Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1844-04-25
Anecdotc OF Mr.. CLAY.

The following anecdote OF Henry Clay, so emf
nently characteristic Of the man, and so honorable
to the statesman, we have upon the authority Of
distinguished Senator ofthe United States. We
give ii nearly as we are able, in the language in
which we had it from the lips ofthe Hon Senator
himself
! 1t was during the last Session Of Mr.. Cay's
service in the Senate--that session during which
the nomination of Edward Everett as a minister
to England was confirmed. 1t will be remem.
bered that, for ainumber of weeks after the nomina-
ton OF Mr.. Everett, great suspense and anxiety
was felt throughout the country, as 10 the
course which the Senate might take upon
the question of confirmation. The Southern
members, or at least a portion Of them, demanded
his rejection, on the ground of his having expires.
ed sentiments upon the subject Of abolition, highly
offensive 10 the South and such as the South was
called upon, both directly and indirectly, to re.
Duke and condemn. Matters stood thus when, at
the close or near the close, of one of the Execu,
tive sessions of the Senate on long summers day
Mr.. Clay left his seat and taking up his broad
brimmed hat which he was accustomed to wear in
the warm season, began walking slowly back
ward and forward near the door of the Senate ex.
pecting every moment when an adjournment
would take place Just then a Senator from the
South, whose name the gentleman to whom we
are indebted for these facts did moi feel himself at
liberty to mention, rose in his place and called the
E the attention of the Senate to correspondence
which he had in his hand between Mr.. Everett
and certain abotonist who had Addressed TO
him series ef questions touching the subject Of
slavery. The correspondence had taken place at
time when if we reccolect rightly, Mr. Everett
was candidate for Governor of Massachusetts -
The language used by Mr. Everett, said the nara
tor was strong, stronger than we of --should
consider to have been justfable. The Senator
having read the correspondence, made it the text
of a strong denunciatory speech against Mr. Ev'
ereu, earnestly and vehemently appealing to the
representatives of Southern interests and institutions
of that body, 10 record their sentence Of condcm
nation against such dangerous sentiments, by re-
jecting the nomination OF the man by whom they
were put forth. This correspondence, together
with the speech ofihe Senator who brought it for
, ward arrested the attention Of the whole Senate
, and awakened new and strong apprehensions a
mong the friends of Mr.. Everett as to the fate o
his nomination, Soon after the Senator in ques
ton had risen from his seat and commenced speak
, ing Mr. Clay was observed to pause in his wall
to and fro and as the Senator from the South pro
cceded in his speech, he (Mr. c. became evident
ly, more and more interested ill, at length, h
gradually returned to his accustomed seat, ant
was standing by it when the gentleman who wa
occupying the floor, finished his speech with IN
following emphatic language IF, under the cir
; cumstancee, Mr. President, the Senate shall con
: firm the nomination of Mr.. Everett, consider III
Union virtually disOlred'
'And say, sir said Mr.. Clay instantly takn'
: up the words ofthe Honorable Senator, that is
this Senate sitting on the nomination of Mr. E,
ereu or any other man as minister to a foreig
Court, shall take upon itself to reject that nomino
# tion on the grond that the person, nominated ha
expressed to his neighbors and fellow citizens G
y the State to which he belongs, sentiments not il
u accordance with our own, yet IN no way impenct
ing his character or affecting his qualifications 70
: the post which he is nominated then, sir sal
Mr. Clay, eevating himselfto his full height an
! raising his voive to that clarion like tone of i'm
passoned eloquence for which he above all vn
It men, is so justly distinguished then sir, tell tn
; Honorable gentleman aud the Senate THAI
e WE HAVE NO LONGER ANY UNION
} TO DISOLVEl" PROCEEDING from this poin
: Mr. Clay poured fourth, for the space of abou
ten minutes the most eloquent speech that
! ever heard from him in all my life. And tha
d speech said the gentleman from whom these fact
were derived, settled the question of Mr.. Ere'
e els nomination. "-NorWieh Courier.