Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-05-17

a cn's, and none d s'rusted his uprigiituess. As
a 81 G iker " the House as most able drbaer
N Congress-as one OF the representatives. of
his country, IN the critical negotiations with
Grea, Britain, we can all remember how he was
admired and esteemed. Sir. said Mr.. F.. what
has e his offence One thing. Mr.. Chair
man, he could not do. He could not proclaim
General Jackson to be that which, in his
science, he knew HIM not to be- etnlnentlv quail
flied for, the discl arge uf the high ard diicult
duties of Prcslden, o. these United States. lie
dared to dispute and deny the preiensons Of
General Jackson, and this he has been pnr-
sued and hunted. as if he had been lraitorous
viper. and the presses of the opposition have
been crowded with the most cruel ard bitter
impulatiOns. Sir, these wrongs Of Mr.. Clay
form strong reason for your counenance. Let
US raise sileld around this favored son of the
country, to repel the darts Of his prosecutors.
Moreover. sir, said Mr.. F., the public conduct
OF MIR. Clay entities him to our confidence. Re-
cur for moment to few Of his measures, and
you will find in them all the same Characteristic
marks of great mind looking with enlarged
and liberal views, at Their relations and results.
Trace his course in the question OF South Amer
Ican ependencc-whe her patriots were
struggling Tor that precious boon which our
fathers, by the blessing of Heaven, had gained
for us-where stood Mr.. Clay then! SIR, he
well knew how gratefully it would cheer the
hearts Of our Southern friends to learn that
there was pulse in American bdsoms ,h4, beat
high in sympathy for their cause-and lie threw
the Whole weigh, ot his character, and power of
his talents, INTO their interests-and who can
soon forget the responding piaud's that echoed
from the mountains ond plains OF the South. IN
gratitude to this friend Of freedom Sir, he
loved liberty far us Otcn SAKE with the phllan-
thropy of great and generous mind, he hailed
lis aspirations. 10 matter where, or by whom,
they were breathed forth.
Again-when the scheme for establishing
colony for the liberated children of oppressed
Africa on the shores of that beninhted cont
nent, was commended by the late and deeply
lanenfed DR.. Robert Finley to few friends at
the CITY OF w ashlngton-you know, sir, how
deeply it was denounced, as visionary and
Ulopan enterprise. 1t was secuted as brain.
sick chimera by the great mass of the Ameri.
can community. Not by Mr.. Clay. His
penetrating eye perceived, in this derided char
: ity, bearings of large and hopeful character.
lie saw what mOmentous connexions it would
hold with the deeply interesting subject of sla-
very here; and what fulIness of light it prom
iscd 10 ed on the millions Of degraded men in
Africa. Sir, there was nothing about the pro-
lect to engage or interest a mere demagorue.
The veneratcd man who disclosed his views to
Mr.. Clay was unknown to fame. and his cher.
ished object was almost universally ridiculed-
and yet this great statesman, by an ardent con-
secralon of his best efforts, vindca'ed It's
claims, and bore it in lofty triumph above and
; beyond all the ob'oquy and scorn that assalcl
it.
To come nearer home consider tie prnci-
pies of Mr.. Clay's political conduct, in the pro.
lection of Domestic Industry. He had often
> D. l. a.
, Quen,v upon the beautiful theory of free trade :
but when he looked into British statute books,
-, he found policy tina, restrained all commerce,
hut that of their own goods in British bottoms.
Our corn, wheat and flour. our fish and manu-.
features, we're all excluded from their ports -
and nothing was free but the products of their
own industry. lie readily perceived where such
state of things would lead US, and 10 raise us
above dependence upon the workshops of Eu.
rope; 10 encourage American industry and en-
terprse, he has fostered system OF measures
| III has happily developed the great resources
of the country, AMI greatly enlarged the means
of rational enjoyment. Where would Orange
S and Bloomfield, Beevi g, Paterson, and New
, ark, nov be IN the scale Of prosperity, but for
the uushrnHing labors Of this patron OF the
American system.
Internal improvement also claims Mr.. Clay
j for steady friend. Some have hoped 10 decry
e this, as point Ot vulnerable policy, and have
exhibited what they deemed a very startling pic
lure, in the vast expenses and gigantic nature of
these Improvements. Now, Mr.. Chairman, ~
the light Of what Mr.. Clay regards as internal
= improvements, this is about as wise as 10 object
agAns' a telescope The enght of its tube, or tie
cost of the brass. 1t is not the mere length (
the Canal, or the expense of the Railway, that
u constitutes either its recommendation ar objec-
htI,i - nal
: to follow these public facilities OF intercourse,
that commend them To the patriots cons,dera-
ton. We have an Overlooking trrasury--hOw
can il be 50 well applied as in bringing distant
= sections 81 The country near-as by facilitating
the intercourse of reIore settlements, and there
/ by wearing away local asperiles and sectional
: distinctions Mr., +. advcred to Mr.. Gays
h great mcasure-his bill, report, and speech on
. the Public Lands He insisted that Mr. GAYS
e conjuct--hls ability developed in the report and
d dl>cussinn--lhe fearless and manly frankness
. with which he met a crisis almost forced upon
him, all tended 10 clench the confidence tina, he
i, felt in his integrity OF purpose.
You will recollect, sir, said Mr.. F., that this
, was duty altogether unsnught BY Mr.. Clay
; lie was member of the Committee of Manu-.
, lectures. and insisted that reference of the
+, Public Lands to his committee, was not fit ac-
, cordng to parliamentary rules the reference
, however, was made, and Mr.. Clay was charged
=, with most difficult and delicate service.--
, There stood the West with extravagant calcu.
! !atlons; many of her citizens had persuaded
themselves into the notion that this mob G and
public domain belonged in exclusive proper ty 10
the States IN which It Is II uated. What fine
I, theme was here presented for an arttu and ill.,
+ irgung policy To manage: to hattcr and soo,he
the warmly cherished expectations OF the Wes',
] nd OF in ,If ,l ,ll
4, Thirteen! But What did Mr. Clay! With his
+ habtual honesty of heart, he indignantly repel-
led the untounded preiensinn of exclusive claims
/ by any portion of the Union, demonstrated by the
most conclusive reasoning, that the Public
Lands were the irnlt oi common blood and trea :
sure, and therefore were, aud ought To remain,
' a common fund for the benefit of the whole.
2 In conclusion, Mr. +. repeated his conviction.
= that while MIR. Clay was subject like all men To
y faults, he was worthy the confidence of his
5 country; and to Use the language Of poi'cal