Indiana State sentinel., 1845-04-03
From The Bosfoa Times.
Henry Clay's Fate rs n Politician.


able champion for his country during the last war
has fallen from his high estate and sealed his doom
as politician and statesman. His treachery to the
interests OF Democracy IN that sale of himself in the
House Of Representatives, which resulted in the
election Of the second Adams over the Hero Of New
Orleans, was the first prominent cause of his downfall
From that period his descent has been sure but
protraeted.
His advocacy of the United States Bank served to
give him factitiOus importance for some years in the
estimation OF the Wing party, till that Institution
went to the tomb of the - 'Capuletsv His splendid
talents and his impassioned speeches did not avail 10
blind the people to his treacherous course and till the
late agitation came up In relation TO the annexation
of Texas his political prospects began to droop His
dctatoral course too IN the Senate, and his attempts
10 head President Tyler, were strong influences in
developing his true character 10 the people, and pre-
venting them from giving him their confidence.
] When Dir. Webster in Massachusetts sigriifed his
opposition to Texas, Mr. Clay afraid of beng headed
by the Whg q Lion of the North " and losing caste
with his party, induced to belle his former pro-
fessions and oppose measure which he had formerly
advocated and maintained with all his brilliant powers
His design was to secure political power, and he was
not at all scrupulous TO the means.
On the 3D. of April 1920, Dir. Clay, at the close of
of his public speeches in the House of Represent
atives, submitted the following resolves
ReSotued That the Constitution of the United States
vests IN Congress the power dispose of the territory
belonging to them, and that treaty, parporling 10
ALLEVIATE any portion thereof VALID without the
renee of Congress.
Res0lred That the equivalent proposed to be given
by Spain TO the United States in the treaty concluded
between them on the 22nd of February 1919 for that
part of Louisiana lying West of the Sabine, made
quaie and that it would be inexpedent 10 make a
transfer thereof to any foreign power or to renew the
aforesaid treaty."
In this speech, Mr.. Clay, after dwelling on the
subject of our right of boundary extending to the
Rio Bravo del Norte, the value of the acqui-
sition of Texas, and the solemn obligation which war
imposed upon US, Of transmitting it " a sacred
Inheritance to posterity. Hear then, the orator
of 1920, in the best and palmies days cf his art:
All the accounts concur in representing Texas to
be extremely valuable Its superficial is
four times greater than that of Florida The climate
delicious, the soil fertile, the margins Of the rivers
abounding in live oak and the country admitting Of easy
settlement II possesses moreover, if am not misn-
formed, Of the finest ports of the Gulf of Mexico.
The productions of which is capable suited
wants The unfortunate captive of st. Helena wished
for ships commerce and colonies We have them all
if we do not wantonly throw them away The colonies
Of other countries separated from them by
requiring great expense 10 protect them and are bed
subject risk of their being from their
grasp Our colonies, the contrary, united to and
form part OF continent; and the Mississippi,
from whose rich deposte, The best OF hem LoulSiana
has been formed will transport her bosom the brave,
the patriotic from its tributary streams, TO preserve
and defend the next most vauabe the province Of Texas
The first proposition contained in the second resolution
is thus, think fully sustained. The is that it is
inexpedient TO cede Texas TO any foreign power They
constitute, in opinion, sacred inheritance OF
pery, which ought TO preserve unimpalred. wish
II was If il is not, fundamental and lnvolable law OF
the land, that they should be naenable to any foreign
power 1t is quite evident that it is in the order of
Providence that il is inevitable result of the principle
Of population that the whole of this Continent including
Texas be peopled process of time. The question
is, by whose shall il be peopled
In hands it will be peoped by Teemen and the
sons Of freemen, carrying with them language
laws and our liberties, establishing on the Praes of
Texas temples dedicated to the simple and devout modes
of worship of God incident TO religion, and temples
dedicated TO that freedom which adore next 10 Him.
In the hands of others il may become the habdtOn Of
despotsm sube to the dominion of the nqusOn and
of superstition know that there honest and
lightened who fear that Conederacy is already
too large and that there danger of disruption, arising
out of of reciprocal adherence between its several
parts l hope and believe that the principle Of repre-
senation, and the formation Of States will preserve
united people,
But If Texas being peoped by US, and graphing with
Us, should distant day, break of, she will carry
along with her noble crew, consisting of our children
children. The difference between those who may be dis
inclined to It's annexation conlederacy and me,
that their system begins where mine may possibly at
distant future day, terminate and theirs begin
with foreign race aliens 10 every thing hold dear,
and mine ends with race para.;ng of all our qualities.
How different these patriotic views from those
which he and his adherents have recently promulgated
Who will say that Henry Clay is an honest politician,
and who will not lament, that he should thus have
proved recreant TO his early principles and spurned
the glorious steps by which he first became eminent
Let other statesmen beware of has fate and take heed
that they do not fall behind the sentiment of free
people.