The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-11-22
THE REPU BLIC.
SPEECH OF THE HON. HENRY CLAY.
(By The 0Rsily Telegraph Line, exclusively for the
philadelphia Bullelin.)

MIR, PAYNE, from the committee appointed 10
wait on the Hon. HENRy CLAY, invited 10 visit the
Legislature this day at IL o'clock reported that
the committee had performed that duty and that Mr.
CLAY responded that il would afford him great plea
sure and that at the designated hour he would visit
the Legislature in the Hall of Representatives.
AT IL O'Clock the Senate, preceded by the officers
OF that body, entered the hail. and the Committee
OF invitation, accompanied by the Hon Henry
CLAY, appeared.
Upon Mr.. CLAY being introduced the Chair
man of the Committee, Mr.. Speaker JOHNSON, ad-
dressed him as follows;
Mr. CLAY; Allow me, the representative OF
the people, 10 welcome you TO this hall the theatre
OF your early and successful abors for the prosper
ity and happiness Of the people, and to introduce
you 20 the cons and descendants of many of those
who have been benefited by your labors in this field
OF your usefulness To these labors kentucky Is in
debted for her prosperity and her greatness. Al
ways faithful TO the trust imposed in you by the
people of this great Commonwealth, when danger
threatens her, they found you the fearless defender
of the Constitution and the rights of the people.
Permit me, sir, to tender you the high apprecia-
ton Of the members Of this body of your successful
efforts as one OF the representatives in the National
Councils; Tor the success Of those measures which
we hope will give peace and quiet to the country.
10 you, sir, to the Kentucky delegation in Con-
gress, to the distinguished Senators, Webster,
Dickinson, Foote, and others, Kentucky, yea, sir,
America owes a debt of gratitude.
Mr. CLAY replied as follows;
Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen Of the General A.
senbly In presenting myself before you in con-
iormlty with the resolution OF the House OF Repre-
sentauves, and invitations received by me from
the committee have first to perform the agreea-
bic duty OF rendering an expression of my pro-
found Acknowledgements and my grateful thanks
foe the distinguished honor awarded by you to the
Kentucky delegation, to the patriotic and eminent
Senators of the United States TO other members of
Congress, and myself, who co operated al the late
session of Congress in the adoption OF measures
having for their object the harmony, tranquility
and preservation of the Union of country
And 10 you, MIR. Speaker, l owe especially
PRECISION OF my obligat for the eloquent and com
pliulentary terms In which, as the organ of the
House. you have been pleased to aude to my pub
lie services in this and other theatres. In the alb
sence of those whom you have highly honored
in assocatng with me feel quite that, in as
Stunning TO present for them their respectful thanks,
which they could 80 much better do were they pres
ent. shall have the cordial appreciation of their
hearts.
heretofore have frequently received gratfyin 2
testimony OF the confidence and attachment OF my
countrynlen, but they principally confined
to the party of which, was member. What gives
extraordinary and inexpressible value TO this occa
sion is, that it has been dictated by no party feel
lngs, but Ii Is the voluntary Offering Of my fellow
citizens OF both political parties, and who unani
mousiy passed resolution which has brought us
together.
The last session Of Congress opened under the
most lowering and unfayorable auspices. The pub
lie mind had been greatly agtated, distracted, and
divided upon subjects connected with the institu-
ton OF slavery. | had Witnessed other periods of
admission of Missouri the whole nation greatly
conyulsed, and there was just cause OF serious APP
prehension for the safety OF the Union. In the IN
stance also OF the opposition of South Carolina 10
the tariff In 1892 and SO, there great DANCES Of
civil war with that State, which might in certain
events have spread to surrounding States; but what
peculiarly distinguished the late struggle far more
than on any former occasion is the sentiment
avowed, not merely of the existence of danger 10
the Union, but We heard in various quarters open
aud undisguised declaration of a necessity and de-
sire for lis dissolution We beheld, too, what we
had never before seen in a time OF peace-the
semblage of a convention of sectional delegates the
tendency of which was TO break up the coniederacy.
MIR. Speaker, in common with others, had fore
seen the dark and gathering storm The perhapspre-
sumptuous hope that might, under the blessing OF
Providence, be an humble instrument in assisting
to allay il constituted a principal motive with me
for returning to public LIE. Long before the meet
ing OF Congress, and during the earlier part OF the
session. II engaged almost exclusively all my most
anxious thoughts. The result of my reflections
that series OF resolutions which presented the
Senate OF the United States in February last. MY
desire TO embrace all the subjects Of agitation
arising utof the institution of slavery, and leave
open for future agitation, and, II possible Il
sstii~ $500 iA JUS. anu honorable manner as to
both the contendlng parties.
How these resolutions were received, opposed
and discussed, their first presentation il is not
necessary 10 state. Subsequently a committee of
thirteen was appointed by the Senate charged
with the duty OF considering all the subjects The
committee reported, and their various measures
varied bot inconsiderably from the resolutions
which had previously offered. These different
measures the admission of California as a
State into the Union, and the establishment Of ter
Titoral governments for New Mexico and Utah
without the WilInot proviso proposals to Te1as
for prehxing her boundaries; eficacious
provisions for the recovery Of fugitive slaves and
the abolition of the slave trade in the District Of
Columbia.
When the message OF the President recommend
ing the admission OF California into the MON was
.gflfe pat rt.r,.
as 10 the proprety Of its Admission and not being
aware OF the great and extensive opposition exist
ing against it'll WIS in favor of its immediate adj.
mission as separate and distinct measure But,
when becsme acquainted with that opposition,
and, Considering that 1t was a mere question VI
form, thought II best to unite it with other kim
dred measures in one common bill.
The admission OF California was opposed first
upon the ground Of its having constituted itself a
State without the previous express authority Of
Congress and, secondly, because the territorial
lmIs which It had assumed for itself were deemed
to be too large and extensive We replied, as to the
first ground, that California not the first Sta te
which had been received into the Union without
the prior sanction Of Congress; but several other
States had been received; that, although 1t was
most regular that Congress should give its pre-.
vious assent, IL matter not depending
upon the Constitution, but within the sound
discretion Of Congress; that in the of other
States there was less ground for the course which
they took, because they we're living under th,
blessings Of Law and order and territorial govern.
ment established for them, and that in the case d
California, owing TO divisions in Congress upon th,
subject Of the WilInot proyiso that body had beer
not only unable 70 give ts assent TO the formation
Of a State in California but had totally failed e
perform the high and imperative duty Of blish.
ing territorial government for California II had
left CalilOrnia-without law, without order with
out goycrnnent-in a stale Of almost perfect an
archy. la such abandoned condition Calilor-
MIA had right, az any rational community on earth
would have right, 70 institute government for
itself, and 70 establish law and order
A 10 the extent of the territorial limits Of Cali
forna, all feel that they quite large, and il
they could have been formed without rejecting the
STATE, and remanding IL back into a territorial
condition, perhaps some notifications would have
been made in the mts; but, large they are il is
not believed that they embrace any thing like "a
much arabic land as Is contained in several of the
other States of the Union; and, comprehensive az
those limits are, they extensive as those
ofTexas, which would have been made still larger
If they could have accomplished IL, by some OF the
very members who objected TO the sze Of Califor
mia.
Prior 10 the last session of Congress, the proceed
ing session. and even no longer than twelve month";
ago, the great effort Of the south 20 avoid hav
ing the Wilmot proyiso engrsfted on the territorial
bills. 1t was that odiou. restriction which created
the greatest complaint, occasioned the most ex
element at the South Well, the committee re
ia for Nau And Iftab