The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1844-06-06

plains of the South, in gratitude to his friend
of freedom? Sir, he loved liberty for ats
opn sake-with the philanthropy of a great
and generous mind, he hailed its aspirations.
no matter where, or by whom, they were
breathed forth.
Again-when the scheme of establishing
"a colony for the liberated children of oppres-
sed Africa, on the shores of that benighted
continent, was commended by the late and
deeply lamented DR.. Robert Finley TO a few
friends at the City of Washington-you
know, sir, how deeply it was denounced, as
a visionary and Utopian enterprise. 1t was
scouled as a brain-sick chimera by the great
mass of the American community. Not so
by Mr.. Clay. His penetrating eye perceiv-
ed, in this derided charity, bearings ofa
large and hopeful character. He saw what
momentous connections it would hold with
the deeply interesting subject of slavery
here; and what ~fullness of light il promised
to shed on the millions of degraded men in
Africa. Sir, there was nothing about the
project to engage or interest a mere dema-
gogue. The venerated man who disclosed
hisviews to Mr.. Clay was unknown to fame,
and his cherished object was almost univer-
sally ridiculed-and yetthis great statesman,
by an ardent corsrcrution of his best efforts,
indicated its claims, and bore it in lofty tri-
umph above and beyond all obloquy and
scom that assailed it.
To come nearer home-considerth the prin-
ciples of Mr.. Clay's political conduct, in the
protection of Domestic Industry. He had
often heared British Statesmen discorse most
%eloquently upon the beautiful theory of free
trade: but when he looked into British stat
ute books, he found a policy that restrained
all commerce, but that o ftheir own goods in
British bottoms. Our corn, wheat and flour,
our fish and manufactures, were all exclud-
ed from their ports; and nothing was free but
the products of their own industry. He rea-
Oily perceived where such a state of things
would lead us, and to raise us above a de.
pendence upon the workshops of Europe TO
encourage American industry and enterprise,
he has fostered a system of measures that
has happily developed the great resources of
the country, and greatly enlarged the means
of rational enjoyment. Where would Orange
and Bloomfield, Belleville, Paterson, and
Newark, now be in the scale of prosperity,
but for the unshrinking labors of this patron
of the American System?
Internal improvement also claims Mr..
Clay for a steady friend. Some have hoped
to decry this, as a point of vulnerable policy,
and have exhibited what they deemed a very
startling picture, in the vast expenses and
gigantic nature of these Improvements
Now, MIR. Chairman, in the light of what
Mr.. Clay regads as internal Improvements,
this is about as wise as to object against a
telescope the length of its tube, or the cost
of the brass. 1t is not the mere length of
canal or the expense of the railway, that
constitutes either its recommendation or OBJ
lection; but it is the great national conse-
~quences to follow these public facilities of
intercourse, that commend them to the pat
riots consideration. We have an overflow
ing treasury-how can it be so well applied
as in bringing distant sections of the country
near-as by facilitating the interc curse of
remote settlements, and therby wearing a.
way local asperities an5 sectional distinc-
lions? Mr.. F. adverted TO Mr.. Clay's last
great measure-his bill, report, and speech
on the public lands. He insisted that Mr..
) Clay's conduct-his ability developed in the
report and dlscussion-the fearless and man
ly frankness with which he met a crisis al
most forced upon him, all tended TO clench
| the confidence that he felt in his integrity
of purpose.
You will recollect, sir, said Mr.. F., tbft
this was a duty altogether unsought by ar.
T Clay. He was a member Of the Committee
of Manufactures, and insisted that a refer
ence of the Public Lands 10 his committee,
was not fit or according TO parliamentary
t rules; the reference, however, was made,
and Mr.. Clay was charged with a most diff
cult and delicate service. There stood the
; West, with extravagant calculations; many
of her citizens had persuaded themselves in
, to the notion that this noble and public do
main belonged in exclusive property TO the
: States in which it is situated. What a fine
] theme was here presented for an artful and
intriguing policy to manage; 10 fatter and
soothe the warmly cherished expectations OF
the West, and yet keep in good humor the
r watchful old Thirteen. But what did Mr..
D Clay? With his habitual honesty of heart,
he Indignantly repealed the unfounded pre-
tension of exclusive claims by any portion
: of the Union, demonstrated by the most con-
: elusive reasoning, that the Public Lands were
the fruit of common blood and treasure, and
: therefore were, and aught TO remain, a COM
s mon fund for the benefit of the whole.
: In conclusion, Mr.. F. repeated his convic-
thion. that while Mr.. Clay was subject like
all men to faults, he was worthy the conf
7 dence of his country; and to use the Ian
l guage of a political opponent, there was no.
] bleness about the man, for you always knew
= were to find him. Retrace his whole life,
$ sir, In many trying exigencies of the coun-
d Try, when, or where was it, that he betrayed