The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-03-27

eighty-six to be examined. This extraordinary
case creates more interest and more sensation as
the proceedings on the trial progress No clue has
yet been obtained as to the nature of the defence,
or what It's character will be. II will soon, how
ever, become known.
The rent Senators on the Great Question.
Three great statesmen in the United States Sc
nate have all spoken the great controversy of
the day, and their speeches have been before the
country Ter weeks. Probably, since the founda-
ton If the government. no men have been listened
to with more attention or respect. To produce an
effect so profound, it is not enough that man be
gifted with extraordinary political sagacity, or
uncommon genius. He must be favored by clr-
cumstances, and events must be propitious. A
penod like the present has never before been wit
messed in our republic. Fanatcism never went so
far, and the recoil from 1t never became so signf
cant. Demagogues and madmen seemed for the
time to have filled the arena, and passion and
prejudice seemed to control the current of events.
Very nearly all the politicians of the country had
| been drawn INTO the general maelstrom, which
threatened not only 10 swallow up the reason and
| judgment OF the nation, but to engulph the COM
monweaIh itself. During the present session,
many me mbers in both houses had attempted to
bring forward some scheme of compromise, or, at
all events, to propose some remedy for the exs-
tence OF the evil. But nearly all these pl aus were
stamped with the bitterness and bigotry of their
! originatUrs, and there was abatement IN the
popular excitement on the slavery questIon-there
was no cooling Of the lever In the public mind.
Mr.. Clay, a veteran Senator. an eloquent orator.
and a celebrated compromiser IN past crises, had
indeed brought forward magnanimous proposal,
which, at any period before these fatal passions
were 20 deeply stirred, might, aud probably
would, have been hailed a practicable and
msgnanlmous proposal But coming at the time
il did, when there was so little calmness and
reason in the na,ional councils or in the popu-
lar mind, il produced only portion Of the effect
which lsetmately belonged TO IT, Il had become
evident that the hope vi the nation was limited to
the Senate, and in the Senate to few great men,
who alone could dictate the terms Of the compro.
mise. Al this crisis Mr. Clay rose TO speak. There
The prestige of great fame, of ustrious talents
and of pure patriotism around his name There was
the ,hsrm Of the r,ost persuasive eloquence there
was the dignity of age; there was the splendor OF
a thousand riumphs in the tribune aud perhaps
shove all there was higher charm than all these,
that Of once having been the eonciliator Of the
maniuly up the sleeps OF ambition. with his eagle
eye fxed on the "throne OF the people," he had
laid the ehos,ly Gend Of disun,cn, how much more
might be expected from him, when in The evening
Of hls dsys, his genius broke forth at Its sunset,
and, liLe departing seer, be pronounced his
farewell Grafton to the nation which had b.en
illustrated by bis genius, ard which h was about
leaving forever! standiug as he then did, 80 near
4 r.
have beea those aspirations Of his heart which he
breaihed o., tor the glory aud good OF his country,
no man felt that he coald lay his profinlng hand
upon those whit, hsirs, snd say that there was a
single pulsation in has bosom GA which mln might
not gaze with gTdutude, aud God himself with
competency. IL was a spectacle which, 10 anti
cipauon, had crosdeo the Senate chamber with a
more brea,hless aud anxious multitude than had
ever before gathered within its walls 4: and IN the
midst Of that sea Of FACILITATING passions, the great
statesman rose TO pronounce hts last decisive
speech. He came forward 10 the spirit of coocila.
hon. and h. spoke with ma Aaniml,y aud n Hea-
ven has not ordained the early ruin Of this m,gai-
6crni commonw eallh. he laid the foundations that
dsy Tor the iaal settlement of the great difficulty
which has perplexed and troubled the nation,
almost from ts commencement The effect
of that speech was favorable, aud noalcdlab.y
great. upon the veal OF the republic. The md
rccklcssntss Of prevailing passion and bigotry
stood ulenced end awca while he spoks and
although some coutcmptbl- fanatics attempted to
snatch the peace Offering fom the national altar,
the PROCLAMATION hardly allowed. Among all
psriouo and rational men there was the desire To
ooncilate, and there was an all bat universal hore
Of peace. Such were the suspicious circuai taccs
vhich attended the delivery Of MIR Cl.y's gr-,t
crstion, end such were ne suspicious resa'ts Pas
.ion was ALA ID, excitement was qvced, and
faratcism was rebuked great poiat wa.
gained, and the fra s,p IN healing the wouad OF
The republic had been made.
But there were two other men, q whom the NJ.
ton next turned with hope snd expectation the
one f,prts,niirg IN himself the srni,meats. the
rriD ciples. aud the op,niuns ct the South, in whom
he Southern States had treasured % their chief
ho,-s--one vhv had, tor period Of nearly forty
y,ars, stood msniully BY the great aerests Of the
south. and who bad created almost uobounded
resr, for his genlss, his integrity, and his pa.
uio,ism;--ihe other. tue great representative OF
the North, tie colossal intellect OF the Senate. the
sdtooaie Of New Englasd, lle defender OF the
consiHnuon. With toe single exception OF Mr.
Cisv, u IL certain tuat there was no other man N
he lection eho had Won 80 much ednrs,ion snd
r,spsct as these Two ilius,r.oas Senators. Mr.
Clay bad brevely and nob'y scted his part. snd II
was Understood thar Mr. Calhoun vas pre.,r,ng 70
pTsneunce bis las, great speech stnd,rr 49, al
felt hum TO be, CA The verge oflfe, uaiaairace, "a
be must have been by that selfish anibuiou 9th
which he had 90 often at former perois be.a