New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-01-29
MFR. CLAYTON, speecb-A Leaf from the Past.

a hurried and very imperfect presentation OF us
main features in yesterdays paper and today we
have no, room even If il were worth the while, 10
retraverse the ground for the purpose Of gathering
no the Interesting matters which we were com
PEELED 10 pass over without notice a Congression'
al Debate like glass of soda, must be taken WINE
the head i. on otherwise il generally becomes
t.,.1 30, and unavoidable An Editor OF daily
go. =, ,n;s dav has little time TO look behind him;
!, !. one as much as be do 20 keep sharp look
ont for the events which are momeniarly passing
before his eyes leaving the things which escaped
him Yesterday TO find their appropriate level In the
Grand aggregate of the Past. But this rule, like
most others has its exceptions and we ind on look
ing once more at those portions OF the Debate which
we were constrained at first to pass by, that we
should do injustice 10 our readers if we were TO
deny thern the privilege of sharing with US the salts
faction derived from the perusal Of one portion of
the speech of Mr.. CLAYTON, in which he shows that
VIVA, is now Wanted by Messrs Cass and Allen az
Democratic doctrine in relation TO the rights OF
Foreign Governments on this Continent was, no
longer ago than 1926 repudiated by the then Dem
ocratic party as heresy. Read the following and
see if it does not show that Messrs. Buchanan and
Polk have made rapid progress In Democracy
within twenty years. We copy from the report OF
MIR. Clayton's speech in The Union;
The honorable Senator from Ohlo-pardon me
for saying-told US that he had thoroughly consio-
cred The resolution before he brought II here-that
he had duly weighed il, took the responsibility OF II,
and did not intend 10 abandon IL II was SO import
ant that he would press 1t IRON time to time; not
merely al the present session OF Congress, but during
future sessions Years will roll away before he
10 obi he bag in vie apHh he
would not end soon and says-so much stress does
the Senator Law on the resouton-that, il / under
stood him correctly, il embraced great doctrine III
the Democratic party In this country that The op-
position to it was the opposition to party. Ii III
derstood the Senator, does he mean 10 make new
points of party division desire TO ask the Senator
from Ohio or any other who can answer the ques
tion il this is great and predominant democratic
doctrine when did il become so? At what period
did take this bias? say, so far as understand
the history of this country il was perfectly new.
So far as can read learn from the documents OF
Congress- the party never took this ground before.
will 70 back 10 the origin of the present party and
refer to the journals, when the House was engaged
on the important question OF sending minister TO
Panama, 10 ascertain what was the opinion OF the
Democratic party then In April, 1926, resolution
TO paw Minister was before the House OF Repre-
sentatiyes A member from my own State moved
an amendment, that " the House In expressing this
opinion did not intend TO sanction any departure
from the settled policy OF this Government, in ex-
tending our commercial relations with foreign ma
tons that we should have with them little politl
cal connection as possible; that should preserve
peace commerce. and friendship with all natons,and
form entangng alliances with none that we should
not form any alliances, offensive or defensive or
negotiate respecting such alliances with all or any
of The South American republics II is therefore the
opinion of this House that the Government of the
United States ought not to be represented at the
Congress OF Panama, except In diplomatic charac
ter ought they TO form any alliance, offensive or
defensive, negotiate respecting such alliance with
all or any of the South American republics nor
ought they TO become parties ruth them, or either Of
them, to any JOINT declaration for the purpose Of pre-
uenttng tie interference of any of The European
powerS tc9th their independence form Of gOc-
ernment, or to any compact for tie purpose Of
preventing c0ioni2atiOn apon the continent Of
AmerIcd.'
This, sir, was the leading policy of Mr.. Nc Lane,
OF Delaware. What was the vote? The Demo
cratic party all voted in favor OF the amendment
| have read it, precisely The party then took |
ground different from that avowed by the Senator
from Ohio. Who are the gentlemen who voted in !
favor of this declaration? Who are they? find |
the name of Mr.. Buchanan among the yeas, and a
name OF more importance. Mr.. Polk, of Tennessee,
The very identical man who is now the President OF
the United States with the names Of other distin |
ingushed Democrats. This was the party creed, |
10 far as their action could establish creed After
cooking AT this il strikes it may be unimpor
amt to refer to the language of gentlemen who fig
uved in the debate, and find, among other things,
q speech from one MIR. Polk in favor of the amend
ment and commend it to The favorable consdera
of the Senator from Ohio. He will whether the
Democratic party of that day conceded in views
with what he considers the principle now. Mr.. Polk
,aid:
Ave have declared it opinion by the adoption
IF the amendment that policy now, it ever
lad BEEN observe strict neutrality between all bel
igerent powers that in extending commercial re-
atoms with foreign nations should have with them
little political connection possible that should
preserve peace, commerce and friendship with all ma |,
lions, and form cntaneng alliances with none that we
should form any alliance offensive defensive
negotiate respecting such alliance with all any of the
South American republics nor should we become par
ties with them, or either OF the 10 any ont aecara
,on for the purpose OF preventing the interference OF
any OF the European powers with their independence
form Of government TO compact for the purpose
of preventing colonization the continent Of America
These sentiments, Mr. P. said to which he most
heartily subscribed. However strong his sympa,hies
might be in favor OF liberty and republican institutions
whatever part of the world they might make their ap
peaance the peace the quiet and prosperity OF his coun
try were paramount to every Other consideration
do not, Mr.. President sad MIR. c. intend TO COM
nit myself for against the doctrine avowed in this
resolution. l do protest, however. against these
frequent changes as forming the foundation of the
Democratic principle. do not see how any states
man can reconcile these opinions with those ad-
vanced by the Senator from Ohio, coniradicting
each other; but leave this TO the gentlemen on the
other side. If they make it party question, they
must take the consequences. | must consider and
consult much before l can arrive at any definite
opinion on the whole subject.
The supremacy of Man over his accidents is
the definition of Democracy given by one of its
chief apostles; but think truer definition would
DO one which should ii as the art by which
politicians with no fixed principles may be enabled
10 change front whenever their schemes of selfish
ambition may be thus promoted. An kinds OF
turning and twisting done To order would be an en-
eelent motto to be inscribed on its flag.
SPECIAL ELECTION IN LoUlsIASA-The follow
ing is the official return of the the late
Election in the ls Congressional District OF Louis.
lana for Representative 10 fill the vacancy occa-
stoned by the resignation of Hon. JOHN SLIpELL,
now Minister to Mexico:
Parishes. McBenry, ", LaSere, L. Wsdsworth, l.
Is, Municipality Of n o los 1887 IS