Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-04-01
Eloquent Tribute to the Prosperity OF
CIR C0UDfry

HENRY CLAY, in his recent and really
great speech on Slavery and the Union.
Draws the following eloquent picture OF the
past and present condition of our Republic
Coming, as it does from the iuol of Wing
hearts, it is bright commentary on the
hypocri,cal "ruin" statements put forth
by all whig journals. MIR. CLAY is righ'.
Our country is prosperous, and was never
more SO; and it is Democratic policy that
has made it what ii is:
Sir, this Union is threatened with sub
version. want, MIR President, to Take a
rapid glance ut the course of public meas
ures in this Union presently. want,
however, before do that, to ask the Sen
ale 10 look back upon the career whic
this country has run since the adoption OF
this constitution, down to the present day.
Was there ever a nation upon which the
sun cf heaven has shone that has exhibited
SO much of prosperity? Atthe commence
ment of this government our population a.
mounted TO about four millions. It has
now reached upwards Of twenty millions.
Our territory was. limited chiefly to the
border upon the Atlantic ocean, and thai
which includes the southern shores Of the
interior Lakes of our country. Our
country ROW extends from the northern
provinces of Great Britain 10 The Z O
Grande, and the Gulf Of Mexico, on one
side, and from the Atlantic 10 the Pacific
on the other side-the largest extent OTTER
ritory under any government that exists
on the face Of the earth with two solitary
exceptions. Our tonnage from being nolt-
ing has risen in magnitude and amount SC
as to rival that of the nation who has been
proudly characterized "the mistress Of lhe
ocean," We have gone through many
wars-wars too, with the very nation from
whom we broke off in l776, as weak tnd
feeble colonies, and asserted our independ.
ence as member of the family of nations.
And, sir, we came out of that struggle, un'
equal as it was-armed as she was at al!
points, in consequence Of just having come
out of her long struggles with other Euro
pean nations, and unarmed as we were a
all points, in consequence of the habits ane
nature Of cur country, and its institutions
we came, | say. out of that war without
any loss Of homer whatever-we emerged
from it glorously.
In every Indian war-and we have beer
engaged in many of ,hem-our armie.
have triumphed; and without speaking NJ
all rs to the causes Of the recent war will
Mexico, whether it was right or wrong
and ubstaining from any expression OF o
pinion as to the justice or propriely Of th'
war when once commenced, all must ndmi
that, with respect The goilantry of ou
armies, the glory Of our tiiumphs. ther
is no page or pages Of history which re
cords more brilliant successes,
Sir, our prosperity is unbounded; nay
Mr.. President, sometimes fear that it il
in the wantonness of that prosperity thai
many Of the threatening ills Of the momen
have arisen. Wild and erratic scheme
have sprung up through the whole country
some of which have even found their way
in 10 legislative halls; and there is rest
lessness existing among US which | lea
will require the chastisement Of Heaven II
bring US back to a sense ofthe immeasura
Bile benefits and blessings which have beer
bestowed upon US by Providence. At th
moment all is prosperity and peace, ant
the nation is rich and powerful. Ou
country has grown TO a magnitude, to I
power and greatness, such as to commant
the respect, if it does not excite the npPre
henson of the Powers of the earth will
VIII ON we come in contact.