Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1850-08-08
Henry Clay.

The last great speech of this gentleman on the com
promise BILL was made in the Senate on the 22d ult
has just reached us occupying some twelve or thir
teen columns in the Washington papers. We have
only room, the present occasion, for single eN
tract but one which, il is sad all hands is equal
in true eloquence, 10 any effort of Mr.. Clay in his
palmiest days II is the eloquence of feeling, and
coming from man on the very verge of the grave,
produced most powerful impression on all who
heard him. 1t is said there scarcely dry eye
in the whole Senate chamber, both amongst the
friends and enemies of the bill under discussion.
Mr. CLAY said Mr. President wish had the ply
steal power give utterance to the many, many ideas
which still have but have it not l must hasten
towards conclusion.
The responsibility of this great passes from
the hands of the committee and from my hands They
know, and know that it is awful and tremendous
responsibility. hope that YOU will meet 1t with Just
conception, and appreciation OF its magnitude,
and the magnitude of consequences, which ensue
from decision way or the other. The alterna-
tives fear which the measure presents concord
and increased discord; servle civil war-orignating
in its causes on the lower Rio Grande and terminating
possibly in its consequences with the upper Rio Grande
in the Santa Fe counryor the restoration of harmony
and fraternal kindness.
believe from the bottom Of my SOUL that the meas
ure the reunion of this Union believe il is the dove
of peace which, taking its aerial fight from the dome of
the Capitol carries the glad tngs OF assured peace
and restored harmony to all the remoest extremes Of
this distracted land believe that IT will be attended
with all these benehcient effects. And now let US dis
card all resentment, all passions all petty ealouses. all
personal DESIRES all love of place. all honing after the
gded crumbs which fall from the table of power. Let
forget popular fears from whatever quarter they
spring Let us 90 the lmpd fountain of unad1Itera
ted patriotism, and, performing solemn lustraon
Invested of all selfish, sinister and sordid mpur
ties and think alone of our God, country, our
sciences, and our glorious Unon--that Union without
which shall be into hostile fragments and sooner
later become the victims of military desposm or for
eign domination.
Mr. President what is an individual man7 An atom
almost invisible without a magnifying glass--a
speck upon the surface Of the immense universenot
second in time compared TO Unreasonable neverfaiing
water in the great Deep which evaporates and is borne
of by the winds a grain of sand which Is gather
ed to the dust from which it sprung. Shall being
SMALL petty fleeing, evanescent, oppose it.
self to the onward march of great nation to subsis
for ages and ages come-oppose itself that long
line of posterty which, issuing from oins, will
dure during the existence of the worldl Forbid it, God
Let us look country and cause elevate
selves the dignity of pure and dsntercsted patriots
wise and enlightened statesmen, and country
from all impending dangers. What it, in the march of
this nation to greatness and power should be buried
beneath the wheels that propel it onward. What are
we what is any man worth who is ready and willing
to sacrifice himself for the benefit of his country when
/ it is necessary2
Now, Mr. President allow me to make short appeal
to some senators-o the whole of the Senate Here is
/
been without hopes. have thought OF the
utionary blood of George Mason which flows in his vens
of the blood Of his father-of bis accomplish
ed father-my friend-my cherished friend for many
years. Can he, knowing, think he must know, the
wishes of the people Of his Ststecan he with the
knowledge he possesses Of the public sentiment there,
and of the high obligation east upon him by his noble
ancestry-can he hazard Nirgnias greatest and most
gorions work-that work at least which she, perhaps
than any other State, contributed her moral and
political power erect Can he put at hazard tins no.
ces in the pursuit of distractions and metaphysical the
OresObects unattanable impossible In their nature
while that honor Of our own common native State,
which and respect with much devotion
he does while the honor of that State and the honor OF
the South preserved unimpaired by this measure!
appeal sir, to the senator's from Rhode Island and
from Delaware, my little friends which have stood by
me- and hv which have STOOD all the vlclSsitudeS OF
my political le two glorious patriotic little States
which, if there is he breaking up of the waters OF
this Union, will be swallowed up in the common deuge
and left without support Will they hazard that Union
which is their strength their power, and their great
ness!
Let such an event as have alluded to occur, and
where will be the sovereign power of Delaware and
Rhode Island! II this Union shall become separated
new unions contederaces will arise. And with re-
spect ths-if there be ANY, hope there is
the Senate-beore whose imagination is fitting the idea
of great southern conIedeacy take possession OF the
Balize and the mouth of the Mississippi say in my
place never! ne1er. will who occupy the broad
waters of the Mississippi consent that any foreign FLAG
shall float at the Baze upon the trrets OF the Ores
cent City-never--never! call upon all the South
Sir, we have had hard words-bitter words, bitter
thoughts unpleasant feelings towards each other in the
progress of this great measure. Let us forget them
Let US sacrifice these feelings Let 90 to the altar
of our country and swear as oath taken of old
that we will stand by her; we will support her. that
will uphold her constitution; that will preserve he
Union and that pass this great comprehensive, an6
healing system of measures, which Will hush all the arr
ing elements and bring peace and tranquility TO ou
homes. Let me, Mr. PRESIDENT in conclusion, say tha
the most disastrous consequences would occur, In my
opinion, 90 home, doing nothing TO satisfy
and tranquze the country upon these great questions
What will be the Judgment OF mankind, what the udg
ment of that portion of mankind who looking upol
the progress Of this scheme of self government bens
that which holds the highest hopes and expectations
ameoratng the condition of manknd-what will thei
Judgment be? Will not all the monarchs OF the Oh
World pronounce glorious republic disgracefu fail
ure! What will be the judgment of our constituent:
when return them and they ask How have vol
left your eountryl Is all quiea happyl Are all th
seeds of distraction division crushed and dsspated
And. sir when you come into the bosom ci your family
when you come to with the partner OF you
fortunes CT your happiness, and OF your sorrows-an
when, in the midst of the common offspring OF both
you she asks you sis there any danger OF civil war
Is there any danger of the torch being applied to an
portion of the eounryl Have settled the questions
which You have been long discussing and deberatns
upon at Washington! Is all peace and all quct"-
q What response, Mr.. President, you make to tina
wife of your choice and those children with whom yo
have been blessed by Godl Will you 90 home and leav
all in disorder and conuson-all unsettled-all open
The contentious and aeations of the past will be in
creased and augmented by the agitaons resulting from
our neglect to decide them Sir. shall stand con
demned by all human judgment below and of those allow
it is not for me TO speak We shall stand condemned II
our conscences, by constituents, by on
own country. The measure may be defeated hay'
been that its passage for many days was not alb
soutey certain. From the first to the last, hoped ant
believed it would pass because from the first to the las
believed it founded the principles of Just ant