrn t" carry out these plIm
cipcs b, dc}aitd lcgI. laium. Such has
ever been The cuulsc ul;ucd, not Only III
the country from which we Ge!Ne cln
legislative institutions, hut III cur oum.-
The memorable resolution ule!cd IN the
Blush House OF Commons by the cer-
braipd Mr.. Dunnimg is no doubt an.liui
10 the mind Of every oHe-lhal "lhe pow
or of the Cr VIII (ahd ii is euuuIiy rue Of
our own hlu Ma Isilu't) Lad ILc,Castd,
was Increasing, nd ought 10 be diminish
ed" When va, member OF another
legislative body, which mrcts Ill the op
poslte extremity al tins amluI, II was lliG
course i'll ieIercuce 10 the great questions
OF internal Improvement ana other leading
measures Of public D0ilcN, To propose
specific resolutions gong I" na,h rul The
principles t actlon Whlch ought 10 bc IL
dopted. and then to carry uul these pm
cIples by subsequent enuclmenls. An"th-
er objection is urged, az ! understand, ii"
guinst one al these resolutions, whlch is
Is lhls: that by the Constitution no bill
for raising revenue Can originate any
where bul III the House Of Representa-
lIvCs. IL Is true that We cannot originate
such blIl; but, undoubtedly, III conttm-
pIaiug the condition of the public alta ),
and IN the right consideration ol ali ques-
lions touching he amount ii revenue ana
The mode III which II shall br iaIstd. anu
involving The & cat 4ueSt' MS OF e&ptn"
ture and leiiCncitihrnl, and nov lal he
expenses Of the Government may safely
amd properly be diminished, IL Is pcrecll!
legulnute tor lis Ii dGilhulg,e and To acl
as Guy may demand. "eie can oc IL"
question but lnat, du,ug HE pre.ent se'-
SION Of ungltss, Il bll 81 revenue VII,
be Sent To lis from llIe other House; and
II, when II c,nies, we shalt llrsI have gone
through with a consideration OF tie gthe-
rul subject, liking lne principles o.
policy proper l." be pursued III reIauo
To 1t; it Will gltatly tc"nomIse ,hr tn'e OF
the Son; lie and p!op"ruonab!y save
large amount OF The public money.
Perhaps no better mode cal be pu rsaed
OF discussing the ies,iutIons | have hau
the hunur 10 mescnl, ihan 10 lake thCm
up III Ihr orUc. ul lneIr arrangement, rs |
presented them 10 the Semu.e, alter much
deliberate considerations.
lhe first resolution declares
"That it IS the DIZZY Of the General Govern
ment, ior conducting us administrations lu pro-
wee ali 1ucYudte revenue within Tue wear To