The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-08-07
MIR. CLAY'S SPEECH,
Delivered in the city of Raleigh,
April 18th, 1914.
Concluded.

| should have been glad, fellow citizens
if | had time and strength, to make a
full! exposition of my views and opinions,
upon all the great measures and ques-
tions that divide US, and agitate our coun-
try. ! should have been happy to have
been able to make a full examination Of
the principles and measures of our op.
ponents, if we could find out what they
are, and contrast them with our own.
| mean them no disrespect ; | would not
use one word TO wound the feelings of
any one of them but | am really and
unaffectedly ignorant Of the measures of
public policy which they are DESTROYS to
promote and establish. know what they
oppose. | know that they stand in d.
rect opposition to every Measure which
the Wings espouse /; but what are their
substitutes? The Wings believe that
the Executive power has, during the two
last and present Administrations, been
intolerably abused that it has disturbed
the balances of the Constitution /; and
that by its encroachments upon the CO
ordinate branches of the Government, it
has become alarming and dangerous.
The " higs are therefore DESTROYS TO re-
strain it within Constitutional and proper
limits. But our opponents, who assume
10 be emphatically the friends of the peo-
pie sustain the Executive in all its will
dest and most extravagant excuses.
They go for Vetoes, in all their variety /;
for Sub. Treasures, standing armies,
Treasury circulars. Occupying a simi-
lar ground with the Tories of England,
they stand up for power and prerogative
against privilege and popular rights.
The Democrats or Republicans o. l79s-9,
taught by the fatal examples of ali his
tory, were jealous and distrustful of
Executive power. 1t was of that de-
partment that their fears we're directed.
The Federalists Of that day. imbibing the
opinion from the founders of the Con-
stitution, honestly believed that the Ex-
ecutive was the weakest branch of the
Government, and hence they were dis
posed to support and strengthen it. But
experience has demonstrated their error,
and the best part of them have united
with the Wings. And the Wings are
nov in the exact position of the Repub-
licans in 1898 g.. The residue and prob
ably th larger part Of the Federalists
joined our opponents, and they are now
in the exact position of the Fedetalists of
1885, ,with this difference--that they
have shut their eyes against all the rights
of experience, and pushed the Federal
doctrines of that day far beyond the
point to which they were ever carried
by their predecessors.
But I'M trespassing to long on your
patience, and must hasten TO a close. |
that | am TO much exhausted, and
not time to discuss other interesting sub.
iects that engage the public attention.
| should be very glad TO express to you
my views on the Public Domain but |
have very often on the floor of the Sem
ale, and on other public occasions, fully
expose them. | consider 1t the common
property of the Nation and the whole
Nation. believe it to be essential to its
preservation and the preservation of the
funds which may accrue from its sales.
that it should be withdrawn from the
theatre of party politics, ard from the
temptations and abuse, incident to it,
whilst it remains there. | think that
that fund ought to be distributed, upon
just and liberal principles, among all the
States. old as well as new. If that be
done, there is much ground t o apprehend.
at lie very distant period, a total loss of
the entire Domain. Considering the
other abundant and exhaustless resources
of the General Government, | think that
the proceeds of the sales of the Public
Lands may be well spared TO the several
States, TO be applied by them 10 benef-
cent local objects. In their hands, iu-
.diciously managed, they will tighten the
burthen of internal taxation, the only
form of raising Revenue to which they
can resort, and assist in the payment
of their debts or hasten the completion of
important objects, in which the whole
Union, as well as themselves. are inter-
ested and will be benefited.
On the subject of Abolition, | am pur-
suaded it is not necessary TO say n
word to this enlightened assemblage.
My opinion was fully expressed to the
of the United States a few years
ago, and the expression of it was one of
the assigned causes of my not receiving
the nomination as a candidate for the
Presidency in December. 1889. But, if
there be any one who doubts, or desires
to obtain further information about my
in respect 10 that unfortunate
question, | refer him to Mr.. Mendenhall,
of Richmond, Indiana.
| hope and believe, feIlow.citizens,
brighter days and better times are
approaching. All the exhibitions Of pop
ular feeling-all the manifestations of
the public wishes-tbis spontaneous and
vast assemblage deceive us. if the scenes
and the memorable event of 1s40 are not
10 be renewed and re.enacted.
Our opponents complain of the means
which were employed TO bring about
hat event. They attribute their loss of
he public confidence to the popular
meetings and professions, to the display
IF banners, the use of log cabins, the
III - ~ Al. 1vhsbtfron nF rnnnc |