Southern shield., 1850-05-04
Henry Clay Complinented by the Wash.
 ington Union.


 Washington Union of the late remarks of Mir.
 Clay in the discussion growing out of Mir.
 Foote's proposition to raise a committee of thirteen, to whom all the questions connected
 with California, New Mexico, Utah and the settlement of the Texas boundary, should be referred He believed that all these questions should be settled now, and in this position he i but occupies the ground which he wisely ad-
 vanced in his first speech, that it is better to stop all the leaks at once than endeavor to stop one at a To those who have premature- I fly charged Mr. Clay with disloyalty to the
 South, we commend the following remarks of
 his greatest political adversary, the Washington
 Union :-Erch@age.
 < In consequence of the late hour at which
 the proceedings of the Senate were received on
 Friday evening" we were unable to see them
 until yesterday morning. We then read them,
 with no little qualification at the manly, concili-
 atory and truly patriotic sentiments which were
 expressed by Mir. Clay in his remarks during 1 the discussion growing out of Gen. Foote's
 proposition to raise a committee of thirteen members, to whom all the questions growing out of the admission of California, the estab- lishment of territorial governments for New Mexico and Utah, and the settlement of the Texas boundary, should be referred. Mir. Clay expressed his ardent desire that the unfortunate dispute which now agitates the Union, and menaces so fearfuly its peace and security, should be adjusted, he cared not upon what plan, if it could be finally accomplished. But he also expressed the opinion that the mode which most promised success was, to combine the ad- mission of California and the settlement of the boundary of Texas in one bill, with the estab- iishment of governments for the new Territo- ries. He believed that 1t now the most practicable and certain of success, and he was in favor of adopting 1t.
 !" We again say that we were highly gratihed with the conciliatory and patriotic spirit dis played by the venerable and illustriOus States man of Kentucky, in the remarks made by hin2 during the debate on Friday It exhibited g disposition worthy of the eminent Senator and l of the occasion. It displayed an ardent desire to bring the pending controversy between the
 two great sections of the Union to an amicable adjustment by any suitable and satisfactory
 means. Early i'll the session Mir. Clay offer
 ed series of propositions of his own, contain
 Ing much that good and one or two things from which we dissented at the time, although
 we fully and cordially conceded the patriotic purpose which dictated them. But Mir. Ciay rising above all selfish pride in the matter, avows hls readiness to adopt plan which holds out a better prospect for bringing about the grea end ot cancellation and ad djustment, which Ie had in view from the beginning. We trust that his patriotic example will have its due influence upon the country.
 "Although dark clouds still lower upon the horlzon warning that danger is even now impending, yet the prospect of settlement of the unhappy controversy which now disturbs flo oF +I,o IT,,,o begins to brighten. Already we think we see that opinions and sentiments in Congress, as well as in the country, are fast approaching to common point of agreement. We have had speeches and propositions from the most emi- nent and able members of both Houses of Con- gress in favor of cancellation and settlement. We have had propositions and speeches from Mir. Clay, Webster, Gen. Cass, Gen. Foote, Mr. Bell and MT, Douglass, in the Senate, and also an important proposition submitted by Mir. McCernand in the House of Representatives, all of which embody conciliatory sentiments; and principles. The most eminent and able Senators on both sides, rising above all party considerations, have, in the true spirit of patri- otism, alike honorable to themselves and the American character, come forward and united in rendering the olive branch of peace; thus ex- hibitlng devotion to their country worthy of the best days of Greece and Rome. We can hardly imagine a spectacle of greater interest and subhmty than that which is now exhibited by Messrs. Clay, Cass, Webster and others, differing for more than a quarter of a century in political opinions, and contending against each other in the arena of party conflict, who, laying aside for the occasion all the feelings and engendered by long years of rlvallng and cOmpetltlon,, now unite III a common ettOrt to give peace to their agitaed country, and to lay broader and deeper the foundations of the Union. Itis spectacle worthy of the men. of the august body to which they belong, and of the great Republic whose destinies are in part committed to their charge"
 TIE srAsoN-We learn from a friend who arrived by the cars last evening, that there was killing frost in Macon yesterday morning, and that considerable snow fell in the vicinity of Griffin on Friday night. The season in the up country thus far, and we may say upon the seaboald also, has been an unusual one.--Georgia Paper.
 BENEFIT OF CLERGY.--'Benedt of clergy was a privilege formerly allowed, by virtue of which a man convicted of larceny or was put to read in Latin book, of Gothic black character; and if the ordinary of Newgate said, Legit Clericus,' that is, he reads like clerk, he was only burnt in the band and set free; otherwise he uttered the punishment of death for his ,rime.
 Pargatory vs. Matrimony.-By the way, he "ghost of the departed" reminds me ot Toe Key's ghost coming to his wife.
 "Molly," says he, ''Pm in Purgatory at hir neru nnnnent' v